# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/61 "2009-11-19T19:01:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > 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. I consider myself a middle of the roader. I do own guns, but am by no means a ardent hobbyist. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/62 "2009-11-19T19:26:02Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Oh yeah- my boat sank in an accidental shooting. This made me laugh out loud, and then this > [@buttonjockey308](#): > > All of my personally owned firearms were dismantled and melted down to make a boat, which promptly sank. I still have all the ammunition though. put me into a fit of giggles. I don’t think I got enough sleep last night. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/63 "2009-11-19T20:30:27Z")
Yes. More than one. I even have a license to carry one if I feel the need. I much prefer not putting myself in a position or place where I might feel the need, however, sometimes it’s unavoidable. I also practice quite a bit, and enjoy slaughtering rampaging pieces of paper. It’s one of the few things I can still do pretty well. Damn body is wearing out on me. Shoulda gotten a warranty deed. Now you guys have me wanting a boat again. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/64 "2009-11-19T20:53:01Z")
I have multiple firearms. Two shotguns, three semiautomatic pistols, a revolver and two rifles. I think that’s right. That was, until the tragic orbital accident. You see, I was testing my very own home made orbital pod, complete with re-entry vehicle, when I had to escape on take off. The entire apparatus was off trajectory, and if my calculations are correct it should be on a degrading orbit around the sun, and impact sometime in early 2010. Why I had my guns on an orbiter pod… pfft, I guess we’ll have to chalk that up to poor planning, hu? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/65 "2009-11-19T21:34:03Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > If you keep giving away the secret handshake, we’re going to take back your antlers and moose call. _And_ make you buy the beer for the secret meetings. Lost his antlers on the boat too. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/66 "2009-11-19T21:48:17Z")
Yup. And living in the People’s Republic of California there is no point in hiding the fact, they already know that I have them. We might even have to start registering ammo here in a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/67 "2009-11-19T22:07:41Z")
I own one gun, a .357 magnum, that I keep loaded in my nightstand. If there are kids over (a rarity), I lock the bedroom door. I only see the need for one gun for self defense, although I wouldn’t mind inheriting my grandfather’s 1897 S&W one day. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/68 "2009-11-19T22:24:14Z")
I have 3 that’s I’ve been given: Remington 1100 20ga. from my grandpa that I used to trap shoot with. Winchester 1200 Riot that was my uncles. Hi-Standard Double Nine .22 Revolver that was my grandmas. I plan to buy either a Walther P22 or some type of 9mm in the next year or two. I wouldn’t mind an AR15 either. I just use them to shoot targets. ETA: I plan to go on a boat ride after my collection is finished. ---
**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, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/69 "2009-11-19T22:24:43Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > 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. Oh, I forgot that all mine were lost too. Not in a boating accident, but in a horrible blimp accident. No, it wasn’t a Good year. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/70 "2009-11-19T23:00:11Z")
Three. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/71 "2009-11-19T23:10:33Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > Lost his antlers on the boat too. So that gives me a pretty solid notion where the beer went, too, and why the boat sank. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/72 "2009-11-19T23:21:30Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Don’t need one, but have one. M-1 Garand. Looking at Lugers this weekend as well, if anyone else is thinking of going out to Dulles… seems I lost my m1 and my serialized p08 that found its way home from Germany in the mid 40s in another tragic boating accident … ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/73 "2009-11-19T23:35:30Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > No gun and think all hand guns should be banned. Period. Well then we balance out since I think handgun ownership with annual practical proficiency exams should be mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/74 "2009-11-20T01:21:08Z")
I do not own a gun. I do own two Black Rhino armor piercing, hollow-point bullets. According to the cop who gave them to me, it is legal for me to own them and even legal to load them into a gun. It is just not legal to shoot them. I DO want a Gyrojet. ---
**Author:** ![StoutHearted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@StoutHearted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoutHearted)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/75 "2009-11-20T01:43:35Z")
I just shot for the first time at the local range recently, and became instantly addicted. I shot a Glock 19 – it was a little big for my hand, which was a little sore the next day. I’d love to get one of my own for target practice. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/76 "2009-11-20T02:03:23Z")
> [@StoutHearted](#): > > I just shot for the first time at the local range recently, and became instantly addicted. I shot a Glock 19 – it was a little big for my hand, which was a little sore the next day. I’d love to get one of my own for target practice. Yo might enjoy something smaller, like a .22. Less power, recoil, noise, and a lot cheaper to shoot. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/77 "2009-11-20T02:05:08Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > My definition of desirable gun control: Hitting one’s intended target. That’s one way of looking at it. Works for me. . ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/78 "2009-11-20T02:47:24Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yo might enjoy something smaller, like a .22. Less power, recoil, noise, and a lot cheaper to shoot. Agreed, shop around at your local gun shop, try to find a good condition used (most used guns are rated in “% of new”, the higher the percent, the better) Ruger Mark II series, it’s a .22 caliber semiautomatic, and it’s considered in the hobbyist trade to be actually better and more desirable than the current Mark III series the biggest reasons are that Ruger added two dubious “enhancements” to the Mark series; 1; Loaded Chamber Indicator; a little “tab” that sticks out slightly from the side of the pistol when there is a live cartridge in the breech, it’s disliked because it adds another place for crud to build up, adds unnecessary mechanical complexity, and actually encourages lax behavior, relying on the indicator to tell you if your pistol is loaded is a direct violation of Jeff Cooper’s First Safety Rule; “All guns are ALWAYS loaded” (even when they’re not) 2; Magazine safety interlock; the MkIII will only fire if a magazine is fully inserted, once again adds unneeded mechanical complexity, degrades trigger feel, and makes field-stripping for cleaning even more needlessly complex than it already is plus, these are unnecessary “Lawyer-proofing” “nannying” features that add nothing to the firearm, indeed, they detract from the pistol, making it slightly harder to clean and more needlessly complex the Mark II, Mark I and Standard .22 pistols do not have either of these “improvements” if you’re more into revolvers, Ruger makes a nice, simple single-action (cock the hammer before firing each shot) revolver called the Single Six with no stupid nanny-crap on it ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/79 "2009-11-20T03:01:34Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I do not own a gun. > > I do own two Black Rhino **armor piercing, hollow-point bullets**. Syntax Error, Invalid Arguments, System Halted! no such thing as an “Armor Piercing Hollow Point”, two completely different types of bullets “Armor Piercing” A.K.A., “Full Metal Jacket”- a lead bullet core with a “jacket” of a harder gliding metal (copper, usually) that fully encases the core and prevents/reduces the chance of deformation when the bullet impacts a solid surface, has a tendency to tear completely through soft (flesh-based) targets though (called “overpenetration”) “Hollow Point”, a bullet (usually jacketed with a gliding metal) with the tip hollowed out, when impacting a target (soft or hard) the hollow cavity makes the front of the bullet expand to double (if not more) it’s original size, usually called “mushrooming”, as the bullet takes on the shape of a mushroom viewed from the side, hollowpoints are designed to dump as much of their energy as possible into the target and not exit or overpenetrate, they are not as effective on hard targets, as they tend to “pancake” against hard cover ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/80 "2009-11-20T03:10:15Z")
My mistake. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=5)