# Question for "Gun Nuts" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042 "2010-09-08T12:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/121 "2010-09-15T19:51:04Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > > > My question is, what are “gun nuts” ? > > “Gun nuts” is simply a name that liberals made up to call people who believe in the Second Amendment and who own guns. I think it also implies that the people are into guns too much. If there is a such thing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/122 "2010-09-15T20:51:15Z")
I own five guns, but each is a historical relic and not something I or anyone else would use for home defense. I have thought about buying a handgun a number of times, but am put off by three factors: 1. Though we don’t have kids, we have other people’s kids over at our house all the time. The idea I might forget to lock up the gun is too horrific for me to imagine, and something I believe I could do if I got to comfortable with it. 2. I occasionally have bouts of depression and anxiety. It’s nothing too bad that I have ever taken drugs for and I have never had any thoughts of suicide, but if enough bad shit happened in rapid succession, I would not want a gun around just in case. 3. While I certainly live in an area where a natural disaster will eventually happen, I don’t fear the looters. While I have certainly read stories to the contrary, I doubt a looter would usually target a home that has people obviously there, if for no other reason that they don’t know if I have a gun. I just don’t think it’s much of a threat and I don’t know if I’d have the guts to shoot such a person anyway, in which case, what good was having the gun? ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/123 "2010-09-15T21:04:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Agent Foxtrot > My question is, what are “gun nuts” ? A few days ago, I came home with four boxes of ammunition. My wife noticed them on the kitchen table and asked me if I had made a mistake, as I had bought two boxes of 9mm and two boxes of .380. She said, “we don’t have a .380.” To which I replied, “not yet.” I guess buying ammunition for a firearm that you do not yet own would qualify one as a “gun nut.” ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/124 "2010-09-16T00:53:22Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Agent Foxtrot > > My question is, what are “gun nuts” ? > > A few days ago, I came home with four boxes of ammunition. My wife noticed them on the kitchen table and asked me if I had made a mistake, as I had bought two boxes of 9mm and two boxes of .380. She said, “we don’t have a .380.” To which I replied, “not yet.” > > I guess buying ammunition for a firearm that you do not yet own would qualify one as a “gun nut.” Yep! buying ammunition for a gun that you dont have, is over the top. A person has to be a real nut to buy ammo for a gun that he does not own. It reminds me of someone who bought a saddle and a bridle, but who didn’t even own a horse. (…esp when talking about buying 380 ammo, because for most people it is VERY difficult to find a 380 that “fits” any particular person. Out of 100’s of different makes and models, there are only 2 380’s ever made that I like, and that I own) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/125 "2010-09-16T01:05:40Z")
My wife has her eye on a Beretta84fs in .380 and I will pick up her new pistol Saturday morning… ---
**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:** [September 16, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/126 "2010-09-16T04:47:12Z")
> [@Yarster](#): > > ::: snip :::: I don’t fear the looters. While I have certainly read stories to the contrary, I doubt a looter would usually target a home that has people obviously there, if for no other reason that they don’t know if I have a gun. ::: snip ::: I have heard this so many times… he he he Where is that , Ah, here it is…[http://thereaganwing.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/yard-sign-quote-of-the-week/](http://thereaganwing.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/yard-sign-quote-of-the-week/) ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/127 "2010-09-16T05:22:02Z")
Not wading throught the whole OP as it seems to repeat itself. I know how to use guns, all types up to and including firing a Ballistic Missle. I got a lot of training and practice in the Military and qualified expert every six months for about 12 years, I also owned 2 handguns a rifle and a 20 GA shotgun. I went squirrel hunting with the rifle and quail hunting with the shotgun, I carried a pistol in the woods just in case. But instant home defense? I don’t think I could have gotten ready in time. I had kids. So nothing was loaded and the ammo was locked up. The guns all had locks and the keys were kept pretty far away so burglars would have to phone me in advance so I would be ready. I have been in 4 hurricane disasters and never saw or came upon looters, maybe I was lucky but I don’t think there are as many as some people think. I had two guys come up to my house in the country once and started some shit, I yelled at my wife to get my gun and they left quickly. Good thing too as my wife came out to ask me where the gun keys were. Last but not least the only time I had my house broken into they stole my ATV, my motorcycle and all my guns! So for the last 20 years I haven’t bothered to replace them. Still lucky I guess. I do have ready access to a nice bat and some knives and for close quarters they will have to do. If I carried a gun and someone pulled a gun on me, I would be up the shit creek. If I went for mine, I would get shot so handing my wallet over seems prudent, If they just wanted to shoot me, I doubt they would come up to my face and I would be shot. Not carrying one just makes more sense. If someone tries to rob me strong arm style, I suspect someone is going to get hurt, hopefully my hand to hand skills will make it them. I like and respect guns and your right to own them, I just don’t have the need. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/128 "2010-09-16T14:54:47Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > But instant home defense? I don’t think I could have gotten ready in time. I had kids. So nothing was loaded and the ammo was locked up. The guns all had locks and the keys were kept pretty far away so burglars would have to phone me in advance so I would be ready. > > I had two guys come up to my house in the country once and started some shit, I yelled at my wife to get my gun and they left quickly. Good thing too as my wife came out to ask me where the gun keys were. > > Last but not least the only time I had my house broken into they stole my ATV, my motorcycle and all my guns! > > So for the last 20 years I haven’t bothered to replace them. Still lucky I guess. I do have ready access to a nice bat and some knives and for close quarters they will have to do. > > If I carried a gun and someone pulled a gun on me, I would be up the shit creek. If I went for mine, I would get shot so handing my wallet over seems prudent, If they just wanted to shoot me, I doubt they would come up to my face and I would be shot. Not carrying one just makes more sense. If someone tries to rob me strong arm style, I suspect someone is going to get hurt, hopefully my hand to hand skills will make it them. > > I like and respect guns and your right to own them, I just don’t have the need. Anyone can be ambushed; trained and armed police officers get ambushed, but that doesn’t make carrying useless. And it sounds like what you really needed was a quick access gun safe: one with a push-button combination lock or biometric lock, that keeps loaded guns safely away from the kids while allowing rapid access. Keeping guns out in the open but trigger locked is the worst of both worlds: useless in an emergency, easy for thieves to take. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/129 "2010-09-17T00:56:12Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > My wife has her eye on a Beretta84fs in .380 and I will pick up her new pistol Saturday morning… Ya, that is a nice one! ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/130 "2010-09-17T01:03:36Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Anyone can be ambushed; trained and armed police officers get ambushed, but that doesn’t make carrying useless. > > . What do (all) police in the United States, unanimously, rely on to defend their own personal lives? Yes, you are right. Cops still carry side arms for self-defense in the United States. It is the best self defense tool ever invented, and guns are the first choice that American policemen used to defend themselves. I am guessing it will be a VERY!!! long time from now before police in the United States will decide not to carry sidearms…if ever. I don’t know of any policeman who thinks his sidearm is useless. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/131 "2010-09-25T00:25:55Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > > [@Susanann](#): > > > > 1. Sharon Tate lived in a nice neighborhood. It does not matter where you live, a robber/rapist/murderer can break into any house. > > > > 2. “Marine training” needed against Leslie Van Houten and Susan Atkins? Are you kidding? Actually, If Sharon Tate had grabbed a revolver, and had used it against the intruders, you never would have heard of Charlie Manson. The 3 girls and a boy who broke into a home in 1968 and who “would” have been shot and killed by Sharon Tate would have been long forgotten by now, the names of the intruders never known, and Sharon and Roman Polanski would be living out their old age together in Palm Springs. > > > > You over estimate Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Susan Atkins. I would not need Marine training to eliminate them. A single 38 bullet into Lesli Van Houten would have put her down. Ditto for Pat and Sue. These girls were not street fighters, these girls were not superwomen. These girls were just kids who would have been scared out of their wits if a homeowner started shooting at them. > > You forget the guy there too. These people were nuts enough to kill that many people, they were nuts enough to go 3 on 1. And that’s assuming I shot the first one accurately enough to keep them from getting up. I am NOT trying to pick a fight! But, this needed answering. Three people murdering, with knives, unarmed people, are not going to be unperturbed by one of the three being blown away. They will pause, no matter how briefly, at 33% of their force changing from a laughing, animated slaughtering machine, into a lump of dead meat lying on the floor, at a sound louder than thunder. They will consider. It wasn’t their being nuts, so much as it was the fact that they were murdering helpless individuals. Someone’s helplessness can enrage some bullying types who kill. Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/132 "2010-09-25T00:33:49Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > > [@Lumpy](#): > > > > I can absolutely guarantee that someone hit in the heart or spine with a large caliber round is not going to take very many further steps. And only a fool responds to intruders or assailants by panic firing off his entire magazine. > > Plenty of people are fools especially among the group who think that just owning a rifle or handgun is enough to defend yourself. Newsflash handguns do not have that great of accuracy. Firearms are useful, but they do require training and practice. Gotta set you straight, brother/sister. Most handguns ARE extremely accurate, even the crummy little ones that are thrown away after a drive-by, because they won’t last longer. It is untrained people that are inaccurate. One doesn’t need any real training in handgun use, unless the guns are starting to get exotic, or, unless one is in a quick draw situation. A revolver will accurately obey the command of just about any homeowner whose house is being broken into. Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/133 "2010-09-25T01:37:45Z")
> [@Rafe\_Hollister](#): > > But to me, the main reason I am in favor of widespread gun ownership is for our nation’s protection. In 1775, the colonies were defended against the British by common citizens carrying squirrel rifles. It gives me great peace to know that no enemy will put soldiers on the ground here in the U.S. because there are 80 million people like me who would defend our towns with deer rifles, shotguns, .22’s and any other firearm we had in the home. I totally stopped reading the rest of this thread when I saw this, so I apologize if I’m making a redundant point…there’s three pages to read through and I’m lazy. But…I’ve never thought about it like that. I can see where this line of thought comes from, I really can. But I’d wager that in this unlikely scenario, the “commoners” with deer rifles would have just as much trouble from our own military as from the invading forces, since our military is pretty controlling when you get right down to it, and wouldn’t like to have citizens running around with guns shooting to the beat of the drummer in their patriotic head, as opposed to a tactical, strategic, what have you, organized type of shooting. I tend to think that it makes non-soldier type invasions more likely. I.E. bombs, planes, bombs, and cyber attacks. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/134 "2010-09-25T02:49:26Z")
> [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > > [@Magiver](#): > > > > 5 minutes on a gun range and anyone could accurately group 3 rounds in a human torso at 25 feet. > > I’m going to have to call bullshit here. I’ve taken plenty of people (more than 10) for their first time shooting a handgun. This definitely has not been my experience. I’m a qualified and experienced Range Safety Officer and whilst the “5 minutes” figure can reasonably be considered slight hyperbole, the truth is that it doesn’t take long- around half an hour or so at most, maybe just under an hour if they’re really nervous or have a terrible flinch- to take someone from “Having no idea how a gun works” to being able to consistently put three rounds anywhere within the target circle (not necessarily the bullseye) at 10 metres. As with any skill, there are some people who are just perfect naturals at it, and others who will never get the hang of it no matter how hard they try. Also, there are many shooters- myself included- who find the term “Gun Nut” offensive, FWIW. It has some very unpleasant and negative connotations, especially in this part of the world. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/135 "2010-09-25T03:40:31Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Also, there are many shooters- myself included- who find the term “Gun Nut” offensive, FWIW. It has some very unpleasant and negative connotations, especially in this part of the world. You can always respond with “hoplophobe”- someone with a neurotic paranoid fear of guns and armed people. 😛 ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/136 "2010-09-25T03:51:31Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > > > Also, there are many shooters- myself included- who find the term “Gun Nut” offensive, FWIW. It has some very unpleasant and negative connotations, especially in this part of the world. > > You can always respond with “hoplophobe”- someone with a neurotic paranoid fear of guns and armed people. 😛 Most of the time it’s not a “fear”; it’s just stereotyping. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/137 "2010-09-25T08:22:06Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > > [@enipla](#): > > > > “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.” is a quote by Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. > > I read a very long time ago, that Soviet Premier Krushchev’s top generals told him the very same thing when they were discussing war with the United States. The Soviet generals said, sure, they could nuke the US all right, but they could not send in an army to mop up nor to occupy it… 80 million angry armed civilians. I’m the weird sort of liberal that happens to be pro gun rights but this is just a silly story. If the USSR had nuked the US and afterwards there were still 80 million angry armed civilians, well, guess what the USSR is gonna do next. Go on, guess. If you’re not willing to go out on a limb here, I will. My guess would be another nuke. And then maybe another, then another, and another and so on until there are significantly less than 80 million armed civilians. It’s just ridiculous to think that you’re going to survive a nuclear attack by a foreign power and then fight them off with grandpa’s old deer rifle. Or even grandpas old M16 with the tritium night sights and a laser range finder and a grenade launcher and what the fuck ever you might have also attached to it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/138 "2010-09-25T14:58:27Z")
I’m also liberal and pro-gun rights. I think you are discounting the millions of gun owners that don’t live in cities. The US is very spread out. The point is, I believe, that if you have to use so many nukes to wipe out any opposition, there is no point in it. There would be nothing left to take for many years. Just as if for some crazy reason the US military went rouge, there would be no point in carpet bombing cities. Guns in the hands of citizens would at least allow many to eat and fight. With that said, I don’t think that the US military would ever raise its hand as a unified group against citizens. They would find that they are fighting against themselves. The National Guard (which we use in war and deploy [I don’t get that]) is your neighbor and co-worker. If that was not the case, I might have a different opinion. The military in the US is your average Joe. Or maybe above average Joe. I mean no disrespect. The military does not have a special status amongst ‘ordinary’ citizens. Police on the other hand seem to be elevating themselves to be above the law and appear to becoming more militant. My opinion on that is probably due to the fact that there are so many people now that are their own video production studio that can share information at a touch of a button. It makes me wonder how bad things used to be. As far as teaching anyone to shoot safely in a short time, I’ve found that that is mostly true. It’s a hell of a lot easier than say teaching someone to ride a motorcycle. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/139 "2010-09-25T21:03:57Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The National Guard (which we use in war and deploy [I don’t get that]) Long story short: by a slippery-slope process beginning in the early Twentieth century, the state militias were gradually incorporated into the federal military apparatus, with the result that today people in the Guards are legally held to have effectively volunteered to be Army reservists. > [@enipla](#): > > Police on the other hand seem to be elevating themselves to be above the law and appear to becoming more militant. My opinion on that is probably due to the fact that there are so many people now that are their own video production studio that can share information at a touch of a button. It makes me wonder how bad things used to be. Pretty bad. Virtually since cities started having professional police forces they’ve varied between being a good-ole-boys club, and the biggest and best armed gang in town. Whether you’re a political-right libertarian or a political-left civil liberties advocate, a lot of people are pro-gun ownership because they don’t like the idea of the police having a monopoly on armed force. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042/140 "2010-09-25T21:09:23Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I’m also liberal and pro-gun rights. I think you are discounting the millions of gun owners that don’t live in cities. The US is very spread out. > > The point is, I believe, that if you have to use so many nukes to wipe out any opposition, there is no point in it. There would be nothing left to take for many years. I guess if the point of attacking us was to take us over you’d be right. I think it’s far more likely that anybody nuking us would do so to get us out of the way than because they want to conquer and control us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-nuts/553042.md?page=8)