# Responsible gun onwers: please demonstrate your non-nuttery. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 24, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103 "2008-08-24T15:43:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/61 "2008-08-26T15:27:16Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] I wrote that I want her to learn, not that I’m forcing her to learn. I’m not the boss of her. We live in Memphis, Tennessee, which is fairly violent (by American standards, anywhistle). Placing not my faith in princes, I don’t trust the police to keep us safe. I want Kim to live to be a cute old woman. [/QUOTE] I understand. Is there any chance you could move to a better neighborhood? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/62 "2008-08-26T15:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Well they’re relevant if she doesn’t want anything to do with guns. He can’t MAKE her handle them. If she wants to, that’s fine. And if she doesn’t, it’s her right to say so. The point I’m making is that some people REALLY dislike guns. They don’t want to touch them or have any responsibility whatsoever regarding their storage, loading, state of readiness, or anything else. I personally know people who are afraid to be in a house with a loaded gun, let alone handle one. [/QUOTE] How is that any healthier than my former dog phobia? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/63 "2008-08-26T15:28:27Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] That’s really sad. Not trying to be a jerk here, but people like that should seek therapy or something. Irrational fears of inanimate objects _can’t_ be healthy. [/QUOTE] Problem is, you never know when someone might accidentally animate one. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/64 "2008-08-26T15:39:05Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I understand. Is there any chance you could move to a better neighborhood? [/QUOTE] **Kalhoun** , the EARTH is not a safe place. Awful things happen everywhere. Live in a poor neighborhood, your chances of being the victim of random violence are higher; move someplace upper-middle-class, you may find yourself being mugged in your driveway after a trip to Macy’s. Thinking the police will protect you will not keep you safe. Being prepared mentally and physically – i.e., being ready to submit to a robbery if that’s the best choice, or to fight back if that’s the best choice–increases your odds of survival. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/65 "2008-08-26T15:40:07Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Problem is, you never know when someone might accidentally animate one. [/QUOTE] Which is why every adult who lives in a house in which there are guns should know the rules of basic gun safety. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/66 "2008-08-26T15:43:40Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] How is that any healthier than my former dog phobia? [/QUOTE] It’s not healthy or unhealthy. It is a reaction to experience. It’s a reaction to some people who legally own guns and ought not. It’s a reaction to statistics. It might even be a reaction to the nightly news. We are who we are because of our experiences (dog phobias included). I would no sooner ask someone to learn to handle a gun than I’d invite a dog-fearin’ guest over without locking up my hypothetical dog. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/67 "2008-08-26T15:58:05Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] It’s not healthy or unhealthy. It is a reaction to experience. It’s a reaction to some people who legally own guns and ought not. It’s a reaction to statistics. It might even be a reaction to the nightly news. We are who we are because of our experiences (dog phobias included). I would no sooner ask someone to learn to handle a gun than I’d invite a dog-fearin’ guest over without locking up my hypothetical dog. [/QUOTE] Would refusal to learn the very _basic_ knowledge (location and operation of the safety, how to check and unload a weapon, thus rendering it “safe”) be unreasonable? * * * I do not own a gun. I live in a small one bedroom apartment, in a working class neighborhood. I worry that, if I discharged (especially accidently) a weapon, the bullet might hurt (probably a neighbor) someone I didn’t intend to hurt. I have lived there for almost 13 years, and there has been only one intruder incident (in the 40 apartments of my complex) in that time. So, at this time, I made the deliberate decision to go unarmed. But I absolutely desire to have the ability to make that decision for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/68 "2008-08-26T16:10:22Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] It’s not healthy or unhealthy. It is a reaction to experience. It’s a reaction to some people who legally own guns and ought not. It’s a reaction to statistics. It might even be a reaction to the nightly news. We are who we are because of our experiences (dog phobias included). I would no sooner ask someone to learn to handle a gun than I’d invite a dog-fearin’ guest over without locking up my hypothetical dog. [/QUOTE] Kalhoun, since this isn’t the debate or polling forum, perhaps we might take the current discussion [hereabouts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=480970). ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/69 "2008-08-26T16:16:37Z")
[QUOTE=mlees] I worry that, if I discharged (especially accidently) a weapon, the bullet might hurt (probably a neighbor) someone I didn’t intend to hurt. So, at this time, I made the deliberate decision to go unarmed. But I absolutely desire to have the ability to make that decision for myself. [/QUOTE] And you absolutely do, mlees. However, this exact issue is why the handiest ammo for my defense piece is frangible. This is somewhere between hardball and snake shot, much less likely to penetrate a wall. Or body armor. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/70 "2008-08-26T16:40:34Z")
[QUOTE=Khampelf] And you absolutely do, mlees. However, this exact issue is why the handiest ammo for my defense piece is frangible. This is somewhere between hardball and snake shot, much less likely to penetrate a wall. Or body armor. [/QUOTE] Frangible ammo? Haven’t considered that… hmm. Basically, I only have drywall (two layers, plus possibly some light fiberglass insulation) between me and my neighbor. I can hear them talk at night (but not during the day when the street traffic is louder), and taking a wizz. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/71 "2008-08-26T16:49:10Z")
Closing in on 40, married white male with kids. Pro Choice, Christian, Pro Gay Rights Libertarian Republican bent Soccer Coach, Boy Scout Leader, Community Volunteer Software executive Living in the OC Shotgun, 3 rifles, two pistols, two revolvers ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/72 "2008-08-26T16:59:44Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] **Kalhoun** , the EARTH is not a safe place. Awful things happen everywhere. Live in a poor neighborhood, your chances of being the victim of random violence are higher; move someplace upper-middle-class, you may find yourself being mugged in your driveway after a trip to Macy’s. Thinking the police will protect you will not keep you safe. Being prepared mentally and physically – i.e., being ready to submit to a robbery if that’s the best choice, or to fight back if that’s the best choice–increases your odds of survival. [/QUOTE] I know there are dangers out there. I know they can happen in all neighborhoods. I just don’t think guns are the answer. I’ve lived 52 years without owning one. My husband’s guns are locked up in such a way that they’d be of no use to us for protection. I’ve been burgled twice in this house and have no misconceptions about the ability (or lack thereof) of the county cops to come to my aid out here in semi-Dogpatch suburban Chicago. Many things on most people’s list of Reasons to Own a Gun have actually happened to me. I still feel no need to own a gun. You do, and that’s your right. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/73 "2008-08-26T17:10:10Z")
39, married white male with 3 kids. Pro Choice, Christian, Pro Gay Rights Libertarian - Conservative ~ No longer a Republican Baseball Coach 16 Pistols/Revolvers 16 Rifles including 3 AR-15s and 4 AK clones 4 Shotguns CCW Holder for the last 10 years. ---
**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 27, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/74 "2008-08-27T00:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] …I would like to keep the 9mm in there but it wears out the springs in a semi-auto magazine to keep them loaded all the time. [/QUOTE] We had a thread about that recently and I thought the consensus was that the springs won’t wear excessively if they’re unloaded periodically. I keep my semi loaded (but not chambered) and rotate the magazines weekly. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/75 "2008-08-27T00:52:57Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] We had a thread about that recently and I thought the consensus was that the springs won’t wear excessively if they’re unloaded periodically. I keep my semi loaded (but not chambered) and rotate the magazines weekly. [/QUOTE] Isn’t that standard operating procedure for semis? Three magazines: one loaded and in the gun, one loaded and beside the gun, and one unloaded. Each week you rotate. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/76 "2008-08-27T01:01:17Z")
I can dig up the cites, but ISTR that the act of stressing and unstressing a spring is more damaging than leaving it stressed or (of course) unstressed. And **Kalhoun** , your post #72 is a reasonable attitude that wouldn’t have set me off had I read it first. ---
**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 27, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103/77 "2008-08-27T01:05:17Z")
[American Handgunner](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_163_27/ai_99130369) on the subject of magazine springs. I leave mine full and handy. Having 48 rounds of 9mm at the ready gives the warm fuzzies, it does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/responsible-gun-onwers-please-demonstrate-your-non-nuttery/461103.md?page=3)