I do.  My oldest son is a weapons instructor and I learned to shoot to go to the range with him. 

Never had, never will.  I think it's a dangerous item to have in the house, especially if kids are ever at your house.  My family members have them for hunting, but those are different, and they are locked up.  I don't like those either to be honest.

BTW eyerater, what's your answer?

No, I have never owned a gun. I have considered it, but always dropped the idea. My dog is protection enough and with my two little girls, I am not willing to take any chances.

My second son who has never shown any interest in guns and has always said he would never own one is considering one for the first time in his life. 

No, we don't own any guns. I have a baby and I don't feel comfortable with a gun in the house. This is not something I want to risk. My 2 Jack Russell Terriers would attack if a stranger broke in the house not only that our extremely loud alarm would scary them to death.

I do not own a gun, rifle or shotgun, nor would I want one in my home.  My husband is not a hunter and I see no reason to have one for any other reason.  I don't believe having a gun in a home as "protection" is a necessity.  In order to practice and establish safe procedures in your home, especially with children, it means your guns should be locked up.  If someone were to break into your home odds are you would not be able to get to that gun and/or get it unlocked in a sufficient amount of time for it to be a deterent.  Each year you read of so many children dying because they had access to a gun in a home that was not locked up properly.  If my husband was a hunter and I grew up around guns, I grew up in a big city, I might have a different opinion, but with our lifestyle, they just don't fit.

Eyerater said…
If so, why? If not, why?

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Why do you ask?

No, I do not own a firearm; our current living situation does not call for one.  But I am a marksman with a 9mm and .45, having obtained those badges in the military.  Needless to say if I were to buy a firearm either the 9mm (large clip, light weight, easy to fire), or a .45 caliber (heavy, but great stopping power) would do nicely.

But, I agree with Mysticstarfish.  Any responsible firearm(s) owner with children in the house would lock them up, and chances are any would be thief, or other seeking to do one harm in the castle that is our homes, would be on you before you had a chance to gain access to that 9mm, shotgun, or Uzi.  One would be better served by a baseball bat, or other elongated blunt object. 

Firearm sales are up BTW, either because the ignorant believe that Obama, if elected, will seek to re-institute the assault weapons ban, or just flat out take their firearms away.  This despite the fact that he, Obama, has re-affirmed his questionable support for the recent Supreme Court's ruling that 2nd Amendment, gives citizen's right to keep and bear arms.  Another reason is the tried and tired canard that crime is up, when overall it is down.  

To add to what most of you said, not only would it be hard to get to in an emergency, but it's very unlikely you would use it correctly when you are scared or think someone's breaking in.  Think of all the accidents that could and do happen!  It's better to run then try to take matters into your own hands.

Guns are not owned just for protection.  There are sportsmen [and women] who are target shooters, hunters and collectors.  Personally, I only own a pistol that I use at the range.  It is locked in a safe that is bolted to the floor [in an undisclosed location] so the entire safe can not be stolen.  My son has many guns [avid hunter and weapons instructor].  He has them locked in a large gun safe in his closet.  Most gun owners are responsible.  It is the few irresponsible ones that make it seem more dangerous than it is really is.  It would be ludicrous for either one of us to think that we could get to one of the guns in an emergency, find the ammo and load the gun in time to use it in a break-in situation.  In my gun safety class the instructor actually told us it is better to not engage an intruder with a gun.  He did however make the point of turning out the lights and then cocked a shut gun in the dark.  That sound would make anyone run!  ;-)

Bryan has answered for our family, but I grew up with guns, for hunting and target practice.  My dad even does a little collecting also.  My first experience with a shot gun knocked me on my behind, but later after much instruction I got pretty good at it. While it was normal for me growing up (my dad was also former military and my brother also) and learning gun safety and sensibility was important in our household, and even though we live in Texas and used to live in TN (not ALL of us have gun racks in the back of our trucks) we decided together that guns would not be part of the household.  I too was taught, as the Bard says, go for the hockey stick (longer reach) or baseball bat. 

My husband and I own shotguns for hunting. They ARE LOCKED UP. I didn't like the idea at first, but when my husband wanted to re-start hunting, he asked me to be opened minded, to watch some hunting shows and to go to the hunting certification class with him. (CA has very strict gun laws, a class is mandatory here, which I like.) We even would talk quite a bit about it. I'll tell you, I was really glad I went! He took me, hoping it would change my mind on him not getting a gun, but I wound up with the desire to harvest, too. So long as I'm hunting for food, not just for sport and I'm an ethical, humane hunter, being sure to be ware of the population regulations. The class is quite an eye opening, thought-provoking experience. We have all of the necessary safety precautions. And, while before I didn't like the idea of having a gun in the house, now that I'm educated and trained, I feel comforted that we have a gun that we could use for safety, if necessary. We even educated and continue to educate our son (even so much as taking him to a firing range so he can see and hear how dangerous guns can be, and how safe they can be when used properly), so he knows that guns serve a survival purpose and are NOT toys.

Many years ago I was being stalked and I considered getting a gun because I had two little kids and had to ask my neighbor to watch me when we got in the car and when we got home. I never did. I never will and don't shoot me but I am in favor of gun control - and don't tell me only the criminals will have guns. We walked into a store in L.A. to get our daughter pepper spray and learned that in 10 days we could get some gosh awful looking weapon. When people say only criminals will have guns - yes that's true as long as you can walk into Wal-Mart and buy one (:

My husband does a lot of hunting, so we have shot guns, rifles and pistols in our home. We both have pistol permits and have a pistol with us where ever we go. We are not in favor of gun control and are members of the NRA. We don't have any small children in our home, but if we ever have guests that have children...the guns are locked up in a gun safe. Guns don't kill people....People kill people.

I would not feel safe without a gun or guns in our home or our vehicles. We don't go around pointing or flashing them at people. They are there in case we feel like our lives are threatened.

I'm terrified of having a gun inside the house because of my sons.  My husband has an antique gun that was his Grandfathers, but it's not kept inside the house.  My husband has it in his truck somewhere. 

I have two .25 semi-auto hand guns. I've had them since 1985. They've never been fired and have consecutive serial numbers. I doubt I will ever fire them, even if there were an intruder in the house. I have an aluminum baseball bat and a short sword for that, if it were to ever occur. Less noise that way. I like it quiet around here. d;-)

DUISparky said…
I have two .25 semi-auto hand guns. I've had them since 1985. They've never been fired and have consecutive serial numbers. I doubt I will ever fire them, even if there were an intruder in the house. I have an aluminum baseball bat and a short sword for that, if it were to ever occur. Less noise that way. I like it quiet around here. d;-)

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Your profile picture next to your comment made me laugh!  Thanks for the chuckle.

redfireant said…

Guns don't kill people....People kill people.

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Red...I don't believe in taking away anyone's right to bear arms, however, your above statement is just so very wrong.  6 days ago a boy "accidently" shot himself in the head with an UZI at a gun show in Massachusetts.  Now, I'm sorry, but no one killed that child except for that gun.  That child had no business handling that kind of weapon, absolutely no reason for it.  Now his father who egged him on to do this for a photo opportunity has to live with this the rest of his life.  Guns do kill people.

"Guns do kill people." 

NO, NO, NO...it was the child's STUPID FATHER that let him pick up the gun that killed him!  If I remember correctly, that kid was only 8 yrs. old.  Any kid is curious.  They'ld get behind the sights of a tank if one would let them.  I don't own a gun...I don't want a gun.  But I do remember my parents letting me pick up only a pellet rifle when I was about 13 or 14.  Hand guns and/or rifles are for ADULTS.  And if the "responsible" parent lets a kid pick up a gun...they shouldn't be a parent!!!! 

OldHippie said…

"Guns do kill people." 

NO, NO, NO...it was the child's STUPID FATHER that let him pick up the gun that killed him!  If I remember correctly, that kid was only 8 yrs. old.  Any kid is curious.  They'ld get behind the sights of a tank if one would let them.  I don't own a gun...I don't want a gun.  But I do remember my parents letting me pick up only a pellet rifle when I was about 13 or 14.  Hand guns and/or rifles are for ADULTS.  And if the "responsible" parent lets a kid pick up a gun...they shouldn't be a parent!!!! 

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I agree with you 100% that it was the father's fault, but it was the Uzi that killed the child.  A child cannot make a responsible decision about picking up an Uzi; as I said it was the father that egged him on for a photo opportunity.  This was tragic, but my point is that guns do kill people.  Anyway you look at it, the father was responsible, but the gun killed the child.  This tragedy sohuld not have happened....it's so very sad.

Yep Mystic, I get your point.  B/c if he had picked up a knife, he probably wouldn't have been killed.  May have been hurt, but most likely wouldn't have killed him.

I never in my wildest dreams ever thought of owning a gun. Never thought I would need one, but times are changing around me and the city I live in. Crime is running wild all over! I'm really thinking of getting a gun for my safety. I don't have kids so it's just me. As to not being able to get to the gun fast enough, I figured that one out already, under my pillow. :)

mysticstarfish said…

6 days ago a boy "accidentally" shot himself in the head with an UZI at a gun show in Massachusetts. 

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That is very sad.

The gun should not have had any ammo in it at a gun show. The father of the boy and who ever put ammo in the gun are the ones who killed the boy. The father should be put in prison for allowing his son to hold a loaded gun and accidentally killing himself. Guns are dangerous when they are in the wrong hands.

Gun shows are not suppose to have loaded guns on display. The sponsor of the gun show should be held accountable for allowing a loaded gun to be there.

redfireant said…

mysticstarfish said…

6 days ago a boy "accidentally" shot himself in the head with an UZI at a gun show in Massachusetts. 

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That is very sad.

The gun should not have had any ammo in it at a gun show. The father of the boy and who ever put ammo in the gun are the ones who killed the boy. The father should be put in prison for allowing his son to hold a loaded gun and accidentally killing himself. Guns are dangerous when they are in the wrong hands.

Gun shows are not suppose to have loaded guns on display. The sponsor of the gun show should be held accountable for allowing a loaded gun to be there.

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The last I read the police were determing if charges should be filed on the father and the instructor at the gun show. I really hope they do! So senseless!

Charges should be brought against the person who put the ammo in the gun at the gun show, if that was the instructoer, then him. Gun Show display guns are not supposed to be loaded. While we are gun owners, and we have introduced our son to guns (so he would know the danger), we don't even let him have "real looking" toy guns, let alone hold a real gun! That's the negledgence of the display personel having that gun loaded(What was that person thinking!) and of the parent not watching the child closely enough. . . Mostly the person who loaded the gun, though.

We do not have any guns in the house nor will I allow my husband to acquire them in the future.  He doesn't hunt and even if they were locked up properly as they should be, they would do no good in the event of a burglary situation.  With the sad state of this country, if you shot an intruder, you'd wind up sued by the perp for $50 million.  I'd rather invest in an alarm system and a baseball bat.

My husband hunts, something that almost broke us up when we were dating. I am VERY anti hunting and his whole family hunted. I didn't think I could actually be married to a guy who hunted. But I am. He keeps his gun far away from me and I couldn't even tell you where it is. It isn't in the house. My sons are adults now but they were never near any guns growing up and they have no desire to hunt or have guns.

We never used the hunting gun for protection and I doubt we would be able to considering it's not easy to get to and it isn't loaded. I have always had a fear of guns. Still do even though I have been to the shooting range and can fire a pistol with amazing accuracy. I don't think we ever will get a pistol for protection. I'd move before doing that if I felt that unsafe.

EDIT: I've been married to this guy for almost 25 years and I just asked him about guns and he told me he has four or five shotguns and rifles. WHAT? I had no idea. That's how well concealed they are, I guess. The jerk. ;)

My family members are all hunters, I've never been a fan - especially now that I'm vegetarian.  I guess I just don't understand the "sport" of it.

I don't agree with the "just for the sport of it!" The main reason for hunting should be for food.