General Discussion

PJMcK

(25,189 posts)

78. I've never fired a gun in my life

Tue Sep 15, 2020, 08:54 PM

Sep 2020

Most of my adult life has been in NYC and its environs. Guns are very difficult to own and use in that locale, unless you're a criminal.

Regardless, I wasn't raised in a hunting/fishing/wilderness environment. However, I'm fundamentally agnostic about gun ownership. We live in a country that has more guns than people. We're never going to be able to regulate or control that proliferation.

Still, we've been living in our mountain house to stay isolated from the coronavirus. It's located in northeast rural Pennsylvania and it is most definitely pro-Trump.

Like you, I'm suddenly thinking of buying a couple of weapons for self-defense: A long gun and a hand gun. Of course, I will need to train with them.

I'm an artist and these thoughts disturb me.

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Should I go buy an AR-15? [View all] TomSlick Sep 2020 OP

Conservatives underestimate how many guns "liberals" have LakeArenal Sep 2020 #1

So, you think I should go buy the weapon? TomSlick Sep 2020 #2

If you are experienced and responsible, sure. LakeArenal Sep 2020 #11

At least pick up a shotgun and maybe a handgun: boguspotus Sep 2020 #22

I have a .338 RUM, .300 Win Mag, and Drahthaardogs Sep 2020 #56

If you're using 338RUM in a "combat" situation, you're either insane or very very skilled sir pball Sep 2020 #150

Jumping in to ask you to think about exactly what may happen RazzleCat Sep 2020 #136

Your mileage may vary depending on skin tone. nt Xipe Totec Sep 2020 #3

My DNA testing says that I'm more Scottish than most people in Scotland. TomSlick Sep 2020 #7

You're safe then. Proceed. nt Xipe Totec Sep 2020 #13

HAH! Ellipsis Sep 2020 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author Ellipsis Sep 2020 #35

No. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2020 #4

What if Barr and millions of trumpers and police and rank and file military decide YOU and me Eliot Rosewater Sep 2020 #9

I'd rather do as my grandparents did when repressed by Stalin. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2020 #39

You dont have any weapons now? Can you buy one? Eliot Rosewater Sep 2020 #5

I can buy the weapon. I know a guy. TomSlick Sep 2020 #16

Good lawd, no. n/t demmiblue Sep 2020 #6

You really have 30 years in the military and don't even own a 9mm? Flaleftist Sep 2020 #8

Nope. Never wanted or thought I needed one. TomSlick Sep 2020 #20

No, but if you must gratuitous Sep 2020 #10

I have very nearly thirty years of the best training available. TomSlick Sep 2020 #21

No. johnp3907 Sep 2020 #12

Personally, I wouldn't. LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #14

it's not just a matter of saving yourself Demonaut Sep 2020 #23

What is the entire matter then? LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #29

if he believes the shit might hit the fan in his neck of the woods then protecting his family Demonaut Sep 2020 #47

So he kills a few of them. Then what happens? LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #49

what do you think? Demonaut Sep 2020 #53

Many possibilities LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #57

how many guns are out in the general public?, 100 million, 500 million? more? Demonaut Sep 2020 #68

The estimates range from 400 to 600 million, with hundreds of millions of high capacity magazines Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #73

And despite all the silly billy big bollocks bravado I see on here all the time, the VAST Celerity Sep 2020 #125

In another thread, someone flatly asserted that liberalls owned far more guns per capita than Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #127

That is a laughable assertion on its face. They are just trolling you m8. Celerity Sep 2020 #129

I have no idea. LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #74

I have a pistol, got it in the eighties for plinking Demonaut Sep 2020 #77

What is plinking? LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #79

it's fun Demonaut Sep 2020 #82

"Casual" shooting. Still following all safety rules, of course, but not striving for the most Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #83

Thank you...I had to Google it. LuckyCharms Sep 2020 #86

I think you have 2 choices if you honestly feel you'd be in danger: Vinca Sep 2020 #15

Robert Burns rings in my head TomSlick Sep 2020 #36

Excellent! Made better by your location! GulfCoast66 Sep 2020 #95

If you are ever in Albuquerque give me a call and I'll sell you comradebillyboy Sep 2020 #17

Ammo for all guns is very scarce. You might end up with an AR-15 club. Kaleva Sep 2020 #18

Just go to ammoseek.com, and you'll find all the 5.56 you could ever want. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #34

Prices are high. Lowest cost .38 Special is 3 times what I paid this summer Kaleva Sep 2020 #51

I'd be very hesitant to recommend a single shot (in any caliber) for self defense. Granted, it's Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #59

In a panic situation, an inexperienced shooter could short stroke the pump action Kaleva Sep 2020 #116

Good point. Something that people with experience around firearms tend to forget. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #119

Ask your local sporting goods store or target range when their ammo truck get delivered. Flaleftist Sep 2020 #93

.223, 9mm, .45 auto ammo is really hard find right now. Get a Mossberg shotgun. They're more stewrat Sep 2020 #19

I saw a thread that buckshot is hard to find Klaralven Sep 2020 #30

It's out there, but you're going to pay $1 to $2 per round for it right now. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #38

I've got enough firepower for several zombie apocalypses. stewrat Sep 2020 #54

...or Winchester .30-30 roamer65 Sep 2020 #65

It's amazing how many people think that 5.56x45 is some sort of magic death ray Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #69

I love shooting my dads old Winchester model 1894. roamer65 Sep 2020 #72

I still have my father's Winchester Model 94. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #75

Yes they are. roamer65 Sep 2020 #76

I do love that old-school levergun action sir pball Sep 2020 #144

Good luck trying to find one. Ammo is almost impossible to find and prices have skyrocketed Baclava Sep 2020 #24

Oh, you can get them. My local gun shop still has AR-15's for under $750. Ammo is harder, Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #33

True and if U are Ret military, LE or 1st responder, gun stores have what u need, they keep extra Baclava Sep 2020 #58

You must go to different gun shops than I do. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #60

Certain manufacturers will allocate shops guns for special purchase, Glock has a program like this Baclava Sep 2020 #67

Fair enough. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #71

My guess? Blue_true Sep 2020 #26

I don't think so. EndlessWire Sep 2020 #27

Is your plan to go down in a blaze of glory? It sure sounds like it. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #28

Well, I ain't running. TomSlick Sep 2020 #42

So the answer is "yes". Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #44

Comrade Kalashnikov is not a bad ally to have when the SHTF Shermann Sep 2020 #31

That's my thinking. TomSlick Sep 2020 #45

Why not both? Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #66

Pretty cool, too bad there isn't a left-handed version nt Shermann Sep 2020 #130

One day we are going to wish we had kept the ban in place. Hoyt Sep 2020 #32

Why do you assume that the police wouldn't provide protection... brooklynite Sep 2020 #37

Why would they? PTWB Sep 2020 #48

Congratulations: Trump has won already brooklynite Sep 2020 #80

If it came down to it? Yes. Enough would. PTWB Sep 2020 #114

In which case: no point having a gun... brooklynite Sep 2020 #117

No point? PTWB Sep 2020 #118

Why? brooklynite Sep 2020 #121

If we could keep it that way everywhere we'd be better off. PTWB Sep 2020 #123

Our City that gave Trump a CCW? sir pball Sep 2020 #142

Because I grew up here. TomSlick Sep 2020 #62

If you find yourself in a situation where you need 30 round mags, you really fucked up Kaleva Sep 2020 #40

That's why Magpul invented 40 round mags and 60 round drums. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #64

I'm practicing my Hail Trump salute and working on a beer belly. Midnight Writer Sep 2020 #41

Given what we now know about the police, if you can be safe with it, might be good Amishman Sep 2020 #43

Yes. PTWB Sep 2020 #46

I would go with something else vercetti2021 Sep 2020 #50

No, unless you like spending thousands for a dust-collecting prop. Oneironaut Sep 2020 #52

Yes. BGBD Sep 2020 #55

I'd recommend .308/7.62x51 over '-06 sir pball Sep 2020 #143

Absolutely BGBD Sep 2020 #148

Honestly, if trump's thugs go apeshit, I'll probably take cover with my armed buddies. ecstatic Sep 2020 #61

If you have a wife and children, focus on a bug out plan first. roamer65 Sep 2020 #63

Uh...... Dorian Gray Sep 2020 #70

Not sure I understand. TomSlick Sep 2020 #88

I'm not down with talking about human life Dorian Gray Sep 2020 #138

Good luck trying to buy an Assault rifle, dware Sep 2020 #132

I've never fired a gun in my life PJMcK Sep 2020 #78

Get off the ledge. Now. thecrow Sep 2020 #81

I'm finally breaking down and buying a home defense rifle Red Mountain Sep 2020 #84

You should dagnuguy Sep 2020 #85

If things are actually that bad, Disaffected Sep 2020 #87

Things are not that bad yet and may never be. TomSlick Sep 2020 #90

you might not be liked RegexReader Sep 2020 #91

Canada has a pretty open refugee policy. Disaffected Sep 2020 #92

Don't feed the industry Ferrets are Cool Sep 2020 #89

I'll stick with my M-14 and S&W .40 cal. marie999 Sep 2020 #94

I hopped on the .40 S&W bandwagon intially, but with modern defensive loads I don't see any Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #97

I trained with the M-14 as a cadet. TomSlick Sep 2020 #98

LOL, ok! nt USALiberal Sep 2020 #101

I prefer ammunition commonality myself sir pball Sep 2020 #149

It's for the children Dancing_With_Dolphin Sep 2020 #96

I'm with you, Dolphin. crickets Sep 2020 #99

He is not talking sense, dware Sep 2020 #135

Do *not* use wasp spray for self defense. Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #102

I'm a cold war vet. I've never fired a government issued weapon except at the range. TomSlick Sep 2020 #105

Wasp spray is useless- it is an urban myth that it will stop an attacker reliably sarisataka Sep 2020 #106

It's pretty obvious you don't know shit about the M-16, dware Sep 2020 #134

5.56 will penetrate a lot more than 3 walls. sir pball Sep 2020 #146

Wasp spray is more or less harmless to humans. It's an urban myth that it's in any way effective. sir pball Sep 2020 #147

Get off the ledge and pack a bug-out bag for each of you... Hekate Sep 2020 #100

A voice of reason in a sea of insanity. c-rational Sep 2020 #112

Thank you kindly Hekate Sep 2020 #113

You are most welcome, and you read 'the scene' correctly - there is much anxiety going around. c-rational Sep 2020 #115

Poor choice of firearm for home protection. GulfCoast66 Sep 2020 #103

A shotgun with buckshot or slugs will over penetrate. PTWB Sep 2020 #139

Go big or go home sarisataka Sep 2020 #104

I'll raise your "Go big". Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #107

Davy will keep Santa Anna from taking the Alamo... sarisataka Sep 2020 #108

The Alamo is still there (mostly). TomSlick Sep 2020 #111

My reference was to Davy Crockett sarisataka Sep 2020 #120

A howitzer is hard to store in the house. TomSlick Sep 2020 #109

At least you have the option Polybius Sep 2020 #110

Feel free to leave...I'm happy with the gun restrictions here... brooklynite Sep 2020 #122

It's easier said than done Polybius Sep 2020 #124

Here's a tidbit for you: In NYC, you are not allowed to possess a rifle or shotgun magazine of over Dial H For Hero Sep 2020 #126

I would move. Celerity Sep 2020 #128

Don't buy one, buy two. Devil Child Sep 2020 #131

NO.NOPE. FUCK-A NO! 634-5789 Sep 2020 #133

I see this has already turned into a gun porn thread. MineralMan Sep 2020 #137

The AR is better than the 12 gauge by far. PTWB Sep 2020 #140

I disagree. I will not be going outdoors to defend my home. MineralMan Sep 2020 #141

Buy an AK-47 or better yet an Armored Tank with a fixed machine gun Le Roi de Pot Sep 2020 #145

After discussion with hosts ... LOCKING applegrove Sep 2020 #151