# HOLY CRAP! I just won a free handgun! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 6, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518 "2006-08-06T02:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/1 "2006-08-06T02:13:11Z")
I attended a manufacturer’s show at my local gun range a few weeks ago, and filled out the “register for a chance to win a free” card. Well today I was just notified that I actually won! I am to be the owner of a .40 cal [Beretta 90-TWO](http://www.berettaweb.com/armi/90-TWO/Beretta%2090-two.htm) semiautomatic. Easily the priciest thing I’ve ever won in my life. This will be the first gun that I’ve ever owned. I’ve wanted to become a gun owner but the price of a quality gun was too great an obstacle. It’s obviously an enormous responsibility; I’ve been trying to figure out all the things I need to do contingent with acquiring a handgun. I filed the paperwork to get a purchase (actually, transfer) permit and background check. I was told it would probably take a few weeks for the prize promotion people to process everything and ship the gun. They even covered the transfer fee. I know I’ll need a cleaning kit. I’ll need some sort of gun safe or lockbox if I intend to keep it at home, but the price is a bit daunting; the gun range rents locker space so for now I can keep it there. Just… Holy Crap!!! I’m astonished! ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/2 "2006-08-06T02:17:10Z")
Oh boy, could you cash it in for something else - you could hurt yourself or others. How irresponsible to raffle a fucking gun. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/3 "2006-08-06T02:17:30Z")
Ship the gun how? Are you picking it up at a dealer’s? Just hope that the Post Office or courier doesn’t ‘misplace’ it as recently happened in Oshawa, Ontario: the courier _left it outside the door of the delivery address without even looking for someone to ask for a signature_ and it was stolen. Do you have to take some kind of training course, or have yuo already done that? ---
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/4 "2006-08-06T02:17:57Z")
Congrats! Nice piece. Get someone at the range to give you a check out on it, then spend a couple of thousand rounds getting to know it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/5 "2006-08-06T02:35:34Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] Oh boy, could you cash it in for something else - you could hurt yourself or others. How irresponsible to raffle a fucking gun. [/QUOTE] Well, the OP did say it will take a few weeks for everything to clear and ship the gun. Around here, it only takes 3 days to get a gun after purchase. A few weeks is a good amount of time for backround checks and clearances. And I’m not sure about Minnesota, but a lot of places require that you ship to a gun dealer, so that should be okay. Hell, I could gouge someones eye out with a spork if I wanted to, is it irresponsible to own a spork? ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/6 "2006-08-06T02:39:04Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] I attended a manufacturer’s show at my local gun range a few weeks ago, and filled out the “register for a chance to win a free” card. Well today I was just notified that I actually won! I am to be the owner of a .40 cal [Beretta 90-TWO](http://www.berettaweb.com/armi/90-TWO/Beretta%2090-two.htm) semiautomatic. Easily the priciest thing I’ve ever won in my life. [/QUOTE] Very, very cool. I’m jealous as hell. Well, not really _jealous_. Just a little bit of envy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/7 "2006-08-06T02:40:09Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] Oh boy, could you cash it in for something else - you could hurt yourself or others. How irresponsible to raffle a fucking gun. [/QUOTE] Why don’t you find a toilet to shit in, instead of thread that really doesn’t need your input? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/8 "2006-08-06T02:45:06Z")
Yes, it’s being shipped c/o the licensed gun dealer/ range where I signed up for the drawing. And of course I’m going to take a safety and handling class. I don’t intend to get a carry permit for the time being but it’s on my to-do-eventually list. Lesse, safety class, range fees, ammo, lockbox… the gun may be free but I’m still going to end up spending some serious $$$. Oh, who cares! I’m grinning from ear to ear. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/9 "2006-08-06T02:58:41Z")
WOW! Congrats, **Lumpy**!! Personally, I like the .40 caliber–it’s heavy enough to put some punch into something, but not so heavy it limits your firepower (and your hand strength after a few rounds). Awesome find, man! I too am officially jealous! Minnesota requires you to take a safety class? I lived up in North Dakota for awhile, and never heard anything about that one. That’s news to me! Tripler But still, congratulations man! Nice gun, you lucky dog! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/10 "2006-08-06T03:06:45Z")
It’s not as expensive as you think, and the Beretta 92 is an excellent 9mm pistol- I’m sure you’ll be very happy with it! Excellent choice taking gun safety and handling classes, too. Bear in mind you’ll get a lot of “Helpful” people at the range trying to give you “tips” and “advice”, and 85% percent of the time they’re full of taurine excrement. Avoid advice from anyone wearing any kind of “Tactical” clothing or a “Tactical” rig unless you know for a fact that person is actually in a SWAT Team or the Military. 😉 Can you get a reasonably-priced safe from a hardware store, or does the law where you live require a specific type? The .40 cal is a good round- more punch than a 9mm, but still comfortable to shoot. Is your pistol chromed or black? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/11 "2006-08-06T03:09:22Z")
And yes, I know you have a .40 cal Beretta and not a 9mm one, but since most of my experiences with 9mm Berettas have been positive, it stands to reason that the .40 cal pistol is also good- especially judging by what I’ve read elsewhere 😉 ---
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/12 "2006-08-06T03:16:17Z")
.40 is a nice compromise between stopping power and capacity. The more I think about it, the more jealous I get! I guess I’ll just pull out my .40 and clean it, just to console myself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/13 "2006-08-06T03:24:03Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] Oh boy, could you cash it in for something else - you could hurt yourself or others. How irresponsible to raffle a fucking gun. [/QUOTE] Um, Lumpy was at a gun show. That’s what they do. My dad won TWO shotguns in a row at one of those shows. And this was before you had to register them. (Acutally I think at the time you had to register them if you bought them, but since he didn’t actaully buy them…). Anyways since, Lumpy was at a gun show, I’d presume… Ah nevermind, this isn’t worth it. :::Must pick my battles::: ---
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/14 "2006-08-06T03:25:25Z")
Congrats. If I may make a suggestion: get your carry permit anyway, even though you said you don’t intend to. In my state, at least, transporting a handgun without one becomes an exercise in itself, with the unloaded gun in front and the ammunition in back, and the constant concern that you screwed it up somehow and the cops will bust you for it. If it’s cheap, I suggest you just get it, put it in your wallet, and potentially save yourself some pain for the occasions when it makes your life easier. As for me, for that reason alone it was worth the $25. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/15 "2006-08-06T03:42:37Z")
[QUOTE=Uvula Donor] Why don’t you find a toilet to shit in, instead of thread that really doesn’t need your input? [/QUOTE] Got the toilet - just looking for a shit like you to cram into it! ---
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/16 "2006-08-06T03:48:10Z")
Bye bye, **BBG**. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/17 "2006-08-06T03:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] Well, the OP did say it will take a few weeks for everything to clear and ship the gun. Around here, it only takes 3 days to get a gun after purchase. A few weeks is a good amount of time for backround checks and clearances. And I’m not sure about Minnesota, but a lot of places require that you ship to a gun dealer, so that should be okay. Hell, I could gouge someones eye out with a spork if I wanted to, is it irresponsible to own a spork? [/QUOTE] What’s a spork? I’m sure I could do a lot of damage with a bunch of keys too. I’m freaked out at the raffling of a gun - but I forgot the US gun fetish thing - I do apologise. ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/18 "2006-08-06T03:57:28Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] What’s a spork? I’m sure I could do a lot of damage with a bunch of keys too. I’m freaked out at the raffling of a gun - but I forgot the US gun fetish thing - I do apologise. [/QUOTE] Okay, I’m not crazy about guns either, but this is MPSIMS, not Great Debates. If you want to debate whether gun raffles are, in concept, a good idea, take it to GD. If you just want to tell us that they’re not, then take it to the pit. Either way, this thread is not the place for you. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/19 "2006-08-06T04:06:55Z")
Wow…neat prize. I agree a gun safety course is the way to go for your first gun. You’ll also want to get some ear protection if you’re going to be firing a big pistol. Strongly suspect the range will require it, but you’d want it even for target shooting on your own land. You may also want a pair of shooting glasses. I’ve never cared for them, but I use my normal prescription glasses anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/20 "2006-08-06T04:07:44Z")
[QUOTE=Zahava424] Okay, I’m not crazy about guns either, but this is MPSIMS, not Great Debates. If you want to debate whether gun raffles are, in concept, a good idea, take it to GD. If you just want to tell us that they’re not, then take it to the pit. Either way, this thread is not the place for you. [/QUOTE] Thanks for the explanation and advice Zahava - I do apologise if as I’ve obviously offended folks - it had never occured to me that guns were raffled. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518.md?page=2)