Mandatory Gun Ownership

[siead_lietrathua]

That's assuming the home invader can find you. If she doesn't care about her stuff, then she'll probably just get out of the house - since she knows her house better than said invader, she'll probably be able to get out before the invader can find her.

basically this. also i have no problem handing over my few valuables and my credit cards/ whatever if it will make them leave. i live in the podunk, if the cops RACED it would still take upwards of 20 minutes. we are taught here to comply, and report when safe to.
also, unless the person breaking into your home has an intent to harm someone from the get-go, they won't attack you unless you attack first. locking yourself in a bathroom and letting them take what they want is usually a safe way to go out here.

[Mytical]

While I myself do not own a gun, nor would I want to, I have no issue with people owning guns. That said, nobody really has a right to tell you you have to own a gun. If you want to have one fine, don't shove one down my throat. It would be the same as if they tried to pass a law trying to take your gun away..wouldn't like that much I'd wager.

As for the police..they have their uses. Some of them however, really should not be cops. If a badge goes to your head and makes you feel 'important' then you should not have a badge. *shrugs*

[wolfie]

As for the police..they have their uses. Some of them however, really should not be cops. If a badge goes to your head and makes you feel 'important' then you should not have a badge. *shrugs*

The ones you say should not be cops ARE "cops" - in the context used in the "Hammer's Slammers" series by David Drake.

[crashhelmet]

I'm a gun owner, but I'm a responsible one. Even though I live alone, my handguns are stored in a locked safe when I'm not using them. I don't keep them in a nightstand, under my pillow, or anywhere easily accessible. If someone broke into my home, I wouldn't have the time to get my keys, open the safe, load a clip, and then shoot them.

That's why I have melee weaponry all over my house.

A bo staff in the corner, a war hammer behind the door, nunchuku and sais hang on the walls like artwork, and Daisho on my dresser.

[Ginger Tea]

Keeping it locked up even though you are a single occupant is a good idea for a few reasons, biggest I can think of (and only one I'm actually going to actually think of even though I say there are more ) you get burgled whilst out and you don't have the gun on you (maybe no concealed weapon licence or you are out for a booze up and dont think drinking and guns are a great thing and car at home so no glove compartment) gun found on night stand, gun taken, gun later found at the scene of a crime and no finger prints on it save for your own.

Even if it is reported stolen the instant you find it gone (with everything else) it could still land you as an unnecessary suspect.

[wolfie]

I'm a gun owner, but I'm a responsible one. Even though I live alone, my handguns are stored in a locked safe when I'm not using them. I don't keep them in a nightstand, under my pillow, or anywhere easily accessible. If someone broke into my home, I wouldn't have the time to get my keys, open the safe, load a clip, and then shoot them.

The late Mike Royko (used to write a column for a Chicago newspaper, I forget which one, that was syndicated to other papers, including one in my at-the-time hometown) occasionally wrote a "gun owner of the year" (he was anti-gun) version of his column. Typical "winners" were someone who stuck his pistol in his belt and wound up as a "monorchid", someone who woke up in the middle of the night, saw something moving in the dark, and shot it - turned out to be the tip of his penis, and a guy who kept a loaded pistol beside the phone on the bedside table - the phone rang, waking him up, he picked up the wrong item, and shot his ear off.

A bo staff in the corner, a war hammer behind the door, nunchuku and sais hang on the walls like artwork, and Daisho on my dresser.

Forget about the Warhammer, get yourself an Atlas - or better yet (if you have Clan connections) a Dire Wolf or a Kodiak.

[crashhelmet]

Forget about the Warhammer, get yourself an Atlas - or better yet (if you have Clan connections) a Dire Wolf or a Kodiak.

LOL... I have vaulted ceilings, but they're not THAT vaulted

[lordlundar]

Forget about the Warhammer, get yourself an Atlas - or better yet (if you have Clan connections) a Dire Wolf or a Kodiak.

I'm partial to the Mad Cat Mk. II myself.

[Tanasi]

I'm a gun owner, but I'm a responsible one. Even though I live alone, my handguns are stored in a locked safe when I'm not using them. I don't keep them in a nightstand, under my pillow, or anywhere easily accessible. If someone broke into my home, I wouldn't have the time to get my keys, open the safe, load a clip, and then shoot them.

That's why I have melee weaponry all over my house.

A bo staff in the corner, a war hammer behind the door, nunchuku and sais hang on the walls like artwork, and Daisho on my dresser.

A big problem with those weapons is that you need room to use them. That handgun you have requires much less room.

[crashhelmet]

A big problem with those weapons is that you need room to use them. That handgun you have requires much less room.

You can swing them in more ways than just side to side. There is also up and down and directly at them in a stabbing manner. besides, most rooms and hallways give ample room to swing something if you choke up on it.

With a gun, I run the risk of missing and putting holes in my walls, damaging the house, and potentially striking a neighbor.

[Andara Bledin]

Both of those issues are why I would like to arm my home with small hand crossbows. Don't need a lot of room to operate in, and almost no chance of doing more than maybe putting holes in the walls, themselves.

^-.-^

[Nekojin]

Both of those issues are why I would like to arm my home with small hand crossbows. Don't need a lot of room to operate in, and almost no chance of doing more than maybe putting holes in the walls, themselves.

Holes in walls, whether made by guns, swords, or crossbows, are essentially trivial repairs, unless you've got something like fine wood paneling. Most common commercial walls are made with relatively cheap materials - $20 for a 4'x8' panel, and maybe $5 for paint, and you're as good as new. Sure, that's a few hours' worth of work, but IMO, home defense is well worth the occasional expense.

[TheHuckster]

Holes in walls, whether made by guns, swords, or crossbows, are essentially trivial repairs, unless you've got something like fine wood paneling. Most common commercial walls are made with relatively cheap materials - $20 for a 4'x8' panel, and maybe $5 for paint, and you're as good as new. Sure, that's a few hours' worth of work, but IMO, home defense is well worth the occasional expense.

Regardless of what weapon you use, besides maybe a poison dart, you're always going to have messy blood to clean up, so a hole in your wall is seriously the least of your worries.

[crashhelmet]

Holes in walls, whether made by guns, swords, or crossbows, are essentially trivial repairs, unless you've got something like fine wood paneling. Most common commercial walls are made with relatively cheap materials - $20 for a 4'x8' panel, and maybe $5 for paint, and you're as good as new. Sure, that's a few hours' worth of work, but IMO, home defense is well worth the occasional expense.

But a bullet usually leaves an exit hole, not to mention will do far more damage the pipe/conduit within the walls than a melee weapon will. God forbid you should panic and fire off more than one round.

[crashhelmet]

Regardless of what weapon you use, besides maybe a poison dart, you're always going to have messy blood to clean up, so a hole in your wall is seriously the least of your worries.

It's easier, and cheaper, to use a mop and/or broom than to perform the work of a carpenter and/or electrician. And again, you don't have to worry about your melee flying through your wall into your neighbor's home, like you do a bullet.