This is the worst thing a person can do. If you have no intention of shooting anyone, no matter what transpires, as one must if he’s brandishing an unloaded weapon, then leave the gun in the closet. There is damned little good that can come of brandishing an unloaded firearm.
As all the anti-gun folks say, showing a weapon has the effect of escalating the situation. I actually agree with them about this. But with this very important distinction: if I brandish a firearm, it’s gonna be me who is “escalating violence.” The guy on the other end isn’t going to have a chance to do that - unless he can do it while lying on his back with a chest full of #6 shot.
Except somebody whose gun IS loaded, is less likely to shoot you if you are holding a vibrator. I think a vibrator is a much better option if my only other choice is an unloaded gun. At least I won’t be shot by somebody who thinks the vibrator is loaded.
Nobody is arguing with this. Nobody has advocted carrying an unloaded gun within this thread. Nobody thinks it is a good idea. Nobody disputed it when askeptic decided to bring it up out of the blue. Thus far, the only objection that has been made was in reference to the absolutely absurd notion that a gun is useless if it is unloaded.
Move along to what? Dipshit. The OP has been answered. Homebrew keeps advising people to run around with unloaded guns. You like junior modding? A gun is worse than useless if its unloaded. Sure you may get lucky and scare someone, but you want to risk your life like that? And I didn’t bring it up out of the blue, it was in direct response to a statement in the OP. You can fuck off now.
Which quote by the OP was that? The one where he says he wouldn’t grab an unloaded gun, but if he did it would soon be loaded? Also, could you point me to the part of this thread where anyone advocated carrying an unloaded gun, because it slipped by me. I saw a couple people arguing with the legitimacey of your initial statement, but no “advice” given by Homebrew or anyone else.
“Look at me! I can curse on the internet!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”
Well, the main justification for storing guns loaded is that if you need one for self-defense, you need it NOW and not a minute from now when you’ve unlocked the ammo box which you store separately from the gun, and gotten the shells out with adrenaline-shaking hands, and break the shotgun open…
On the other hand, it depends on your circumstances. I own guns. They are stored loaded…in a large gun safe with a combination lock. I confess this makes them rather less than useful if I need them in a hurry, but as I have children, I must eliminate the far greater everyday risk of having them accessible. But stored as they are they are still more readily available at need than if they were stored locked up on one place, the ammo someplace else. (Also we have taught our children the Eddie Eagle method of firearm safety.)
My parents, on the other hand, keep loaded guns in their bedrooms, instantly available. Given the number of break-ins in their little residential area, and the fact that they live in the boonies and police response couldn’t possibly be rapid enough to be any help, I don’t think this is a bad idea.
Interestingly enough (to me), my mother’s hunting rifle has stood next to her bedroom doorway for years, and I have noticed it standing there many times. My children have never noticed it. (Because if they had, they would have come screaming to me about ‘a gun! a gun! we saw a gun!’ I know, because I keep them trained to do this by planting toy guns around the house from time to time, and they are very reliable about letting me know when they find it.)
Just jumping in to agree with some previous posters about the gun. (And you all know I’m in full support of getting one if you want.)
DO NOT get a gun if you want it for show if the shit gets to the point of having to pull it. It can be comforting to own one and think you have a bit of safety, but an unloaded gun can easily turn into a bludgeoning weapon used against you. Imagine someone tweaked out on meth for the last 3 days with no sleep. If they even understand it’s a gun, they probably won’t slow down thinking they’ll be shot.
If you want a gun (and this is to everyone) for protection, learn to use it first before relying on it. Don’t use a gun you want to use for target practice and expect to be able to use it in a life or death situation. Learn to shoot to gain the skill, then think about using a gun for defense.
And the number one, all trumping, non-negotiable rule: Do not point a firearm at another person unless you are going to shoot.
And good luck with the asshat. Let us know what happens.
Well, the window is fixed. I’ll let my landlady fight it out with her insurance company about whether or not it’s under the deductible.
I think I’m gonna start leaving the porch light on at night. Not that it would’ve helped in this situation. I mean, this guy was really out of it. I don’t think there was anybody at home.
I once woke up to the sound of voices in my apartment at 4am. Same story: drunk guy coming home to the wrong place. He jimmied the porch door, and scared the hell out of me. He went back out to have a smoke, or something, and I raced across the place so I could lock him out there. The cops had him on the ground in about 4 minutes. It has been about 6 years, but I will never, ever forget those first 5 or 10 minutes when I woke up and thought I was about to die.
Are really that stupid? My only point was that an unloaded gun isn’t the worst possible thing, as was claimed. I never claimed it was the the best option or even a recommended option. But you can use the butt of a gun as a weapon if it’s a rifle or shot gun. A hand gun can be used as a striking weapon. Either of these cases allow you to do more damage than bare-handed or armed with a dildo or pillow. So it is not worse than useless.
I actually met a guy in court who got arrested in a situation like this.
Drunker than hell. Called his girlfriend, asked if he could come over. She says yes, so he walks from the bar… into her neighborhood… with the tract housing.
Gets to her house. Lights aren’t on. He knocks.
Walks around back. Looks in the window. Knocks.
Cops show up. Hillbilly winds up in Orange County Jail. Pleads down to probation on an attempted burglary charge.
Kinda’ sucks. He should have gotten public intoxication, disturbing the peace and MAYBE a trespassing charge.
Of course, with a good lawyer he could have gotten the phone call to his girlfriend admitted, and testimony from her that she lived next door… etc
