Guns in your home?

Jennifer - posted on 09/19/2012

Kelli, the incident you are refering to happened in Oklahoma. She lived in an apartment, and had a small dog. Her neighbors heard her screaming and did nothing. She was on the phone with 911, though, and the cops arrived 15 to 20 minutes after she shot one of her attackers. Her husband died in Afganistan about a month before this happened. Westboro church protested at his funeral. And e-mails poured in from across globe wanting her to be prosecuted. She deserves a medal and to be hailed as a hero. Not many could go through all she did with out loosing their mind..........



As for me, I own guns. Want to find out what kind? Break in my house. If you don't want your kids here, fine. But unless you come crawling in my window, or ask me point blank, you won't know they are here. I've been attacked twice. Once while returning to my car after work, and once in my home, in my bed, with my infant son less than ten feet away. Had no gun either time, but it doesn't mean my attackers got away. First one had his face cut so bad he took nearly 100 stiches. Car keys are wicked weapons. He's lucky though, I was aiming for his eye. I have no idea what I used on the second guy. The cops thought it was bat, but I never found it. He ended up with a busted knee, hip and ankle. I also did a number on his shoulder and back. My dog also busted out of his crate, so he had a few dog bites, too. He would have been better off if I'd just shot him. It is my right to protect myself, my family, and other innocent people from a crime. I will do it. Gun or no gun. I will not protect my property with much force, nor will I intentionly kill someone. I know the law and I will follow it. Maybe it's wrong of me to protect myself, maybe I should have just let those men do what they wanted, to me and my son. Maybe that young lady from Durant should have let those men kill or rape her and her daughter. Maybe we should ban all guns. It worked great for Saddam, Hitler, Stalin............

Kelli - posted on 08/28/2012

We do own guns and same thing as everyone else, locked up kids taught about them, etc. but for everyone at sys they don't understand them, do you have daughters? Do yu remmember at the beginning of they ear the lady I believe it was in Texas, who's husband had just died and had two guys break into her homeintending to rape and probably kill her and her infant son? She lived on a lot of land, raised and I think trained large dog. So she had dogs to rais ethe alarm and they still broke into the house. She was on the phone with 911 when they broke in and she told the 911 operator that she had guns and was going to shoot them. These guys did not have guns, they has knives, so stricter gun laws would probably have gotten her and her child killed.

I know this is an isolated occurrence, but things like this do happen and if her parents were addement that she NEVER touch a gun, her parents would have been attending their SIL, their daughter and their grandsons funeral all in one week.

Caroline - posted on 08/21/2012

I own three guns and am fine with them. The events in Colorado have not made me be against gun ownership but I do think that there needs to be some control.

Jane - posted on 08/15/2012

I have been a gun owner for many years...we own rifles, hand guns (both revolvers and semi-auto's) and totally believe in the right to bear arms. However, I also think it's OK for folks who don't want to own guns because they are not comfortable. One thing I can say is that if you do own guns, you MUST be a responsible owner. You should absolutely get professional training, lock your weapons in a cabinet and if you have children, they should learn all about guns and get training as well. My kids are adults now but when they were younger, they did not have access to the weapons because they were locked in safes. When we would shoot, they would shoot with us. They've been safety trained and know all about safety, how to shoot, etc. I am a concealed carry licensed owner and I feel safer knowing I can protect myself and my family if need be.

You treat gun ownership with the same respect as you do with an automobile, a chainsaw, a tablesaw, the lawnmower, etc. All of these things can kill if not used properly. And...no matter what the laws are with regards to guns, someone who is insane and wants to use a gun to kill will get that gun no matter what.

Vanessa - posted on 08/14/2012

Totally agree!!

Claire - posted on 08/13/2012

I want to own guns. And one day I will. But I will also own a gun safe that my children will NOT have access to. I think the colorado shootings has changed my feelings about mental health in this country, not gun control. Too bad all the state mental facilities were shut down years and years ago, cause kinda seems like we might need them. And I also believe the parents should have been more aware of their sons issues and got him help, not just let him do his thing or whatever

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/11/2012

Marina, now that I'm re-reading I get it. Having a loaded gun in the house doesn't register with me because my dad doesn't keep his guns loaded. He removes the bullets before he even leaves the camp he hunts at. It's an hour drive and you wouldn't want to risk a discharge right?

I wouldn't allow my child in a home with a loaded gun because that would say to me that the parent isn't responsible. My older daughter has a big mouth so I wouldn't even have to ask. And again, I live in Canada- aside from DH's uncle I don't know anyone here who ones a gun.

However your OP states that it's a gun not a loaded gun and that's where I was wondering how having guns locked up in a gun case where only the parents have keys and keep them unloaded would pose a safety risk.

Chaya - posted on 08/11/2012

My question would be more like do you own a gun? If the answer is yes, I ask if it's kept in a safe. If the answer is no, I suggest we go to McD, or somewhere kid friendly, or just a playground

Julie - posted on 08/11/2012

I would not have been aware of my gun in the home being different based on the statement you posted in your question. You stated, "where parents own guns." and we do.
Now that you have explained, "loaded gun" I get it.
You will just ask, "Do you have a loaded gun in your home?" before saying, "Yes" to a play date.

Chaya - posted on 08/11/2012

I honestly wouldn't care if I hurt your feelings about gun safety. My kids safety is more important to me than your feelings.
I personlly wouldn't be offended if you were to ask me about gun ownership

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/11/2012

That is ok Megan, we are not always going to agree. I just see at as a safety precaution for my children. If you don't own a gun, and I ask, then maybe that person would understand where I am coming from. I don't give a shit if I offend the parents. It is about safety. I most likely will not like all my kids friends parents, and I am sure as shit they won't all like me. But it is not about us. It is about the kids having fun in a safe environment.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/11/2012

I just can't agree on the subject. I'd be offended in the first place to be asked if there was a gun in my home because I would take it to imply that either you feel I'm violent or you don't feel that I'm a responsible gun owner. Maybe both. It just seems nosey and overly paranoid.

I do however believe that hunting for anything other than using the animal for food is foolish. My dad hunts and my aunt uses the meat.

Laura Zoey - posted on 08/11/2012

I would also simply ask a parent if they had guns in the home before letting my kids over there to play alone, now if I'm there with them then I wouldn't ask.
I also agree with LMCBW about hunting. For sure. If you hunt to feed your family fine, go for it I won't complain. But if it's for fun or sport I absolutely hate the idea.
So I guess in this topic I'm 100% behind LMcBW

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/11/2012

Little Miss there are a few ways to get rid of zombies so you might not even need a gun :)

Hack them up

Run them over

Bean them over the head with a baseball bat, club or crow bar

Set them on fire

Blow them up

This is courtesy of Zombie games that I really don't like playing because the graphics are too good. Give me Halo Reach and a plasma grenade or a spiker any day.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

I think salt is for snails ;P

Gale - posted on 08/10/2012

Off topic I know but I thought salt works way better on zombies then guns? Or cats? Or did the rule change?

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

That is different Julie. You know that. It would be your choice to explain that. Having a functional gun in the house with ammo is different than an antique without ammo that is non functional. And no, not isolating. Protecting. The kids are more than welcome to come to my home in a gun free environment.

Julie - posted on 08/10/2012

I understand your sensitivity on the subject but it's not "that simple" Isolating your kids from social interaction because of what the parents have in the house that may or may not be a danger to them can get tricky.
For example, We do not have a functional, loaded or working gun in our home. But my husband has an antique civil war rife, it's never been used or had bullets. It is something that was gifted to him.
So, hypothetically when I say "yes" to your question "do you have a gun in your home?" That means your kid can't come to play at my house with my child?

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/10/2012

I'm laughing at the zombie apocalypse though. You should go on youtube to look up scenes from Left 4 dead and check out all the crazy stuff they have.

I think that Canada has to worry more though since with our gun laws only the zombies would have guns in the first place :) Or at least you'd think that if you heard from that cop from Kalamazoo MIchigan who freaked out on Canada's gun control laws.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/10/2012

I can't picture myself being a hunter. The first time I shot a gun it had deer slugs in it and I dropped that thing after shooting it! Ow! I think that was my dad subconciously telling me that guns stil aren't toys. 20 years later I still haven't thought of getting a gun for myself.

DH technically owns a hunting rifle. It was his paternal grandfather's (who he wants to name our son after when we have one) and it was left to him, but it's at his uncle's. His uncle does hunt. DH hasn't tried to get any permits for a gun- since our PM banned long rifle registration I doubt he'd try now since the gun he was left was a hunting rifle and we don't know who it's still registered to.

I meant more like asking if it was locked up. If I knew someone had a gun, I'd just want to make sure no one could get it and play with it. Not asking where it is- just making sure it's secured. You could make someone suspicious though just by asking if they own a gun.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

AND, neither myself or my husband will ever be hunters.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

I like the idea of telling my son to always treat a gun like it is loaded. I would never ask anyone where they are hiding their gun, cause first of all I don't want to know, then that could make me a suspect if it ever goes missing. Hell if they are willing to tell me, who else are they telling? I know that might sound paranoid, but I seriously want nothing to do with guns. Unless the zombie apocalypses is upon us, we will never own a gun for home safety. I will get an alarm system first.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/10/2012

I don't believe allowing anyone under 12 to handle a gun is a good idea. I wasn't allowed to handle one until that age and that was around my dad's supervision. Myself and my parents have taught my 7 year old not to touch a gun, treat all guns as if they're loaded if one of your friends wants to show you a gun run and tell a grown up.

I do know that 'hey wanna see my daddy's gun' happens a lot- less here than in the US because we have stricter laws. But I think I was the only one among my friends who have parent/relatives that hunt. My dad also keeps the keys to his guns on him and a spare in the safe.

Maybe instead of just asking if they have guns you should ask how they're stored and who has access to the keys. My parents would have given out that without asking though.

Finally, my papa (grandpa) is in his late 80's, has stints in his valves and hunts in the hills in southern NY, I think he already evened out the playing field :)

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

Yes, and I have taught my son about gun safety. What does that consist of? Never touch a gun, if a friend wants to show one to you say no and get an adult asap, do not play with toy guns. I am not going to get a gun to show my kid how to use it for safety, or how NOT to touch it. He sees a gun, he runs. No if ans or buts about it. You may not think that is wise, but I don't think teaching a 6 year old how to use a gun is wise.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

I lived in a huge hunting community for 10 years. I have met very responsible hunters ranging to irresponsible hunters who enjoy being trashed when they are aiming loaded guns.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

First of all, the safety of my children is more important than offending a gun user/owner. I understand what you are saying, but there are always people who feel they are being safe, when indeed they are not. I don't want to take that chance. I am sure many kids are educated about guns, but what about those that live in a house with a gun that are not educated? What about the kids that want to show off their parents gun? I know it happens, cause I have been in that situation, twice.

What do I have an issue with hunting for? Many reasons. I don't believe it is a sport, nor do I feel animals should be hunted for the sole purpose of fun. Some people do indeed hunt for their supply of meat, and after they get their stock, they hunt for fun. Some hunters just hunt for the "sport" of it. I say, if you are gonna make it into the sport, level the playing field. Go one on one with the animal. Give the animal a chance rather than be a cheater, sit up in a tree, and shoot them. No sport to me. But, that is a whole other debate. I don't have to agree with hunting.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/10/2012

I was raised in a home with hunting rifles and my dad used to take my brother and I to where he still hunts so we could leave my mom to do her thing and get out in nature (we lived in the burbs) My dad would clean his guns around myself and my brother and tell us to always treat a gun as though it's a loaded weapon. My dad's guns are always locked up and the ammo is stored in a separate location from the gun. Responsible gun owners do this. So Little Miss in this case I believe you're being overly paranoid in allowing not allowing your children into a home with guns.

My brother and I didn't even get it into our head to mess with our dad's guns because of how we were raised and taught about guns. We had our friends in the house and they didn't even know that there is a gun locker in our hall closet. I'm quite sure my parents would have been put off by someone asking if there was a gun in our house. They would have answered truthfully of course, but they may be offended by the assumption that all gun owners aren't responsible. You may want to consider that when you do get it in your head to ask about guns in someone's home.

I'm very much about gun control and I believe in the US we need better laws and stricter ones, but if my husband decided to try and get a license and a permit for a gun (a rather lengthy process here in Canada) I'd be ok with it as long as we kept it locked up.

Also sidenote, what do you have against hunting? My dad and the people who he hunts with and DH's uncle only shoot what they need and donate the rest. My dad and grandpa hunting deer in the fall helps my mom's younger sister who is on disability with her food bill because she likes venison. The people I know who hunt are responsible hunters.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/10/2012

I will ask. Simple as that.

Julie - posted on 08/09/2012

How are you going to know if your "kids are at friends house where parents own guns" or not? Will you ask them on the playground, or over the phone? Will you have a form for a parent to sign before play date?
It sounds crazy, but how about educating your kids on the dangers of guns, teach them gun safety etc. and go from there.

Gale - posted on 08/09/2012

My question is should we illegality rocks too? It was the first weapon used to kill human, there are rocks right outside my door, in parks, its human that kill, not objects. If the person used a bomb instead of a gun, then baning guns topic wouldn't be brought up, until another mass killing happen to use guns, what about airplanes? It people that we need to look at not the object that being used.

Vanessa - posted on 08/05/2012

Hi Little Miss,
I grew up with a father who is an avid hunter and he actually owned a shooting range. I have one older sister and my father always showed us all of his guns, (they were all rifles no hand guns) how they worked, how he cleaned them, we shot the rifles as adults (we both decided it wasn't for us) and everything else. After all that he had a huge safe with a key that we didn't have. So the point is I feel that if you show your child what it is all about, put fear in them but don't scare them, they will make good decisions. Me and my sister never had any interest in trying to break open the safe, it was old news to us, we saw them all the time and new what it was all about. I had friends over all the time and we never tried to get in there at all. It is a personal preference though.

Tracie - posted on 08/04/2012

I make all my decisions based on facts, and the fact of the matter is that you are much more likely to hurt or kill a family member than an intruder if you have a gun in the house. That plus the fact that I am a peacenik through and through pretty much seals the deal on guns for me.

Amanda - posted on 08/03/2012

I agree with Sally.... Criminals will ALWAYS have guns legal or otherwise and while I don't see any logical reason why a civilian would ever need certain types if guns...ie automatic guns. I have no issue and totally agree with people have a license to carry a concealed handgun in their car or on their person. Most people who go through the hoops and tons of things that go with the concealed carry permit (at least the ton of requirements here in Texas) have experience and can safely handle the weapon they carry.

Corinne - posted on 08/03/2012

Aside from the fact that I grew up in a home that ALWAYS had a gun and I enjoy going to the shooting range every now and then, I do not feel comfortable if there isn't a gun in the home. While I grew up I never knew that there was a gun in the house; once I found out I never knew where is lockbox was and couldn't find it when I tried to find it just to see how good his hiding spot was haha.
We didn't grow up in a dangerous area(pretty rural actually) but I felt safe. When I was 18 I feel in love and moved away from my parents in a Romeo and Juliet mindset. I was beat almost to death for two years. The last straw fight had me truely scared because I was pregnant and let me tell you, a phone in your hand for the cops is a gamble whether you're calling for help or for them to come get your body. I moved back in with my parents and the one time my ex came over he was met with my dad and his shotgun. He never came back.
When you're in the situation where yours and your kids life is in danger you better have the upperhand because law enforcement isn't as effective as you'ld like to think.

Sherri - posted on 08/03/2012

Never allowed guns in my home and never will.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/02/2012

Criminals DON"T obey laws, that in itself is what makes them criminals. Making gun laws more strict with make it more difficult rather than handing them over on a silver platter. That is the point everyone is missing. Less gun access equals less crimes.

S. - posted on 08/02/2012

I live in England and we do have a tight gun law, in fact our police don't even carry guns ( we do have a special armed police forse) but there not the regular ones who patrol the streets, the only time I have ever seen a gun is on a armed police man in a air port and I was slightly on edge as I'm just not used to it. In saying this gun crime here I going up and some parts of the Uk are rife with gangs and guns, as chaya said criminals don't obay laws.

Chaya - posted on 08/02/2012

My dad had a non working gun, once when I was a child, I was asleep in my dad's bed, I must have been sick, but some guy walked up and looked in the window, I took the gun out of the drawer and displayed it to him, he left, that's all I needed.
While I don't hunt, I am not a police officer, and I have no reason for, nor do I wish for a gun, they should still be legal. If I wanted a gun, I'd go through illegal means to get one. I have no intention or desire to do so. I will not have a gun in my home, not because I'm afraid of them, but because the risk of danger coming to someone in the home as a result of the gun being there is something like three times greater than if there is no gun in the home.
When people tell me that we need tighter gun control laws, I ask them to tell me the story of how criminals obey the laws.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/02/2012

Nothing is easier to kill people with than a gun though. Cars are not meant to kill people. Neither are the other items you listed in your other comment. Guns are meant to kill. That is their only purpose. They are lethal. I get that your family hunts. I am not pro hunting for other reasons aside from owning a gun, but that is a whole other debate. I can understand to an extent owning a gun for that purpose. Especially living on a farm. Gun laws need to be fixed. I also strongly feel that there should be a cap on how many guns can be under one household. Background checks are a must. Just applying on line (permits), and being able to purchase ammo and guns on line really needs to be prohibited. There is to much privacy IMO. If you are buying a gun, I feel it should be on public record. Guns need to be taken off the streets, and harsher punishments for black market or unregistered guns really need to be in place.

Annabelle - posted on 08/01/2012

I was raised on a farm, lived in a small country town all my life, and have even been hunting. I don't think guns kill people, I think irresponsible people with guns (or cars, knives, razor blades, etc. etc.) kill people. My home has guns in it in a locked cabinet (key hidden) and always has. My kids hunt as well and they all know guns are not toys and they've been through gun safety extensively. I don't blame the recent Colorado event or school shootings on guns because just about anything can be used as a weapon. If someone had purposely driven a truck through the theater would we be considering taking all trucks off the road? Doubtful. And a lot of families (mine included) depend on guns and hunting for food, I cannot begin to tell you how much we save on meat!! Possibly there should be stricter laws and more training required but teaching kids about gun safety is our job as parents, the more they know the less curious they are - in my opinion.

Sally - posted on 07/31/2012

http://dailyanarchist.com/2012/07/31/aud...

Rebecca - posted on 07/29/2012

My husband has a un especially for hunting, and that is kept at his friends house in a fully legal gun safe, followin every rule on safety. But in saying that we have one in the house. The gun in my husbands top bedside drawer is a real one, but it has been modified to not shoot, and is kept unloaded (we dont even have any bullets). It can look like it will, and I have asked him to keep it there in case of some horrid house invasion in the middle of the night. This is completely unlikely but I like to know I have some defense. (In Aus mind you) The kids do not know it is there so they cannot play with it.

Rosie - posted on 07/29/2012

i am not comfortable with guns in my home. i do not feel the need to have one in my home, i feel safe. i live in a low crime city AND state, and i don't hunt.
i've always wondered why people feel safe with a gun that's locked up, with ammo locked up separately (which is the most responsible way to own a gun). if someone is in their house i doubt they have time to go get the key, unlock both safes and arm themselves before the intruder gets them.
guns kept in the home are just ticking time bombs for an accident, or a suicide. homes with guns have a much higher suicide rate. i know what depression is like, and since it's genetic i'm sure at least one of my boys will have it, and i will not make it easier for them to blow their brains out.
also studies show that for as many justifiable acts with a gun (self defense) there were 22 acts with guns that were committed by criminals, accidents, or suicides with a firearm. not worth it at all.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/97151...

Dove - posted on 07/28/2012

Yeah and.... I don't and won't live there, so.... ;)

Sally - posted on 07/28/2012

http://www.moveleft.org/dog_ban/gb_3mil_...

Dove - posted on 07/28/2012

Sweet. Hating guns makes me irrational.... @@

I'm so glad I don't live in Sally's world. No offense meant, but if I thought I had to carry a gun to protect myself... I'd move. I live in an unlocked doors world though and I wouldn't have it any other way.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 07/28/2012

And, nope I am not a victim because I don't have a gun. Someone like you carrying a gun could easily MAKE me a victim.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 07/28/2012

YOU may see fears of guns, and people with guns as irrational. I live in a very high crime area right now. Infact, when our washing machine broke and we had to wait for a part to come in to fix it, I had to use the local laundry matt. It had 4 bullet holes in the window from the inside. THAT is scary.

If regular citezens do not have guns, and gun laws were not so lax, you would not feel like you need a gun. You say irrational fear of guns, I say fear of people with guns in general. Not irrational. A normal response.

Sally - posted on 07/28/2012

If the gun is in a locked safe, you DON'T have quick access when you need it. Luckily, I've never had to draw my gun and while my husband has drawn his once, he's never had to fire. (As soon as criminals find out you can defend yourself, they tend to run away.) We have also practiced me drawing from his holster so I can shoot a mugger from behind him while he's being a protective shield. As soon as our children are large enough to hold one comfortably, (Our 8 year old may be there; we haven't tried in a while.) they will learn to shoot as well.
Every one has irrational fears. (I'm not entirely convinced there isn't a monster under my bed at night.) However, I will not let my irrational fears control my life and I definitely will not let other's irrational fears compromise my family's safety. Hopefully, someone (like me) who has chosen to not be a victim will be there when you are in a tight spot.
Good luck

~♥Little Miss - posted on 07/28/2012

Chaya, I am so sorry you were shot. How horrible. That would certainly scar someone for life. But you did indeed bring up an interesting point "I don't mind my daughter going to friends homes if they have guns, but only if they are in a locked safe. I don't want the parents to need it, but if they do, they should have quick access to it. "

I never really understood this argument, that people have their guns for home protection incase they need it in a hurry. If you are following the standards of keeping your gun in a lock box seperate from the ammo (so children or people invading your home possibly could find one but not the other) then how the hell is that for quick protection? If you are not keeping your gun loaded, you have to retrieve that first, then go get the ammo. That is not quick protection. Especially in a case where someone does invade your home, and you have to hurry. Nerves can make something like that a difficult task.