Guns

[Solid Lifters]

Firearms are a necessity in my life. If I had to call the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department for every time a bear, coyote, mountain lion, or other animal that crawled in my backyard in an aggressive manner, I'm sure they would have ordered me to move by now.

Firearms have been a big part of my life; I was once a firearm salesman, and part owner of an indoor shooting range. I once had a CCW, Calfornia Concealed Weapons permit. I have/had numerous friends, co-workers, customers, etc. who have owned CCWs, and not one of us fired our firearm at someone. Out of all the people I have come to face with, only two people have been injured with a firearm. One, had accidently shot himself when a defective decocking lever malfunctioned, and the second was doing something foolish, and shot himself in the foot. He was trying to quick draw a single action revolver, and missed his target.

Even though we never had to use them, it was still a big comfort to know they were there if we needed them. I think it's very foolish to not own at least one firearm. Life here, in the greater LA area, has prooven to everyone that you can't rely on local police when the sh¡t hits the fan.

Gun ownership is something that must be considered with the upmost seriousness. For both the reason why, and how you own a firearm. If you are not comnpletely comfortable with the idea, then don't get one. But don't trample my rights to own one. That scares me, more so than a criminal with a firearm.

 

[Ethix101]

I voted for 'Strict Gun Control'.

First, let me say that I don't have a problem with law-abiding citizens owning guns. I do however think that they should have to take a class to own one. I know somebody else mentioned that you have to take a class to be able to carry a concealed hand-gun, but I think if you're going to own any type of gun that you should have to take a similar class. It would allow people to own weapons for self defense purposes, but it would also help cut down on gun related accidents and deaths.


-Mark

 

[boombexus]

Originally posted by milefile


I still think I would like to buy a handgun. I think they're cool. I also love the fact that I live in place where I can have one. I'll know my family and I have that protection, which comforts me, and I'd fully include my son in it. I'd teach him about it. I'd satisfy his curiosity by including him and taking him to the range and let him shoot. He would understand that it is not a toy, and what an important priviledge it is. I think it has the potential to teach a boy to be responsible, and I'd worry no more about it than him taking the car for the first time.

Guns scare me because I'm not to familiar with them right now. But I want to change that. So I am also considering purchasing a handgun. Much like milefile, I think that guns are cool. But my respect for them goes much farther than just being cool.
I also think that it would be a fun and exciting hobby to pursue. Not only to fire a weapon, but also to learn about it. That learning part is what I would enjoy the most. I would also apply for a concealed weapons permit. Not really to carry a weapon (although I might on occasion.) but primarily to go through the learning and training process. I think that would be very fun indeed.
I also agree with milefile about teaching his son the respect and priviledge of firearms. I don't have a son right now, but what a bonding experience it could be as well as a strong developmental tool. As a matter of fact, reading through this thread has prompted me to start my research on Colorado gun law and what kind of weapon I might want to purchase.

I don't think guns are bad. I think that some of the people that use guns are bad and taking guns away from everyone wouldn't solve any problems. Criminals or persons with ill intent, would just find the next effective way of killing someone. Or new technology would be created that would somehow abide by the law but yet be just as destructive as a gun.

Another of my motivations to owning a handgun would be self defense. Although where I live now crime is very low, but when I used to live in downtown Washington DC, there were a few occasions in which I wish I had a weapon to defend myself. Just being in that city makes you feel uneasy and vulnerable. That in of itself is a shame as nobody should have the right to make others live in fear.
There are bad people out there and I should not have to be frightened of them. Yes I should be wary of them, but never frightened and neither should my family. I have a right to defend myself and my family should anyone try to inflict harm.
I should not, nor should anyone else, have to live in fear of their surroundings. With myself trained properly with a handgun, would ease any fear.

So, to sum everything up, I am for the legal posession of firearms and I still maintain that it's a valuable right of ours. I do think that there should be a certain "moderate" screening process for those who are looking to purchase a weapon. As the old addage goes, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."
Those who want to ban handguns outright seem to have a ready, fire, aim mentality meaning that I don't think they have fully explored the ramifications of banning all weapons. What needs to be done is treat the cause and not just treat the symptoms.


[EDIT:] My post made it in. 👍 GTP server was causing me some serious issues. I thought I had lost my entire post.

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by boombexus
As a matter of fact, reading through this thread has prompted me to start my research on Colorado gun law and what kind of weapon I might want to purchase.

I drive past a a gun shop on my way home from class. Tonight I stopped in. The owner was a great guy and answered all my questions. He also was a pretty good listener; I had a few things to vent as a result of this thread. You'll probably guess we were pretty much on the same page. I asked him about ranges and if kids are allowed. He told me a story about his ex girlfriend's kid whom he used to take to the range with him as early a five years old. He said the kid knew more about guns and had more respect for them than many adults. One night they were at a gathering at a friends house and the kids were playing in a bedroom. The gunshop owner's kid came out to the adults and told the them that the other kids were playing with a gun. He knew what was happening was bad. He knew to get away. He probably saved someone's life.

I also asked what kind of gun he'd recommend for a novice like me. He handed me a .38 revolver. I held it, cocked it, it felt good. I'd love to shoot it for real. I asked why he chose a revolver and he explained how they're good for beginners for various reasons I won't bore you all with. We talked for a bit and I left. I bet I'll be back. After I get a gun owner's card.

One nice thing about AZ, and probably CO, too, is that once you get outside city limits you can shoot legally, and in AZ that's about 98% of the state.

Like Boombexus I'd like to learn about guns, collect them, familiarize myself with the ins and outs and history of them. It's all fascinating to me. I feel the same way about knives. Technology, power, craftsmanship, history... so many aspects to a gun.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Well, if any of you have questions about firearms you can always contact me with a PM.

At the range, we would have a lot of first timers coming in, and I would always ask if they ever shot off firecrackers as a kid. If the explosion made them twitch and shut their eyes. If it did, I would shuggest a .22 to start off with. If it didn't, I would suggest the model 66 S&W .357 magnum. This revolver, like most .357 revolvers, can shoot .38 special as well. I suggest getting a .357, milefile because you can always use more powerful .357 rounds when you start to get use to it.

A semi-automatic is not a good choice for first-timers. You have loading and extraction jams that can occur, and clearing them might result in a misfire. Also, they can go off even if the clip is out of the pistol. Most kids playing with a semi-automatic get shot because they thought the gun was safe because they took out the clip. Plus, not every body can pull back the slide to load the pistol. It does require some bit of strenght to do it, and a lot of women have a problem doing it. In addition to all that, they are not as reliable as revolvers, and they have a lot of parts that can wear out or break completely. They are also not as accurate as revolvers too, and it takes a lot of money and a great gunsmith to make them shoot as well as a revolver.

Only get a firearm that fits your hand like a glove. It should feel like you were born with it in your hand. I've seen to many people buy the wrong firearm because they thought it looked cool, or somebody suggested it was a "better" firearm. Try to remember, suggestions are just suggestions, not law, and never buy anything you can't control in your hand. If the Ruger feels better, buy it. If the Taurus feels better, buy it. What ever type of revolver you get, make sure it's both single, and double action. Double action only, DAO, is not a good revolver to start off with in my opion. Single action only revolvers should be avoided. Those are the "Cowboy" guns you see in westerns.

Fixed sights, or adjustable. I suggest fixed, then when you buy a second firearm, move to the adjustable. The S&W model 60 is a great firearm to start off with fixed sights.

Well, that's about all I can think of right now. Feel free to PM me if you need more help.

 

[Jay]

I own and shoot many handguns. they are not evil like some people think. i use them purely for sport and plinking and i enter many competions

i do believe people should have to take some sort of saftey traning before owning one though. accidents just make guns look bad

"its not the gun that kills, its the person standing behind it"

anyone interested in firearms should take alook at this forum http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/ there is a whole bunch of friendly and helpfull people waiting to ask any questions

 

[Talentless]

Originally posted by Ethix101
I voted for 'Strict Gun Control'.

First, let me say that I don't have a problem with law-abiding citizens owning guns. I do however think that they should have to take a class to own one. I know somebody else mentioned that you have to take a class to be able to carry a concealed hand-gun, but I think if you're going to own any type of gun that you should have to take a similar class. It would allow people to own weapons for self defense purposes, but it would also help cut down on gun related accidents and deaths.


-Mark

That's not strict.

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by Solid Lifters
If the Taurus feels better, buy it.

I was shown a Taurus. I'd never heard of it before. Made in Brazil I take it?

 

[Red Eye Racer]

As much as I enjoyed stirrin things up yesterday, I dont believe it is my duty to participate in this topic any longer. My stance yesterday was infact a bit more liberal than how I really feel, but hey, someone's gotta do it. You all spoke legitimant points, (other than the "if" remarks by Ghost C. I dont feel the need to go back and begin pointing out the hypocracy in it all,... lets just say I'm not going to attempt any more conversation with the guy,... he's rediculous.) and I think this was an excellent topic on T's part to bring up.

Man you are so upset by that. Gee I'm sorry. If I'd known how personal you take it I'd only have called you an idiot.

But seriously, I should've said you comment was moronic, not that you are a moron. So I apologize for that

Not upset,.... I felt the same disappointment as you expressed ("what a disappointment"). What really chapps my ass is that we all know what you think about me, though I could give a crap, your comment was absrud. I was working very diligantly to keep the topic civil (unlike many, many, many before and you know it),... yet you felt the need to reideerate your feelings for me like a 3rd grader.

So, with that said,... go buy your guns,... go blow things up,.. just remember,.. trigger-locks save childrens' lives,.. please be responsible and use the damn things.

 

[Jay]

Originally posted by milefile
I was shown a Taurus. I'd never heard of it before. Made in Brazil I take it?

go here http://www.taurususa.com for more info on taurus, they do make 1st call affordable guns

 

[milefile]

This is the one

 

[Jay]

i dont own a taurus but i really like them for there value for money

 

[Ethix101]

Originally posted by Talentless
That's not strict.

Then change it to moderate. I assumed that the gun control of today was considered moderate. That's why I went a step beyond that and voted for strict. Either way, my opinion is the same.


-Mark

 

[Jay]

australian handgun laws are strict

 

[Talentless]

I've heard Baretta makes the finest guns.

 

[Talentless]

I'd rather not mess with the poll. It's alright as it is.

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by VIPERGTSR01
australian handgun laws are strict

And yet the handgun homicide rate, adjusted for population, far exceeds the US. Go figure.

 

[Jay]

most modern firearms manufactuers make very fine guns, beretta is just one of them

 

[Jay]

Originally posted by milefile
And yet the handgun homicide rate, adjusted for population, far exceeds the US. Go figure.

thats all the illegal guns, we dont have the right to protect ourselfs with guns

 

[milefile]

<sarcasm>But that wouldn't happen in the US. We need strict gun control because it obviously works.</sarcasm>

 

[Jay]

problem is crooks dont hand in there guns, they just laugh at gun buybacks. ive read englands crimes with handguns hasnt improved but got even worse since they BANNED handguns (exept air pistols and muzzle loaders)

 

[milefile]

So then it would seem that instituting strict gun control or banning them altogether amounts to nothing more than giving criminals absolute total control over firearms while putting the safety and security of honest people at serious risk. Hm. That's a good idea.

 

[Jay]

the problem with australia is that the primeminister HATES guns

 

[Danoff]

I also asked what kind of gun he'd recommend for a novice like me. He handed me a .38 revolver.

That's probably a good choice. I have a similar gun that I keep handy. No kids yet so I don't have to worry about little guys getting ahold of it.

Shooting is fun. I suggest you get good at it when you get your gun. If you end up having to use your revolver against someone, I'm sure you'll be glad you spent time practicing.

 

[Duke]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
Ok,... I'll take this 9mm with "6" in the clip and one in the chamber,... you take this knife,.. we'll take 10 paces and see who's standing at the end,... theres your "logic"

BTW,.. you better be a damn good aim,.... cause if it aint a PERFECT kill shot,.. I'll still take you out with the remaining bullets.

Thank you for making our point for us.

 

[Ghost C]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
(other than the "if" remarks by Ghost C. I dont feel the need to go back and begin pointing out the hypocracy in it all,... lets just say I'm not going to attempt any more conversation with the guy,... he's rediculous.)

Hypocrisy would've been me insulting you for your "What if so and so did this?" argument and then me basing my entire argument off of "What if...?". This is not the case, as I based my argument almost completely off of factual statements, and knowledge that I know to be true and accurate.

I'm,... glad you're,... not going to attempt,... anymore,... conversation with me,... because goddamn this ****,... is annoying to read,...

 

[Red Eye Racer]

 

[milefile]

That kung-foo guy should've had a gun. They'd both be alive, as alive as a stick figure can be anyway.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by milefile
This is the one

Yes, the Taurus 82B. This is a good choice for a first time handgun. Fixed sights, 4" barrel, double and single action, this should make for a great first handgun for sure.

You might consider a stainless steele model if you don't plan to shoot that often. Blued guns, such as this model, tend to rust if you leave your finger or hand prints on it. You really have to whipe the gun down at least once a month to put a fresh coat of oil on it, and always whipe it down after you have touched it. They silicon gun bags, as well as rags, to wrap your gun in, but you still should whipe them down from time to time.

Taurus makes a fine handgun. They were seen as a cheap throw-away gun when I was a salesman a dozen or so years ago, but they have retooled their entire production plant, and now they make some really inexpense, but great quality guns in recent years.

I think they come with the hammer safety lock. I don't like them, but since we live in the society we now have, firearm manufactures try to do everything possible to avoid being blamed for a parents neglect. Ask the salesman if it has this feature. If you still have a choice, get the one without it. After all, you do plan to be responsable gun owner and plan to buy a proper gunsafe anyway, right?

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by Solid Lifters
After all, you do plan to be responsable gun owner and plan to buy a proper gunsafe anyway, right?

Actually I planned on getting a trigger lock. I'll put the trigger-locked gun in a safe, and the key to the lock in a smaller safe inside the gunsafe.