# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/121 "2009-11-21T18:37:10Z")
Yes, we have…had several before that tragic earthquake that dropped them all into the center of the earth. And my son has a compound bow with a 75 pound pull that would do some damage, although quietly. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/122 "2009-11-21T23:48:39Z")
> [@Obsidian](#): > > 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. We weren’t even allowed to make finger gun pointy gestures at one another. I don’t know how to answer the poll. My husband owned a gun, so I guess I own the one he owned, but it’s not my gun. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/123 "2009-11-22T03:28:06Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Don’t know how many states require fingerprinting, but Texas and Arkansas do. Rationale? Probably none that are rational. I’m a CC holder, multiple-gun owner, and lifetime NRA member. Fingerprinting is quite rational; it allows the state to verify the identity of the applicant. I was also fingerprinted when I took the bar exam in my home state and when I got a security clearance. Same reasons. ---
**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 22, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/124 "2009-11-22T03:31:21Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > We weren’t even allowed to make finger gun pointy gestures at one another. This may surprise you, but my son isn’t allowed to do that either, under any circumstances. One day he’ll learn what that gesture implies when he handles a real one, and hopefully that will give him an understanding of why I don’t allow that. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/125 "2009-11-23T02:26:35Z")
We may have a few, but the State of New Jersey doesn’t know that. They probably think it since I have a Firearms Identification Card, but they don’t KNOW it. I am an able bodied sailor, and would never go out in a vessel that was leaking or likely to spring a leak. But I hear there are some unmarked and shallow nasty coral reefs off of Atlantic City. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/126 "2009-11-23T14:50:28Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > This may surprise you, but my son isn’t allowed to do that either, under any circumstances. > > One day he’ll learn what that gesture implies when he handles a real one, and hopefully that will give him an understanding of why I don’t allow that. I’m pretty much going with the same attitude at my house, including all of the potential “play guns” as well. Sticks, poles, etc… I don’t personally care for paintball, for similar reasons, so have missed quite a few opportunities to attend events for some of my friends… something about pointing a relatively safe projectile-launcher directly at someone else invites carelessness when dealing with dangerous projectile-launchers. I’ve done paintball once, prior to gun ownership, and didn’t much like it then, for the same reason. In another year or two, mine will be on the range, learning the rules… with anything I can salvage from the pond. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/127 "2009-11-23T16:00:06Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > This may surprise you, but my son isn’t allowed to do that either, under any circumstances. I’m only surprised by that to the extent of not having met anyone else with that rule, not because of anything about you personally. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/128 "2009-11-23T16:00:14Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I just want gun owners to belong to one of the United States’ well-regulated militias - the military reserves, the state militia, the National Guard, etc. Yes, I’ve heard the tortured logic that tries to convert “anyone who wants one” into “a well-regulated militia” and I’m not buying it, nor do I think joining one of these organizations is too much to ask as the cost of gun ownership. That’s OK, and that’s your opinion. I would disagree.I think its a great deal to ask. Join the National Guard so I can own a firearm? Just for the record. In the Heller decisions interpretation of the 2nd, the SCOTUS ruled that you do not need to be a member of the militia to own a fire arm. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/129 "2009-11-23T16:11:31Z")
I’ve carried guns issued to me - as recently as yesterday, in fact - but I’ve never owned one myself. Same reason I’ve never owned a car: I don’t need one. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/130 "2009-11-23T16:27:11Z")
When my father passed away in February, we inherited a .22 rifle that had been Dad’s first gun. He had specifically said he wanted my husband to have it. Dad had wanted to give it to his own son, or one of his daughters, but he had three girls that had zero interest in guns. My husband is the closest to a son he ever had, and though we are far from gun owning types, hubby honored his desire and took it home. He aims to take it to a shooting range to learn how to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Tayto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Tayto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tayto)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/131 "2009-11-23T22:20:08Z")
No. I’ve never even seen one here (Ireland). Our police don’t carry them, but that may change soon. To be honest I think most people outside the US view the number of guns in the US as kind of mind-boggling… ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/132 "2009-11-23T22:25:01Z")
> [@Tayto](#): > > No. I’ve never even seen one here (Ireland). Our police don’t carry them, but that may change soon. To be honest I think most people outside the US view the number of guns in the US as kind of mind-boggling… Little known fact: There are more gun owners in the United States than there are members of the Military in the entire world (estimated numbers). I’m a bit proud of that. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/133 "2009-11-24T01:44:01Z")
Note to newcomers: Please see post #116. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/134 "2009-11-24T16:27:09Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Little known fact: There are more gun owners in the United States than there are members of the Military in the entire world (estimated numbers). > I’m a bit proud of that. US Gun Owners - 80 million (est) Other source - 44 million (est, 1997) Real number probably somewhere in there. Total World Military size, roughly (including reserves, from Wiki) - 29.6 million Wow. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/135 "2009-11-24T16:34:59Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Little known fact: There are more gun owners in the United States than there are members of the Military in the entire world (estimated numbers). > I’m a bit proud of that. If guns are just tools, rather like hammers, why would you be proud of that? ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/136 "2009-11-24T16:46:35Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > If guns are just tools, rather like hammers, why would you be proud of that? I’m also proud that the USA has more hammer users than all the other nations of the world. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/137 "2009-11-24T17:29:59Z")
Hammers don’t hit your thumb: people do. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/138 "2009-11-24T18:03:16Z")
I teach rifle and shotgun shooting merit badge to Boy Scouts every year. I ensure that another group of young boys knows and understands the mechanics, safety rules, and basic accuracy issues around shooting. LOADS of fun, and for those of you with NRA range master quals, please look into volunteering. The shooting sports are a blast. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/139 "2009-11-25T03:34:17Z")
Why do you want to know? ---
**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 25, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111/140 "2009-11-25T05:27:30Z")
Originally posted by Attack From the Third Dimension: “Hammers don’t hit your thumb: people do.” But the worst, the absolute worst is if _ **your** _ hammer hits your wife’s thumb. Trust me on this one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-gun/518111.md?page=8)