Buyers flock to gun stores in Colorado after rampage

[Acid Trip]

Look folks, I have to clarify something.

I understand the need to stand up to bullies...and that's what these shitstains are to me who go into crowded areas and waste random innocent people...they are cowardly bullies.

I understand the need to want to protect yourself and your family. I live with my father who will be 80 this year and my mother, who is an invalid. If someone broke into our house at night, I would not hesitate to grab the first thing I could get my hands on (seriously, I will go Jackie Chan on anyone's ass when threatened...) whether it be a coffee table, lamp, book.....whatever.

So it brings me to this question. I've always tried to imagine in a real world scenario, how a gunfight would go down. I'll give you two scenarios:

You're out walking with your family or lover on the street and some dickwad accosts you brandishing a gun. You have a gun concealed in your pocket. Do you try to go for the quick draw and shoot him? My question is serious.

Second scenario...you're at home and are in one of two states. You're either sleeping or awake. Someone breaks into your house. By the time you see or hear evidence of it, he's inside already. If you're a responsible gun owner your firearm is stored in a secure place, not loaded.

So real time....guy is in your house and you're on the couch watching American Idol. Do you go to where the gun is, load it and then seek out the intruder? Same question if you're asleep.You need to get that firearm in your hands pronto because the intruder will not wait...

Do you actually draw down on the guy and will you have enough time?

1) Do not draw your weapon. Give the person what they want and feel free to draw as they coward runs away. They will survive a couple bullets to the back of the legs.

2) It's offensive to say "you're a responsible gun owner your gun is stored in a secure place, not loaded". The safest place my gun can be is on my person. It's loaded and with me at all times when it's legal to carry. When I'm asleep it's loaded on my nightstand. My wife and I both know how to properly use guns and we have no children.

3) My gun is always on me so this scenario doesn't apply.

[Hal-9000]

Hal asks some very good questions. I can only speak for myself in answering.
In the home scenario, (as given, not as would be in my home) you have to make a conscious decision to go for the gun. The (in some areas) requirements that guns be key locked and or in safes, does in fact hinder your ability to access one when needed. These requirement were brought about by failure to understand the usages of a weapon, IE, leaving loaded weapons around where people who are not trained in usage could access them.
In my home, there is a loaded weapon in the living room (40cal semi auto pistol) and in the bedroom (44-40 lever action rifle)
I don't have any particular fear of my home being invaded, and my dogs would be first line of defense/warning at any rate.
My family is trained in the usage and operation of my weapons. When folks (with or without kids) come over who are not, then the guns are put away in a safe.
We don't play with them as toys. If one comes out, something (or somebody) will be shot.
This is a product of being raised this way and of being in the Military.

Second scenario:
Again, difficult situation, hard to give a blanket answer. First response would probably be to give person what they are asking for (my wallet is not worth mine or my family's life) On the other hand, if I felt there was a real danger to myself or loved ones. I would shoot with no hesitation, nor any regret.

I answered as honestly as I could. I will always try to avoid a confrontation/fight/whatever, but given no other choice, I will respond with the maximum force necessary to resolve the issue at hand.

thanks Kev

[Hal-9000]

If someone's already got a gun drawn on you, it is definitely NOT the time to go for yours. What's a wallet compared to life? Nothing.

Breakins...it depends on the situation - is the perp in between you and your gun? Probably need to seek other means. Is the gun a bit out of the way but you can still get to it without an encounter? Absolutely, go for it. It really depends on what the intruder is there for - if he's there to murder you, that's an entirely different thing than if he's there to maybe find your safe and steal yer jewlz. Does he know you have a gun, is he going to come point his at you before going for the safe...that's why its important to know what needs to be done so that reflexes can assist - the better your training, the more they kick in when the rest of your mind is sitting there going wtf this does not compute!

thank you sir

[Hal-9000]

1) Do not draw your weapon. Give the person what they want and feel free to draw as they coward runs away. They will survive a couple bullets to the back of the legs.

2) It's offensive to say "you're a responsible gun owner your gun is stored in a secure place, not loaded". The safest place my gun can be is on my person. It's loaded and with me at all times when it's legal to carry. When I'm asleep it's loaded on my nightstand. My wife and I both know how to properly use guns and we have no children.

3) My gun is always on me so this scenario doesn't apply.

it's offensive to say..... really? Interesting response, thanks

[Hal-9000]

Okay, from just the last 3 responses I've gleaned that some gun owners will have the weapons in their home but won't go for the gunfight at the OK corral scenario...I agree, your wallet or TV is not worth someone getting hurt.

[FBD]

that's because we respect that the business end rains fucking hellfire with great power, great responsibility.

[KevinD]

Exactly. I never said (seriously at any rate, who know what I've said in a drunken stupor, lol) that I would pull a gun and start firing for no reason. Rest assured that in fact, If I ever pull a gun out (other than for transport) It WILL be shot. It's a tool of last resort, not first. Last line of defense.

[Hal-9000]

Exactly. I never said (seriously at any rate, who know what I've said in a drunken stupor, lol) that I would pull a gun and start firing for no reason. Rest assured that in fact, If I ever pull a gun out (other than for transport) It WILL be shot. It's a tool of last resort, not first. Last line of defense.

shooting a gun into the air outside on New Year's Eve perhaps?????


not that I'm keeping track or anything

[KevinD]

To the best of my knowledge, I've never actually done that, lol, May have joked about it, but not actually done it.

[RBP]

[DemonGeminiX]

[PorkChopSandwiches]

[Acid Trip]

Exactly. I never said (seriously at any rate, who know what I've said in a drunken stupor, lol) that I would pull a gun and start firing for no reason. Rest assured that in fact, If I ever pull a gun out (other than for transport) It WILL be shot. It's a tool of last resort, not first. Last line of defense.

Exactly.

In all my years of gun ownership I've never even pointed my gun at someone. Loaded or unloaded doesn't matter. The day I point it at someone is the day I use it for real.

[Griffin]

I can't wait till the zombie apocalypse starts. I see idiots every day in dire need of a shot to the head.

[MrsM]