General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Here is when I bought my first gun [View all]Bake
(21,977 posts)Although I have fired one, semi-auto, at the range, and I did enjoy it. But I have no desire to own one. I'm perfectly willing to re-institute the assault weapons ban, and ban hi-cap magazines (depending on the definition of hi-cap--my 9 mm holds 15 rounds plus one in the chamber; I don't consider that hi-cap).
I've gotten stranded on the side of the interstate at night with car trouble before. I wouldn't THINK of leaving home on a road trip without my S&W. My father was stuck at a RR crossing in Arkansas when a gang of hooligans decided to f**k with him. He simply showed them he was armed and they took off running. He won't leave home on a road trip without his handgun either.
Do I carry when I go to the grocery? No. But I COULD, legally. I've been through the requisite background checks and classes to carry a concealed weapon legally.
Many here are calling for outlawing all handguns, and the confiscation of legally-purchased firearms. And I'm saying that will never happen. I'll break the law if I have to, to have it with me when I need it. Depend on the police? Not on my life. Hell, I don't even trust the police not to fuck with law-abiding citizens!
I'm willing to discuss reasonable gun control. But I've been called all sorts of names here on DU: gun nut, gun worshipper, NRA mouthpiece, compared to kiddie porn, etc. Frankly, that does NOTHING to advance the discussion, and it just makes me more entrenched in my position. My family comes first. You can get my S&W when you can come get it out of my hands.
The extreme gun-grabbers aren't being productive.
Bake