Quote:
Originally Posted by ratbastid
I mean, go ahead--if you're trained and safe with your weapon, it's no skin off my back if you're packing 24/7. You bought the piece, you got the license, so God bless. But I hate that you have to live with that cloud of paranoia over your head all the time.
|
Perhaps such a philosophy is part of the problem. The people that are legally and morally capable of defending themselves are paranoid when they "do their gun thing."
Cloud of paranoia my narrow cracker ass. The raving gummint-overthrow idiots have ruined public perception regarding those of normal, non-paranoid citizens who carry. Guns, swords, spiked clubs or sharpened sticks... the
attitude is what pisses me off. But what do I know?
*PTSD'd*
Society is so civil... until it is not and then you essentially place your life in the hands of a stranger that may be 15 minutes away. Turns out I'm not religious.
Blegch, enough DKin' for me. I've been in a great mood all month and I'm not gonna get all cranky over this "'ere we go uh-gin" crap.
...
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJericho
So I have been considering purchasing a firearm for some time. I've done a lot of research, I've gone to a firing range and shot various types of handguns and in different calibers. I still need to try some rifles and shotguns. Once I buy my own house I will probably purchase a firearm (right now I have roommates and I would not feel comfortable having guns around people who are not trained to handle them).
|
Good man. Most avoidable issues with firearms occur from negligent use and storage practices. Keep in mind, though: a locked firearm is like an empty firearm... totally useless for defensive purposes. Just for giggles, what kind of handguns are you interested in for the purposes of this thread?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJericho
However one ongoing question I ask myself is to what degree would I be armed. By this I mean, I often see people who buy a gun for strictly home defense. However, I see this as somewhat of a mistake because often times violent crimes are happening out in public, such as shootings in malls, public transportation, banks, convenience stores etc.
|
You're only going to be as armed as much as you are willing to deal with the responsibility of carrying. Where allowed, I keep a piece in my car at all times. When I travel by car, I keep one in the car and one on my person / in the hotel room / camp site. Frankly, it's a pain the ass. I worry more about nervous soccer moms and any douchebags from the local police than I do about any potential mugger.
Disclaimer: 99% of cops are great people and real professionals. Some cops are cool about CCW. A tiny minority, however, will go gangbusters on you... treat you like a machete-wielding crackhead, confiscate your firearm, have you cuffed and curb-mounted while they figure out if your permit is valid. They think they should be the only ones with guns despite the CCW privileges afforded by law.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJericho
In my mind, only having access to a weapon at home is equivalent to only having protection for half the day (if for example the average person gets home from work at 6:30 pm and leaves for work at 6:30 am). Therefore it seems logical to me that if someone does make the decision to own a firearm, that he or she carries a weapon on them as much as legally possible in a concealed or open carry configuration.
|
Wearing a piece (as a civilian) all the time is like wearing a condom all the time: ridiculous. You're just not going to need it at some places and it isn't worth the additional stress to carry. If you can keep a gun in your car while you're at work (hell, at your desk at work in a bag you commute with) go for it. Ensure it doesn't violate any company policies. I've found that keeping a gun close by is often better than keeping a gun on your person. You know it's there, ready to go, and can get to it quick if you need it.
Disclaimer: Fanny packs? Don't do it. Not only do they look retarded, but anybody with a brain will think "GUY WITH A GUN."
I've had my CCW for years and carry maybe half a dozen times a month (weekends) due to my status as a college student (no guns near campus) and the fact that I rarely go out to places where I can carry (establishments that serve alcohol, areas that don't recognize my permit like Maryland and DC). I'm a skinny gun and it's getting warmer out... so my carry options are rather limited based on my level of comfort. I have a 5.11 t-shirt holster or simple pocket carry for the spring/summer and use compact / subcompact guns (S&W snubnose or Keltec P32). Winter gives me a lot more options. I'm packing most of the time I go out on my motorcycle and anytime I'm staying overnight in a new place where someone may assume I'm easy pickings (but that isn't concealed carry).
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJericho
Another topic that I consider is the degree to which I would arm myself in my own home. Obviously it would be a good idea to have access to gun close to the bed since a large portion of time is spend in that area every night. However, would I place a weapon on each level of the house, or perhaps each individual room?
|
Having weapons hidden throughout the house is a little much. One for each room is something I'd actually called paranoid. The majority of residential burglaries occur during the day: you'll be at work and a gun will do you no good. If someone is stupid enough to break in while you're in the house, it'll be much later at night and you'll either be in bed or watching TeeVee. Keeping a 12g shotgun in the bedroom is a common. I have a shotgun and pistol by my bed. Previously, I had a revolver hidden on the main floor but I ditched that practice after realizing I was never home and when I was home... I was tapping away the the keyboard, watching a DVD, or sleeping... three activities that occurred within feet of the shotgun / pistol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJericho
I know that these are decisions I would have to make for myself. And that each decision impacts which types of firearms I would purchase (possibly a subcompact pistol for concealed carry, shotgun for home defense etc).
|
I'd recommend purchasing a handgun first if you have any intention of engaging in concealed carry. Turns out you can't fit a Remington 870 12g in a hip holster. After the handgun, I'd recommend getting a shotgun as mentioned in various threads in Tilted Weaponry.
Investing in some type of formal pistol training outside of the lame CCW test is also a great idea.