Is it time to get a firearm?

My parents never owned guns. They were afraid to. But I grew up in SW Virginia (lots of hunters) and served in the Army. As a Boy Scout, I took NRA Safe Hunter training and learned gun safety. I'm comfortable with guns and own several but don't shoot anymore. I have a healthy respect for them. Have never shot at a person or an animal (unless you count shooting at rodents with a BB gun) and hope I never will. But if someone breaks into my home, the dog will bark and I can protect myself and my family.
 
ChapelHillSooner said:
I of course don't know how various scenarios would play out.

One thing I am concerned about is Trump either explicitly giving permission to people or saying things in a way that they believe he is doing so.

My goal would simply be to make myself and my family a harder target. I agree that most of these people aren't as brave as they like to pretend so showing even a bit of resistance (warning shot) would likely be enough to ward them off.

I also don't envision that such as situation is sustainable as they're not going to have state law on their side. So I don't see them coming back to target me if something were to happen.

I would only act if the situation were such that I either act or my family is dead.

Maybe I am paranoid but the talk that happened immediately after the Kirk shooting rattled me. There are plenty of people who want me dead for no other reason than I have different views they they have and because they are brainwashed into believing everyone who has different views are a threat to them. (Note that unlike them I am not stereotyping all MAGA as being in this group. I am merely saying that there are people who are in it.)
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If you think that having a gun is worth the money in order to consider yourself safer in case things in our society get worse, you are free to do so. It's much like owning a weapon to protect yourself and your family against a burglar, it is possible that you will someday use your weapon to protect yourself - and, if that happens, the gun would be nearly priceless; but it is much more likely that you will never need the weapon for self-protection and probably equally likely that having a gun may lead to other bad outcomes within your family.

And I say that as a gun owner myself and someone who has brandished a gun (although I didn't actually pull it on the person) in self-defense. And as someone who has had a gun pulled on them (when I didn't have one).

I think there are other things you could do to assist you in helping to protect your family that would likely be more valuable, such as installing an alarm system (if you don't have one), for protecting your family from both burglars & roving MAGA hordes.

At the end of the day, it's your choice as to whether or not to purchase a gun for your own safety. Statistically-speaking, though, I don't know that it'll make much of a difference for you unless you are unlucky enough to be put in a very specific situation where you would need it and it would materially change outcome of the situation.
 
SnoopRob said:
If you think that having a gun is worth the money in order to consider yourself safer in case things in our society get worse, you are free to do so. It's much like owning a weapon to protect yourself and your family against a burglar, it is possible that you will someday use your weapon to protect yourself - and, if that happens, the gun would be nearly priceless; but it is much more likely that you will never need the weapon for self-protection and probably equally likely that having a gun may lead to other bad outcomes within your family.

And I say that as a gun owner myself and someone who has brandished a gun (although I didn't actually pull it on the person) in self-defense. And as someone who has had a gun pulled on them (when I didn't have one).

I think there are other things you could do to assist you in helping to protect your family that would likely be more valuable, such as installing an alarm system (if you don't have one), for protecting your family from both burglars & roving MAGA hordes.

At the end of the day, it's your choice as to whether or not to purchase a gun for your own safety. Statistically-speaking, though, I don't know that it'll make much of a difference for you unless you are unlucky enough to be put in a very specific situation where you would need it and it would materially change outcome of the situation.
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Was there an update op?
 
farce© said:
I know I feel safer knowing that a nihilist who doesn’t know how to use a shift key is walking around armed at all times.
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i know you feel you are important but you arent. im always armed for my families protection, i couldnt care less about your safety or typical american smugness.
 
My personal opinion is that this discussion is skipping a very important step here.

Studies have show that it takes only 3.5% of the adult population to peacefully protest in order for governments to respect the will of the people.

Remember yourself from eight years ago. What did you believe about yourself then? If you're anything like me, you believed "If the shit were ever to hit the fan, you can damn well be sure I'll be in the streets peacefully protesting".

Well the shit has hit the proverbial fan, time to hit the streets. I KNOW THAT FEELS LIKE A SCARY PROPOSITION. They have worked hard to make you feel that way. Guess what, when our great grandfathers crossed seas to fight the fascists, they were scared shitless too. The faced HUGE personal risk. By protesting you individually face almost no personal risk in comparison. And besides, it's OK to be scared. But the time to act is now.

Peacefully protesting in the streets is THE INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL WAY TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY THAN BUYING A GUN!!!

We get through this by standing together, not by standing alone. A single page tears easily. But the strongest man can not rip a thick paperback book.

There are huge nationwide peaceful protests planned for No Kings Day for October 18th. I'm serious. We have one way out of this mess and it's to hit the streets peacefully.

This is your call to action... The time is now. If not now, when? Be true to your old self from eight years ago who swore to themselves they would hit the streets peacefully. No one is coming to save us. we all have to band together to save ourselves. History is calling... Calling you... Calling you personally. Are you going to answer that call?

nokingsmovement.com

No Kings Day Protest - October 18, 2025

Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism On Saturday, October 18, 2025, people across the United States will mobilize again for No Kings, a nationwide, nonviolent day of action to defend democratic norms and reject authoritarianism. Organizers have announced hundreds of coordinated...
nokingsmovement.com nokingsmovement.com
 
Ddseddse said:
My personal opinion is that this discussion is skipping a very important step here.

Studies have show that it takes only 3.5% of the adult population to peacefully protest in order for governments to respect the will of the people.

Remember yourself from eight years ago. What did you believe about yourself then? If you're anything like me, you believed "If the shit were ever to hit the fan, you can damn well be sure I'll be in the streets peacefully protesting".

Well the shit has hit the proverbial fan, time to hit the streets. I KNOW THAT FEELS LIKE A SCARY PROPOSITION. They have worked hard to make you feel that way. Guess what, when our great grandfathers crossed seas to fight the fascists, they were scared shitless too. The faced HUGE personal risk. By protesting you individually face almost no personal risk in comparison. And besides, it's OK to be scared. But the time to act is now.

Peacefully protesting in the streets is THE INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL WAY TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY THAN BUYING A GUN!!!

We get through this by standing together, not by standing alone. A single page tears easily. But the strongest man can not rip a thick paperback book.

There are huge nationwide peaceful protests planned for No Kings Day for October 18th. I'm serious. We have one way out of this mess and it's to hit the streets peacefully.

This is your call to action... The time is now. If not now, when? Be true to your old self from eight years ago who swore to themselves they would hit the streets peacefully. No one is coming to save us. we all have to band together to save ourselves. History is calling... Calling you... Calling you personally. Are you going to answer that call?

nokingsmovement.com

No Kings Day Protest - October 18, 2025

Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism On Saturday, October 18, 2025, people across the United States will mobilize again for No Kings, a nationwide, nonviolent day of action to defend democratic norms and reject authoritarianism. Organizers have announced hundreds of coordinated...
nokingsmovement.com nokingsmovement.com
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Cool. We went to the protest in Beaufort while on vacation. I'm down for another!

As for a gun, I don't have one and will not get one. Somehow that would feel like I was giving in and feeding the machine, the monster of hate and fear. Granted, I may feel differently if I had ever been a victim of a violent crime. I think God I haven't.
 
Ddseddse said:
My personal opinion is that this discussion is skipping a very important step here.

Studies have show that it takes only 3.5% of the adult population to peacefully protest in order for governments to respect the will of the people.

Remember yourself from eight years ago. What did you believe about yourself then? If you're anything like me, you believed "If the shit were ever to hit the fan, you can damn well be sure I'll be in the streets peacefully protesting".

Well the shit has hit the proverbial fan, time to hit the streets. I KNOW THAT FEELS LIKE A SCARY PROPOSITION. They have worked hard to make you feel that way. Guess what, when our great grandfathers crossed seas to fight the fascists, they were scared shitless too. The faced HUGE personal risk. By protesting you individually face almost no personal risk in comparison. And besides, it's OK to be scared. But the time to act is now.

Peacefully protesting in the streets is THE INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL WAY TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY THAN BUYING A GUN!!!

We get through this by standing together, not by standing alone. A single page tears easily. But the strongest man can not rip a thick paperback book.

There are huge nationwide peaceful protests planned for No Kings Day for October 18th. I'm serious. We have one way out of this mess and it's to hit the streets peacefully.

This is your call to action... The time is now. If not now, when? Be true to your old self from eight years ago who swore to themselves they would hit the streets peacefully. No one is coming to save us. we all have to band together to save ourselves. History is calling... Calling you... Calling you personally. Are you going to answer that call?

nokingsmovement.com

No Kings Day Protest - October 18, 2025

Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism On Saturday, October 18, 2025, people across the United States will mobilize again for No Kings, a nationwide, nonviolent day of action to defend democratic norms and reject authoritarianism. Organizers have announced hundreds of coordinated...
nokingsmovement.com nokingsmovement.com
Click to expand...
Sadly I think this wouldn’t sway Trump in the least.
 
ChapelHillSooner said:
is it time for those of use who do not have firearms and are generally opposed to having them in our houses to consider about getting one?

I think it is. The talk about going door to door and rounding up Democrats and the talk of civil war from the side that had all of the political power is concerning and must be taken seriously. The right seems primed to be whipped up in a furry.

I am not talking about fighting the government or stupid nonsense like that. That is just silly and suicidal. I am more worried about bands of MAGA taking things in their own hand - possibly after being given permission or a promise of pardons from the president all because of some manufactured threat. (If you don’t think they can find reason to justify almost anything then you haven’t been paying attention. There is no objective reality anymore.)

If I do get a gun, it will remained locked up in my attic. I will get as good of a lock as possible.

Finally for those of you who know about guns, what would you suggest?
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art film GIF by hoppipThis would serve you well. You can make it fully automatic if you need to by pulling both triggers at the same time.

And if you need stealth, there is an option for that too.
France Yes GIF by International Biathlon Union
 
ChapelHillSooner said:
Great. The firearm stays locked in the attic.

And if I happened to be victim of a random break-in then I'm no worse off.
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I don’t think you should get a gun. You clearly aren’t emotionally ready to own one. It is nothing more than a TOOL. But some can’t separate that from their emotions or fear. Yes, it has to be respected more than a hammer, but when handled properly and responsibly it is not something to be scared of. They do make biometric safes that you can place in a drawer or closet that your kid can’t access. Keeping it in an attack is nuts. If you get one then take a class. Learn to use it and how to maintain it and your fear will hopefully subside.
 
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