Ooh, and on this note, I find it annoying that so many people on this board assume that everyone drives everywhere. I can't think of a specific example off the top of my head, but there's a lot of assuming that everyone commutes by car, for example. I hate that driving single-occupant vehicles is so much the default norm in the vast majority of our country.
Yes, I saw a post on ML where someone mentioned drinking a spiked coffee on the way to work over the holidays and everyone went apeshit until she came in and clarified that she takes the train.
I'm more making the point that a gun in the nightstand is not the answer that many believe it to be, not that we should not try to defend ourselves. Chances are, if someone surprises you in your bedroom, even if you are able to grab the gub and disengage the safety (if there is one), if the attacker has an advantage over you physically (or through the element of surprise), he could disarm you pretty easily. However, to lilly's point, this is all moot if you shoot them before they get close.
Interesting how people jump to conclusion it's just hanging out on a nightstand and that's the only scenario it would be used in.
I think a gun can probably be useful for protection if you live in an area where you or your animals are likely to be attacked by coyotes, bears, etc. Otherwise, I don't see the point.
I was watching that "How the States Got Their Shapes" show a couple days ago, and in the Montana episode they mentioned how there are only six deputies per X people in the state (I forget the exact number, but the gist of it was that it's going to take the police a while to show up if someone calls for help). Which is why a lot of residents arm themselves, which makes sense ... but in such a sparsely populated state, is there really all that much crime to begin with?
But the point of the 2nd amendment is that firearm ownership is "necessary to the security of a free State."
It's not about defending yourself against an intruder, so much as it is about defending yourself against a tyrannical government.
It really amazes me that there are people out there who think that their guns are going to make a difference in a situation like this, because: a) we've gone over 200 years without the government being overthrown b) we have plenty of checks and balances in place to prevent the government from getting out of control c) even if the government DID get out of control, I very much doubt that a bunch of average joes with guns are going to stand a chance against the world's most powerful military, which has tanks and nukes
Ooh, and on this note, I find it annoying that so many people on this board assume that everyone drives everywhere. I can't think of a specific example off the top of my head, but there's a lot of assuming that everyone commutes by car, for example. I hate that driving single-occupant vehicles is so much the default norm in the vast majority of our country.
Yes, I saw a post on ML where someone mentioned drinking a spiked coffee on the way to work over the holidays and everyone went apeshit until she came in and clarified that she takes the train.
Well, and some people still flipped out about the work part
But yes, it was funny that the assumption was so wrong.
I've felt bad sometimes when I've asked questions (more so on other boards or before people knew me here) and got a ton of completely inapplicable answers because people were assuming that I was driving or had a house or lived near a Kohl's or whatever.
Ooh, and on this note, I find it annoying that so many people on this board assume that everyone drives everywhere. I can't think of a specific example off the top of my head, but there's a lot of assuming that everyone commutes by car, for example. I hate that driving single-occupant vehicles is so much the default norm in the vast majority of our country.
I hate how unwalkable my area is. I've even said something to DH about how the road where the elementary school is, doesn't have a sidewalk, so everyone is bused to school b/c there's no walkability.
If I could run for local govt I would probably consider it. My county is so behind the times and broke. It needs change.
My immediate neighborhood is pretty walkable and has some useful stores close by, but the only thing I can't get within walking distance is any kind of fresh produce.
We have a Whole Foods a mile away but it's at the top of a super-steep hill that I'm too lazy to climb. And near my house are several kosher delis, but not one of them makes sandwiches
I, too, am always somewhat confused about how a gun could be accessible quickly in the event of an intruder but still me inaccessible to others (especially any children in the house). We do have some friends who keep a gun in a biometric safe under their bed, so maybe that is an option.
I have finally had an epiphany. I am ready to end 3.5 year relationship with SO.
and good luck with that conversation!
thank you. To clarify--- I'm not sure exactly when I will have this conversation, but it will be very soon. We renew our lease on March 15th... and I am not signing up for another year at this relationship.
How often do families get professional pictures taken?
I know a couple who has been together for almost year and has already had two "family" professional pics taken with the BF's daughter. The family/friends hates his gf and everyone gives the pics a major side eye.
We have guns. I don't really like them, but I can't bring myself to care enough to argue with H about it and/or defend them on here. I do think its a regional thing and that I probably don't know many people irl who don't own guns. And no, ours are not loaded or for protection.
I have never, ever seen this satisfactorily answered by a gun owner.
Me neither.
DH has his unloaded gun in his nightstand, with a loaded clip in a biometric safe next to it. He can go from being awakened by a very loud noise to the front door with his gun loaded in under a minute. It would take a minimum of 30 minutes for the police to respond to a 911 call. In the 7 years I've lived here, I've seen him do this twice--once it was a bear throwing trash cans around in the back of his truck, the second was an FBI agent shooting an injured deer 30 feet from our bedroom window at 4:30am.
We don't have kids. All other guns/ammo get locked in the gun safe when we have kids visit (pretty rare). Ammo is always locked up.
DH has his unloaded gun in his nightstand, with a loaded clip in a biometric safe next to it. He can go from being awakened by a very loud noise to the front door with his gun loaded in under a minute. It would take a minimum of 30 minutes for the police to respond to a 911 call. In the 7 years I've lived here, I've seen him do this twice--once it was a bear throwing trash cans around in the back of his truck, the second was an FBI agent shooting an injured deer 30 feet from our bedroom window at 4:30am.
We don't have kids. All other guns/ammo get locked in the gun safe when we have kids visit (pretty rare). Ammo is always locked up.
If you don't have kids and live in an area where a bear throwing trash cans at your property is a real possibility, you get a pass from me.
DH has his unloaded gun in his nightstand, with a loaded clip in a biometric safe next to it. He can go from being awakened by a very loud noise to the front door with his gun loaded in under a minute. It would take a minimum of 30 minutes for the police to respond to a 911 call. In the 7 years I've lived here, I've seen him do this twice--once it was a bear throwing trash cans around in the back of his truck, the second was an FBI agent shooting an injured deer 30 feet from our bedroom window at 4:30am.
We don't have kids. All other guns/ammo get locked in the gun safe when we have kids visit (pretty rare). Ammo is always locked up.
Fair enough.
I'm impressed he can get into the biometric safe and load the gun in under a minute! (that's not sarcastic, lol)
I'm more impressed that you've only heard two loud/scary noises twice in seven years. I think I hear something suspicious at least once a week, lol. Which is why I could never live in a situation like yours...we'd be up loading that gun every other night.
DH has his unloaded gun in his nightstand, with a loaded clip in a biometric safe next to it. He can go from being awakened by a very loud noise to the front door with his gun loaded in under a minute. It would take a minimum of 30 minutes for the police to respond to a 911 call. In the 7 years I've lived here, I've seen him do this twice--once it was a bear throwing trash cans around in the back of his truck, the second was an FBI agent shooting an injured deer 30 feet from our bedroom window at 4:30am.
We don't have kids. All other guns/ammo get locked in the gun safe when we have kids visit (pretty rare). Ammo is always locked up.
If you don't have kids and live in an area where a bear throwing trash cans at your property is a real possibility, you get a pass from me.
LOL. Reminds me of the story I heard on NPR the other day about an old guy in west Texas who is pro-guns because he literally had to defend his homestead a few years back. That's in the true spirit of the second amendment.
I'm impressed he can get into the biometric safe and load the gun in under a minute! (that's not sarcastic, lol)
me too!
Honestly, I'm impressed he can wake from a dead sleep and form a logical thought in under a minute. ;D I'm one of those people that takes a minimum of 20 minutes to fall asleep and 10 minutes to know who I am when I wake up. He falls asleep with in a minute putting his head on the pillow and can get up and function the second the alarm goes off.
When the deer shooting incident happened, I was just forming the thought to call 911 when DH came back to the bedroom to tell me it was okay and what was happening.
All that said, I wouldn't recommend what he does for most people and things would be very different if we a) had kids, or b) didn't live in the middle of nowhere.
Well how would you keep it responsibly stored, but easily accessible should someone break in?
I'm just thinking that if my #1 priority were protection in the case of a home invasion, a gun in a locked cabinet isn't exactly easy to access.
I have never, ever seen this satisfactorily answered by a gun owner.
I'll chime in on this one. Our gun is in a small biometric (finger print) safe that is bolted into my DH's nightstand. If someone wanted to steal it, they would have to smash apart the night stand and lug out the safe (it's pretty heavy). Even then, I'm not sure how they would actually open it. It takes about 5-7 seconds to access the gun and have it ready to shoot, and only DH and my finger prints are able to open the safe.
Someone would have to get into our house, not be deterred by the security alarm or two dogs that don't like strangers, and continue up the stairs if they wanted to get in while we were sleeping.
My dad's family were farmers and my mom's family lived in the woods in MN, so I come from a long line of gun owners. They're not for everyone, but I do think they can be responsibly owned. Most gun owners are relentless rule followers with a respect for safety (not to mention, a love for 'merikuh).
A mom in Georgia shot a man five times last week after he broke into her house in the middle of the day. She had time to hide her kids, arm herself, and call for help.
Not all scenerios are middle of the night while you're sleeping kind of things.