AST (After Sean Taylor)-To gun or not to gun?

[TheHolyGibbs]

So it has been a little while since any new Taylor news has come out except that the perps threw the gun into the everglades and one is helping the police find it and then this:

After Sean Taylor Death, Pat Williams Carries a Gun When He Answers the Door

After Sean Taylor Death, Pat Williams Carries a Gun When He Answers the Door - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

I have seriously considered buying a gun but wonder if this would have helped. We recently had an intruder break in to a neighbor's house, wake the single solo female with a tazer shock and assault her. We live in a really nice area where this never happens (or at least never had) but I have since added bolt locks, motion sensors, increased alarm system, etc.

Anyway, wasn't sure how to add this as a poll, but anyone else considering owning a gun AST?

[chrisl4064]

I have a gun, carry, and work with them. I think to get a gun out of fear just to have is stupid, however if you take the time to use it and educate yourself it can be a very useful tool in a terrible situation. You would be suprised to see how many people have thier own weapons turned on them, know what you are doing....

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by chrisl4064

I have a gun, carry, and work with them. I think to get a gun out of fear just to have is stupid, however if you take the time to use it and educate yourself it can be a very useful tool in a terrible situation. You would be suprised to see how many people have thier own weapons turned on them, know what you are doing....

Good post, I agree.
I have a .45 next to bed, but I keep a bullet out of the chamber just to avoid accidental firings.
I firmly think all honest people should have a gun, if intruders were shot and killed every time they broke into a house, I guarantee the amount of break ins would decrease by a substantial margin. You should always protect yourself and your family, but learn / educate yourself on how to use it, and of course, go to a gun range and learn how to shoot it too. No point in having it if you're just going to shoot the wall. Practice makes perfect.

[DynamiteRave]

I'm not really an advocate for guns personally and unless I end up being some Dr. Making XXX,XXX+ amounts of money, I hope I'll never have a need for one. But I believe that when you live in a nice neighborhood or a well known person making a hell of a lot of money. You NEED a gun.

... Or a REALLY big bodyguard.

In the case of athletes I do advocate them carrying guns.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Good post, I agree.
I have a .45 next to bed, but I keep a bullet out of the chamber just to avoid accidental firings.
I firmly think all honest people should have a gun, if intruders were shot and killed every time they broke into a house, I guarantee the amount of break ins would decrease by a substantial margin. You should always protect yourself and your family, but learn / educate yourself on how to use it, and of course, go to a gun range and learn how to shoot it too. No point in having it if you're just going to shoot the wall. Practice makes perfect.

What if it's not an intruder? What if it's your son trying to get back into the house after sneaking out after curfew? The risk of being wrong just isn't worth it. Better ten guilty go free than one innocent die.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

What if it's not an intruder? What if it's your son trying to get back into the house after sneaking out after curfew? The risk of being wrong just isn't worth it. Better ten guilty go free than one innocent die.

First rule of firearms safety: Be sure of your target.

2. All guns are always loaded.

3. Never let your muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

4. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made a conscious decision to fire.

Learn and live by those four rules and above isn't a problem.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

What if it's not an intruder? What if it's your son trying to get back into the house after sneaking out after curfew? The risk of being wrong just isn't worth it. Better ten guilty go free than one innocent die.

Well, it seems like there is a common argument about "the innocent" bystander.
1- you preach gun safety to your kids. They NEED to understand the importance of guns and their role.
2- no one randomly shoots in the dark when they see a shadow, if they do, they should not have a gun...if you think you would, you should not own a gun because you're not fit to have one. A confirmation is needed first. When my wife goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'm not ready to shoot her on the way back to the bedroom. That's common sense, especially if you see her silohette. You should also know the size of your kids, and if you have kids, then you should be a ton more reluctant to pull the trigger until you KNOW it's an intruder. I live in an area with extremely loose gun laws, and no one shoots their wife or kid thinking they are an intruder...it never happens. This is just a comment based on fear of the unknown. The kids out here are taught about gun safety and they are familiar with guns...guess what...there are never any issues. Education is always the key. Fear should never be used in making decision, and that includes gun laws / excuses as to why not to have guns.

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by jsarno

2- no one randomly shoots in the dark when they see a shadow. A confirmation is needed first.

This would fall under the rule, "know your target and what is beyond it"

[Schneed10]

There's hardly any crime in my hometown, I can't even think of one incident in our township since I've been a working adult (6 years) involving a gun. So for me, there's pretty much no reason to own one. And given the risk that my daughter could somehow get a hold of it or something, no way no how. Not for me. I'm not a fan of guns at all.

I'd love to ban them altogether, but certainly the ST thing, or if you live in an area where crime is more prevalent, you can see why people would think about getting one.

[That Guy]

not really. sean taylor would have had one if not for his felony case (part of the probation was no gun ownership).

the problem with guns is kids finding them and blowing their own heads off with them. i think one of our DEs had friends do that when he was nine, and i know a guy that shotgunned his big toe off messing around in his room.

I won't own one. Our cops here carry M-16s though and theft/assualt/etc here is a great way to get fired and end up in jail very quickly.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by That Guy

not really. sean taylor would have had one if not for his felony case (part of the probation was no gun ownership).

the problem with guns is kids finding them and blowing their own heads off with them. i think one of our DEs had friends do that when he was nine, and i know a guy that shotgunned his big toe off messing around in his room.

I won't own one. Our cops here carry M-16s though and theft/assualt/etc here is a great way to get fired and end up in jail very quickly.

If guns are properly stored and kept their sould never be an issue of a kid finding one and shooting themself or a friend. The guy messing around with a loaded gun in his house should not have owned a gun or learned gun safty first.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by firstdown

If guns are properly stored and kept their sould never be an issue of a kid finding one and shooting themself or a friend. The guy messing around with a loaded gun in his house should not have owned a gun or learned gun safty first.

I agree, but the fact is that he does own a gun and he hasn't learned gun safety first.

The problem with the "regulation by education" approach is that it looks at the top 10% of gun owners (in terms of education and responsibility) as the prototypical gun owner. You can't do that - laws and regulations have to address the middle of the bell curve.

[Ocliw]

The Andy Griffith days are over. You can't leave home with your doors unlocked. You damn sure can't let your children get out of your sight. I'm not a hunter or a gun fanatic but I do own one just in case.

I have two kids and neither one of them know I have it. I don't keep it loaded because of my kids. Hell the bullets and the gun are in two different parts of the house well hidden. I guess if a burglar showed up I'd have to ask him if he minded waiting a sec so I could load up.

We have all heard noises outside and went to take a look. I feel a little better going out with something other than a flashlight and a stick.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by Ocliw

The Andy Griffith days are over. You can't leave home with your doors unlocked. You damn sure can't let your children get out of your sight. I'm not a hunter or a gun fanatic but I do own one just in case.

I have two kids and neither one of them know I have it. I don't keep it loaded because of my kids. Hell the bullets and the gun are in two different parts of the house well hidden. I guess if a burglar showed up I'd have to ask him if he minded waiting a sec so I could load up.

We have all heard noises outside and went to take a look. I feel a little better going out with something other than a flashlight and a stick.

'
If you have a dog, maybe the dog will hear the intruder first and give you time to go chasing around the house to find your piece and your loads. Educate your kids about guns and the safe handling of same. The NRA will help you, if you want. They have many programs for kids. They may not be at your house when they encounter a gun and the curiosity to play with it.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Ocliw

The Andy Griffith days are over. You can't leave home with your doors unlocked. You damn sure can't let your children get out of your sight. I'm not a hunter or a gun fanatic but I do own one just in case.

I have two kids and neither one of them know I have it. I don't keep it loaded because of my kids. Hell the bullets and the gun are in two different parts of the house well hidden. I guess if a burglar showed up I'd have to ask him if he minded waiting a sec so I could load up.

We have all heard noises outside and went to take a look. I feel a little better going out with something other than a flashlight and a stick.

I'm glad you at least have a gun, but an unloaded firearm with ammunition in the other room is about as useful as a 2 pound paperweight when it comes to home defense.