# Gun Ownership (Private Poll) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283 "2009-10-10T04:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/1 "2009-10-10T04:16:53Z")
This is a private poll – viewers will not be able to associate your screen name with your answers. Please choose as many answers as applicable. If you would like to discuss individual answers, please remember that this poll is in IMHO. This poll is in response to the threads [thread=532175]Johns Hopkins student kills intruder with samurai sword[/thread] and [thread=535206]Gun toting soccer mom dead[/thread]. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/2 "2009-10-10T04:23:04Z")
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**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:** [October 10, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/3 "2009-10-10T05:15:27Z")
I don’t understand the point of private polls. If nobody can see who voted for what, what’s the fucking point? These polls are driving me insane; they never should have been enabled. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/4 "2009-10-10T05:48:44Z")
Oh, **Argent Towers** , are you feeling grumpy? The title of the thread includes the words “Private Poll”, so I don’t think anyone is being misled. In case you were asking a sincere question about why I chose to make this poll private, I did that because I thought that more people would be willing to respond **on this issue** if the answers were private. After all, “do you own a gun?” is a lot more personal than “how do you like your coffee?”. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/5 "2009-10-10T05:54:22Z")
No guns in our house, no idea if we’re a “castle doctrine” state or, frankly, even what the “castle doctrine” is. MrWhatsit has served in the military and therefore has used and feels comfortable using firearms, but does not feel the need to own one privately. I myself have never even fired a gun. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2009, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/6 "2009-10-10T05:55:44Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > In case you were asking a sincere question about why I chose to make this poll private, I did that because I thought that more people would be willing to respond **on this issue** if the answers were private. After all, “do you own a gun?” is a lot more personal than “how do you like your coffee?”. I don’t think it is. The idea that owning a gun is some dark secret or something to be ashamed of, that normal people wouldn’t be open about, is solely the domain of those who don’t own guns and don’t understand them. “OMG he owns a GUN!” I don’t think any gun owners would be unwilling to have other people know that they own guns. It’s not some “personal” issue that people feel uncomfortable talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/7 "2009-10-10T06:01:06Z")
No one in my home owns a gun and I would not allow such. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/8 "2009-10-10T06:21:41Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I don’t think it is. The idea that owning a gun is some dark secret or something to be ashamed of, that normal people wouldn’t be open about, is solely the domain of those who don’t own guns and don’t understand them. “OMG he owns a GUN!” > > I don’t think any gun owners would be unwilling to have other people know that they own guns. It’s not some “personal” issue that people feel uncomfortable talking about. I disagree. So far, 86 people have viewed this poll and no one has voluntarily identified themselves as a gun owner. Do you own a gun? I don’t own one, but my best friend is a gun owner (she has several – OMG!), as are several members of my immediate family. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/9 "2009-10-10T06:23:59Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I don’t think it is. The idea that owning a gun is some dark secret or something to be ashamed of, that normal people wouldn’t be open about, is solely the domain of those who don’t own guns and don’t understand them. “OMG he owns a GUN!” > > I don’t think any gun owners would be unwilling to have other people know that they own guns. It’s not some “personal” issue that people feel uncomfortable talking about. If you want to discuss whether or not polls should be allowed to be private, take it up in ATMB, not here. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/10 "2009-10-10T06:31:12Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > I disagree. So far, 86 people have viewed this poll and no one has voluntarily identified themselves as a gun owner. > > Do you own a gun? Yes. I own six, actually. Descriptions of each upon demand. Let me spare you the suspense. It’s not a big deal. Really. To prove it to you, I invite any member of the SDMB to the range if you’re anywhere near where I live. I will act as rangemaster, and I will not carry a gun myself in order to assuage any fears you might have. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/11 "2009-10-10T06:34:53Z")
What’s not a big deal? What do you imagine people are in “suspense” about? What makes you think people are “afraid” of anything? ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/12 "2009-10-10T06:38:58Z")
I own two semi-automatics. A Walther PPS .40 and a Ruger LCP .380. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/13 "2009-10-10T06:44:39Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What’s not a big deal? Gun ownership and/or possession. > [@](#): > > What do you imagine people are in “suspense” about? It seems apparent that people do not know what guns are, what they are for, and how they work. I have found that people who know nothing of guns, once they actually handle one, have at least a rudimentary understanding of that which they oppose. I do not assert that it will change their minds, but at least they might understand that which they oppose. > [@](#): > > What makes you think people are “afraid” of anything? Nowhere did I say the word “afraid”, so I’d thank you not to put words in my mouth. I said that I would assuage any fears that they might have. People who have never fired a weapon, and even some who have, frequently have concerns. That what what was intended by that, nothing more and nothing less. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/14 "2009-10-10T06:45:57Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Yes. I own six, actually. Descriptions of each upon demand. > > Let me spare you the suspense. It’s not a big deal. Really. To prove it to you, I invite any member of the SDMB to the range if you’re anywhere near where I live. I will act as rangemaster, and I will not carry a gun myself in order to assuage any fears you might have. I don’t own a gun, but I have already been to a shooting range and fired a gun. Thanks for the offer, though. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2009, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/15 "2009-10-10T06:47:40Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > I don’t own a gun, but I have already been to a shooting range and fired a gun. Thanks for the offer, though. Think nothing of it. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/16 "2009-10-10T06:52:42Z")
Um, yeah, not a gun owner but not afraid of guns and have no problem with gun owners. Sheez. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/17 "2009-10-10T07:00:57Z")
Not a gun owner. Guns make me nervous, and so do people who carry them. Being more familiar with them would probably make me less nervous, but I don’t think I’d like them any better. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/18 "2009-10-10T07:03:03Z")
I’ve used many firearms (pistols, shotguns and rifles) and have been registered to buy and own them in Australia. Then I went through an anti phase partly as a result of some horrible crimes that happened. Now, partly due to some pretty good pro arguments I read here on the dope, I’ve come around back thinking they’re not necessarily a bad thing, and there’s no reason why responsible owners shouldn’t have them. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/19 "2009-10-10T07:05:23Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Gun ownership and/or possession. Who said they think that’s a big deal? > [@](#): > > It seems apparent that people do not know what guns are, what they are for, and how they work. I have found that people who know nothing of guns, once they actually handle one, have at least a rudimentary understanding of that which they oppose. I do not assert that it will change their minds, but at least they might understand that which they oppose. This shows a presumption on your part that people who don’t own guns don’t know anything about them. > [@](#): > > Nowhere did I say the word “afraid”, so I’d thank you not to put words in my mouth. I said that I would assuage any fears that they might have. There is no difference. I know a lot of gun nuts like to flatter themselves that people are afraid of their big bad gats, but just because someone doesn’t own a gun doesn’t mean they’re afraid of them. I get really sick of hearing that meme. It’s condescending and it’s false. I have been on shooting ranges. I have been hunting. I have fired a wide range of weapons. I’m not afraid of them, and I’m not ignorant of them. I just see no reason to own or carry one. Please keep your condescending assumptions to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283/20 "2009-10-10T07:06:33Z")
By the way, my answer to the OP is that there are no firearms in my house, nor would anyone be permitted to bring one in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-ownership-private-poll/513283.md?page=2)