Misslmperfect 0 #51 February 28, 2004 so you would rather live with the possibility that someone could more easily take yours? if an intruder has a weapon, more than likely that dog isnt going to do you any good. i agree with your point about the .22 but, a .22 is capable of doing some damage if need be. im not saying everyone should own a gun. not at all. and im not saying i think you're wrong! but i think that if safety is a concern for someone, there are MANY ways to safely own a firearm. as far as someone using my weapon against me, it'd be close to impossible for an intruder, or anyone for that matter, to find it. much less use it. i totally understand your concerns. all im saying is, if someone with those concerns were thinking of owning a gun, there are ways to ease them. you can safely own a gun.Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygrl70 0 #52 February 28, 2004 I do own one .....because I am a SWF and live alone. I grew up in farm town South Jersey and my dad started taking me shooting when I was ten years old. I'm a pretty good shot I just got my own this past Christmas. Besides all you guys here, none of my friends know. I don't want to freak anyone out. I know and respect my gun. I would never, ever want to take someone's life. I am a very peaceful person!!!!!! But I'll say this, if someone was to break in and try to take my life...I feel better knowing I have the resources to protect myself. ...edited cause I can't spell!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dagny 0 #53 February 28, 2004 Quotea .22 is capable of doing some damage if need be. It comes down to aim, really. I have seen .22's take men, big men, out and .44's barely slow them down. I have seen so many people shot and dealt with gunshot wounds of many different caliber and location. Wounds that didn't seem significant sometimes caused severe arterial damage (remembering a guy with one shot from a .22 to the thigh who almost bled to death) and some that seemed significant and life threatening but weren't(remember a guy shot 6 times to the back and head - nothing penetrated important structures so he lived). When I took a concealed carry class, I was taught to go for center mass. It's an easier shot than the head and better than trying to hit an extremity to slow someone down. If they die from the subsequent injuries...well, ce la vie. Of course, my gun has never been pointed at a man and is likely never to be unless someone takes a chance on hurting me or my family. There is risk in crime. My gun is a purchase from an ex-boyfriend. I use it for target shooting and self-defense.Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flailchick 0 #54 February 28, 2004 We own several hunting rifles and hand guns. I have a .22 long target rifle that I have owned since I was 10 years old. My father taught my sister and I to target shoot as children (as well as gun safety and proper care). I hunt with my husband and his family and plan to pass this family tradition along to my two daughters. We are also NRA members... Lori Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #55 February 29, 2004 QuoteQuoteA well placed shot with a .22 would likely stop an intruder. I didn't say kill. If your intention is not to kill the intruder what's the point in shooting him in the first place? The laws on deadly force only give you the right to shoot to stop someone from commiting a serious crime against yourself, or others. Self defense classes teach that you are only to "shoot to stop": your goal is not to kill the criminal, but only to make him cease his dangerous criminal activity. Once the threat of criminal assault ends, then there is no longer any need to shoot. The idea is to protect victims, and at the same time not take the life of criminals unnecessarily. This may seem like semantics, but that's the way it's taught. That being said, if the criminal dies from being shot to stop, then it is his own actions which have brought him to that end. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #56 February 29, 2004 QuoteThe reason I don't own a gun, is because I wouldn't want to live with the possibility that I could take another human beings life... The only reason you would shoot someone, would be stop them from committing crimes like murder, rape and violent robbery. Those crimes put the lives of innocent people in jeopardy. If you would rather be a victim, than shoot to stop a criminal, that is your free choice to make. However, the law would support you in the use of deadly force in self-defense when you justifiably fear for your life. You have to be alive, to feel regret for being forced to shoot someone. Quote...put myself in a position where someone could use my own weapon to take mine. Quote: "At most, 1% of defensive gun uses resulted in the offender taking the gun away from the victim. Even these few cases did not necessarily involve the offender snatching the gun out of the victim's hands. Instead a burglar might, for example, have been leaving a home with one of the household's guns when a resident attempted to stop him using another household gun." - Gary Kleck, PhD, Point Blank; Guns and Crime in America, Walter de Gruyter Press, 1991. Data from "1975-1985 National Crime Survey", Dept. of Justice. In other words, in 99% of the cases, the gun belonging to the intended victim either helped in self-defense, or was at worst neutral and did no harm. Those are good odds in favor of the victim! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #57 February 29, 2004 This information is provided for those who voted: "I don't own a gun because they're dangerous." In the U.S., the principal types of accidental deaths in 1994 were: Motor vehicles ........... 43,000 Falls .................... 13,300 Poison ................... 8,000 Fire ..................... 4,200 Drowning ................. 4,000 Choking .................. 3,000 Guns ..................... 1,500 Suffocation (gases) ...... 700 All other * .............. 14,500 ------ Total: 92,200 * "All other" includes medical complications, machinery, air and water transport accidents, and freezing. (National Safety Council, "Accident Facts") Guns are responsible for just 1.6% of all accidental deaths. Having a car in your driveway, is far more dangerous than having a gun in your house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dagny 0 #58 February 29, 2004 You only asked if the ladies owned a gun and why or why not. What I see are people stating their personal opinions on gun ownership. If a woman doesn't want to own a gun because she feels its dangerous, that is her right. If a woman wants to own a gun because she wants to end the life of a person trying to violate her own or just shoot an extremity to slow that person down long enough to run from the perpetrator, that is also her right. Therein lies the beauty of being an American citizen....having the right to choose. If you wanted to convert women to your views, then you should have phrased your opening question differently. I don't think anyhone is looking to debate their personal beliefs on gun ownership. Please don't stealth an unwanted debate into your thread. If the ladies were interested in locating information on the pros/cons of gun ownership, I'm sure they know where to look.Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic. -Salvador Dali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smellysue 0 #59 February 29, 2004 I used to own a gun more to the point it was an airsoft gun which was used on private land were my other half and his mate ran a club which simulated war. I love it great fun but thats all it was no-one could really get hurt unles ppl were silly and fired it to close, but othere than that it was kept in my otherhalves house locked in a safe locker. I donbt have any thing against ppl owning guns i face then ever now and then in my line of work as long as the person who owns it knows how to use it and make it safe etc. And most of all they are sensible with them, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #60 February 29, 2004 QuoteIf a woman doesn't want to own a gun because she feels its dangerous, that is her right. If a woman wants to own a gun because she wants to end the life of a person trying to violate her own or just shoot an extremity to slow that person down long enough to run from the perpetrator, that is also her right. Therein lies the beauty of being an American citizen....having the right to choose. I absolutely agree with that. But I also think people should make such decisions based upon good factual information, which I think I am providing in response to comments from the ladies here. QuoteIf you wanted to convert women to your views, then you should have phrased your opening question differently. I'm not looking to convert anyone. I'm just watching what is being said, and providing information based upon that. So far I've corrected several mistaken beliefs, such as the legal age at which one may purchase a gun. I think it's worthwhile to correct those things, rather than to let mistaken information lie as is. QuoteI don't think anyhone is looking to debate their personal beliefs on gun ownership. Please don't stealth an unwanted debate into your thread. I'm not trying to do that either. I've limited my role here to that of providing information, in response to direct comments from the ladies. So far I've been very impressed with the comments the ladies have made, and with the fact that 41% of the poll respondents are gun owners. It has made me wonder how this level of female gun ownership compares with the general population... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crzjp20 0 #61 February 29, 2004 hmmm had to read this one.... gun and me are good friends. I am trainned to use them to keep me and my buddys alive. AKA army. So i am 20 year old and i own several guns, only one of which is a hand gun which was a gift from my parents when i got back from my training. Ifi am put in a situation on whick i have to protect my family, or stop an intruder i will do it, and i will not shoot to stop. I will put 2 to center mass and one to the head, thats the way i am trained. In my state, if someone comes into my house or my properity and makes me feel that i am at risk for bodly harm then i have legal right to shoot to kill at that individual. guns are not made to stop people they are made to kill. If someone is comin after me i am not going to pull a 22, i am going to pull a 20 or a 45 and drop him. SOunds rough and yeah i guesse it is, but i will protect my family an my self, bottom line. Anyways Blue Skys all-------------------------------------------------- Fear is not a confession of weakness, it is an oportunity for courage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crzjp20 0 #62 February 29, 2004 i forgot to mention one thing. I am a strong gun suported, however i do feel that some sence of gun control is ok. For example, i do not see why someone needs to have an asault riffle like an AR15, m16, m4, mp5, things like that. THose guns are military guns, and they ment to kill people, not kill dear. So i dont think that those weapons should be allowed to owned by proivate citizens. A .45 is going to stop someon just as affectivly as a 5.56 m4 so go figure.... but like i said before i own gunss, and will always own guns but there needs to be some sence of control.-------------------------------------------------- Fear is not a confession of weakness, it is an oportunity for courage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #63 February 29, 2004 Quotei do not see why someone needs to have an asault riffle like an AR15, m16, m4, mp5, things like that. I know someone who had a number of those types of guns. He didn't intend to shoot anyone or anything other than targets with them; most had only been dry fired. He bought them because he collects firearms. I don't agree that he shouldn't be allowed to own them. He let me play with a couple of them. They're cool. If I had the money I'd collect 'em too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crzjp20 0 #64 February 29, 2004 dont get me wronge i shoot a m16 all the time, but it is a military weapon adn i shoot it with my unit, so i know they are fun, but i think that theey should be controled me strictly thats all.-------------------------------------------------- Fear is not a confession of weakness, it is an oportunity for courage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #65 February 29, 2004 Quotei forgot to mention one thing. I am a strong gun suported, however i do feel that some sence of gun control is ok. For example, i do not see why someone needs to have an asault riffle like an AR15, m16, m4, mp5, things like that. THose guns are military guns, and they ment to kill people, not kill dear. An AR-15 is a civilian semi-auto version of the military M-16. It is not a machine gun. That makes it no different than any other semi-auto rifle. In fact, the .223 bullets it shoots are much less powerful than hunting rifles, which use something like .308 or .30-06. (See attached photo) It functions no different, and shoots only a medium-power cartridge. In fact, many states don't allow deer hunting with AR-15's, because the bullets aren't powerful enough to produce quick, sure kills. They are also the firearm of choice in many forms of sport target shooting competition. So what exactly is it about an AR-15 that makes you think it is too dangerous for civilians to own, compared to other types of firearms? The other firearms you mentioned are machine guns, which are already heavily regulated by the BATF, requiring special registrations and fees. As for "meant to kill people", I don't agree with that. They are meant to shoot bullets. There are numerous manufacturers of AR-15 type rifles that build them "meant for" competition shooting. They operate the same either way. What the gun is actually used for, however, is up to the human being operating it. Guns aren't evil. Only people are. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crzjp20 0 #66 March 1, 2004 ok i am going to tread litly since i am a guest on this board. First off the AR15 was origionaly replacment for the m14 back in the 70's. And yeah it shoots a 5.56, or .223 round, but that is a casuatly producing weapon. that is alot of powder behind a small bullet in return the terminal bulistics of that size round of contact is devistating.... in other words the bullet will flip, turn, slide and do all kinds of stuff when it hits a body. AKA round in a tthe heart level and cound exit at the sholder. The Ar15 is very very easy to modify to fullauto. I have seen it done and could easly repeat the process in maybe 15 minutes. The same thing does for a SKS a weapon the is semiauto, but can be easly modified to be fullauto. You can but conversion kits for bothe of these weapons for about 20 dollars at any gun show. Those weapons are fun to shoot, yes, they are easy o operate, yes, but they are not hunting weapons. By the way when the military designes a weapon it is not designed to simply shoot bullets, it is designed to create the largest casuality as possible aka to kill you on contact. Just cause a round is small does not mean it can not be leathal. the reson the 30 cal is not used by the army any more, besides snipers, is cuase it is over kill and hard to control. so basicaly i feel that those weapons are not needed in peoples homes. It is just my opinion. I think it is an educated opinion but it is just mine. you can agree or disagree thats your progiative. Also please dont think that i am trying to be argumentive or anything like that, im just trying to get some facts out that you may not know as of yet. oh one more thing.... those guns i listed earler are not "machine guns" they are assult riffles or submachine guns. A michine gun is something like a m249, saw, or M60. just a pet peave of mine... joys of military weapons training.... Blue Skys-------------------------------------------------- Fear is not a confession of weakness, it is an oportunity for courage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #67 March 1, 2004 QuoteYou only asked if the ladies owned a gun and why or why not. What I see are people stating their personal opinions on gun ownership. If a woman doesn't want to own a gun because she feels its dangerous, that is her right. If a woman wants to own a gun because she wants to end the life of a person trying to violate her own or just shoot an extremity to slow that person down long enough to run from the perpetrator, that is also her right. Therein lies the beauty of being an American citizen....having the right to choose. I totally agree.I own a gun but I support and respect everyone's right to choose whether they do/do not wish to own a gun.To each his own. QuoteIf you wanted to convert women to your views, then you should have phrased your opening question differently. I don't think anyhone is looking to debate their personal beliefs on gun ownership. Please don't stealth an unwanted debate into your thread. If the ladies were interested in locating information on the pros/cons of gun ownership, I'm sure they know where to look AMEN! I've talked to several girls around here who refuse to get involved in this poll simply because of the notoriety of original poster to insight political (esp. gun related) debates and dont want to fuel an already obnoxious flame. Its a pity that their valuable insight could be/is lost on this issue in their own forum. "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #68 March 1, 2004 QuoteI've talked to several girls around here who refuse to get involved in this poll simply because of the notoriety of original poster to insight political (esp. gun related) debates and dont want to fuel an already obnoxious flame. Its a pity that their valuable insight could be/is lost on this issue in their own forum. Tell them to feel free to post. I'll be happy to remove any further posts in this thread that are not written by women and do not stick to the original question. John, I warned you once about politicizing this thread and you chose to ignore me. There will be no more warnings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smellysue 0 #69 March 1, 2004 I had an Mp5 assualt rilfle and a AK47 but they were both airsoft guns no longer in my posestion. But i agree with wat come ppl are saying that yes some may feel scared to be around gun believe me i was but then i got shown how to use them properly and im not scared any more, mainly cos i know im safe with the gun in my hands and that i can t hurt any one unless i do it on perpoise. It is entirly p to the person if they own a gun but unles for sport i agree there is no need to own an assualt rifle in ordenery life style unles also you keep them as display and they are unable to be fired. I do agree that for some ppl's safety they may like to carry or own a pistel whichi is all well and good just as long as they follow the rules govening them and dont mis use them to any digree. p.s. pls rememeber that every one has there own oppinion and some ppl may not agree with wat you say but it's no big deal..... stay freinds is the most important part. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #70 March 1, 2004 QuoteQuoteI answered no – because I live in the UK and it would be illegal for me to do so. Does this mean that you would like to own a gun, but can't because of the law? If I were living/working in certain parts of London then yes, I would certainly want to carry a gun for self defence. As it is, I don’t and so don’t feel any need to carry/own one. Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #71 March 1, 2004 Yes, I own one. A S&W .357 revolver with a 6" barrel. I've shot in some competitions as well as just for fun at paper targets. Why do I own one - for fun as well as self-defense.Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JVig 0 #72 March 1, 2004 I own a few a. it is my privilege as a citizen b. I'm a collector and this can be the beginning of one c. protection d. target practice is fun -------------------------------------------------- Just remember.....if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #73 March 1, 2004 QuoteJohn, I warned you once about politicizing this thread and you chose to ignore me. There will be no more warnings. I don't believe I was "politicizing". I explained before that I was just responding with information directly to comments from the women. I was not introducing new topics on my own. I received no response from you to that statement, so I assumed that what I was doing was okay. Apparently now, simply because I'm a man, makes everything I say "politicizing". So be it. I'm gone. If anyone would like to see my private response to the "assault weapon" message, feel free to send me a private message and I'll forward you a copy of my comments. Thank you for the discussion, while it lasted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #74 March 1, 2004 QuoteApparently now, simply because I'm a man, makes everything I say "politicizing". Your gender is not an issue. Your tendency to turn anything into an argument and your tendency to politicize the topic of guns is the issue. QuoteSo I take it that you would not be in favor of laws which allowed you to own particular guns only if you could prove to some government agent that you "needed" them. You would be in favor of freedom of choice, for citizens to decide for themselves whether or not to own firearms, for any reasons they choose, and which ones they should be allowed to own QuoteYou can join the military and use guns to fight and die for your country at age 18, yet you can't be trusted to fight for your own life until you are age 21. Go figure... QuoteIt's too bad that your government doesn't trust law-abiding people to safely own firearms, because of the criminal acts of just two people. Pick one. Any of them are politicizing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #75 March 1, 2004 QuoteYour gender is not an issue. Your tendency to turn anything into an argument and your tendency to politicize the topic of guns is the issue. For the record, the first of those examples of "politicizing" you listed was posted before you gave me a warning. For the second two - I'm guilty, if you consider such minor personal comments to be "politicizing". I didn't. My apologies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
