I'm Curious.... Do you have a gun in your house?

[Snoutport]

I was kind of surprised by the poll results about the draft this weekend. As most subjects, even on here, there was quite a split. I'm wondering how many of us have a gun in the household?

[Monique1]

1. I won't have one or allow one in my house

[Xenotime]

42. Same here. They are just too dangerous.

[Paradoxical]

130. I have several friends who are the same way.

They get very nervous around my guns. I try to get them to handle them and teach them how to properly operate them. But they usually shy away.

[blueamy66]

192. Either will we.

When my Dad came home from the Korean War, he vowed to never have a "firearm" in the house EVER. He saw what they did to human beings.

Plus, we drink some alcohol here. The two don't mix.

We've got a hockey stick....we live in a decent neighborhood....we lock the doors anyway....

[Deep13]

2. Um, "a" gun?

Maybe more than one.

[Aerows]

7. That would be my answer, as well.

Maybe more than one.

[quiller4]

156. Definitely more than one in my house. n/t

[RagAss]

159. Just the Abrams tank in the garage.

[Deep13]

196. That's a big garage! nt

[Zephie]

3. My husband used to a gun person

He sold them after we got together, but always wanted to get more until the incident in Tuscon. He said after that he had decided his opinions had changed.

[Kolesar]

4. the draft this weekend? eom

[Snoutport]

27. someone did a poll about the draft

and there were a lot of DUers who supported it. I think a lot of people were surprised.

[dionysus]

5. i have a WW2 rifle, but no bullets. i'd have to use it as a club.

[cowcommander]

117. Please sell it to a collector

WW2 rifles are getting rarer these days, especially Garands

[boomerbust]

165. I just gave my 303 to my grandson

My father purchased it from a Brit on his way back from the Philipines after WW2

[dionysus]

198. i bought it as a collector. i just can't afford membership to a rifle range yet. or to expand my

collection.

[Bettie]

6. We have three black powder muzzle loading rifles

All of them were purchased for historical events that we participate in.

Modern handguns or firearms, nope, we have kids.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Nope. Never have had and never will. n/t

[lonestarnot]

9. None of anyone's business what is in my house.

[jdlh8894]

12. Nicely stated! n/t

[Very_Boring_Name]

13. .

:eyes:

[pintobean]

19. That response indicates a complete lack of understanding.

[alfredo]

29. Letting people know you have a gun enhances your risk of

having your house burglarized when gone.

[11 Bravo]

149. I Googled "U.S." + "lonestarnot" and much to my surprise ...

neither his home address or his vacation plans appeared on my monitor.

[alfredo]

161. Most break ins are within the crook's neighborhood.

[lonestarnot]

176. Tee hee.

:7

[lonestarnot]

178. We have a nutfucker bomber in our hood. So yeah.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/explosions-rattle-phoenix-neighborhood

[Hangingon]

46. Great response Lonestarnot

It is no one's business what I own. I am surprised so many bothered to satisfy the OP's curiosity.

[REP]

148. Best answer

[RKP5637]

10. 3 inherited ones, not in working order, need cleaning/going over, and no ammunition. n/t

[CountAllVotes]

28. I had a couple of those

And oh what a mess that was. They were found in a drawer as the supposed "owner" lied dying in a care home. No one seemed to know WHO they were registered to. My fundie relatives were totally freaked as it might have been them!

I ended up taking them to the county sheriff's office and had them all melted down. After that I had to show proof that they were indeed gone which I had in my possession. Said fundie relatives were letting out huge sighs of relief and actually thanked me for properly disposing of them.

What a damn nightmare that was!

:kick:

[Amaril]

135. Went thru something similar with my Dad's gun

It's an old revolver -- was never registered (I don't think any of his guns were ever registered) -- and I wanted to keep it because it was the only thing left after.........well, that's another story, so nevermind.

He lived in PA, I lived in FL. Only way to get it from his house to mine was to take it to a gun shop in PA, have them ship it to a gun shop in FL, and then I had to file paperwork once back in FL in order to register it in my name. Whole process took about a month and cost in the neighborhood of $180. I'm not even sure the gun is worth $180.

[krispos42]

144. Illinois? n/t

[ClayZ]

11. I have my dad's shotgun.

Mr. ClayZ will not allow me shells. He knows me :)

[Fuzz]

14. Why? What are you planning?

[Snoutport]

31. absolutely nothing

Was just curious.

[Kolesar]

204. well played...eom

[Codeine]

15. Sort of. It's a WW2 Soviet rifle with no ammunition.

Beat to shit. I just think it looks cool.

[dionysus]

45. K98?

[Codeine]

48. Mosin-Nagant. nt

[dionysus]

55. oh damn.

[Adsos Letter]

61. I own a Mosin-Nagant; made at Tula Arsenal in 1937.

Never fired it, although it is in excellent condition.

My understanding is that boatloads of them were imported into the US prior to WWII.

[Codeine]

64. And another shit-ton after the Wall fell.

There was a period when they could be had on sale at Big 5 for eighty bucks still covered in packing grease. Cheapest historical curio ever!

[Adsos Letter]

186. If you haven't already checked it out, there is a site to check the serial number

and find out when and where it was manufactured. I'll try to find it again.

[Concordia]

106. Was about to ask!

I was about to ask if you had a Mosin-Nagant when I saw your reply. That is one HELL of a rifle, and it kicks like a mule and packs a wallop.

[Ikonoklast]

110. Got one hanging over the fireplace.

Mine is a 1923 Izhevsk Arsenal manufacture.

Bayonet, cleaning kit, carrying strap and all.

[slackmaster]

16. I keep an M1 Garand rifle and two clips (yes, clips) of ammunition handy

The rest of my gun collection is locked up in safes.

[dionysus]

82. is it from the springfield or winchester armory? big bux for those.

[slackmaster]

93. SA "Greek Return" rifle from the Civilian Marksmanship Program

Lightly used by the army of Greece during World War II. One of the best deals the federal government offers.

[JitterbugPerfume]

17. does a super soaker count?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. Yes, if we need to invade Fukushima

then we'll need all we can get.

[jdlh8894]

21. Will it spray fuel?

That can be lit? How much pressure? Distance to target? IMWTK

[taught_me_patience]

18. I'll never own a handgun

But I might, one day, own a hunting rifle.

[Quixote1818]

22. I have a BB Gun. nt

[Ikonoklast]

112. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

"Ho, ho, ho!"

[Iggo]

23. Wouldn't you like to know?

Oh, wait...that's the whole point here, isn't it.

So no then.

[WingDinger]

24. Depends on what the definition of in is!

[jdlh8894]

34. In -definition

1-house
2-cars
3-shop
4-business
5-holster

[Maru Kitteh]

25. If I felt the place I lived was so violent as to warrant such measures I would leave, walking out

with the clothes on my back if need be.

No firearms.

[Maine_Nurse]

32. Owning firearms isn't always about defense/violence. We have 9 and they are...

mostly for hunting and sport shooting. We'd probably have less, except the wifey pretty much has to have her own version of mine.

[spin]

49. You can live in a peaceful upscale neighborhood ...

and still some fool may break into your house while you are home.

I used to say when I was living in Tampa that people left my neighborhood to go to the nicer neighborhoods to rob and pillage.

Of course, your best defense is to practice good security and make your house difficult to invade. A firearm is the absolute last resort when all else has failed and even if you are very proficient with one, is no guarantee.

It's your choice and if you dislike firearms it's best that you don't own one as you probably would be unprepared to use one if truly necessary. Your attacker might sense your unfamiliarity and your hesitation to use the weapon and take it from you with disastrous results.

When I bought my home in Tampa, it was in a nice neighborhood. Thirty years later times had changed. I owned my home and was approaching retirement and had plans to move into a more rural area. Fortunately while I lived there, I never had to use a firearm in self defense. It's reassuring to have one if you have the skill and mindset to use one, but shooting another person is the last thing a rational person ever wants to do.

[Maru Kitteh]

68. A meteor might hit my house too...

But I'm not going to live underground.

No firearms.

[joeglow3]

78. Make sure and post this policy on your door nt

[Maru Kitteh]

87. no problem n/t

[joeglow3]

140. Of course, now I have to buy a gun.

Since all the potential robbers will see your sign and skip over to my house, I need to protect myself.

[Maru Kitteh]

152. If you're really into signs you can put one on your house, cuz thugs like a little light reading

while they're out, you know, bein' thugs and all.

[spin]

102. As I said, I have no problems with your choice ...

Firearms are not for everybody.

[WatsonT]

139. Crime only occurs in certain neighborhoods?

Good to know.

[Maru Kitteh]

154. didn't say that

[LanternWaste]

162. I follow the same path...

I follow the same path as you and for the same reasons.


And as for the poster down-thread who queried as to why there is no sign on your door stating as much, we can then only assume that a) he himself has a sign on his front stoop listing every possession he doesn't own or b) (more likely), bumper-stickers reside in brains as well as on bumpers...

[blueamy66]

193. I like your style.

nt

[ewagner]

26. Shotgun n/t

[nc4bo]

30. Love anonymous polls...

Not being sarcastic at all.

I voted but y'all will never know }( }(

[piedmont]

84. Actually, DU polls aren't /totally/ anonymous. DUers have been banned because of poll responses. nt

[nc4bo]

123. I don't really think that admin really cares about who owns a gun though, right?

Unless of course we write a crazy, threatening post telling the world we intend to do physical harm to someone with that gun.

That's the only point I was making piedmont :hi:

(gun ownership can sometimes be a hotter than hot topic here, so this poll seems a good way to gather information from those who choose to participate in it). But this is only DU and not the entire world so the results really don't mean too much in the grand scheme of things.

[piedmont]

141. I know. I was just using it as an opportunity to bring up something I find troubling.

:hi:

[Snoutport]

33. At least 6 say they have family heirloom guns or collectible guns...

That is interesting. My gun is also a family heirloom from WWI. It is in working order and I get it cleaned regularly but I've never shot it. But, it was my great grandfather's service pistol and if it wasn't for that familial tie, i probably wouldn't have a gun.

[Shiver]

35. Nope, no guns.

I do have a very extensive knife collection, though.

[-..__...]

36. Good Heavens, no!!!

I'm shocked that any decent Democrat/DU'er would even consider owning one!

:evilgrin:

[Vinnie From Indy]

37. The National Security Apparatus thanks you for your revelations

I am always a bit amazed at how freely people offer intimate details about their lives on the intertubes.

Cheers!

[spin]

51. The National Security Apparatus knows I have firearms ...

for one thing, I have a concealed weapons permit.

Even if I didn't with all the computers and technology that Agent Mike has at his disposal and with the advanced data mining programs that are available, I'm sure he would know even if I tried to hide that fact.

[Cleita]

38. Can't help it. My son-in-law is a collector. n/t

[HappyMe]

39. No guns here.

[gatorboy]

40. Why? Planning on robbing houses?

[guitar man]

41. well

just kick in the door, come on in and find out :evilgrin:

[here_is_to_hope]

43. A single shot 410, two hand guns...

And a .223 for the varmints that try to steal my chickens.

[spin]

44. Yes. I have a collection of firearms that I have used through the years for ...

primarily target shooting.

I enjoy shooting handguns and have several .22 cal target pistols, a number of .38/.357 revolvers, several 1911 .45 autos, a .45 auto revolver and a .44 magnum revolver. I also own a Swiss Mauser and a 12 gauge coach gun.

I accumulated this small collection over the last 40 years. I originally purchased a revolver for home defense primarily for my wife as we had reports of prowlers in our neighborhood and I worked the night shift. I took my wife to the pistol range to practice and we both discovered an interesting and challenging hobby.

We often took our daughter to the range and when she became old enough, I taught her gun safety and how to shoot. She started with a single shot .22 rifle with the stock cut down to fit her. Eventually I bought a small .22 cal S&W Kit Gun with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights that she was able to handle with her smaller hands. At the time she was nine or ten years old.

Eventually she grew enough to handle larger handguns and fell in love with my S&W Model 25-2 .45 acp revolver which is the same frame size as Dirty Harry's .44 magnum. I think she mainly enjoyed the attention she attracted when she would walk up to the shooting line, load this handgun and fire at targets 25 yards downrange. Many male shooters were amazed that a young girl who was only 5' 2" and weighed under 100 pounds could handle such a weapon effectively.



One night an intruder attempted to break into our home despite the fact that there was a 60 pound Labrador Retriever inside and a burglar alarm that was sounding. My daughter walked into the kitchen as he was forcing the sliding glass door open. She pointed the big revolver at him and he ran. No shots fired. No one hurt.

Now I have two grandsons to enjoy and to teach gun safety and target shooting. I might have lost my only child that night had she not had the means to defend herself.

[MilesColtrane]

47. This is my rifle, this is my gun.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Yep, and I am all for very tight gun control procedures

like background checks et al.

Why I and the Gungeoneers do not see eye to eye.

No I would not have one iota of an issue having to take a mandatory class every five years, and geting a licence.

[spin]

57. Not everybody has the money for what you suggest ...

and it is quite possible that the price of a license and a class could be set so high that many people in the lower classes would be unable to afford them.

Of course, gun control has racist roots and the main idea is to keep "those people" from owning firearms.

Having said that, I have a concealed weapons permit and to get that permit I had to show proof of firearm safety training and pass a background check. Firearm safety is not so complicated that you have to undergo a class every five years. Driving a car is far more difficult and I don't have to take a driving test every five years.

The initial cost of a concealed weapons permit and the initial class in Florida is set at a reasonable level and the license is good for seven years. Renewals are less expensive and require no class. I might go along with your idea as long as cost of the class and license was kept at a very reasonable level. I personally believe that firearm safety should be a mandatory high school class, but because of the hatred some people have toward firearms, that is a pipe dream.

I can see advantages to requiring a firearms safety course for all people who purchase firearms. On the range I have seen several people arrive and when asked if their firearm was loaded had no idea of how to check to see if it was.

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. My drivers licence runs oh what was it? 12 bucks

that would be raesonable

[spin]

85. Very reasonable...

The cost of an initial concealed weapons permit in Florida is somewhere around $200. That includes the license fee of $117, the cost of the concealed permit class (which can vary) $50, the cost of getting your fingerprints and form notarized is $14 and whatever you have to pay for a passport photo.

The renewal does not require a class or fingerprints and costs $65 and is also good for 7 years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. That is the kind of cost for a licence

I am not talking of huge costs.

To me having to take a gun safety coure is a good idea. I am biased, after taking folks to hospital from GSW. The bad guys, whatever, but the kids tear you up.

[spin]

101. The gun safety course would be a good first step ...

Requiring gun safety courses for hunters has caused a dramatic reduction in hunting accidents.

We also need to better enforce existing laws that effectively target the criminal element. We can improve the NICS background check system and make it more effective by requiring the states to input the names of people who should not own firearms on a faster basis. We could try to find a method of allowing private citizens to utilize this system for private sales. We could crack down on those who sell firearms illegally on the street and those who provide those firearms by being straw purchasers. If a firearm is used to commit a crime and is traced back to you and you are convicted as having been a straw purchaser, you should be considered as an accessory to the crime.

These are not simple or inexpensive ideas but would, in my opinion, be far more effective than useless "feel good" laws such as anther assault weapons ban. All too often in the past, politicians have enacted such legislation in order to appease those who oppose firearms and to appear to be actually doing something to address the problem of gun violence. Unfortunately, "feel good" laws do little and are used by Republicans to encourage their base to go to the polls.

Many Americans have little knowledge of firearms but feel that the solution to gun violence is to ban or confiscate weapons. Many other Americans are very knowledgeable about firearms and the propaganda widely spread by groups such as the Brady Campaign. Someone without knowledge may believe that another assault weapons ban will stop people from buying fully automatic machine guns. They often do not realize that the ban deals with semi-automatic firearms which are basically the same as firearms which have been in common use for a century by hunters. They have not idea that they have been lied to and misled by some who have an agenda that includes disarming the citizens of this nation.

[Snoutport]

94. every five years? you had me until that....

unless you could do it with your driver's license.... that wouldn't be too bad.

[Paradoxical]

132. I'm a very pro-gun liberal and I too support tough gun laws.

There should be mandatory classes every year, as far as I'm concerned. And you must complete them annually to retain your license to possess a firearm.

[Obamanaut]

52. Voted 'yup', but rather than "a gun" , there are several. nt

[Viva_La_Revolution]

86. ditto nt

[elocs]

53. Never have, never will. I have absolutely no reason to own a gun. None. n/t

[Little Star]

54. Interesting poll.

[Snoutport]

60. yeah.... I'd bet if we polled republicans we'd get a similar answer

some sort of split in the middle...but, i didn't expect the guns to be winning. I thought it was going to be a 70% no 30% yes split...or somewhere around those numbers.

[spin]

95. The Democratic Party has a history of supporting draconian gun laws ...

which leads to the party shooting itself in the foot as many Democrats own firearms for both sporting and self defense.

If a person has a fairly large amount of time and money invested in shooting and firearms they may agree with the Party on most positions but may refuse to show up at the polls and in some cases vote for a Republican if they worry that a Democratic candidate for office may threaten their hobby.

Recently our party has started to realize that the gun control issue hurts us more than helps us. We can work on improving and better enforcing existing gun laws. However, any attempt to ban firearms or to regulate magazine capacity will probably cost us seats in Congress and possibly ruin Obama's chances in the next election.

Gun control in the past has done more to harass and inconvenience honest law abiding gun owners while having little effect on the criminal element.

Obama does seem to realize this. In a recent editorial in the Arizona Star he said:

The fact is, almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible. They're our friends and neighbors. They buy their guns legally and use them safely, whether for hunting or target shooting, collection or protection. And that's something that gun-safety advocates need to accept. Likewise, advocates for gun owners should accept the awful reality that gun violence affects Americans everywhere, whether on the streets of Chicago or at a supermarket in Tucson.

I know that every time we try to talk about guns, it can reinforce stark divides. People shout at one another, which makes it impossible to listen. We mire ourselves in stalemate, which makes it impossible to get to where we need to go as a country.

However, I believe that if common sense prevails, we can get beyond wedge issues and stale political debates to find a sensible, intelligent way to make the United States of America a safer, stronger place.

I'm willing to bet that responsible, law-abiding gun owners agree that we should be able to keep an irresponsible, law-breaking few - dangerous criminals and fugitives, for example - from getting their hands on a gun in the first place.
http://azstarnet.com/article_011e7118-8951-5206-a878-39bfbc9dc89d.html

[Chorophyll]

56. No way. nt

[sendero]

58. Way..

.... more than one.

[TheMadMonk]

62. No. However, I have a scythe, 3 sickles, a thatcher's hook,

and a eucy cutter's "knife".

[Codeine]

66. You're ready to get medieval on someone's ass,

literally!

[TheMadMonk]

77. Actually used the scythe a month or two ago when I let the grass...

...get ahead of me. Was way faster than the weed whacker once I got the swing right. And less mess.

[Old Troop]

157. Apparently the "peasant stock" gene in my family has weakened.

I tried to use a scythe on some tall grass and nearly removed a foot! After that I found that I was just beating up the grass rather than cutting it.

[rucky]

80. No quarterstaff?

what kind of a monk are you?

[Paradoxical]

136. You sound like the Angel of Death.

:scared:

[piedmont]

63. I don't know why the results of this poll would be surprising or relevant to the other results.

It's been shown before, over and over, that Democrats own firearms in pretty large numbers, though not as many as Republicans. It's a right recognized by the constitution, and many choose to exercise it.

[Monique1]

69. I am amazed how many here

find this a joke. I don't find it funny.

I know someone who had a gun for protection but was beat up and bound and they stole her gun. So much for safety! So much for funny!


The person who stole the gun sold it to an ex con. It was traced.

[piedmont]

71. I have no idea what you're talking about.

"I don't find it funny.

I know someone who had a gun for protection but was beat up and bound and they stole her gun. So much for safety! So much for funny!

The person who stole the gun sold it to an ex con. It was traced."


1) I don't believe I ever pointed out anything humorous in the poll. Perhaps you meant to reply to someone else.
2) I'm not going to relinquish a fundamental right because of a poorly related anecdote. Sorry.

[spin]

107. Having a firearm for self defense is no guarantee ...

of safety.

First you have to have the knowledge and the skill to use it. Second you must be willing to shoot another person who is threatening you with severe injury or death even if that means that you will injure or kill them. Not everyone can do this. Shooting another person goes against basic human nature.

And of course you can have have the weapon, the skill and the mindset and still lose the fight. Life is not easy or fair. I chose to have a firearm for self defense knowing these facts.

[Old Troop]

158. I spent my adult life as an infantryman so I know a little about weapons.

As I said, I have no problem with folks owning guns, but, for myself, I find that a large maladjusted dog is a great security device for the home.

[spin]

174. I had a sixty pound female black lab in the house ...

when an intruder attempted to gain entry by forcing the kitchen sliding glass door open. That set a burglar alarm off and my daughter found herself confronting the intruder who was half way through the door.

Fortunately she had a large caliber revolver with her which she pointed at the intruder. He ran. No shots fired. No one hurt.

The black lab was a very intelligent and well adjusted dog. I suspect she knew that my daughter would protect her.

[blueamy66]

194. Jeez......

alarms, guns, big dogs....where the hell do you live?

[spin]

202. At that time in Tampa ...

I had bought a nice house in a neighborhood that went downhill. Many of my neighbors had burglar bars on their windows and doors. I never went that far because I didn't want to feel like I was living in a jail cell.

[TahitiNut]

65. Over the years on DU: Asked and answered man times.

The results typically run about 60%. As a "liberal," I don't pick and choose from the Bill of Rights. When it comes to a choice between "liberty" and "safety" I typically choose the former. I'll probably find "safety" and "peace" when I'm in my grave ... and have a long time to "enjoy" it.

[Snoutport]

89. Do they save old poll results anywhere? Those could be interesting to read through. nt

[X_Digger]

99. Here's one screenshot..

[TahitiNut]

111. In the archives ... a search would be needed.

:shrug: Us olde DU pharts rely on our memories. (As long as we have them.)

:dunce:

[Snoutport]

115. I'm pretty new on here so it is all new to me.

Think of it as a refresher course! Really enjoying my DU time--so nice to hear rational thoughts from people after only having CNN for so long!

[aikoaiko]

210. Here's another one with 775 responses.

[Snoutport]

96. the numbers haven't really changed--just more votes. you are probably right on where they will fall

[VoteProgressive]

67. I have one handgun in my bedroom.......

in a safe I can press a keycode and have in my hand in 10 seconds.

The keycode has 1 million possible combinations. No child can open it but I can if needed.

http://www.gunvault.com/handgun-safes/microvault.html

[Dappleganger]

75. +1

Love that one, it works quite well. ;)

[VoteProgressive]

81. Really safe but easy to open. I love it. Can use in car also with cable.

[Upton]

108. Lets just hope you never need it sooner than that

If you have kids around...I understand. If not...I don't.

[VoteProgressive]

114. I guess if I was worried about it I could take it out when I went to bed.....

and put it back when I woke up.

[Dappleganger]

116. That's why we have dogs...

early alarm system. ;)

[krabigirl]

70. No but I have thought about getting one..just a bit too scared really.

however I support the right to have one.

[spin]

109. You might consider going to a class on firearms ...

or finding an instructor or a very knowledgeable shooter to take you to the range.

I have introduced several women to shooting and all were surprised at how much fun shooting is. Many also felt that it was very empowering.

Be careful that you don't find some idiot who will hand you a .44 magnum for your first try at shooting. I've often seen such fools on the range who will giggle and laugh at their female companion's reaction to shooting such a powerful weapon. I start everybody I introduce to shooting with a .22 caliber weapon and once they have gained confidence I gradually let them try larger caliber firearms.

I remember a nurse that I took shooting. After several trips to the range she was watching a shooter as he was using a .357 magnum using HOT reloads. She walked up to him and asked if she could try his weapon. She fired six rounds and walked back to her lane with an enormous smile on her face. She loved the experience.

[Dappleganger]

72. Yes.

Both dh and myself have our concealed weapon permit, we have multiple weapons and they and the ammo stays under separate lock and key. We regularly shoot and take classes as well.

[ehrnst]

73. My husband says a lash of my tongue at 30 paces is dangerous enough... (nt)

[Snoutport]

90. lol nt

[hunter]

74. Nobody ever messes with the Munsters or the Addams families.

Guns? Bah.

Beware of Doug.

Heh, heh, heh....

[spinbaby]

76. We have an arsenal in the house

They're my husband's--he likes to go to the shooting range--and they're all kept locked up in gun safes when they're not in use.

[rucky]

79. No. Unless my crazy neighbors are reading this.

Then, yes.

[Paradoxical]

137. lol

[Autumn]

83. 2 rifles,1 shotgun and a pistol. n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

88. I don't have a gun now and have never owned one. However, I have no problem

with gun ownership as long the firearms are stored and used properly and responsibly. It just makes me physically ill when I read a story about a child who has found a loaded gun in their home and has killed or injured himself/herself or another child.

[Prophet 451]

92. Not allowed here

I'm British and all handguns are banned from civilian hands here. Even getting a license for rifles is extremely difficult and the fact that I'm mentally ill makes it impossible for me.

But, if those laws didn't exist and I were mentally healthy, I would probably own a firearm because I enjoy target shooting.

[Heathen57]

97. Odd timing on this OP

Just earlier this month I bought a Springfield Arms XD9. My entire family also signed up for an intensive 3-day class on safety as well as the legal aspects and shooting instruction. The XD joins a S&W .357 and a couple of rifles. One rifle is not usable though. It was my grandfather's, bought with the money he got from severance from the Army at the end of WWI.

I also have a keen interest in bladed weaponry. They are great for exercise to help with balance, and the lower life forms who would break in our home get an idea of what might meet them. I figure if they can succeed to get past the dogs, then they are serious about doing harm.

[ReggieVeggie]

98. no and never will

[diveguy]

100. I have around 36 guns

14 are NFA toys. the rest are hunting rifles, shotguns, pistols. I'm a machine gun toting pacifist. It's my wife you gotta watch out for

[Taverner]

119. I have always wanted a Glock 9mm

It's not that I don't want a gun, but right now there are higher needs than that of a gun. Guns are a fun hobby, but their usefulness is a rare occurrence.

But a Glock is a fun gun.

[diveguy]

124. I dont really care for glocks

they just dont have the natural point of aim for me. I am glad the dept i worked for allowed me to qualify with another side arm. I absolutly love the single stack 1911. beretta 92 is good but heavy. And the Smith & Wesson M&P series are good to go.

[w8liftinglady]

150. my son wants me to get one for him...it's a little hardcore for me.

....but I'm looking... finding Glocks is hard if you aren't in law enforcement,isn't it?(They aren't metal,rightZ?)

[diveguy]

190. Other than the polymer frame.

they are all metal. In fact, the frame has metal inserts. best thing to do is go to the gunshop with your son. Let him pick up all the pistols. He may find out he doesnt like the feel. You can get older gen police trade-ins cheaper. And just about any gunstore sells glocks. they are that popular

[DutchLiberal]

103. Since I don't live in the Wild West: nope.

[spin]

113. Of course you realize that the Wild West was far safer than ...

most modern cities in our country today.

How many murders do you suppose these old western towns saw a year? Let's say the bloodiest, gun-slingingest of the famous cattle towns with the cowboys doing quick-draws at high noon every other day. A hundred? More?

How about five? That was the most murders any old-west town saw in any one year. Ever. Most towns averaged about 1.5 murders a year, and not all of those were shooting. You were way more likely to be murdered in Baltimore in 2008 than you were in Tombstone in 1881, the year of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral (body count: three) and the town's most violent year ever.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18487_6-ridiculous-history-myths-you-probably-think-are-true.html

[LWolf]

125. I do live in the wild west.

It's not very wild any more, but there are still places that are not yet cities, at least, not big cities. The only time I ever get nervous is during hunting season, when there are hunters on two sides of my place shooting early and late. I don't ride my horses out on the public land abutting my home during hunting season anymore; It doesn't matter what fluorescent color I'm wearing, when I can hear gun fire on all sides, hidden by ridges, troughs, and thick trees, I don't feel like it's a safe place to be. That's about as "wild" as it gets around here.

Wildlife, while always present, doesn't bother me much...except the pack rats.

I do resent cutting my riding season short, though. By the time hunting season is done, the time change has happened and the days are short and frozen. I spend all my daylight hours at home trying to keep up with chores.

[DutchLiberal]

153. But European cities are even safer; and we have hardly any guns...

Go figure.

[slackmaster]

207. I found a BBC story that puts Amsterdam's murder (?) rate at 7.7 per 100K, only slightly lower...

(Question mark added because the number seems high - Is that the overall violent crime rate???)

...than San Diego where I live (8 per 100,000). It's only for one year (story was published in 1998), but if Amsterdam is like most other cities in the world its crime is not evenly distributed. If you avoid dangerous areas of any big city in the US or Europe you are going to be pretty safe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/153988.stm

BTW, San Diego's crime rates as of 2008 are a little over half of what they were in 1998.

http://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/pdf/090129crimestats08.pdf

ETA the other thing to keep in mind about US cities is that the exceptionally high crime rates attributable to a handful of them skew the statistics. When you speak of European cities you probably aren't thinking about places like Moscow.

[Shandris]

104. No firearms in my home.

However, I maintain a hand crossbow, a light crossbow, and a variety of throwing and handheld weapons that, while not as quick and easy to use as a gun are every bit as deadly.

*Note: there are no children in my home, ever. Also, no weapons are immediately usable without some preparation and/or are in display cases.

I don't have anything against a gun in my house, so long as I'm not raising children. But it just isn't, and hasn't been, the right decision for me. They interrupt my aesthetic. :)

[Upton]

105. I've only got four..

but I definitely need a new handgun (I currently have this old Charter Arms revolver which doesn't shoot straight), and maybe a pistol grip shotgun..

[Taverner]

118. Not yet eom

[Robb]

120. I'm reminded of a joke my grandfather told

... When asked, he would say he enjoyed his retirement because he could spend more time with his true passion: throwing pots.

"And mostly," he would add, "I'm able to shoot them before they hit the ground." :D

[LWolf]

121. No. What connection are you trying to make? nt

[Sky Masterson]

122. Nope.. No Guns.

I've never owned anything over a BB gun and the day that I shot a bird with it is the day that I realized that I don't like guns.
I don't have a problem with responsible gun owners/collectors having guns.
But there are some guns and weaponry that I don't condone anyone owning.

[Cali_Democrat]

126. WOW

I didn't know that many people on DU own guns. Very interesting.

[Paradoxical]

128. Maybe the teabaggers will think twice before they try a violent revolt.

[Capn Sunshine]

216. IMO half of them post on DU already

so it's only natural there's a spike in DU gun ownership

[Paradoxical]

127. I have 3. 2 are loaded at all times.

Unloaded:
.22 LR Marlin bolt action rifle

Loaded:
Mini 14 .223
Smith & Wesson 5906 9 mm

[demodonkey]

129. I live on a farm. A gun is a necessary tool here.

For example, to shoot potentially rabid animals (racoons, etc) that are close to the house and behaving erratically... also possibly to end the suffering of any hopelessly injured or sick animal.

[Paradoxical]

134. What do you use to shoot varmints?

[demodonkey]

164. .22 nt

[themadstork]

160. I'm surprised more people have not mentioned this. When it comes to wildlife a gun is a basic tool.

Even in the city you may need to put down rabid coons. And there are an awful lot of abusive dog-owners out there.

Actually it just occurred to me that shooting a rabid animal in the city may draw a lot of attention. How do city folk usually handle rabid animals? Get inside and call animal control? (what if you lose the animal?)

I'm not sure that I'll ever be interested in a concealed carry permit, so a gun is much less useful to me for defending against humans. Generally I think that if a human is deadset on maiming me he'll find ways to do it. We're too cruelly inventive. And even a master of the martial arts is shit outta luck when someone presses a gun to the back of their skull.

But I'll be damned if e.g. some jackass neighbor's abused pitbull chews up the face of my gf, or of our eventual children, which is what happened to my uncle's brother's daughter.

[Upton]

163. It's been mentioned before..

in similar type threads. For the most part, urban dwellers just don't understand the rural lifestyle...and face it, they're the driving force behind most of the repressive gun control proposals..

[Amaril]

131. Gun, but no bullets.

It's an "heirloom" -- only thing I have that belonged to my Dad -- and kept hidden away in a locked safe. In the event of a "real" emergency (such as imminent hostile ET invasion), I could probably get bullets for it, but I have no idea how long it's been since the thing has even been fired (Dad passed away in 2004) let alone cleaned, so the potential for "really bad things" to happen does exist.

[oldlib]

133. I have a 22 Winchester pump rifle

that I doubt could cause much damage. In my family household, when growing up with my five brothers, we had 3 guns. They were a shotgun, a deer rifle and a 22 and they seemed adequate, unlike the arsenal that some gun nuts need today.

[w8liftinglady]

138. my partner,sister and I all live in rural areas

with bobcats,snakes,skunks and meth addicts.my sister and partner are both conceal-carry.My kids are all expert shots at the rifle club.it's a reality in rural america.I don't have an issue, as all my family has been through gun safety class(except me.I'm the lover... and a crappy shot)

[JoePhilly]

142. Did you know that being for or against gun control is not an ...

accurate predictor of who owns a gun, or who plans to purchase one?

As your poll shows, even liberals on DU are split almost evenly on gun ownership.

Gun ownership is a great example of how attitudes towards abstract ideas, like gun control legislation, can have no correlation to actual human behavior.

[RebelOne]

143. No, but I am seriously thinking about buying one

I had a Rottweiler that deterred anyone thinking to break in. There were break-ins at two houses on my street in the past couple of years. But in July, I had to put her down because she had bone and liver cancer. She had been just less than 2 weeks short of her 13th birthday. But i always felt safe with that dog. So I have been thinking of visiting the gun shop in my neighborhood. I have three little dogs (Chihuahua, Mini Pin and French bulldog), but all they do is yap a lot, though they do alert me to anyone outside. But I do not feel as safe as I did with my big dog. Probably shortly, I will be among the gun owners here.

[krispos42]

145. If you need advice for a self-defense gun, the Gungeon is a good place to ask

And it's a permitted topic of discussion there. Sporting guns aren't, though.

[RebelOne]

172. Thanks, I'll check it out.

Not in the market for sporting guns. I don't plan on killing anything just stopping an intruder.

[krispos42]

146. Yup.

5 between my dad and I.

[Raine]

147. Yup, sure do nt

[stevenleser]

151. Negative. Even if I wanted one, I live in NYC. Very strict gun control laws here

and I likes it that way

[Old Troop]

155. no guns in my house, but I have no problem with others who have

them.

[Lucian]

166. Why the hell would I have any need for a gun in my house?

[slackmaster]

208. That was not the question

The OP asks whether you have one, not whether you need one.

[Lucian]

213. Thank you.

I couldn't read English. :eyes:

My point being I have no need to own a gun, which means no, I don't own one.

[slackmaster]

217. I take it that every item that you own is something that you actually need

Correct?

[Texasgal]

167. Yes.

No problem with it. I have no children haven't touched it in years. it's in my nightstand and sometimes I forget it's even there.

I'm not breaking any laws and no one is at risk. I have it for protection. To each his own.

[Ahpook]

168. Y eah, and would enjoy getting rid of them

Regardless of how they arrived in our house, how do you dispose of them? Thought about cutting them in two inch segments and tossing in the garbage.

[petronius]

175. Perhaps your local police department has a 'turn-in' program? Sometimes they'll trade

gift cards or somesuch for unwanted guns. And there's probably a local firearms store that sells used guns - perhaps on consignment?

[TheKentuckian]

180. Send em on out to a good home.

[slackmaster]

209. If they're over 50 years old and in original form you may be able to ship them directly to me

Drop me a PM if you are interested.

[Liberal_in_LA]

169. kinda weird. All these DUers having guns.

Pick up trucks and large flags also?

[w8liftinglady]

170. My partner and my sister - both hardcore Dems- have BIG trucks

It's a reality in rural Texas.
my sister works as a field biologist testing for rabies and infectious diseases.
My partner lives on a lake and does a lot of his own home improvements.he also helps his friends... he' s the one with the truck.

I have my dad's veteran burial flag displayed in a box on my wall.

we don't have to fit the generic mold,ya know.

[Liberal_in_LA]

173. ..

:cry:


just kidding. :-)

[slackmaster]

179. I drive an SUV and have a conservative Roman Catholic girlfriend

But I do ride bicycles, recycle, and compost religiously.

I managed a political campaign in 2008, and I never fail to vote.

[Dappleganger]

181. Pickup truck, yes.

Big-ass flag, no.

BTW, what do you have against working people? You do know that the truck is the #1 work vehicle, right?

Over-generalize much?

[Incitatus]

187. truck, but no flag nt

[Codeine]

199. Small car. No flags. Not sanctimonious.

You might want to look into that last bit.

[Statistical]

206. Its scary when your preconceived notions are laid bare.

Make some people lash out.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

171. Several, actually.

A couple of handguns and a few rifles that belonged to my dad.
Duckie

[bigwillq]

177. No

But I am not against guns. We're just not really a gun family.

[MrSlayer]

182. Nope. I have a dog and a bastard sword.

No need for guns.

[JanMichael]

183. yes. nt.

[AsahinaKimi]

184. No, but I own these...

and this:


And this:
http://twitpic.com/14wmq4

[RB TexLa]

185. Several

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

188. In the words of the greatest TV dad ever...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tr3Itxivwo

[ElsewheresDaughter]

189. I live in the wilderness of upstate NY...lots of bears and even have mountian lions on my property

[Syrinx]

191. My grandpa left me two rifles

But someone stole them. I think my father. :)

I'm surprised that "armed" is winning.

[a la izquierda]

195. No...

I have a baseball bat and three dogs. If someone tried to rob my house, they'd hear a very large dog slamming against the door and probably think twice.
I'm not opposed to guns though, I grew up with them.

[Baclava]

197. I lost all my guns in a tragic canoe accident in the swamp many years ago

But thanks for asking, Mr BATF man.

[guardian]

200. How terrible.

Same thing happened to me. But I also lost several thousand rounds of ammo in the same accident!

[Baclava]

221. Tragic! Sorry for your loss. My condolences.

Maybe I need a bigger canoe.

[Courtesy Flush]

201. I have a nail gun, a staple gun, and a grease gun. nt

[ecstatic]

203. I am really shocked by these results

I don't have a gun. I've thought about it in the past because it's scary here at night, but when I think about the steps I'd have to take to make it happen, I don't feel like being bothered. Maybe I'll get a long sharp knife or something.

[Statistical]

205. "when I think about the steps I'd have to take to make it happen, I don't feel like being bother"

which is exactly the point of do nothing feel good laws. The hope you will feel exercising your Constitutional rights is too much of a bother.

Sadly it works. You are just one of many. Most of the "bother" does nothing to reduce crime. The one piece of gun control legislation which may have an effect the NICS (instant background check) is no bother at all. Takes about 2 minutes. Of course if it wasn't a bother then you might get a firearm and then might want to see your rights protected. Can't have that voting block get stronger so throw in thousands of "bother" laws to reduce the number of people willing to put up with all of it.

Hopefully someday you will get some sane gun control laws and then it won't be a bother. Maybe you still don't get a firearm but at least it will be a free choice.

[Zorra]

211. No, they are not in my house. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

212. Actually, we have 'guns'...nt

[etherealtruth]

214. absolutely not

[chillspike]

215. Oh, no!

I tell you I don't have a gun and you knock over my house! No way! I'm not falling for that one again!!!

[otohara]

218. Hell No

guns suck

[snooper2]

219. guns don't suck, they blow

:rofl:

[truebrit71]

220. I'm curious...Do you lock your doors at night?

...

[slackmaster]

222. Of course I lock my doors

Are you familiar with the idiomatic expression "belt and suspenders?"