do you really need a gun to defend yourself in rural ares?

[pstokely]

I heard of rural gun owners say they need a gun because the sheriff is 100 miles away but most rural areas have low crime rates, Jean Carnahan might have lost the 2002 MO senate race because of the gun issue

[trof]

1. Naw

Just in NY city hall.

[Emboldened Chimp]

32. Poor taste

Your joke sucked. Not funny.

[BiggJawn]

2. Why do you think the crime rates are low?

"Hey, lets go out to that small town and gaffle the hicks for their DVD players and cash!"

"Fuck Dat, them crackers got GUNS! let's go out to the 'Burbs and get some laptops from them pansy-assed Yuppies instead..."

[jagguy]

54. this is the fact of the matter

and why responsible gun ownership is a crime deterrant.

[matt819]

57. How do you figure this one?

That gunman's victim was a former police officer who was carrying a handgun (presumably legally). How did his responsible gun ownership act as a deterrant to the crime that took his life?

[Az]

69. Couldn't have anything to do with economy and social conditions

Na, must be the guns. Population density is just a rube. When you get people squished up against each other of course nothing changes. Must be the guns. Oh wait. They have guns in inner cities. Seems they get used a lot. For shooting people. Not much use defensively. Can't stop bullets with a gun.

Criminals do not stage assaults. You do not take a house with people in it. Telephones are more effective than guns. You can take guns away and use them. A phone call starts the clock. You have to hit someone to stop them with a gun. A phone call can stop a criminal without even seeing them.

[Fescue4u]

89. lmao..

"Telephones are more effective than guns. "

Apples and oranges,

Telephones are used to summon people with guns to come and save you or take pictures of your body.

Guns are used to save you.

[Az]

93. And just when exactly

was the last time you heard of a burglar laying seige to a house? I am terribly curious about this. Crooks don't like to be noticed. They tend to break into unoccupied houses. Ones where there is no resistance. If criminals were interested in killing occupents of a house the presense of guns inside are of little value. In fact they often are used against the owner.

The ability of a person to make a phone call to the police is far more of a deterant to any criminal than the presense of a gun. With the advent of cell phones it is even more effective.

Seriously though. It amazes me how some people seem to think we still live in the wild west. They are under the impression that they will get a chance to draw down on a villain and get to shoot it out. Where does this happen? Who here has been assaulted in their house and had to repell intruders? Who anywhere? It doesn't happen enough to warrant the noteriety guns for defense garners.

[Patriot_Spear]

3. True...

But not for the reason you think... I've been happy to have a pistol handy in the backcountry on several occasions- and only one instance involved the two legged kind of animal.

A firearm is a tool, no different than any other.

[Pepperbelly]

4. myself ... no NRAer I ,...

believe that guns are a good thing no matter where you live. I keep a couple of long guns in my house always.

And in the rural areas, remember, bad guys are not all you have to sweat. A gun is a handy thing to have.

[Brian Sweat]

5. YEAH!

That's where all the freepers live.

Hello?

[Patriot_Spear]

6. Freepers don't live in the country...

They're weenie suburbanites... all hat and no cattle.

[short bus president]

40. there are plenty

out here in the sticks, too.

[smirkymonkey]

95. I love your screen name....

and Logo!!

[lcordero]

7. Carnahan advocated taking guns away from felons

He didn't advocate an outright gun ban.
http://www.atf.gov/field/kansascity/press_releases/032100carnahan.htm

I consider myself one of the more Progressive Democrats who has never owned a gun and I will tell you that I will treat somebody that advocates an outright gun ban(which takes away rights) the same exact way I will treat somebody that advocates the Patriot Act(which takes away rights), I will have NOTHING to do with them and I will not support them and if possible I will run for public office against them.

[Patriot_Spear]

9. uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhh... that's already a law.

Convicted felons are already prohibitted form owning firearms.

[FlaGranny]

8. Sometimes it might be helpful

to have a gun with you to ward off attacks from the viscious pit bulls that idiots allow to run free in some places.

[Patriot_Spear]

10. Coyotes, copperheads and feral dogs...

I've run into them all... A firearm makes a difference.

[blindpig]

78. copperheads??

copperheads are harmless except to morons who don't pay attention or fuck with them
coyotes don't attack either.......
feral dogs can be aproblem...those responsible should be fed to them

[blindpig]

80. ooops, a dupe, sorry

[Skittles]

11. YES

when you hear a coyote attacking the animals, what are you gonna grab, af f***ing STICK?????

[depakid]

37. Obiously, you don't have much experience with coyotes

First of all, they have an innate fear of man at will run whenever they sense someone is around. You don't even need a stick and since they only come around inhabited at night, using a gun isn't going to do you much good. Ranchers are much better served by using dogs or (believe it or not) Llamas to protect their stock.

As to the previous statement suggesting that people shoot copperheads- or even rattlesnakes, that's just stupid, unless you're a big fan of mice and rats. Copperheads are an especially non-agressive snake and unless you step on one- or fuck with it, you're not going to get bitten. In my opinion, shooting snakes is an act of cowardice.

[Skittles]

44. OMG I SEE COYOTES ALL THE TIME

THEY ARE NOT SHY AT ALL IN THESE PARTS AND I'VE SEEN THEM BY THE POND IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. DON'T EVEN TELL *ME* ABOUT COYOTES.

[depakid]

52. So you've see some and feel the need to be armed?

sorry, but I find that dificult to believe. They're not even threatening.

I've been around coyotes all of my adult life and had no less than three cats eaten (which happens if you leave your cats out at night). I would still never consider shooting one. Not only is it totally unnecessary but you're liable hit something else with a stray bullet.

[leanings]

49. Now, I don't shoot

blacksnakes. But I've found copperheads in the garage. It's not always possible to spot one before you come into contact with it, whether you're reaching into a cabinet or walking around the yard. I guess black widows will leave you alone, too, but I still kill every one I see. It's just not very bright to allow deadly poisonous animals to live in your immediate area.

[depakid]

53. Then move the animial or call someone who will

I come from the live and let live school of ecology when it comes to most creatures. Black widows and moquitoes I'll kill, but most critters deserve to live. I've transported dozens of rattlesnakes from my old house in the Santa Monica mountains, usually with something like a rake or a poolnet and a cooler.

Copperheads back east are harder to see and more than once I've almost stepped on them, but the same priciple applies- just chase the thing away, man. No need to kill it.

[leanings]

61. I understand where you're coming from

I really do. I don't kill mice, I put them out in the field. But copperheads around here are just too much of a threat to let be. Too much chance of-like you said-accidently stepping on it and getting bit. Or having a kid step on it, or one of the dogs or cats or horses...

Transporting them away is still too much of a risk. I've taken blacksnakes who've been into the peacock eggs five or six miles away and had them come back.

The only things I kill are those I intend to eat or that pose a threat to my well-being. Black widows and copperheads fall into the "threat" category.

rake or a poolnet? Man, you don't have a snakestick? Just take a broomhandle and about ten feet of stiff cord, put an eyelet in one end of the stick, tie the cord off at the base of the eyelet and feed the other end thru the hole. That way you can grab them right behind the head with the loop and pull it tight. Total snake control.

[blindpig]

82. snakestick??

you call that a snake stick....more like a snake strangler. nonvenemous snakes can be handled often by grabbing gently by the tail while raising the anterior portion with a snake hook.. or just grab 'em, it don't hurt much.
copperheads are virtually harmless to dogs & horses& if you've got cats running loose you're wrong for that...poor birdies & lizards
if the cats were such good ratters you wouldn't have snakes......
perhaps you'd like it better in the 'burbs?

[blindpig]

79. righton

should have read yours first....said the same thing

[karlschneider]

12. One of the reasons we have guns (living WAY out rurally on a lake) is that

people from the city bring their unwanted pets and dump them out around here. There's no animal pound in this county. Everyone who can manage has 'adopted' as many of them as they can. We have three dogs and a cat that were 'evicted'. So we are inundated with loose domestic animals who cannot fend for themselves and most everyone around here agrees that it is more humane to shoot them than to leave them to starve (which we see a lot of.)

You might find that attitude heartless, and it may be - if you can suggest an alternative, I await it with anticipation.
:-(

[zoidberg]

23. You aren't the one who is heartless

The worst is at colleges when kids think they can handle a pet despite the fact they are in class, studying, or drunk 90% of the time. Poor things usually are just left on their own.

[Eloriel]

30. What I've been doing, Karl

is taking in some of them and finding homes for them. I don't know how far from civilization you live, but it helps if you're not TOO far away from civilization.

Our vet gives me a 30% discount on services for them. We get their shots, one we even took to obedience training, one we've got now was seriously abused so we've been working with her to bring her around to the happy dog she is capable of being. I've adopted/rehomed 9 in 4 years. Not as much as I'd like to, but we do what we can.

The last 2 just recently were adorable Australian Shepherd mix puppies. I put an ad in the Atlanta Advertiser and they were gone to the first people who called. I could've placed dozens of them.

Now, the things I'd LIKE to shoot are the people who dump their dogs and cats like that.

A friend of mine who also takes in strays (and keeps them -- I think he has 4 right now) put it very well, I think: we humans break our contract with these animals when we abandon them like that. It's heartbreaking to me.

Eloriel

[karlschneider]

42. I absolutely agree with everything you said, it's heartbreaking to me too

about 2 months ago ...no it was probabably 4, it was still cold, a young doggie looked like an Aussie Shep mix wandered up onto our porch. We checked around the neighborhood, put up "dog found" notices on the bulletin boards of all the store/bait shops in the area...nobody called. We knew perfectly well it had been dumped out. We did give it some food and water, but we can't really afford to care for yet another. It kept hanging around because it had no way to forage. I was on the verge of taking it in with the rest of the menangerie, but pet food, shots and medical care is expensive. I hate to admit this, but we decided the most 'humane' (god, I hate that word) thing was just to put it out of whatever misery it would be consigned to. So we did. My SO "pulled the trigger", I couldn't do it myself. We both agonized over it for weeks.
:-(

[Eloriel]

58. Here's another idea

This is something else I intend to get a little involved in and help with. There's a woman who took it upon herself to start a Rescue service. She actually uses the same vet.

She has a few foster homes for some of the dogs and cats she takes in, keeps some of the animals herself, and then takes them to various places for adoption days and charges a fee for the adoptions (a little high IMO at $100, but I'll bet that barely covers vet fees). One of the things I want to help with is fostering, but also helping to generate some more ideas on where she can advertise and hold adoption days. Maybe I can assist with adoption days too.

Maybe if there are enough of your neighbors who feel so badly about your current practices that you could do something like this?

ALSO, there ARE grants available (use google) for organizations which are working with animals. That's another thing I want to bring to this woman's attention.

Also, are you bugging your county to GET some animal control? Our county finally started working with one or two others nearby and hope to build a joint facility, but it's a few years away from completion. In the meantime, we're stuck with whatever workarounds we can find.

I really feel for you. I'm also hoping there are other solutions for you, since it's so soul-killing to kill innocent animals to whom we humans owe a debt of gratitude and companionship, and trying to toss some ideas out. :-)

Eloriel

[synthia]

13. it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun

and not have it.

trite, but true.

[Logansquare]

14. There are guns and then there are guns...

My family always had a deer rifle, unloaded and kept out of children's reach. I grew up about two miles away from a drag race track and we had some pretty weird people wander up our lane. It didn't happen often, but if there had been a problem, it would have taken the sheriff at least a half hour to respond to a call. That being said, I don't think you need eight semi-automatic weapons. My cousin's husband has an arsenal in his basement because he thinks the government or perhaps those "urban hordes" will be coming next.

[lkinsale]

15. You might need a rifle, not a handgun

Though most of the time, people use a shovel to kill rattlesnakes. A livestock guardian dog works well to run off coyotes, since they come around at night.

[Patriot_Spear]

18. I disagree...

.44 snakeshot is very effective against all sort of small predators. We've had Coyotes take down calfs around here.

[lkinsale]

31. Check out the dogs

My dad got Great Pyrenees and Maremmas about 12 years ago. They have been a great success at predator control. They live out with the livestock 24/7, on the job while you sleep! ;)

[short bus president]

43. and a handgun

is a helluva lot easier to carry.

[ArkDem]

76. They don't work too good for

squirrel hunting, though.

[Superfly]

16. My question is:

Where are all you pro-gun DUers when we could use your voices in the J/PS forum?

Brian

[Logansquare]

20. You won't like my opinion

I lived in rural America, and now I live in urban America. I grew up in a gun-owning home because it filled the gap left by a paucity of law inforcement protection.

I am absolutely convinced that I am safer in the city by *not* owning a gun. It's much more likely to kill me or one of my loved ones than an intruder. I've called the police when someone threatened me, and they came in a flash. I mean, like in less than a minute. In addition, the burglary rate is much higher in the city than where I grew up. My gun could be stolen and used to take an innocent life.

I do not think armor-piercing bullets should be sold in the United States. I do not think military-grade weapons should be sold either, and that means something that can shoot multiple rounds. I think there should be a waiting period for handgun purchase. I don't think that concealed weapons for ordinary citizens should be legal.

The whole gun issue is for me much like the abortion issue. Neither side likes my opinion.

[chiburb]

28. I do. n/t

.

[Ellen Forradalom]

97. You make a lot of sense, fellow Chicagoan

There are too many variables at play. The thought of a gun being stolen would keep me up at night. And the sheer density means a greater chance of accidentally hitting someone.

[sybylla]

26. Too much of a bitch fest over there

After the first twenty threads it gets a little tiring. Besides, I'm a "reasonable regulation" kind of person so I can see both sides on occasion. How do you argue that when the bitch fest usually degenerates to "your either with us or agin us?" There doesn't seem to be much middle ground in J/PS.

As to the original question, it doesn't take too many years living in the rural areas to realize there are times when a gun comes in handy and occasionally downright necessary. The gun is the only animal control in my county so skunks, sick animals, threatening strays and other nuisances can be at least scared off if not taken care of entirely.

My brother-in-law also found out it's kind of handy to open the door to Jehovah's Witnesses with a shotgun in your hand. They scatter like cockroaches. He wasn't threatening, just cleaning his hunting gun when they knocked on the door.

My experience is that most of the rural residents in my state have guns for hunting and not much else. Long guns, safely tucked away, don't usually make the best defense weapons because they take too long to get out of storage and load.

There are always a few gun nuts here and there but they are usually either pretty friendly or you never see them. The unfortunate thing is that though most of them would probably accept reasonable regulation, they get the shit scared out of them by the NRA and the repugs that the dems want to take their guns away. My local party has had a heck of a time convincing people around here otherwise. Hence, my county votes about 60 repug/40 dem.

[lcordero]

27. what's a J/PS forum?

[kubi]

45. Here you go

I live in the country, I have hmmmmm maybe 120 guns, nearest police station is about 15 miles away. I think I see one police car in my area every two months. So I would say I'am on my own. Also have 6 big dogs, so I have time on which gun to take out of the safe. :)

[short bus president]

47. I'm a 3-forum DUer.

The gun dungeon ain't my bag, baby!

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Clete]

17. Only in wilderness areas.

I live in rural California and I don't lock my doors or car most of the time. We know all our neighbors and who belongs in the area like mailmen etc.. If a strange car comes up the road, the phones start ringing. We have guns, or I should say my son-in-law has guns because he is a collector, but not because he feels he needs to be protected. He is very responsible with his guns, going to a range to shoot, using all the ammo. He always cleans them and locks them in a gun safe afterwards. He never has ammo on the property.

However, in a wilderness area, sometimes you need one because occasionally there are rogue predator animals that become dangerous. Most of the time wild animals mind their own business though.

I have heard that excuse from freeper types although I have to admit that you seldom hear of rural people using their guns to kill each other like urban gang members do. I don't like hunting but sometimes there are valid reasons for it, but not as many valid reasons as hunters would try to make you believe.

I think the gun issue lost a lot of Democratic votes. I think Howard Dean has the most conciliatory solution to it. Other politicians should take note.

[Muddleoftheroad]

19. Rural

I'm an African-American male and live in rural/quasi rural Virginia. I have friends of various races -- some of them female. Trust me, there are some good ol' boys who don't like white women hanging out with a black man -- ever.

I have a handgun for this reason. I don't worry about four legged animals as much as the two legged kind with the pointy heads and white sheets.

[alaine]

34. Hey. I grew up in Powhatan, VA. Ever heard of it? (n/t)

[Set]

71. Pow-HAT-an....

yup, went to school there in the 80s...Heard it's turned into suburbia....

[leanings]

51. Yeah, where you at, Muddle?

I'm from Front Royal originally, now down in c-ville.

[Muddleoftheroad]

56. Nearby

Southern end of the Valley. I'd be more specific, but had a bad experience with a nutscase who followed me from the online into the real one.

[leanings]

62. No trouble.

Gotta love the Valley. I've been a lot of places, and I always want to come back.

[THUNDER HANDS]

21. I don't mind people owning guns

Just as long as they're far, far away from me and I never have to see a gun.

Guns are bad, mkay.

:)

...oh, and if I ever saw a coyote, I'd sure as hell grab a stick. Of course, I can say that living out on Long Island where the coyote population is quite small.

:)

[Clete]

29. Hah.

I just ran off a coyote, sniffing at my garbage last weekend, with a rake.

[Melsky]

22. I live in a rural area and am thinking of getting a gun

it really is isolated, the closest house is a half mile away. I think it would take at least a half hour for the sherrif to get here. The main reason I don't have one is I'm worried about shooting my husband by mistake. Also, I took archery in highschool and I sucked!

If I do get one I'm going to spend a lot of time learning to use it.

[Clete]

24. One of the reasons I never owned a gun.

If you don't know what you are doing, it's best not to have one. Personally, I have always feared that my weapon would be taken away from me and used on me. When I owned a business, I was allowed to have a concealed weapon but I never did because of the above reason. There are other ways to make your surroundings safe.

[midnight armadillo]

59. That's the problem exactly

Many, many home owners are shot with their own guns in a home invasion or burglary. Why? Because they point the gun at the criminal and think he'll be scared. If you're within 6 feet or so of a gun, you have a very, very good chance at taking that gun away. If the criminal ISN'T scared, that's exactly what happens, and the home owner is shot. The numbers on this are pretty sobering. Within that 6-8 foot range or so a knife is a far more lethal weapon.

The moral: don't point a gun at a person unless you're ready to kill them if need be.

[jody]

60. I believe your statement is wrong "Many, many home owners are shot with

their own guns in a home invasion or burglary." Please provide a source for that statement.

The following DoJ facts are completely opposite to your unsupported assertion about victims defrending themself against criminals.

DoJ says "A fifth of the victims defending themselves with a firearm suffered an injury, compared to almost half of those who defended themselves with weapons other than a firearm or who had no weapon." Guns and Crime: Handgun Victimization, Firearm Self-Defense, and Firearm Theft

In 2001, victims defended themselves in over 4 million crimes of violence. Only 6.8% said their efforts made the situation worst. Self-protective measures employed by victims

[Clete]

63. There are other ways of being secure without

needing to use weapons if you're not comfortable with them. I am not saying no one should have a gun if they feel that is how they need to protect themselves. For myself I wasn't comfortable with them so I don't use them and I have lived in some pretty wild areas up north.

I just had to be smart about my movements not to cross the path of a bear or a cougar. One of the campgrounds we were hosting in was also the territory of a cougar. I used to see her pawprints in the mud, but I never saw her. I was very careful and warned my campers to really watch their small children. Some parents felt better with guns. I didn't.

It was my choice that I felt safer with, but I could have had an encounter too. But that's life isn't it? The uncertainty even after you have done everything you need to do to be safe.

[jody]

65. I understand, but law enforcement offiers carry handguns for self

defense, the same right guaranteed to individual citizens by the majority of state constitutions. Handguns are the overwhelming choice for self defense.

You say "The uncertainty even after you have done everything you need to do to be safe" but "everything" must include being armed and trained to use arms.

[Clete]

73. I am not arguing about that.

I said I am not comfortable with them. Incidentally, police can carry concealed weapons when off-duty because of the danger of their job. It isn't that easy to get a concealed weapon permit otherwise.

[jody]

25. Large cities have murder rates up to 13.5 and rural-surburban areas

have murder rates in the 2.8 to 3.8 range. Table 16, “Rate: Number of Crimes per 100,000 Inhabitants1 by Population Group, 2001”
MURDER RATES
GROUP I; 69 cities;, 250,000 and over; Rate 13.5
GROUP II; 157 cities; 100,000 to 249,999; Rate 7.8
GROUP III; 353 cities; 50,000 to 99,999; Rate 4.3
GROUP IV; 636 cities; 25,000 to 49,999; Rate 3.2
GROUP V; 1,448 cities; 10,000 to 24,999; Rate 2.8
GROUP VI; 5,227 cities; under 10,000; Rate 2.9
SUBURBAN COUNTIES 1,121 agencies; Rate 3.8
RURAL COUNTIES; 6 2,117 agencies; Rate 3.6
SUBURBAN AREA7; 5,407 agencies; Rate 3.1

About 40% of households own a firearm and ownership is about 66% in rural-suburban areas and about 29% in large cities. 1999 National Gun Policy Survey


Summary
low gun ownership and high murder rates
high gun ownership and low murder rates

Draw whatever conclusion you wish from those stats

[alaine]

33. Haven't you ever heard of the Hatfields and the McCoys?

Or pig stealing neighbors?

Or seen deliverance?

Or heard of Eric Rudolph?

I don't have a gun. I have lived in rural areas and most guns there are said to be for hunting.

YOU might need a gun to protect yourself in a rural area. Just kidding, but you do seem to have a negative obsession with all things rural or southern.

[Missy Vixen]

35. We live in a rural area

>I heard of rural gun owners say they need a gun because the sheriff is 100 miles away but most rural areas have low crime rates<

Our town has the lowest crime stats of all of King County, which encompasses Seattle.

Those living in unincorporated King County, served by the King County sheriffs, have longer response time. I'm not sure what they do to protect themselves. We prefer not to own a firearm.

Julie

[Township75]

36. I grew up in the "suburbs" of a 3 traffic light town

and there were no guns in my family. We never had a problem with thieves, burglers, robbers, or murders even though my town didn't have a police department.

We were safe without owning a gun. Now, why is that?

Because everyone in western PA ownes guns. So we were safer not because we owned guns, but because we might have owned guns.

I despise elitist gun control propaganda from wealthy snobs living in gated communities and high rise condos where crime won't be a problem. For the rest of us, we need to fend for ourselves, and the right to gun ownership is a great effective deterrent.

Dems are losing votes on this issue for a good reason... but the good reason isn't their's, it's the reason of those who vote against them on this issue. We need to end unconstitutional and ineffective gun control within our party NOW!

SO VOTE FOR DEAN!

[DemBones DemBones]

38. Yes, and cops have told me so. It takes a long time for a police

response out where we live. Other reasons for keeping guns include coyotes, wild dogs, and poisonous snakes. A hoe is usually sufficient for killing snakes but if I ever encounter a five foot diamondback rattler near my house, I'm *not *going to go after it with a hoe. (I have seen one that size on the main road, about 1/4 miles from my house. Someone had killed it with a car when it was crossing the road. And I once came within a couple of inches of hitting one that size with my bike, as it came out from the roadside onto the road. I like snakes but being bitten by a huge rattler is an experience I'd like to avoid.)

[blindpig]

84. if you like snakes...

then leave them alone & watch where you're going!
{I'm getting tired of all of you ophiophobes {sp}. }

[Bandit]

39. I feel anybody that feels the need to pack a gun is a coward

Unless they are going hunting they are just scared shitless all the time and need their gun to feel brave. They are cowards and no other logical explanation fits the bill.

[Superfly]

41. So I guess I'm a coward

for wanting to protect myself after an attempted car jacking and robbery on the same weekend?

[Township75]

46. Are you calling Sen Boxer and Sen Fienstein cowards?

they have ccw permits. so does sean penn...is he a coward too?

[Bandit]

70. Let's put it this way ~ I don't pack a gun and I don't need the Patriot ac

You want to live in fear of the unkown then that is your perogative. I feel like it is cowardly to do so. What are the odds you will ever need a gun? I wouldn't want to bet any money against those odds.

[CowboyUp]

77. haha

I wish we all had your courage(sarcasm off). Just because you "pack a gun" doesn't mean your scared. It means you are prepared for whatever may confront you in the future. I know for a fact in the last year dad has needed his gun numerous times, and I'm not talking about against the lil 4 legged creatures. So if you haven't needed one yet your time will come.

[Bandit]

96. Run scared little boy ~ Live up to Bush*'s dreams

n/t

[Township75]

99. I think you are naive or however it is spelled, or ignorant...

since you can't relate to my and the other posters' circumstances for wanting a gun, then it must be cowardly.

Hey, go ahead. I am going to leave this thinking it has more to do with you not liking guns, and you can't talk people out of owning/wanting guns so you try to attach a label like cowardly to it.
A futile attempt and it probably didn't even lower your frustration with it.

I think responsible gun ownership is a good thing for the US as is the right to own guns. Do you feel Canadians and Europeans are bravier than Americans because packing heat is only for the criminals there?

Also, you never answered my questions about Boxer, Feinstein, and Penn, please do so in you're next response.

[jody]

48. Some people may be cowards and others may be stupid.

SCOTUS has consistently held that government is not obligated to defend any individual against criminals.

DoJ says "A fifth of the victims defending themselves with a firearm suffered an injury, compared to almost half of those who defended themselves with weapons other than a firearm or who had no weapon." Guns and Crime: Handgun Victimization, Firearm Self-Defense, and Firearm Theft

In 2001, victims defended themselves in over 4 million crimes of violence. Only 6.8% said their efforts made the situation worst. Self-protective measures employed by victims

I wonder how many murders were thwarted by victims who chose to defend themself?

Does carrying a spare tire in your car make you a coward or does it show that you are smart to be prepared to deal with a situation which might occur?

[Patriot_Spear]

50. We Have a Winner! Most Incendiary Idiotic Statement tonight!!

Puhlease.

Admit it- you've never been anyplace more wild than Chucky Cheese. Only a neophyte to the outdoors would make such a looney statement.

[blindpig]

87. wild?

Ive been "working the field" all over this country everywhere but grizzly country for 30 yrs and never needed a firearm for the wildlife. I do own a pistol but it stays at home.
People's the only critter I fear.

[mkregel]

55. If you are in a bear cave

or a meth lab maybe ;)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

64. I agreed with you until

I agreed with you until armed strangers showed up on my rural, totally in the sticks, way far from anything property. At the time I didn't even have a phone. No, they weren't hunters. Just trespassers with handguns.

[mandyky]

66. In rural areas, there are hunters

and yes, there are other things to protect oneself from other than humans, think bears, mountain lions, rabbits in the garden, etc.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

67. Typical, typical, typical

The big city types come on here and start a question like, Do you really need a gun to defend yourself.....? And then if anyone answers no, these, well I don't know what to call them, maybe socialists? These socialists decide that they will just take the guns away. You guys must have no idea what it is like to live in a rural area and have the closest law enforcement help maybe 30 minutes away. A gun can save your life, and guns are used defensively over 2 million times per year in America. Forget that little convenient fact, won't you? It will help your losing case for gun control.

[CowboyUp]

72. My outlook

I live in the woods off of a dirt road and I'm half a mile at least from the nearest paved road. We own horses, dogs, tractors and guns. I hunt and find joy in target shooting and things along those lines. Being that my father was in the military I pride myself in being very efficient in the area of gun safety. We own a couple of shotguns, a couple of .22s, some high powered rifles, numerous pistols and a couple of "other" rifles, nothing illegal mind you. We own all these guns and plenty of ammunition because we enjoy shooting, its something we can do together. I believe if you have a gun in the house you better have some ammunition to go with it, because an empty gun is nothing more than a stick. I also personally believe if you don't have small children you should keep your guns loaded minus having one in the chamber. Valuable time can be lost trying to load a gun when somebodys coming through your door after you, and the stress doesn't help anything out. I agree some people shouldn't have or carry guns. I believe these people are ones that have committed serious crimes or aren't comfortable carrying. If you don't know how to use a gun properly then it isn't doing you any good. The paved road down from my house has had 5 or 6 robberies in the past year. Nobody yet has come down our road to our house. Why? Because quite often we are outside shooting and polishing up on our shooting skills. People around here know we have guns, and know how to use them. Think about it, criminals 9 times outta 10 aren't going to try and rob somebody they know can defend themselves. It's the weak that get taken advantage of. Well I'm goin to get something to eat so it may take me some time to respond to anything thrown back at me. Peace

[davsand]

74. Live out here a while--THEN come tell me if you need a gun.

I'm a farm kid. Our closest neighbor was about a half mile away. If we called the Sheriff it was a wait of at least 30-45 minutes before anybody got there. If we called Animal Control it was a few days...

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet is Rabies. As a kid I can remember a few times that we had rabid animals turn up at our farm. (All those cute little raccoons, foxes, and skunks can carry rabies, remember.) If you've ever seen anything dying with it you know how horrible a death it is. Putting an animal down that is suffering is way more humane than leaving it to stagger around blindly unitl its brain is eaten away by the rabies, IMO.

Yeah, I've seen the stats about how many people get shot by accident, and I've seen the numbers that show how many deaths are due to somebody being shot by mistake. Frankly, I was always taught that if you pull a gun you damn well better plan to shoot it, and you better aim for the center of a known target--not the hand or the foot. Anything else will get YOU killed.

I have a small child and a husband who was not taught gun safety. Currently, we live in a small town with neighbors within a few hundred feet. We don't have a gun.

You can bet that if we ever do move back out to the farm that I'll be investing in a shotgun at a minimum, and probably a handgun as well. We'll also be investing in some firearms safety instruction for my husband and daughter.

Laura

[CowboyUp]

75. Very good Idea

Even though I'm only 16 I've been around guns since I was old enough to hold one up. I think everybody should be taught firearm safety, just not the people that own one. I also sincerely believe that if more people were taught firearm safety and allowed to carry, there would be less crime. Just my opinion though.

[CowboyUp]

81. Some people..

Some people are naive if they believe they will go through life never being in a situation that would require some type of firearm...

[Lars39]

83. Feral cats get rabies, too.

My grandpa had to make a run for the house one day because the feral cats were chasing him. He barely made it into the house. He wound up shooting them as they hung onto the screen door.

The grandparents lived about 15 miles from town, on a road that could get you to the interstate. There were many times that Pa had to make it plain to obvious predators that trespassers weren't welcome, and for the more persistent, back the statement up with his rifle. He actually shot at one guy's truck.

[Fescue4u]

86. unintential humor

"My grandpa had to make a run for the house one day because the feral cats were chasing him. He barely made it into the house. He wound up shooting them as they hung onto the screen door"

Im sorry..that sounds funny as all get out.
Im picturing these cute little kittens, with evil scowls, meowing evil-ly, stuck all the screen door, with your grandpa blasting them off.

Im not making fun your your granda, just the image in my head btw.

[Lars39]

91. When we first heard about it, we were horrified,

but then our warped humor got the better of us. Pa was 83 when this happened; healthy, active....and he could run! Pa was a character anyway. These weren't kittens, though, they were full-grown rabid cats. Scary situation.

[Fescue4u]

85. I don't need a reason..

I just like guns and find them fun to shoot and am comforted by the fact that they also double as protection.

I also enjoy playing softball and I don't feel a need to explain that either.

btw, Live in a two story house? Statistically you are more likely to die from falling down the stairs, than you are from havng your gun turn on you.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

88. NO...nearest grocery store 35 minute drive...nearest police station same

surrounded by state forests bear, coyote, mountian lions, never had a gun!...never needed a gun!

[Fescue4u]

90. I don't need homeowners insurance either.

Got fireplace, have matches, lighters, and I live in tornado alley.

House has never been damaged.

Never had insurance, never needed it.

/sarcasm off

[slackmaster]

92. I don't need you to help me figure out what I need or ought to have

It's NOYB.

[leesa]

94. I think the idea that we need to be chronically afraid in this country

is manufactured to sell guns and expensive security systems for our homes and cars, etc. It's just like the manufactored terror we are supposed to feel for communists and, now, terrorists. It SELLS weapons and security systems. And who profits from this?? Republicans. Bush Sr makes alot of money on keepin' the fear alive, and his family has cashed in on manufactured fear for 50 years or more. Wasn't it Wolfowitz who stood to make billions from the sale of anti-terrorism equipment...could have been Perle, I confuse those two brands of evil.

[Spoonman]

98. Nothing stops

aggression better than a gaping chest wound!

[leftofthedial]

100. of course you do

those cows can turn mean on you with no warning at all.

And sometimes tumbleweeds are absolutely relentless.

And if you're a sorghum farmer? Well, everyone knows the dangers inherent in the sorghum pollination season.