rigorousintuition.ca

If not, would you buy one? I'm seriously considering purchasing (legally) a firearm for protection. Am I just paranoid? I hate violence in every form, but I can't shake the nagging feeling that at some point in my life I'll be thankful I had one in my home. I have no children, yet, and I know the lady in my life definitely does not want one. I fired guns at boy scout camp many years ago and remember feeling a tremendous amount of respect, fear and awe for the power that I held in my hands. I am definitely no gun nut, and have very strong feelings about gun control or whether guns should be legal at all, but at the same time I look out at the political and social landscape and fear that one day the knuckle dragging masses will come and try to take over, or I just read about the senseless evils perpetrated by humans against other humans in my neighborhood. Can someone talk me down?

If you don't have kids, buy a gun, definitely. Firearms are amazing artifacts and well worth having.

it would be so tricky to use in practice, I don't feel it would be very helpful. We've all seen so much "gun-control" on tv and movies, but in the real world, pointing a gun at someone does not guarantee their compliance with your orders. If you're trying to face off multiple-hostiles, it would get 'complicated' - but if you really think you'd be able to kill (or even maim) it could work, but a lot of people get their guns taken from them too. It's hard to know for sure until the time comes, but I can barely stand to think about the injury done to another from just a fight, so guns... I just don't know. If you're somewhere that doesn't seem safe, moving might be a better option

Personally, I have seen a number of sketchy/stupid situations get defused immediately by sober, sane use of a firearm, twice when said firearm was not even loaded. I come from a very gun-friendly and gun-literate part of the country. Conversely, this also means I've seen friends of mine stumble off drunk with a loaded .45 revolver and proceed to shoot up his own vehicle on accident. They are certainly dangerous -- lethal, in fact -- and I think drew has a good point, as I re-read your OP.

If TSHTF is what you're thinking about, definitely invest in a several thousand dollar, pieced out sniper rifle setup. Nothing will be more valuable. You also want multiple wide dispersal / short range weapons, ideally a shotgun, an AR-15 and probably a couple Kalishnikov beaters for guests.

Wait, that was totally the wrong answer, wasn't it? Sorry, man.

But seriously, flamethrowers. You can get one.

justdrew wrote:it would be so tricky to use in practice, I don't feel it would be very helpful. We've all seen so much "gun-control" on tv and movies, but in the real world, pointing a gun at someone does not guarantee their compliance with your orders. If you're trying to face off multiple-hostiles, it would get 'complicated' - but if you really think you'd be able to kill (or even maim) it could work, but a lot of people get their guns taken from them too. It's hard to know for sure until the time comes, but I can barely stand to think about the injury done to another from just a fight, so guns... I just don't know. If you're somewhere that doesn't seem safe, moving might be a better option

These were pretty much my thoughts on it. I doubt I could even summon the courage to brandish it let alone use it. Thanks for seriously considering my question, jd.

I own several firearms, which I started collecting after I realized that I live in a country in which the federal government considers it acceptable to kidnap me and torture me to death in secret. Do I advocate violence against the government? No. Do I really think I can stop a squad of Xe mercenaries? No. But I do think that a corrupt government and its thugs will think twice about actually using such totalitarian measures if enough of us are armed.

Six Hits of Sunshine wrote:These were pretty much my thoughts on it. I doubt I could even summon the courage to brandish it let alone use it. Thanks for seriously considering my question, jd.

I bet you could. One side effect of all the gun control rhetoric has been to make otherwise thoughtful people frightened of firearms. If you're going to own a gun, work hard to become comfortable and confident with it. Get training, and make sure to practice and get to know it intimately as you would, or actually far better than your vehicle or any other mechanical device upon which your life might depend. Otherwise, yeah, don't bother.

I think you are justified in your paranoia however, the populace has been shoved into a corner and we've only seen the first bit of (very peaceful and polite) shoving back. I don't expect that energy to evaporate anytime soon. If we imagine a number of potential scenarios playing out from where we are now, it is not unreasonable to conclude that being armed might be beneficial in a few.

I have firearms for odd reasons.

One: Inheritance: 3 hand guns owned by my father when he died, taken pre-Will/Testament so that these weapons would not fall into the hands of his grandchildren who had toddlers in the households. No ammo.

Two: One antique Springfield Rifle which rests over the mantel. No ammo.

Three: One jammed .22 rifle with bird shot, sitting in the basement. Killed a rat with it, then it jammed.

Four: Shotgun in a box, unassembled. No ammo.

Should Santa leave me something? Like Ammo?

Good advice on training. Go to a range. Never pull it unless you intend to use it, and never until it is that time.

No kids, non-gun nut.

I like that old saying, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."

For purely home defense, a shotgun might be a good choice.

I don't have one now, although if my personal situation were different I wouldn't mind having one. I was raised around them and was on a rifle team in the 8th grade (and was a damn good shot). They're just tools, although awesomely powerful, and are an excellent investment - I doubt a decent gun would ever lose its value especially if TSHTF.

Right now if I had one it would just be foolish for various reasons.

But if I DID have one I wouldn't admit it online because I don't want any of the Agent Mikes out there to know one way or another. Wink wink nudge nudge

I agree we all should be armed to keep the assholes in our own government in check. They're largely bullies and cowards as has been demonstrated lately. They'll go for the unarmed people first.

My choice of weapon in the house is an axe. That's my nordic blood I guess. Anybody comes in here is gonna be facing that.

Elvis wrote:I like that old saying, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."

For purely home defense, a shotgun might be a good choice.

I wonder if there's a combination shotgun/rifle ?

Great thoughtful replies so far.

My quick answer to a question the larger sense of which will require a lot of thought for you to answer for yourself;

I don't have one presently, I sold my last .380 auto Import Arms that I had for about 10 years because I was broke and wanted another guitar --not that I NEEDED another. Sorta wish I'd kept it, as sometimes the peace-of-mind from knowing you are able to represent yourself in a dicey situation that threatens the life of a loved one, friend or self is priceless, perhaps more valuable than actually pulling the trigger if ever in one of those dire fixes.

Perhaps THE most important question for you to consider is whether your lady agrees with you. Tuff call, between respecting her wishes and feeling like you should be prepared to protect her in an extreme situation. You should, not probably, talk with her VERY seriously and deeply about the rights, duties, obligations, responsibilities and reality of gun ownership to come to an agreed decision you can both respect.

Personally, I'm not sure whether I want the responsibility of deciding whether I'd take a life if threatened -- I'm kinda a fatalist that way. I don't think that beyond an extreme, rare situation that having a gun if/when there is total social collapse when TSHTF will not be very helpful if you don't have a strong social support network, or at least if you're healthy and reasonably fit, still looking at reaching middle age with an expected 20-30 or more yrs ahead of you.

For a an old fart like me who's already seen 50, my sense of self-preservation isn't as threatened by ANYONE and if things got THAT extreme then I suppose the better part of valor will be to concede my place on this planet, make room for the younger generation who'll have to fix the serious mistakes caused by the shitheads and sociopaths of my generation (and of the preceeding one who REALLY set the stage for the frauds, treachery, abuses and crimes that has led our society and much of the world to the precipice of survival).

So, that's to say, it's a weighty issue. IF you decide, together, on gun ownership for the rightgood reasons, then since you aren't familiar with 'em I'd STRONGLY recommend both of you taking an approved, qualified gun safety class. Retain extra copies of your class-completion certification as a requirement for applying for a concealed-carry permit if you might ever decide to do so and if your state allows. They are renewed every year or two or so and a copy of your safety-class completion will be required -- so if you kept copies you won't have to retake the class. 'Course, I know you probably aren't thinking about a carry permit now but I mention it just in-case.

Good luck whatever you decide! Sometimes just having a gun on-hand in-case will give you the self-confidence and attitude of competancy and preparation to get by w/o having to actually use one. Funny how that works sometimes! Then too, as said, its better to have a gun and never need it than not have one and wish you did. And also as said, you can look at gun ownership in the face of this rabid police-state technocracy as just a good idea on principle, as if enuff of us are armed it MIGHT give the bastards cause not to push things to a civil war. Then too, a shotgun for home protection is an all-around good choice as with double ought buckshot it sends a very potent message and is a bit easier to aim and shoot and hit with than with a handgun.

BTW: Yes, there are rifle-shotgun combos but they're really for survival and specialized uses, as they are single-shot with a different barrel for each set-upper and lower. For home defense, you need multi-shot capability. Apparently, (I didn't know this) shotguns (including pump-guns with 3-shot tube) with pistol-grips and short barrels (under 18 inches) are legal, designated as something like 'firearm other type'. There are some guns available like a Cobray, Colt or Model Arms 2-barrel derringer-style that will shoot a 410 shotgun shell and/or a .45 cal ACP. As well as other set-ups like the M4 Alaskan Survival which is an over-under chambered for the huge rifle-slug 45-70 AND the 410-/.45.

I will never own a gun. I hate them. I like them in video games I guess. But no, never.

I hate guns. I hate their weight -- it feels like the weight of death to me. I hate how they look in real life. I hate what they represent. I hate how they encourage their very own use. I would never want to learn to use one well. I've used them before to shoot clay pigeons. I hated it.

Now, I have gone and partaken of and rather enjoy paintball competitions. I don't mind projectiles used for fun and exercise, no matter how remotely dangerous. One of my favorite activities in gym was dodgeball while most kids hated it. I was good at it. I'd probably be good with a gun. But I don't want that in my life.

I like shooting off my own fireworks, but wouldn't go out of my way to get any at this point. I like standing up for myself and others. But a gun and knowing you have it, frankly scares me. I've gone through life to this point without one, never been in a fist fight, but have never backed down. In other words I'm not a pussy. Just can't stand violence.

I guess, what I learned from this one dude I used to work with who was into guns was that it is the immutable law of responsible gun ownership. If you own a gun, carry a gun, the only time you ever, ever show it when in a dispute, is when you totally intend on using it. Thus that counts me out. I would never want to use one and would figure another way around.

Another thing is, I try and keep my life at about keeping doors locked only 50% of the time -- any more than that and I feel like I am living life unhealthily. I learned a lot about paranoia from living with some dudes from Humboldt who didn't believe in locking doors -- as in, fuck paranoia. There's nothing to be paranoid about if you freely share and share alike and anyone is free to take or use what you have -- just don't fuck up my game saves!!! When I head to the grocery store etc, I just leave the door unlocked. I go to sleep often with doors unlocked if not open.

The world does not need guns and I intend on living that way till the day I die.

Guns/firearms/weapons become an obsession once you start down the path of owning them. I was the same way with "Chinese stars" as a kid. If I got em, I'm always gonna wanna be throwing them. I'm obsessive compulsive and thus am always worried about physically hurting someone.

^^You'd like "Bunraku" --- post-guns civilization, future sci-fi and quite artful japanese cultural appropriation