Here's a mind cruncher for Friday

How do you feel about home defense?

I bring this up because my husband has a firearms lisence and recently has been dragging me out to the range with him because he wants me to learn to shoot. He'd taken me out years ago but he's mroe into it because there have been a series of break-ins in our area and he is afraid of the few nights when he can't get back in time to be there in the evening.

Now I never had a problem with him owning a gun. I know that the majority of violent crimes are NOT committed by people with legal firearms, but ratehr those who gobtain guns through illegal means, which is why some of these gun control laws make no sense. I know that if respected, a gun can be safe.

HOWEVER..... I never really equated a gun with myself or with ever even CONSIDERING I need know how to use it... So this whole learning how to fire it and take care of it bugs me out a little. DH says 'If it comes down to you or the bad guy, I want to see your face at the end of the day not his.'

I understand that logic but I'm still unsure whether if it came down to it, I would be able to make that choice of them or me.I like to think my sense of self preservation would kick in, but I know if it did, my concience would join in soon after. However then I think, 'if I had kids, I would most certainly make sure the bad guy would not hurt them, no matter what it took.' Its a mind twister.

What does everyone else think? Do you think (we're being hypothetical here because I know its impossible to tell what you would do unelss faced with the situation) that you would be able to defend yourself and your family at all costs if it came down to you or the person trying to hurt you/them?

i am fine with it but think about it - guns need to be locked away and safely hidden. Well if someone breaks in and surprised you - think your going to have enough time to get that gun? NO!

I personally will never be allowed to own a gun i think after what went on in my younger days and justifyably so (never harmed anyone or did a hold up just had issues). So I know it will never be an issue in our home.

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Posted by nifheim

i am fine with it but think about it - guns need to be locked away and safely hidden. Well if someone breaks in and surprised you - think your going to have enough time to get that gun? NO!

I personally will never be allowed to own a gun i think after what went on in my younger days and justifyably so (never harmed anyone or did a hold up just had issues). So I know it will never be an issue in our home.

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Thats the point-guns are safely put away yes BUT at night, the whole point IS to keep it within arms reach. Its kept in my nightstand and I sleep with the door locked. I don't have kids yet so its not an issue but if we did we'd have an alarm system.

I am not so concerned about getting to it as I am as to what would happen IF i got to it. Does that make sense? I guess itr more a concience issue for me. Like COULD I pull the trigger if I had to? I don't know.

i think i would absolutely be able to do what I had to if it meant defending myself or my family.. i will say I'm leary on keeping guns in the home, because one of my very close friends committed suicide with her fathers gun that was 'safely locked away'...i also knew someone growing up who accidently shot his friend when we were little with his parents gun that was 'safely locked away' because they were checking it out & playing with it... u also hear stories of teenagers sneaking in late at night & accidently getting shot because of parents acting too quick or vise-versa....there are a lot of scary things that could happen whether u do everything to prevent them or not..

that being said, an in-home invasion while ur home is a VERY frightening thing..and i think if anything did God forbid happen i would have a hard time forgiving myself and i'd have a lot of 'if only's' if i DIDN'T have one close by...dh probably would too..

right now we don't own a gun. I'd feel very safe having one now... but i'd be a little worried to have it in the house when we have kids one day for the reasons stated above... just dont know

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Posted by jtgarsik

i think i would absolutely be able to do what I had to if it meant defending myself or my family.. i will say I'm leary on keeping guns in the home, because one of my very close friends committed suicide with her fathers gun that was 'safely locked away'...i also knew someone growing up who accidently shot his friend when we were little with his parents gun that was 'safely locked away' because they were checking it out & playing with it... u also hear stories of teenagers sneaking in late at night & accidently getting shot because of parents acting too quick or vise-versa....there are a lot of scary things that could happen whether u do everything to prevent them or not..

that being said, an in-home invasion while ur home is a VERY frightening thing..and i think if anything did God forbid happen i would have a hard time forgiving myself and i'd have a lot of 'if only's' if i DIDN'T have one close by...dh probably would too..

right now we don't own a gun. I'd feel very safe having one now... but i'd be a little worried to have it in the house when we have kids one day for the reasons stated above... just dont know

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Yes with kids safety is definetly an issue. I mean I am leery about his keeping it out of the case as is because we have cats and they like to sneak around. That said I will admit though the trigger on his is VERY heavy. You really have to have the strength to pull it back which freaks me out also (like how much time would you have to pull it if someone is comign after you?) But it can't go off on its own. He took the magazine out and dropped it to show me and nothign happens to it. But it still freaks me out.

With kids we would definetly keep it in a locked safe. I know there are accidents but honestly, the majority of those are careless people. You keep it locked in a safe and you make sure only the parents have the keys and they keep them ON their person.

A friend of mine was shot with her father's gun (but thankfully not killed). He was a cop and he stupidly kept it in the top cabinet of the kitchen. He always said that they were 'trained' not to touch it but come on..kids are curious. So a dafe it is with no other access. The majority of accidents are cases such as these where the owners just get too comfortable. Sad but definetly something to remember if you have one in the house.

I am so sorry to ehar about the suicide and the father must blame himself and I cannot imagien what that feels like. But....if she really intended to commit suicde, not having the gun wouldnt have kept her from doing it. Its just tragic that she felt the need to and that was the easiest means.

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Posted by DeannaNDave07

this is one good reason why i love that my DH is a cop.. i feel so safe at night.. he keeps his gun on his nightstand , then takes it with him in the morning for work.. when he comes home he puts it in the safe until we go to bed again .

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I thought your DH was a cop. I didn't wnat to 'single you out' though. Thankfully your DH is at home with you but being that you're more comfortable with him having a fiirearm, do you think if you had to defend your family and yourself you could?

Ny no means do I want anyone to feel odd about however they answer this. Im just curious-need a sounding board and you lsdies are always good about giving honest opinions.

I don't think I could ever shoot a person, even if my life depended on it. I also think I might accidentally shoot someone b/c the gun was in my hand and I was startled.. So I don't think having a gunwould be beneficial... FOR ME...

I don't know, I guess if I knew how to use a gun, it may be different.

haha interesting thread Jenn. Well with on the way, guns will NOT be in my house. no way. DH has a rifle and hunting license, but he agreed wayy before we were married they had to go into storage if we had a baby; and he just brought that out there last weekend.

He's also got a hunting crossbow (deadly that thing-its gon to storage too) and a bunch of samurai swords and hunting knives... so we argue about whether he's keeping them around for artistic or utilitarian purposes We'll work it out.

I'm just not comfortable AT ALL with having that stuff in our house. Especially with a little one soon. Too great a risk to take, even for the slight chance of something happening.

Oh, also DH had a few hunting rifles in his parent's attic back in Dublin and a few years back someone broke into their house, and the guns were the only thing taken. He suspects it was a guy who did some work on the house he's p*ssed, and now someone out there has a gun that's legally registered to HIM.

So that's another caveat to anyone with one at home, make sure NOOOOO ONE knows you have it!!!!

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Posted by carolinep24

I don't think I could ever shoot a person, even if my life depended on it. I also think I might accidentally shoot someone b/c the gun was in my hand and I was startled.. So I don't think having a good would be beneficial... FOR ME...

I don't know, I guess if I knew how to use a gun, it may be different.

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I understand that. I KNOW how to use it and I don't know if I could do it if my life depended on it. I think I could if I had kids or my family was threatened because I tend to react differently in emergency situations when there are others involved vs just me. i guess portective instincts in me kick in with others.

No rigth or wrong answers. Just curious what others thought because it was brought to my attention is all.

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Posted by PeteysBride

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Posted by DeannaNDave07

this is one good reason why i love that my DH is a cop.. i feel so safe at night.. he keeps his gun on his nightstand , then takes it with him in the morning for work.. when he comes home he puts it in the safe until we go to bed again .

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I thought your DH was a cop. I didn't wnat to 'single you out' though. Thankfully your DH is at home with you but being that you're more comfortable with him having a fiirearm, do you think if you had to defend your family and yourself you could?

Ny no means do I want anyone to feel odd about however they answer this. Im just curious-need a sounding board and you lsdies are always good about giving honest opinions.

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if ME personally had to protect the family if DH wasnt around or in another room.. etc..
then i would totally do what i have to do! the problem is.. when DH is at work..(sometimes he works nights) i wouldnt have a firearm, but i considered going with DH to learn and get a license myself.. we have talked about it before and im really thinking more and more about it!
dont get me wrong, i am SCARED to even hold it,, i hate looking at it.. but i would do anything to keep myself and my family safe.

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Posted by Colette

haha interesting thread Jenn. Well with on the way, guns will NOT be in my house. no way. DH has a rifle and hunting license, but he agreed wayy before we were married they had to go into storage if we had a baby; and he just brought that out there last weekend.

He's also got a hunting crossbow (deadly that thing-its gon to storage too) and a bunch of samurai swords and hunting knives... so we argue about whether he's keeping them around for artistic or utilitarian purposes We'll work it out.

I'm just not comfortable AT ALL with having that stuff in our house. Especially with a little one soon. Too great a risk to take, even for the slight chance of something happening.

Oh, also DH had a few hunting rifles in his parent's attic back in Dublin and a few years back someone broke into their house, and the guns were the only thing taken. He suspects it was a guy who did some work on the house he's p*ssed, and now someone out there has a gun that's legally registered to HIM.

So that's another caveat to anyone with one at home, make sure NOOOOO ONE knows you have it!!!!

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VERY TRUE! Did he go to the police immediately and report them stolen? That has to all go on the books in the event God forbid a crime is committed with his firearm. very messy PITA business.

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Posted by DeannaNDave07

if ME personally had to protect the family if DH wasnt around or in another room.. etc..
then i would totally do what i have to do! the problem is.. when DH is at work..(sometimes he works nights) i wouldnt have a firearm, but i considered going with DH to learn and get a license myself.. we have talked about it before and im really thinking more and more about it!
dont get me wrong, i am SCARED to even hold it,, i hate looking at it.. but i would do anything to keep myself and my family safe.

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I understand. I feel that way too. I mean I know how to use it, I am a decent shot and yet my hands still tremble each time I have to touch the thing. Im just NOT comfortable with guns. Period. They just represent scariness for me. But I think to protect my own I'd do what ever was necessary.

Okay so, DH owns a business and he is going o get his gun license to protect it soon. He wanted to get one earlier and also have a gun in our apartment BUT since we live in my parents' home that was out of the question. They would NOT allow that.

Anyway, when we have our own home we will have a gun and we will both get our licenses for it.

Now, I do NOT think that I would be able to shoot someone BUT if I get comfortable with it then I would be able to defend my family. DH does not get home until midnight sometimes so once we get a house I wil be alone until then - I need SOMETHING to make me feel comfortable doing that.

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Posted by PeteysBride

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Posted by DeannaNDave07

if ME personally had to protect the family if DH wasnt around or in another room.. etc..
then i would totally do what i have to do! the problem is.. when DH is at work..(sometimes he works nights) i wouldnt have a firearm, but i considered going with DH to learn and get a license myself.. we have talked about it before and im really thinking more and more about it!
dont get me wrong, i am SCARED to even hold it,, i hate looking at it.. but i would do anything to keep myself and my family safe.

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I understand. I feel that way too. I mean I know how to use it, I am a decent shot and yet my hands still tremble each time I have to touch the thing. Im just NOT comfortable with guns. Period. They just represent scariness for me. But I think to protect my own I'd do what ever was necessary.

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yea i feel the same exact way.. i never had shot one before.. but DH really wants me to go with him.. i am now leaning towards it with the baby and everything... but it is definitely scary and i hate even looking at it..

however for the meantime i think im going to buy a metal bat and keep it on my side of the bed

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Posted by ant n tilde

Okay so, DH owns a business and he is going o get his gun license to protect it soon. He wanted to get one earlier and also have a gun in our apartment BUT since we live in my parents' home that was out of the question. They would NOT allow that.

Anyway, when we have our own home we will have a gun and we will both get our licenses for it.

Now, I do NOT think that I would be able to shoot someone BUT if I get comfortable with it then I would be able to defend my family. DH does not get home until midnight sometimes so once we get a house I wil be alone until then - I need SOMETHING to make me feel comfortable doing that.

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when DH worked midnights and we got our house, i was so scared staying home alone at night.. i just had to get a dog.. and it helped alot!

If it meant defending myself or my family, I would definitely shoot.
An ex of mine taught me years ago , and I've got steady hands and pretty good aim. I've shot a handgun, a rifle, and a semi-automatic rifle.

Conversely, I don't see reason to own a gun. I can do just as much damage with my big ole chef's knife.
I don't believe in the general population owning guns. Only law enforcement should have guns. There has to be a way to get guns off of the streets, perhaps by not producing them anymore ?
Hunters don't need to have semi-automatic rifles. A Winchester works just as fine, recoils a bit more but still does what it is supposed to.
My opinion please.

we should all get Tasers.. i love watching the police use them on COPS.. its hilarious..

[jumps in]
Hmmmmm, how do our answers match up to the Capital Punishment query...
[jumps out]

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Posted by DeannaNDave07

we should all get Tasers.. i love watching the police use them on COPS.. its hilarious..

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Don't tase me bro.