# Do you own a firearm? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870 "2019-09-26T19:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/142 "2019-10-02T23:50:40Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > No idea; I don’t know the person who did the conversion, nor anything about the history of the “donor” gun, but I would guess “replica.” Price would tell us for sure but ---------- I have seen really terrific originals turned into one kind of prop or another so nothing would surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/143 "2019-10-03T00:02:28Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > On the one hand, I doubt that there’s many other approaches that have a better success rate/inconvenience ratio. On the other hand, _why am I talking about how good it is to kill yourself with a gun??_ First Google result I found says [85%](https://everytownresearch.org/firearm-suicide/). So there’s roughly a 15% chance that you are only going to make things worse. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/144 "2019-10-03T00:05:45Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > First Google result I found says [85%](https://everytownresearch.org/firearm-suicide/). So there’s roughly a 15% chance that you are only going to make things worse. I started typing a response asking what the success/inconvenience ratio was of other suicide methods, but that’s _hella_ off-topic. So I now return you to your regularly scheduled recitation of whether people have guns or not. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/145 "2019-10-03T01:09:53Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > I have one. I bought it about a year and a half ago. Its only purpose was/is to use to kill myself. That’s why I bought it and it’s why I have it and it’s nice knowing it’s there if I decide to use it. > > I bought it because using a gun is more likely to work than, say, an overdose and because you can really just… waltz into a gun store and buy one and it’s a lot harder to procure most lethal drugs without a prescription (illegally, yeah, but I really am not certain how to go about finding someone who could sell me some. I used to know people, but I wouldn’t know how to get in contact with them). I haven’t used it yet in part because the violence of it is kind of horrifying- the idea of someone having to scrub my blood and brain off the walls and floor just seems cruel and unfair to them. More so than… tidier methods. > > I’ve shot it at the gun range just to get the feel for it, but I can’t really imagine using it in self-defense or carrying it around. If someone broke into my house, it probably wouldn’t even occur to me that I have it. Dear Lord. Get that thing out of your house, and get some professional mental health help. You don’t have to live like that. Life can be a lot better than that. But you need people to help you learn how. I’m not kidding. Call someone you know—right now—and ask them to hold it for you. I’ve been there, had friends that did that. Sell it for a pittance if they won’t hold on to it for you. I’m better now. You can be too. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/146 "2019-10-03T01:12:14Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > First Google result I found says [85%](https://everytownresearch.org/firearm-suicide/). So there’s roughly a 15% chance that you are only going to make things worse. There are spectacular photos of both successful and unsuccessful suicide attempts with a firearm. It can leave a gigantic mess. Which someone is going to have to clean up. If things work out horribly, it will be your loved one having to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/147 "2019-10-03T02:38:46Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Price would tell us for sure but ---------- I have seen really terrific originals turned into one kind of prop or another so nothing would surprise me. Chances are it was one of the variations that go for a few hundred instead of the ones that go for several thousands. I hope. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870/148 "2019-10-03T06:34:08Z")
Yes. I’ve always been comfortable around guns, did a lot of shooting from my early teens to mid-twenties. Inanimate targets, never was into killing. Used to have: - a new (1980) Ruger .357 revolver, and an older .357; Sold them 25 years ago. Still have: - A c1900 Colt .45 revolver given to me by my grandfather. I loved the man dearly and will never let it go, but haven’t fired it for 35 years. - Mossberg 12gauge pump shotgun. Used to trap shoot until about 30 years ago, haven’t fired it since but like having it for home security, in a half-baked “better than nothing” way of thinking. - Smith and Wesson (1985) .22 pistol, because I used to enjoy murdering coffee cans and similar plinking targets. I still think of taking it out for a session but haven’t gotten around to it for 25 years. FWIW I favor seriously increased gun control for our country, but doubt it will ever happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-firearm/840870.md?page=7)