# Do you own a gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 19, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111 "2009-11-19T02:46:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/1 "2009-11-19T02:46:36Z")
Yes or no? ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/2 "2009-11-19T02:53:46Z")
I think it’s better to have: - Yes - No, though I could owe one - No, it’s illegal where I am - Other A more useful one would bring it up into weapon types. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/3 "2009-11-19T02:54:15Z")
No. I lost all my guns in a sailing accident. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/4 "2009-11-19T02:58:48Z")
> [@CrazyChop](#): > > I think it’s better to have: > > - Yes > - No, though I could owe one > - No, it’s illegal where I am > - Other > > A more useful one would bring it up into weapon types. I’m not interested in why or what type. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/5 "2009-11-19T03:17:26Z")
No, I do not own **a** gun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/6 "2009-11-19T03:45:55Z")
“This is my rifle, this is my gun. One is for fighting, one is for fun!” A better poll would have a range from 0 to more than 10. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/7 "2009-11-19T03:50:14Z")
No. I do not own any form of firearm and I do not have any desire to. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/8 "2009-11-19T03:58:43Z")
I do, but they’re stored offsite til the younguns reach a certain age. 34, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/9 "2009-11-19T04:00:44Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No, I do not own **a** gun. 😃 Same here, well, I _DID_, bit they were lost in a tragic…boating…accident, sad really :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/10 "2009-11-19T04:04:47Z")
I own a little gun and a big-ass gun. The latter is definitely not what most people think of when they ask gun related questions online. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/11 "2009-11-19T04:16:47Z")
No. Never felt a need, never had an interest. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/12 "2009-11-19T04:19:44Z")
I was initially surprised at how high the “yes” vote is, but then I noted the time the thread was started. Come on you Europeans (when you wake up) - let’s see how your vote changes the totals. Me personally, no - and will not allow them in my house. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/13 "2009-11-19T04:21:29Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > I was initially surprised at how high the “yes” vote is, but then I noted the time the thread was started. Come on you Europeans (when you wake up) - let’s see how your vote changes the totals. > > Me personally, no - and will not allow them in my house. Same here. (escept of course unless they had to, like a policeman…not that I have common reasons for them to be in my house) ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/14 "2009-11-19T04:23:24Z")
Alas. I don’t own a boat so I was unable to have a tragic accident and lose all of my guns (tragically). I bought a 38 Special revolver which had been retired from the Detroit Police Department for my wife when the Army sent me to Korea for a year. (Masad Ayoob recommends 38 special as the _smallest_ caliber for a one shot stop.) I inherited some long guns from my father (indirectly through my brother: member name: Attack from the Third Dimension.) It seems my brother was hesitant about trying to import the guns into Canada. I am sure that 3rd Dim will want them back some day. All are legally registered (I don’t own a boat). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/15 "2009-11-19T04:23:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No, I do not own **a** gun. 😃 Like me. I do not own _ **a** _ gun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/16 "2009-11-19T04:24:11Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > I was initially surprised at how high the “yes” vote is, but then I noted the time the thread was started. Come on you Europeans (when you wake up) - let’s see how your vote changes the totals. > > Me personally, no - and will not allow them in my house. Really? I’m surprised the yes vote is so low, even considering the obviously kayfabe posts from several known gun enthusiasts here. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/17 "2009-11-19T04:29:42Z")
By the nature of the topic, this poll will be even more self-selecting than most. I predict a lot of ardent gun hobbyists and a lot of ardent anti-gun folks and not many middle of the roaders. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/18 "2009-11-19T04:37:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I predict a lot of ardent gun hobbyists and a lot of ardent anti-gun folks and not many middle of the roaders. I’m a middle of the roader - so at least one of us has voted :). I don’t own a gun, but I was raised with them, shot them and my parents still own a couple ( when I was a kid my father used to reload his own ammunition ). I wouldn’t particularly object to having one in my house. I just don’t have the time or inclination to add target shooting to my list of hobbies - it doesn’t interest me that much. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/19 "2009-11-19T04:39:22Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I own a little gun and a big-ass gun. The latter is definitely not what most people think of when they ask gun related questions online. I’ve got to ask…what is it? A muzzle-loading black powder rifle? A sixteenth-century arquebus? A SIG AMT? Your cock? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/20 "2009-11-19T04:47:14Z")
I have to ask, are there any major countries (besides places like China or African dictatorships) in which the private ownership of firearms is completely banned, under all circumstances, no exceptions? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=2)