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

[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"

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

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

I absolutely agree.

I edited my previous comment because there are those idiots out there.
But would you jump behind the wheel of a car when you're 12, not knowing how to drive and expect to have spectacular results? Just like anything you do in your life, it takes practice and understanding.

I've been a gun owner for well over a decade. I am an excellent shot. The gun has never gone off on it's own, nor has it been pulled against someone that it wasn't intended to pull on. You need to respect the gun...if you don't, then trouble happens.