Ever been shot at? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Phage · 04-25-2005, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Happy

Skeet, clay pigeons and the like are substitutes for live targets. The fact that they are not alive themselves does not change the fact that guns are designed to kill.

I can't see how you can think I am trolling by stating this.

Even if we give you that guns are designed only to kill (and it is debatable), it is like saying that knives are scary because they are only designed to cut. It not necessarily designed to cut you, it is just a tool to fulfill that purpose.

Personally I feel better knowing that a predator (human or otherwise) cannot openly travel through America. If a black bear suddenly walked through the front doors of the local super market (or preschool) you can bet the residents would not be standing around holding their genitalia while they wait for "the government" to come save them.

I think what it really comes down to is that most people who say they are "afraid of guns" are really saying "on average, I consider most citizens of my country an enemy". Why else would you be so afraid of them having any real power?

cellophanedeity · 04-25-2005, 07:25 AM

Let me define my statement better then....

People are scary. People with guns (or weapons or pointy/bashy things of any sort) are even more so.

Phage · 04-25-2005, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellophanedeity

Let me define my statement better then....

People are scary. People with guns (or weapons or pointy/bashy things of any sort) are even more so.

...and as I said, I think that it the real problem. You should move to an area where the community does not scare you rather than trying to disarm the population. Guns are certainly not the only way people can hurt you.

Pip · 04-25-2005, 08:37 AM

I've only handled soft air rifles a few times for some target shooting. My grandfather hunts, so he owns several big ass hunting rifles, but there's no way he'd ever let anyone play with them. I've never been shot at and the only ones I've ever seen carry firearms are cops and hunters.
I've had a knife held to my throat when I was eleven though, but that's the only time I've actually been threatened by a weapon of some kind.

kutulu · 04-25-2005, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSelfDestruct

No, it isn't. Not every state lets you buy and open carry wtihout a permit. I am, however, reminded of the old saying, "In 25 of 50 states, you can walk into a gun store, buy a pistol, and walk out wearing it on your hip wihtout any kind of permit. 75% of murders happen in the other 25."

99% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Cynthetiq · 04-25-2005, 09:54 AM

been shot at.

used to be a repo man. got shot at with shot gun by disgruntled person getting car repo'd.

no longer repo man 24 hours later.

i've had guns waved about me, pointed at me, I also was taught at a young age how to handle a gun properly.

I'll still have guns in my house when I have the time to train those in the house, and to properly secure and store them.

flat5 · 04-25-2005, 10:11 AM

I was shot in the ass when I was 19. 1967.
I believe the gun was a 22.
If you have to be shot I recommend a 22 short in the ass cheek.
I made the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle.
"Boy, 19, shot in race riot"

stingc · 04-25-2005, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phage

...and as I said, I think that it the real problem. You should move to an area where the community does not scare you rather than trying to disarm the population. Guns are certainly not the only way people can hurt you.

There are a lot of irresponsible and/or crazy people in any population. Even if someone isn't certifiably "crazy" or criminal, it is not at all uncommon for people to go into temporary rages. This is the reason that many people are afraid of an armed populace. I've heard plenty of stories of spouses pulling guns on each other during an argument, for example. It's also not that uncommon for some people to start playing with guns when drunk. Shootings in these types of settings are probably not intentional most of the time. Unlike almost any other weapon, a gun makes it extremely easy to do irreparable damage with only a momentary lapse in judgement (or even by complete accident). It also cannot be defended against, and modulating the amount of damage inflicted is extremely difficult.

A knife is very different. It takes serious, prolonged effort to kill someone with a knife. It would not be an accident.

If defending yourself with a knife (admittedly useless against a gun, but not all muggers use guns), you could easily disable someone without killing them. You also can't end up accidentally killing an innocent bystander with a knife. That is very easy to do with a gun.

raeanna74 · 04-25-2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingc

There are a lot of irresponsible and/or crazy people in any population. Even if someone isn't certifiably "crazy" or criminal, it is not at all uncommon for people to go into temporary rages. This is the reason that many people are afraid of an armed populace. I've heard plenty of stories of spouses pulling guns on each other during an argument, for example.

This is the reason for the criminal background checks in the US. People who would pull a firearm or other weapon on a spouse or girlfriend are often dealing with some major anger issues. In that case it wouldn't matter if they had a gun or not they would be acting violently. If the SANE spouse had a gun of their own - well maybe they'd have a method of defense.

Allowing people to carry guns after having had criminal checks and applying for a gun carry liscense is probably the safest way of preventing the criminals from using their guns. When they know that the general public who DON"T have criminal backgrounds have a method of defense then they will be less likely to attack. The criminals are the ones who will carry concealed weapons DESPITE any legalization or not. Why tear the defenses from the NON-criminal portion of our population?

stingc · 04-25-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeanna74

This is the reason for the criminal background checks in the US. People who would pull a firearm or other weapon on a spouse or girlfriend are often dealing with some major anger issues. In that case it wouldn't matter if they had a gun or not they would be acting violently. If the SANE spouse had a gun of their own - well maybe they'd have a method of defense.

They certainly do have major anger issues, but background checks do not usually filter out such people. The stories I've heard took place in the US. Most spouses will not call the police, and those who do will rarely press charges. The types of people I'm referring to wouldn't really pull the gun with the intention of using it anyway, but rather to intimidate. The problem is that if someone is crazy enough to do something like that, it's not unlikely that an accident will eventually occur.

And you're also right that people like this would be acting violently no matter what. The difference is that giving them a gun makes it much easier for them to kill accidentally. By the way, I'm not necessarily implying that the trigger would be pulled unintentionally, but rather that it was pulled on a momentary impulse that would be immediately regretted. So the same person with a knife would at most give a couple of nasty cuts - certainly not a good thing, but a lot less permanent than most bullet wounds.

Also, giving the sane spouse a gun doesn't help much. They're supposed to shoot their wife/husband? What if the spouse wasn't really intending to shoot, but gets pushed over the line when he/she sees you draw your gun? Then again, you might scare them into putting the gun down, but it's not at all clear that having a gun yourself would help in this case.

The world doesn't neatly split into "criminals" and "responsible citizens." While we'd all agree that the crazy spouse in this story should not own a gun, it would be very hard for any government system to weed them out. They are also not the type of criminal who would seek out a gun beforehand. So making guns illegal would indeed prevent such people from owning them. Of course that would bring up other problems that have been brought up multiple times. If there was an obvious solution to this issue, there wouldn't be so many arguments about it

.

MageB420666 · 04-25-2005, 02:21 PM

I've been shot at with paint ball guns and bb guns, but not a 'real' gun. Although my dumbass of an older brother did point a .22 rifle at me once.

I don't currently own any guns, but I'm planning on getting a shotgun within the next 4 months.

Min · 04-25-2005, 03:50 PM

I have been in areas that guns were fired, however, I was not being fired upon.

cj2112 · 04-25-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Happy

Guns are designed to do nothing but kill. That is what is scary about them.

Not all guns are designed to kill....this one example of a gun designed specifically to shoot at paper targets.

this gun was also not designed to kill, but was designed specifically for shooting clay pigeons...nobody is going to take a gun like this into the feild and use it for hunting....btw for those that are wondering this is a krieghoff K-80 sporting clays gun

joeb1 · 04-25-2005, 04:58 PM

I have been around guns my whole life. I still have fond memories of shoot trap and skeet with my dad. Going deer, duck, squirrel, rabbit, hunting. I still enjoy many of these things today. And I hope that my kids enjoy doing them with me. I know it sounds like a stereo type. Some drunk redneck out hunting in the south. But I take it seriously enough to know I don't get drunk until after the hunt. J/K! We really do enjoy the hunting aspect of it. But the eating is a lot of fun also.
I also love the sporting clays. I have shot many different weapons in my lifetime. (m-2, m-60, m-249, m-14, m-16 A1 and 2, LAW, Mortar, BAR, various pistols. Just about every cal. of shotgun to name a few)
Yes guns are designed to kill. Whether it is a clay target, game, or to take a human life. And condoms are designed to protect you also. But sometimes you pull that bastard off cause it feels so good.

Yes I have been shot at, and had to defend myself also.

MSD · 04-25-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Happy

Skeet, clay pigeons and the like are substitutes for live targets. The fact that they are not alive themselves does not change the fact that guns are designed to kill.

I can't see how you can think I am trolling by stating this.

Any device with a design that has been refined to the point that it can perform a task thousands of times with near perfect precision and reliability can be used for a task that is, at times, unethical or illegal. I stated the purpose of a gun in my previous post. I also stated that a gun's effect is entirely determined by the intent of the user, as with any other tool.

I did not state that you were trolling, merely that I would consider your post to be a troll had I not been exposed to so many people who shared such an extreme misconception as to consider it an unfortunate example of misinformation.

RallyEX · 04-25-2005, 09:13 PM

I've never had a gun held to my head, however I have been shot at a few times (in the same time frame). Some goofy old man and his son growing pot thought we were trying to steal it, when me and a friend of mine were actually trying to find a party.

I haven't shot a gun since I was in Boy Scouts as a young teen (I'm 24 now). I am not a big gun person at all, as it wasn't much in my family. I am not interested in hunting at all, however I am interested in purchasing a handgun and perhaps a rifle of some kind for target shooting and home protection.

I'm not sure I'd have the mental capacity to knowingly wound a human being fatally. If anything, I'd like to take classes on gun safety and shoot-to-wound (if such classes exist).

passthru · 04-26-2005, 12:31 AM

I didn't know it was illegal to carry a gun in some places in the US.. Do you mean illegal to walk down the street with your gun, or illegal to have one at all? That seems to conflict with the 2nd amendment..

Guns as a 'tool'? I think that is arguable. Maybe you don't think guns are designed to kill, but even if that's the case, you can't argue that guns aren't designed to destroy.

A knife is definately a tool, they're used for so many common things.. You'd have a lot of trouble if you had a knifeless kitchen and wanted to prepare food. Also, knives and hands don't have the same kind of power that a gun has. With a gun, you point it at what you want to be damaged, squeeze your finger, and it is done.
A gun certainly is not a mace or ball and chain.. I can't think of any use for those other than to cause harm.
Knives and hands can be weapons if you want to cause damage and/or are trained to use them in such a way.
But no matter how hard you try, you can't cut your bread with a rifle.

jorgelito · 04-26-2005, 12:59 AM

I think what some people are trying to say is that guns aren't scary, the many examples in this thread of trigger happy paranoid people are.

I like guns and don't mind them per se. Gosh Raenna74, if you weren't married already....I wish I knew a girl who was as knowledgeable about guns like you

Your post really made my heart melt (seriously).

No, the real problem is education. The proper handling, and CLEANING (please treat your babies with care), safety (of course), respect for the gun's power etc.

Also, there are too many jittery people shootin' off their guns at hikers, campers lost in the woods like in the above posts. It's those stories that are scary to me. It's why I will not let my kids trick or treat anymore.

I live in LA where ironically, good citizens have to go through hell and back to obtain a legal gun (even though it's my right mind you) while some punk (pardon my language) can go down the corner and get one right away. Meanwhile, he can mug me that night while I'm still waiting 30 days for my backgorund check to clear. That's the real crime: preventing law-abiding citizen's the right to protect themselves (that's constitutionally guaranteed by the way) while Johnny gangsta gets to have all the assault weapons his crack profits and and armed roberries can buy. It's sick how the POLICE in LA are outgunned.

Man, all you guys talk about hunting deer and stuff is making me jealous... I'm comin' over for BBQ so be on the look out!

squirrelyburt · 04-26-2005, 05:25 AM

I've also grown up around hunting guns, been handling them properly from an early age, as have my sons. I now carry one daily as a law enforcement officer but still have never been shot at (except in military training) nor have I shot anyone. I sincerely think the gun myth (at least in my area) is vastly over rated, in spite of probably more than average percentage of people owning guns. I know of many situations in people protecting themselves by simply displaying or threatening with a gun. They are a tool, and can be used properly or mis-used as easily, depending on the handler.

MSD · 04-26-2005, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passthru

I didn't know it was illegal to carry a gun in some places in the US.. Do you mean illegal to walk down the street with your gun, or illegal to have one at all? That seems to conflict with the 2nd amendment.

It depends on locality. In many urban areas like Chicago, NYC, and Los Angeles, it is nearly impossible to get a concealed carry permit, and buying rifles and othe long guns can be so much trouble that it discourages all but the most determined collectors and hunters. In my opinion (an the oppinion of the authors of the Constitution,) any gun control law (especially ownership and carry bans) conflict with the Second Amendment and should be repealed, although modern politicians will never allow that to happen. I understand and reluctantly accept privisons like the 1934 NFA, and I admit to the necessity of background checks (although I may disagree with certain disqualifications,) but overall, our laws are unconstitutional and unethical.

homerhop · 04-26-2005, 02:48 PM

got a few grains while trapping at a clay shoot.Nothing major. Had a gun pointed at me when a guy I was with gave it to his gf. It was loaded and the first thing she did was point it.Scared the shit out of me because the first thing a person who knows nothing about guns does is pull the trigger

OPgary · 05-13-2005, 07:13 AM

When I was growing up we kids were told to never (and I mean NEVER) touch any gun unless an adult was present. And the folks meant it. Most adults would let us hold and occasionally go fire. I now have a shotgun, rifle, and a .38. The .38 came in handy when a carload of punks wanted to pull me off the road. Actually a sawed-off shotgun would have been better. They changed their mind. I have answered the door with the pistol in hand...late at night. Learn to use a gun and it is a handy tool. Carelessness with that tool can be tragic. But it is still a tool no matter how you look at it.

BigBen · 05-13-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigben931

As part of peacekeeper training, one must undergo “Crack-Thump” training. Before you perverts get carried away, here is an overview:
1. You dig a hole, and call it a trench.
2. You dig that hole as if your life depended on it, and not some half-assed effort like you do when they are making you dig trenches for the ‘fun of it’.
3. You put OHP (Over Head Protection) including sandbags and dirt over that hole.
4. The staff then shoots at you, with different sorts of weaponry, and you listen to the distinctive noises that each type of weapon makes.

I bet you thought that there were only a few types of noises, right? If you are an A-Team fan, you thought that an M-16 sounded just like a Mini-14. If you enjoy Vietnam movies, you might think that there was one rate of fire on machine guns. (Editors note: YES, machine guns are called that, and not ‘Machine Rifles’. I don’t know why) The truth is simple and logical. In order to get true sounds onto a movie or TV soundtrack, you would have to perform a “Crack-Thump” demonstration on the poor sonofabitch sound guy, and that would require a permit to shoot live rounds over the head of the poor sonofabitch.

In reality, there are HUNDREDS of unique sounds that can emanate from the business end of a killing machine. The sound the bullet makes as it travels (hopefully) over your head is called the CRACK, due to the bullet breaking the sound barrier. The THUMP is the sound of the weapon firing, and that sound takes time to reach your ears. There is also the sound of the action cycling, the rate of firing, the echo off of hills or buildings, and other small things that can tell information about where the bad things are coming from.

Well, if you listen closely, you can accurately determine:
who is shooting, where they are, if they are shooting at you or just around you, and how determined they are to kill you.
If they are shooting in celebration for a cease-fire being declared (YES, people actually do this in some cultures) and you as a soldier call up the artillery and turn them into a pink mist in retaliation, the cease-fire may not be as long as the Generals and heads of state were planning.

This brings me to my training. Getting fucking shot at, ON PURPOSE, with all manner of weapons.

50 cal., AK-47, C-7, 9mm, FN C-1, C-9 (M-249 SAW), all went over my head. They had it arranged that the firing would be in different directions, and at one point, they drove a guy across the range so we could hear what it was like if the firing was also moving.

I was not thinking, BOY, what valuable training! I was thinking, FUCK, I want out of here!

I also learned that a hole can be a very safe and comfortable place to live, given the external environment was hostile enough.

After they had scared the living shit out of us, they then lined us up and showed us what the weapons can do to different types of cover.
Cinderblock walls (1,2 and 3 deep)
Sandbag walls (1,2 and 3 deep)
Railroad ties (1,2 and 3 deep)
And the almighty House Wall, the fortress of Hollywood.

The only thing to stand up to any punishment was the sandbags. Everything else was decimated. I felt sick. The 50 cal didn’t even slow down through everything else. An old Sergeant spoke up, “and watch your fucking background (what is behind your target) ladies, (he meant that term as an insult, even though there were female soldiers present) because when you shoot some poor shit’s family through his house wall, he will definitely join the enemies side and rape you before he kills you.”

I was feeling the urge to get drunk. Very fucking drunk.

Oh, and the answer is yes, you do get used to it...

I don't think that is what you are asking, exactly. If you mean "Have you ever been shot at by people who have meant to do you harm?" then the answer is: I don't think so.

MsNobody · 05-13-2005, 09:11 AM

No, thank god, although, I am sure there have been some people who would have liked to have taken a shot at me..

liquidlight · 05-13-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passthru

But no matter how hard you try, you can't cut your bread with a rifle.

You're just not using the right caliber!

I haven't been shot at and I hope I never get shot at, and I'm with the rest of you in disagreeing with the gun laws.

I would find it regrettable to end up in a situation that neccesitated me firing on another person, but I don't think I would hesitate if it escalated to that point and I had the means. It may be cynical but in that situation of "me or them" it's going to be them.

kramus · 05-13-2005, 01:10 PM

The only time I would consider owning a gun would be as a property owner in the country - and that would be to take care of varmints (4-legged and/or winged). I have never been shot at - gone hunting with shotguns, 22 rifles and some cute little automatic pistol that couldn't hit shit but was fun to fire. I found that I was not a hunter, and not a real fan of target shooting, and I haven't handled a gun for like 25 years or more. I try not to visit folks that would keep a gun or baseball bat by the door for insurance purposes, and it's been decades since I wandered the fields and back alleys all pissed up and naive - which is usually the way folks get shot at. I don't have an issue with anyone who wants to have a gun. Just so long as junior can't fish it out of the closet and blow away his sister or something then you can have all the guns you want.

maleficent · 05-13-2005, 01:17 PM

Last time I had a gun fired in my general direction was when I was being attacked by a dog. The cop who was trying to rescue me couldn't pull the dog off so fired several shots into it at pretty close range... I don't recall hearing the gun go off, but I know there was a very dead dog.

TexanAvenger · 05-13-2005, 01:26 PM

Been shot at and hit in the leg. That wasn't so bad.

Had a friend shot at during the same incident and thought I was going to lose her. That was bad.

The smell of gunsmoke is the only thing that truly makes me feel rage now.

pinball · 05-14-2005, 10:05 AM

I've lived in South Africa all my life (im 21), 19 years in Johannesburg. I've been brought to tears reading posts on popular forums by people bad-mouthing my city and my country without having experienced it. Im not here to argue your facts though, i agree on paper it doesn't look appealling.

Besides a few of my friends dad's who are farmers and own (to my knowledge) one or two guns i can only think of 1 person i've ever known who owns one. Him and a rowing coach i had who was a corporal or something in the army. His is the only gun i've ever held (a Glock 17 i think with the magazine removed). The only guns i see otherwise are on police officers or cash-in-transit guards, and i cross the street when i see them. I agree that they're designed to destroy, its not hard to see that even if a gun is designed to shoot clay targets it can do serious harm to a human or animal. The only skeet i've done was 'laser clay pigeon shooting' with mock shotguns equipped with lasers. I think only the dumbest of criminals would try rob someone clay pigeon shooting, they'd no doubt be shot by everyone participating! Hence, more dangerous than a bat, knife (bar a professional with one), axe, crowbar etc.

I have had a gun pointed at me once though, a convenience store i was in was robbed. I'd seen it happen so many times on tv it was surreal. lying on the floor of the store i looked up at the guy and asked him if i could have my wallet minus the cash back so i wouldnt have to replace all my bank cards. i wasnt worried about my cell phone and it didnt change any of my plans for the night.

Suave · 05-15-2005, 12:19 AM

Canadian here, so I don't (read: can't) carry one for personal defence. I really enjoy firearms though, for target shooting anyway. Been around quite a few, but the only thing I've been shot with was just an air rifle and a bb. Thing hurt like a bitch though, and I'm glad it wasn't a powerful one, loaded with a pellet.

dnd · 05-15-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSflim

I'm from Ireland, and I've never even held a gun, let alone shot one. I've certainly never been shot at.

Same here in warm sunny england (its a beautiful sunny day and hot...well 15 degrees Celcius!) Never had a gun pointed at me, and having lived in Nottingham for 3 years don't think i ever came close. Nottingham i believe has the highest rate of gun crime in the UK.
Certainly glad i haven't come close to be honest.

Martian · 05-15-2005, 03:29 PM

I have never and if I'm fortunate will never have a gun of any sort pointed at me. I have also never fired a gun and don't plan on doing so in the forseeable future.

I just thought I'd mention that the logic of more guns to solve gun control issues doesn't quite jive with me.

Oh, and..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phage

...actually has a practical use (when are you going to use basketball skillz to save a life?)

I'd say it's debatable whether or not your accuracy in firing a weapon is going to save a life. I mean, perhaps it will but it seems to me that if it did it would be at the expense of another, so it's not really saving a life in the end. More like trading a life.

fhqwhgads · 05-15-2005, 08:25 PM

I have, but I'd never admit it to my family... no need for them to worry more than they already do.

04-25-2005, 07:25 AM	#42 (permalink)
cellophanedeity Heliotrope Location: A warm room	Let me define my statement better then.... People are scary. People with guns (or weapons or pointy/bashy things of any sort) are even more so. __________________ who am I to refuse the universe? -Leonard Cohen, Beautiful Losers

04-25-2005, 09:54 AM	#46 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	been shot at. used to be a repo man. got shot at with shot gun by disgruntled person getting car repo'd. no longer repo man 24 hours later. i've had guns waved about me, pointed at me, I also was taught at a young age how to handle a gun properly. I'll still have guns in my house when I have the time to train those in the house, and to properly secure and store them. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

04-25-2005, 02:21 PM	#51 (permalink)
MageB420666 <Insert wise statement here> Location: Hell if I know	I've been shot at with paint ball guns and bb guns, but not a 'real' gun. Although my dumbass of an older brother did point a .22 rifle at me once. I don't currently own any guns, but I'm planning on getting a shotgun within the next 4 months. __________________ Apathy: The best outlook this side of I don't give a damn.

04-25-2005, 04:58 PM	#54 (permalink)
joeb1 Crazy Location: Over Yonder	I have been around guns my whole life. I still have fond memories of shoot trap and skeet with my dad. Going deer, duck, squirrel, rabbit, hunting. I still enjoy many of these things today. And I hope that my kids enjoy doing them with me. I know it sounds like a stereo type. Some drunk redneck out hunting in the south. But I take it seriously enough to know I don't get drunk until after the hunt. J/K! We really do enjoy the hunting aspect of it. But the eating is a lot of fun also. I also love the sporting clays. I have shot many different weapons in my lifetime. (m-2, m-60, m-249, m-14, m-16 A1 and 2, LAW, Mortar, BAR, various pistols. Just about every cal. of shotgun to name a few) Yes guns are designed to kill. Whether it is a clay target, game, or to take a human life. And condoms are designed to protect you also. But sometimes you pull that bastard off cause it feels so good. Yes I have been shot at, and had to defend myself also. __________________ Disco Duck... Last edited by joeb1; 04-25-2005 at 05:00 PM.. Reason: addition

04-26-2005, 05:25 AM	#59 (permalink)
squirrelyburt Crazy Location: Central Wisconsin	I've also grown up around hunting guns, been handling them properly from an early age, as have my sons. I now carry one daily as a law enforcement officer but still have never been shot at (except in military training) nor have I shot anyone. I sincerely think the gun myth (at least in my area) is vastly over rated, in spite of probably more than average percentage of people owning guns. I know of many situations in people protecting themselves by simply displaying or threatening with a gun. They are a tool, and can be used properly or mis-used as easily, depending on the handler. __________________ If you've ever felt there was a reason to be afraid of the dark, you were right.

04-25-2005, 08:37 AM	#44 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	I've only handled soft air rifles a few times for some target shooting. My grandfather hunts, so he owns several big ass hunting rifles, but there's no way he'd ever let anyone play with them. I've never been shot at and the only ones I've ever seen carry firearms are cops and hunters. I've had a knife held to my throat when I was eleven though, but that's the only time I've actually been threatened by a weapon of some kind.

04-25-2005, 10:11 AM	#47 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	I was shot in the ass when I was 19. 1967. I believe the gun was a 22. If you have to be shot I recommend a 22 short in the ass cheek. I made the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Boy, 19, shot in race riot"

04-25-2005, 03:50 PM	#52 (permalink)
Min Crazy Location: Louisiana	I have been in areas that guns were fired, however, I was not being fired upon.

04-25-2005, 09:13 PM	#56 (permalink)
RallyEX Tilted Location: Southeast Ohio	I've never had a gun held to my head, however I have been shot at a few times (in the same time frame). Some goofy old man and his son growing pot thought we were trying to steal it, when me and a friend of mine were actually trying to find a party. I haven't shot a gun since I was in Boy Scouts as a young teen (I'm 24 now). I am not a big gun person at all, as it wasn't much in my family. I am not interested in hunting at all, however I am interested in purchasing a handgun and perhaps a rifle of some kind for target shooting and home protection. I'm not sure I'd have the mental capacity to knowingly wound a human being fatally. If anything, I'd like to take classes on gun safety and shoot-to-wound (if such classes exist).

04-26-2005, 12:31 AM	#57 (permalink)
passthru Addict Location: Portland, OR	I didn't know it was illegal to carry a gun in some places in the US.. Do you mean illegal to walk down the street with your gun, or illegal to have one at all? That seems to conflict with the 2nd amendment.. Guns as a 'tool'? I think that is arguable. Maybe you don't think guns are designed to kill, but even if that's the case, you can't argue that guns aren't designed to destroy. A knife is definately a tool, they're used for so many common things.. You'd have a lot of trouble if you had a knifeless kitchen and wanted to prepare food. Also, knives and hands don't have the same kind of power that a gun has. With a gun, you point it at what you want to be damaged, squeeze your finger, and it is done. A gun certainly is not a mace or ball and chain.. I can't think of any use for those other than to cause harm. Knives and hands can be weapons if you want to cause damage and/or are trained to use them in such a way. But no matter how hard you try, you can't cut your bread with a rifle.

04-26-2005, 12:59 AM	#58 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	I think what some people are trying to say is that guns aren't scary, the many examples in this thread of trigger happy paranoid people are. I like guns and don't mind them per se. Gosh Raenna74, if you weren't married already....I wish I knew a girl who was as knowledgeable about guns like you Your post really made my heart melt (seriously). No, the real problem is education. The proper handling, and CLEANING (please treat your babies with care), safety (of course), respect for the gun's power etc. Also, there are too many jittery people shootin' off their guns at hikers, campers lost in the woods like in the above posts. It's those stories that are scary to me. It's why I will not let my kids trick or treat anymore. I live in LA where ironically, good citizens have to go through hell and back to obtain a legal gun (even though it's my right mind you) while some punk (pardon my language) can go down the corner and get one right away. Meanwhile, he can mug me that night while I'm still waiting 30 days for my backgorund check to clear. That's the real crime: preventing law-abiding citizen's the right to protect themselves (that's constitutionally guaranteed by the way) while Johnny gangsta gets to have all the assault weapons his crack profits and and armed roberries can buy. It's sick how the POLICE in LA are outgunned. Man, all you guys talk about hunting deer and stuff is making me jealous... I'm comin' over for BBQ so be on the look out!

04-26-2005, 02:48 PM	#61 (permalink)
homerhop Insane Location: ÉIRE	got a few grains while trapping at a clay shoot.Nothing major. Had a gun pointed at me when a guy I was with gave it to his gf. It was loaded and the first thing she did was point it.Scared the shit out of me because the first thing a person who knows nothing about guns does is pull the trigger __________________ its evolution baby

05-13-2005, 07:13 AM	#62 (permalink)
OPgary Tilted	When I was growing up we kids were told to never (and I mean NEVER) touch any gun unless an adult was present. And the folks meant it. Most adults would let us hold and occasionally go fire. I now have a shotgun, rifle, and a .38. The .38 came in handy when a carload of punks wanted to pull me off the road. Actually a sawed-off shotgun would have been better. They changed their mind. I have answered the door with the pistol in hand...late at night. Learn to use a gun and it is a handy tool. Carelessness with that tool can be tragic. But it is still a tool no matter how you look at it.

05-13-2005, 09:11 AM	#64 (permalink)
MsNobody Tilted Location: Southern California	No, thank god, although, I am sure there have been some people who would have liked to have taken a shot at me..

05-13-2005, 01:10 PM	#66 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	The only time I would consider owning a gun would be as a property owner in the country - and that would be to take care of varmints (4-legged and/or winged). I have never been shot at - gone hunting with shotguns, 22 rifles and some cute little automatic pistol that couldn't hit shit but was fun to fire. I found that I was not a hunter, and not a real fan of target shooting, and I haven't handled a gun for like 25 years or more. I try not to visit folks that would keep a gun or baseball bat by the door for insurance purposes, and it's been decades since I wandered the fields and back alleys all pissed up and naive - which is usually the way folks get shot at. I don't have an issue with anyone who wants to have a gun. Just so long as junior can't fish it out of the closet and blow away his sister or something then you can have all the guns you want. __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca

05-13-2005, 01:17 PM	#67 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Last time I had a gun fired in my general direction was when I was being attacked by a dog. The cop who was trying to rescue me couldn't pull the dog off so fired several shots into it at pretty close range... I don't recall hearing the gun go off, but I know there was a very dead dog. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

05-13-2005, 01:26 PM	#68 (permalink)
TexanAvenger Born-Again New Guy Location: Unfound.	Been shot at and hit in the leg. That wasn't so bad. Had a friend shot at during the same incident and thought I was going to lose her. That was bad. The smell of gunsmoke is the only thing that truly makes me feel rage now.

05-14-2005, 10:05 AM	#69 (permalink)
pinball Upright Location: Jhb, South Africa	I've lived in South Africa all my life (im 21), 19 years in Johannesburg. I've been brought to tears reading posts on popular forums by people bad-mouthing my city and my country without having experienced it. Im not here to argue your facts though, i agree on paper it doesn't look appealling. Besides a few of my friends dad's who are farmers and own (to my knowledge) one or two guns i can only think of 1 person i've ever known who owns one. Him and a rowing coach i had who was a corporal or something in the army. His is the only gun i've ever held (a Glock 17 i think with the magazine removed). The only guns i see otherwise are on police officers or cash-in-transit guards, and i cross the street when i see them. I agree that they're designed to destroy, its not hard to see that even if a gun is designed to shoot clay targets it can do serious harm to a human or animal. The only skeet i've done was 'laser clay pigeon shooting' with mock shotguns equipped with lasers. I think only the dumbest of criminals would try rob someone clay pigeon shooting, they'd no doubt be shot by everyone participating! Hence, more dangerous than a bat, knife (bar a professional with one), axe, crowbar etc. I have had a gun pointed at me once though, a convenience store i was in was robbed. I'd seen it happen so many times on tv it was surreal. lying on the floor of the store i looked up at the guy and asked him if i could have my wallet minus the cash back so i wouldnt have to replace all my bank cards. i wasnt worried about my cell phone and it didnt change any of my plans for the night.

05-15-2005, 12:19 AM	#70 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	Canadian here, so I don't (read: can't) carry one for personal defence. I really enjoy firearms though, for target shooting anyway. Been around quite a few, but the only thing I've been shot with was just an air rifle and a bb. Thing hurt like a bitch though, and I'm glad it wasn't a powerful one, loaded with a pellet. __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

05-15-2005, 08:25 PM	#73 (permalink)
fhqwhgads Junkie	I have, but I'd never admit it to my family... no need for them to worry more than they already do.