# Has owning a gun made a difference in your life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 31, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434 "2010-05-31T23:21:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/21 "2010-06-02T03:17:34Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Well, my weapon, as _Todderbob_ commented, is an excellent wallet lightener. At about a [buck](http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat20726-cat20837&rid=&indexId=cat20837&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=3&parentType=index&parentId=cat20837&id=0069074) every time I pull the trigger, it gets pricey. > > Getting out to my local gun range has gotten me out of the house and gotten me more active in my community. I’ve met good people and had some good times. > > I’ve also met some grade-A whackjobs that remind me a little too much of _Dale_ from _King Of The Hill_. Geez, **Alpha** , you _NEED_ to get into reloading for that beast, $200 for a box of 100? that’s crazy! here’s what it’d cost to handload for your .500 (component costs only) 1 LB Hodgdon 110 propellant @ $20 1000 primers @30.00 100 bullets @ 80.00 (lead hardcast) cartridges; free (you _DO_ save your fired brass, right?) assuming you have a press, dies a scale and other reloading hardware which is a one-time expense, your recurring costs would be .944¢ per round $94.42 for 100 rounds Still pricey, but almost $100 cheaper than commercial ammo ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/22 "2010-06-02T03:54:13Z")
I don’t know how to answer the question. I’ve never lived in a home that didn’t have at least one gun in it, and most had…more than one. Owning a gun is a non-noteworthy status, equivalent to owning a screwdriver in terms of life changing significance. I can’t imagine not owning a gun…were it not for that tragic boating accident, where any guns I may have once owned were irretrievably lost. Except my Colt Navy .44 replica. Civil War era handguns aren’t very high on the confiscate list. 🆒 ETA: And I voted for 2, because I’m a smartass sometimes. Turns out some other folks are, too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/23 "2010-06-02T04:33:57Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > Geez, **Alpha** , you _NEED_ to get into reloading for that beast, $200 for a box of 100? that’s crazy! I already do some hand loading and I’ll do more once I can get my shop set up in my basement. Right now I’m using my dad’s press and gear to reload my saved brass. If he wasn’t so far away from me, I’d probably do more. Besides, even if buying new ammo I’d never buy it from Cabela’s. It’s good stuff but not as good as they want to charge for it. I’m happy going through Midway or through my corner shop ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/24 "2010-06-02T15:00:27Z")
Made big differences. Saved lives in the family several times. ( Does that mean we are unlucky that those things happened to us or lucky that we had the weapons available at the time? ) Really helpful while in the military. There are a few folks that I wish would give me a legal iron clad excuse to remove from the gene pool. For them, hands, stick or knife will do, no guns needed. ( No, IMO, human life is not sacred over everything. ) ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/25 "2010-06-02T19:23:24Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I I can’t imagine not owning a gun…were it not for that tragic boating accident, where any guns I may have once owned were irretrievably lost. My condolences on your loss. Choppy seas have victimized me as well. I still can’t talk about it. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/26 "2010-06-02T19:28:12Z")
I think I first fired a shot when I was about 8. My dad gave me a .22 rifle for Christmas when I was 10. I carried a handgun as part of my employment for about 9 years. I still have the pistol I wore when I was a deputy sheriff 30+ years ago. Firearms have been a part of my life for 53 years now, and they will continue to be. ---
**Author:** ![NoiseBomb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/49beb7/32.png) [@NoiseBomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoiseBomb)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434/27 "2010-06-03T05:52:06Z")
In about a dozen years of carrying, it’s been pulled (not fired) once in a potential situation. I was sitting in my car in a parking lot, having my artery-clogging lunch with the windows down. Your typical scruffy looking type comes to the passenger window and starts in with some can-you-spare-a-dollar routine. I say no, and he actually leans into the car and puts his arms inside… “aw, come on just one dollar” At least he backed off after being asked at gunpoint what part of NO he didn’t understand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-owning-a-gun-made-a-difference-in-your-life/541434.md?page=1)