# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/21 "2009-11-19T04:52:52Z")
Technically, yes. California being a community property state. My husband (who works in law enforcement) has 4. A handgun, a hunting rifle, a shotgun, and an antique inherited from great-grandpapy. I will say, going from growing up in a house where we weren’t allowed to have plastic guns to living with someone who wears a holster all day is. . . an adjustment. ---
**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, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/22 "2009-11-19T04:54:10Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Really? I’m surprised the yes vote is so low, even considering the obviously kayfabe posts from several known gun enthusiasts here. Yes, really. Gun ownership in the US is cited as being abut 80 million people. Knock out the kids (always a good idea) and I reckon this is about 35% of the population. At the time I wrote my post, the “yesses” were quite a bit more than that, although the yes vote seems to have fallen since. And given the left-wing slant of this board, I would expect gun ownership to be lower than average. And even lower when you add in non-US Dopers. ---
**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, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/23 "2009-11-19T06:04:44Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Yes, really. Gun ownership in the US is cited as being abut 80 million people. Knock out the kids (always a good idea) and I reckon this is about 35% of the population. At the time I wrote my post, the “yesses” were quite a bit more than that, although the yes vote seems to have fallen since. And given the left-wing slant of this board, I would expect gun ownership to be lower than average. And even lower when you add in non-US Dopers. Interesting. I think a very conservative estimate would be that about 80% of the people I know own guns. I live in the rural South, though, so gun ownership here is likely way higher than other places. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/24 "2009-11-19T06:12:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No, I do not own **a** gun. 😃 This. Times about 23 or so. Well, I did once, until they were stolen by gypsies, who then escaped in a boat. Which sank. ---
**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, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/25 "2009-11-19T06:13:18Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve got to ask…what is it? A muzzle-loading black powder rifle? A sixteenth-century arquebus? A SIG AMT? Your cock? One is for fighting, one is for fun eh? Oh yeah, let me tell ya, I’ve got a great big… muzzle loading black powder rifle. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/26 "2009-11-19T06:20:12Z")
Canadian eeeeevilll handgun shooter checkin in. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/27 "2009-11-19T08:01:29Z")
What is all this stuff about losing guns to boating accidents? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/28 "2009-11-19T08:47:15Z")
No gun and think all hand guns should be banned. Period. Last week I went to Walmart and walking out as I walked in - a man in a sort of military fatigue outfit and his son, about 10, wearing a camouflage t-shirt…both carrying several boxes of ammo. To be quite honest, the look of hate on the dad’s face, and the look of guilt on the kids face scared me. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/29 "2009-11-19T12:25:20Z")
No gun, no need, no desire. But I do support the 2nd Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/30 "2009-11-19T12:53:46Z")
No. I have thought about getting one, but I doubt I ever will. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/31 "2009-11-19T13:58:40Z")
Never have, never will. Lost a 5 year old nephew 10 years ago, killed by another 5 year old playing with his dad’s handgun. That cemented my decision to never allow any gun of any kind in my house again. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/32 "2009-11-19T14:12:25Z")
I don’t own a gun right but that is not by choice. I went to buy a shotgun for bird hunting about two weeks ago and apparently Texas has a law that states you can only purchase firearms if you reside in Texas or a contiguous state. Since I’m a Colorado resident I wasn’t able to buy one. Since I’m missing elk season this year I probably won’t end up getting a gun now until late summer next year. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/33 "2009-11-19T14:23:40Z")
I don’t hunt anymore, so I dont need one anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/34 "2009-11-19T14:31:56Z")
> [@bannerrefugee](#): > > What is all this stuff about losing guns to boating accidents? It’s an insider joke referring to a debate that gun owners have amongst themselves about the wisdom of admitting to gun ownership. If you admit owning a gun publicly it then becomes a matter of public record, and when “the government comes for the guns” they’ll know where to look. So by saying “I lost it in a boating accident” they are joking that they have guns but they’re not going to admit to it. It’s akin to someone saying “I don’t know what you’re talking about”, but doing it with a wink and a grin. I find it amusing, myself. I suppose you have to really understand how deep the concern is among a small segment of gun owners to really get the joke. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/35 "2009-11-19T14:36:51Z")
Absolutely not, not ever, no way. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/36 "2009-11-19T14:48:36Z")
I think I’m going to need a bigger boat. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/37 "2009-11-19T14:55:28Z")
I’ve never bought one myself, but we have several guns in the house, mostly hunting guns from my husband’s youth. They’re unloaded and packed away. I won’t keep a loaded one around until my younger son is much older. We took them to a range last spring and shot them. (\*Not \*the younger son, I hesitate to hand him a pair of scissors.) It was great fun. ---
**Author:** ![JoseArcadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@JoseArcadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseArcadio)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/38 "2009-11-19T15:20:58Z")
Nope. In Scotland machetes, broken bottles and other improvised stabbing devices are the weapons of choice ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/39 "2009-11-19T15:32:02Z")
> [@JoseArcadio](#): > > Nope. In Scotland machetes, broken bottles and other improvised stabbing devices are the weapons of choice I thought it was car bombs? Oh wait, thats Ireland…eh same thing. D&R \ ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/40 "2009-11-19T15:40:43Z")
Yes, several. Lets me sleep easy at night, knowing I can defend myself should such a horrible event ever happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=3)