General Discussion

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)

127. I used to live in the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. I had 20 acres 4 horses 6 dogs 3 cats a bird

Wed Dec 26, 2012, 05:05 PM

Dec 2012

and some fish. My wife and I lived there alone about 30 miles from Bakersfield, 30 miles from Tehachapi and 30 miles from Lake Isabella. We had about 1200 neighbors in about a 100 square mile area.

We never locked our doors at night. Our neighbors were a close nit group. everyone waved hi to anyone they passed whether they knew them or not. When ever anyone needed money for some emergency we raised the money by having pot luck dinners that we sold tickets to and all the money went to the needy person. It was open range country were cattle roomed free. Just about as close to the wild west as you could get. We even had branding and cattle drives.

The only gun I owned was a Ruger .22 single action that I used for target shooting.

So you see, not everyone in Rural America thinks life is so dangerous we need guns.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

197 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Rural gun ownership. [View all] MadHound Dec 2012 OP

+1 cliffordu Dec 2012 #1

I get that. Question I always wonder is if one carries a gun when they do go to the city? Hoyt Dec 2012 #2

I live in the South Aerows Dec 2012 #130

Well-written! I would add this: riqster Dec 2012 #3

All my relatives own rifles and/or shotguns. Are_grits_groceries Dec 2012 #4

+1 LP2K12 Dec 2012 #5

Awaits the "the poor dogs" crowd... Earth_First Dec 2012 #6

Not from me: I had to get rabies shots when a pack of 5 attacked my dog and me out on a mountain byeya Dec 2012 #41

Not here. I was a bike commuter for a long time Warpy Dec 2012 #85

I think most gun control advocates are not thinking of the hunting rifles or such that rural mostlyalurker Dec 2012 #7

Exactly!!! Buzz Clik Dec 2012 #14

The problem with your reasoning is Jenoch Dec 2012 #46

Assault weapons have become the weapon of choice for terrorists, mass murderers, DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #107

You are pretty much mistaken Jenoch Dec 2012 #114

Here is a link to some statistics on mass shootings, I'll get more stats for you DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #122

AR15s and AR10s have been embraced as utility rifles by many rural folks aikoaiko Dec 2012 #8

Totally unnecessary firepower to take out deer. Jeebus! Buzz Clik Dec 2012 #16

A .308 out of an AR10 is no different than a .308 out of a Rem 700 bolt action. aikoaiko Dec 2012 #22

I would fully support anyone in a rural area to have that type of gun. MedicalAdmin Dec 2012 #33

Sorry. I'm not buying this argument at all. Buzz Clik Dec 2012 #97

You don't have to buy anything. I'm explaining to you how some people us these firearms. aikoaiko Dec 2012 #104

The problem with blanket legislation... JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #118

With a standard upper receiver, they're not powerful enough for deer for the most part Recursion Dec 2012 #56

I guess that is why you need to big magazines. Buzz Clik Dec 2012 #98

No, it's why people don't hunt large game with them Recursion Dec 2012 #100

Can coyotes be hunted with something other than an assault weapon? Buzz Clik Dec 2012 #101

Sure, marginally less safely Recursion Dec 2012 #103

A 410 shotgun will kill a coyote from as far away as 50 feet. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #193

Sure they can, ManiacJoe Dec 2012 #106

Subtlety is lost in these threads. Must we point out the obvious at every step? Buzz Clik Dec 2012 #176

And, yet, here you are insisting the silliness is important. ManiacJoe Dec 2012 #177

Why is it that so many people believe hunters use 20 round magazines ... spin Dec 2012 #131

My understanding is that .223 is illegal for deer hunting because it's not powerful enough. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #115

Depends on the deer. ManiacJoe Dec 2012 #137

Some states allow it, I think obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #150

It's not unnecessary firepower for a brown bear, and they're in all 50 states. JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #125

Wipe Your Upper Lip, You're Getting Excited. Paladin Dec 2012 #144

Well then... JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #165

I Bet Colbert Knows There Aren't Any Brown Bear In Texas. Paladin Dec 2012 #181

Sorry, I was just having fun there in the 2nd post. JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #195

Brown Bears are not in all 50 states. DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #188

Fellow Georgian agreeing Yo_Mama Dec 2012 #29

Not here. LWolf Dec 2012 #163

If you live in the north or west I would imagine the calibers are bigger aikoaiko Dec 2012 #169

you are a sensible gun owner riverbendviewgal Dec 2012 #9

And they do... bobclark86 Dec 2012 #28

And why would SWAT teams need full auto for? oneshooter Dec 2012 #166

Thank you. This is the one-and-only reason I have guns in the house HillWilliam Dec 2012 #10

I concurr with you on gun ownership for practical purposes. DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #11

'High velocity rounds'? Jenoch Dec 2012 #59

You can buy subsonic ammo Recursion Dec 2012 #93

The .223 was designed specifically to penetrate a steel military helmet, DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #95

You might want to check that research you did . former-republican Dec 2012 #120

Implying that people are stupid is no way to win an argument. JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #136

As you insult me subtlety at length, your argument is without merit. DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #172

Maybe I'm one of the uneducated ones... JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #174

Now you're putting words in my mouth! DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #186

Well you told me! JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #190

Your agreement with that poster has no bearing on your rudeness to me! DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #191

My question was rhetorical. Jenoch Dec 2012 #183

A .22 is "in common use", however there is a huge difference DrewFlorida Dec 2012 #187

We get it. We agree, but hunting does not take 30 rounds. grattsl Dec 2012 #12

i agree for the most part AlecBGreen Dec 2012 #18

It's worse... bobclark86 Dec 2012 #34

I see my county in NC as one in green and yesindeedy HillWilliam Dec 2012 #36

I carry a gun in my pack while trail running obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #71

Sounds like you're not packing enough heat. progressoid Dec 2012 #111

Shotgun is plenty Aerows Dec 2012 #140

You're right, they are aggressive and think absolutely nothing of charging a human HillWilliam Dec 2012 #126

A friend's friend was treed by one trying to kill him obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #146

Nothing to screw with Aerows Dec 2012 #149

They certainly are here Aerows Dec 2012 #139

You actually need more than a 12-gauge? Aerows Dec 2012 #142

Well, with feral pigs it can Recursion Dec 2012 #58

Some here use pikes obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #73

They are fucking scary Aerows Dec 2012 #141

Exactly, and they are all over certaon areas obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #143

We had one menace the neighborhood Aerows Dec 2012 #145

Exactly -- VERY aggressive obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #148

You pretty much need every tool in the book Aerows Dec 2012 #147

I would rather run into a bear obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #152

Amen Aerows Dec 2012 #160

I've wondered that, too obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #161

I think this is where the confusion sets in.... wercal Dec 2012 #164

Thank you. SheilaT Dec 2012 #13

I can completely understand owning a gun in that situation. Chorophyll Dec 2012 #15

I agree. I have lived in the country and a gun is necessary. However, teewrex Dec 2012 #17

Any deer rifle can pierce armor. bobclark86 Dec 2012 #30

Rural needs are different than urban or suburban... GetRidOfThem Dec 2012 #19

+1000 nt abelenkpe Dec 2012 #32

There are dangerous critters in urban and suburban areas, too. Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #194

That's the truth Yo_Mama Dec 2012 #20

We need to limit ladders with 30 steps guardian Dec 2012 #37

name me one case barbtries Dec 2012 #49

That doesn't matter guardian Dec 2012 #51

it matters barbtries Dec 2012 #57

The problem is you do not see the weapon as a tool. Indydem Dec 2012 #65

the problem is barbtries Dec 2012 #67

A frightful clip? Indydem Dec 2012 #88

A very precious salt for the wounds LanternWaste Dec 2012 #135

Keep it up. Indydem Dec 2012 #138

Doesn't want to notice the difference...... daleanime Dec 2012 #80

Bless your little heart... it certainly does matter, LanternWaste Dec 2012 #132

Got a can of gasoline in your garage? friendly_iconoclast Dec 2012 #53

what does that have to do barbtries Dec 2012 #60

I just read a story about a guy that went wild in a department store with a ladder and killed 16. progressoid Dec 2012 #112

love your avatar. barbtries Dec 2012 #124

i am about as anti-gun as they come. barbtries Dec 2012 #21

That goes for me too. +100 Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #24

We understand that Barb HillWilliam Dec 2012 #39

thank you! barbtries Dec 2012 #48

Everyone I know is against Jenoch Dec 2012 #72

so, a Smith and Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 22 handgun are used for hunting? kwassa Dec 2012 #170

We also live in the country. Nearest neighbor is a mile away newfie11 Dec 2012 #23

If magazine capacities Jenoch Dec 2012 #76

But their not limited to 5 and thats my point newfie11 Dec 2012 #92

I have heard people suggesting Jenoch Dec 2012 #117

But after 5 shots one must reload and they go in 1 at a time newfie11 Dec 2012 #168

City folk and country folk have different cultures Cynicus Emeritus Dec 2012 #25

Well said. colorado_ufo Dec 2012 #26

Thank you for speaking up for those of us who live murielm99 Dec 2012 #27

Practical leanforward Dec 2012 #31

I've been rural for 20 years. From my experience, rural is red. And that explains the guns. Gregorian Dec 2012 #35

Really There Are Animals In The Country? otohara Dec 2012 #38

"The White Tale(sp) deer is already on it's way to becoming extinct." friendly_iconoclast Dec 2012 #42

You Tell Me otohara Dec 2012 #45

There are raccoons all over the place in mine Aerows Dec 2012 #134

White tail deer almost extinct? TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #52

White Tail Deer are becoming extinct? Seriously? rvt1000rr Dec 2012 #61

There are 15 million white tail deer in the US Recursion Dec 2012 #63

What an amazingly ill-informed post riqster Dec 2012 #64

The CO Wildlife Federation otohara Dec 2012 #83

What is done in SD Blackhills is cyanide newfie11 Dec 2012 #178

That's pretty funny. The deer in my town outnumber the people. nt Flatulo Dec 2012 #68

HUMAN POPULATION: A Key Factor in Species Extinction otohara Dec 2012 #105

Go here. Flatulo Dec 2012 #123

The ignorance of your post is just, wow! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #75

We're The Pests otohara Dec 2012 #84

Misanthropy is a perfectly legitimate viewpoint. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #116

speak for yourself arely staircase Dec 2012 #153

squirrels obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #158

There are so many deer, many starve to death obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #79

Climate Change otohara Dec 2012 #90

No, there are TOO MANY deer obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #154

I live in the country, iamthebandfanman Dec 2012 #40

Same here. femmocrat Dec 2012 #43

This might sound naive, but you can't use a tranquilizer gun? DaveJ Dec 2012 #44

Then what? TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #62

The point is to criminalize guns. DaveJ Dec 2012 #78

Yeah, let's give rural folks injectable tranquilizers jberryhill Dec 2012 #70

Maybe not tranquilizers then... DaveJ Dec 2012 #94

lol obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #155

Problem: Where to buy that highly restricted tranquilizer shit. NYC_SKP Dec 2012 #171

Definitely the reality in Alaska, as well, Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 #47

yes - mettamega Dec 2012 #50

What is a semiautomatic machine gun? TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #55

I had a terrible daydream while reading this thread-- Jackpine Radical Dec 2012 #87

Agreed. However, no concealed carry. Open carry only with gun locks engaged. on point Dec 2012 #54

What is a "gun lock"? obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #81

Presumably a safety, as in "Lock & load." Jackpine Radical Dec 2012 #89

The origins of "lock & load" remain mysterious, particularly given that you do the opposite Recursion Dec 2012 #96

It's not a black/white issue--it's a grey one silhouete2 Dec 2012 #66

Most guns used in crime ARE NOT Jenoch Dec 2012 #86

That is no excuse obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #69

Rabbits ROFF Dec 2012 #74

We aquired a rifle and a shotgun when we lived in a rural area. FedUpWithIt All Dec 2012 #77

why do you keep posting op after op on this. It's getting a tad redundant cali Dec 2012 #82

Can't speak for the OP, but where I grew up animal control was mostly a fiction. davsand Dec 2012 #102

+1 Go Vols Dec 2012 #91

Or you could just use a bow and a knife... intersectionality Dec 2012 #99

Agree with OP; we live in a rural area as well mrsadm Dec 2012 #108

An "assault rifle" is not out of place in Montana. JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #109

FYI, I am sure you meant "assault weapon" Jenoch Dec 2012 #119

Excellent post, Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #110

but why would you need to take your gun outside of your home and yard? graham4anything Dec 2012 #113

Sincere Question ProfessorGAC Dec 2012 #121

I used to live in the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. I had 20 acres 4 horses 6 dogs 3 cats a bird upaloopa Dec 2012 #127

Even my mom can shoot a .22 rifle Aerows Dec 2012 #129

It's necessary in the sticks Aerows Dec 2012 #128

Yeah, a gun is more or less a necessity here. JoeyT Dec 2012 #133

But my question is do you need a sem-auto weapon to do it? Taverner Dec 2012 #151

You do, for one of these obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #156

good lord, i'd not want anyone I love going up against a pack of those! Because safer than bettyellen Dec 2012 #189

It depends on a number of factors, but riqster Dec 2012 #182

We've had sheep, chickens, dogs and cats become prey for various predators here tularetom Dec 2012 #157

HUGE Copperheads here obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #159

There's one good thing about a large diamondback like that one slackmaster Dec 2012 #167

I agree, LWolf Dec 2012 #162

What you don't need is a semi auto military style weapon. Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #173

Why, because it looks scary? Jenoch Dec 2012 #184

Yes it does, particularly to 6 year olds about to die. Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #185

Excellent cntrfthrs Dec 2012 #175

Great post.. Upton Dec 2012 #179

Why I am a gun owner Resonance_Chamber Dec 2012 #180

You aren't using an assault weapon or street-sweeper in the country. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #192

You mean guns like bolt action rifles, revolvers, semi auto pistols, Ashgrey77 Dec 2012 #196

You need a 30-round clip in an automatic assault weapon to shoot a dog? baldguy Dec 2012 #197