Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

loukanikos wrote

Protecting my family and community against fascism and white supremacy. Also hunting for food if you have access to a healthy ecosystem that you can participate in. In some parts of the world the apex predators have been forcibly removed by humans but there are still abundant prey animals which can constitute a sustainable meat alternative to farm raised animals. That said I think guns are not really necessary for hunters but firearm hunting seems like a good entrypoint for most people.

6

zoom_zip wrote

i’ve lived this long without owning or using a gun. i can’t imagine i’ll need one before i die.

my kids will probably need one tho, to kill mutants in the post apocalypse

4

[deleted] wrote

1

existential1 wrote

Just watched "Doom: Annihilation" for the first time last night. I actually watched that, one of the recent Resident Evil films, and the most recent Underworld movie...all in the same night. Something about white woman leads, state/corporate existence malfeasance, and quasi-mythical horror creatures really did it for me yesterday.

3

subrosa wrote

Idk. I should probably stay away from guns forever.

4

celebratedrecluse wrote

They are not for everyone, but as well-- you don't need to work as a carpenter, just to know how to hold a hammer and strike.

3

subrosa wrote

The question was about owning a gun, and I probably wouldn't wanna end my life with a hammer. The difference makes all the difference.

5

celebratedrecluse wrote

Absolutely, I would not reccomend anyone who does not feel comfortable to own a gun.

to clarify, my reply was in response to your comment, which said "i should probably stay away from guns forever". Which, also may be true, but I think that if you are able to do so safely, it can be a pleasure and a tool to learn the basics of firearm safety and maintenance with a knowledgeable and trusted friend. If the opportunity and interest ever coincide, for you. For many, it will not, and that is fine-- one must do the best we can, for ourselves, in our own situation.

5

lettuceLeafer OP wrote

prob if I was committing crime where I would go to prison for > 10 years or if I or someone I knew was actively under attack from a hate group.

Tho, honestly it just seems like it doesn't make much sense for people to spend the massive amount of time and money needed to learn how to use a firearm properly and safely in most cases. So, I'm just curious if I was the only one who felt that way.

3

polpotisevil2 wrote

You can spend probably $500 dollars or less which would get you a rifle, ammunition, and two or three range visits easily where I am from. And this is after ammunition and firearm prices have skyrocketed. At least where I am from in the U.S. this is true, it very well could be different in other places. I don't consider it expensive or time consuming

1

lettuceLeafer OP wrote

Oh for sure, by expensive and time consuming I was talking about getting a license and training after the fact. If u have a Gun around u really should be actively shooting quite a but and actively practicing safety for at least like 10 hours a month tho most likely much more.

At that point over a year your looking at thousands and many days of practice. Which I think atm my time and money could be far more usefully spent

2

Stigmata wrote (edited )

I’m in the US so of course things are a bit different, but here, many places there is no special license to own a gun (with the exception of a permit to conceal it). Where I am I need a license to own a handgun but rifles and pretty much everything else you just do a background check and you are good to go. I know a lot of users here are not in the US, but for a lot of people here (the US) licensing seems to be confusing, they either think you need a really hard to get license, or you don’t need anything, the reality is more in the middle with there being a process to get a gun but it’s pretty short.

As far as training goes in my experience people seem to either “get” gun safety or they don’t. Of course you should practice shooting so you are more accurate, but in terms of actual training I’d say a couple of hours with an experienced gun owner is probably fine (with the exception of some more specialty firearms). I know that may seem a bit casual, but there really is not a ton to learn with gun safety. Also ammo is ridiculously expensive right now, if you are training 10 hours/month you are gonna be broke quick. But definitely make sure you are comfortable with more dangerous things like cleaning (which is seemingly when most accidents happen).

3

lettuceLeafer OP wrote (edited )

I think everything you said is somewhat fair. Tho the gun licensing varies a ton by state. Mine requires you to get a FOID card for ammunition which takes an average of several months to get. But yeah most red states it's pretty easy to get a Gun. Yeah, I was just thinking about my getting a Gun when in reality I'm in one of the most challenging states to get a Gun. So it's easier for most others in the US

Tho I still think one should be regularly reminding themself and purposefully going through all the safety stuff since the danger of one slip up with a Gun is so high.

2

Stigmata wrote (edited )

Oh yeah; you definitely are right then with the expense and time in your case. I have a habit of forgetting that stuff varies wildly by not only state but even county.

Yeah, the danger is definitely there, and when you do slip up it can be really bad. Somewhat anecdotal but it seems like slip ups occur more often with those experienced with guns; probably due to a combination of just proximity but also complacency. I think the old saying goes something like “the moment you get too comfortable is when you get killed”, I work with high voltage sometimes and always try to remember that, and I think it applies pretty well to guns too.

3

polpotisevil2 wrote

Hunting, defense, recreation

3

[deleted] wrote

1

celebratedrecluse wrote

Target shooting is an international sport. You may not be aware of it, but many enjoy shooting at paper targets, whether competitively or not.

The act of shooting is very enjoyable, exhilirating-- at least, if there is not a living thing on the other end. Then, it becomes a terrifying burden in equal measure.

5

zephyr wrote

if i didn't already own a gun i surely would have acquired one when it became clear that trump and his fellow loonies were going to attempt a coup and probably unleash the violent redneck militias in the u.s.

3

moonlune wrote (edited )

It makes for a spectacular form of suicide, once the collapse is too harsh to cope.

It'd be shit to clean up thought so I'd have to go to a place where animals could eat my brain bits after I'd blow myself up. Which kinda defeats the purpose of having a spectacular suicide.

2

NoPotatoes wrote

I've begun wondering if I could commit suicide without my body. Like if I could just use my mind to halt my heart or lungs.

3

celebratedrecluse wrote

protection

assisting someone who do sex work

2

lettuceLeafer OP wrote

I wasn't clear with my intentions but I was more curious on when a situation would cause u to get a Gun for protection. For most of the population it seems having a Gun around increases their risk rather than mitigates it.

So I was curious about what would have to happen for u getting a gun to be a good idea.

I.e. I would get a Gun if I started to openly transition or I would get a Gun if Nazis doxxed me.

2

celebratedrecluse wrote

If you are only getting a gun when you think you need it actively for protection due to something fucked Up happening, it's already too late to be useful, and would be more of a risk than a source of protection.

Handling firearm requires training, education, and a circle of friends to hold you accountable. It requires mental fortitude, especially if you are mentally ill, and precautions against suicide or misuse. It requires a safe box or lock to put it in when not in use, but which is easily accessible in an emergency. It requires talking to your household about your gun ownership, and making sure it is consensually brought into your home. It requires months of training weekly to have a passably reliable chance of shooting straight at a target in broad daylight and short distance. It requires more training to be able to shoot at night or in confused situations, and even then there is no guarantee. If you are in an urban area, there are legal and safety issues particular to the close quarters; bullets can easily go through cheaply built structures. Most of all, retaining the cool composure to take a life while under fatal duress, is the most time consuming and ongoing task of all I listed.

No, you get a gun when you don't think you need it yet, and you train with it, and you develop a respect and trust in your training. Then, you might be able to defend yourself or others, with a minimum of risk. Buying a gun with no training, when you are panicked? It's a panic purchase, not a serious commitment. And deadly force...is something which must be committed to, or not done at all. Not something which is done as a last resort with no preparation.

For those who cannot or do not want to engage in this serious endeavor, which is most people, affinities of security should protect others in a relationship of deprofessionalized mutual aid. However, there is no minimizing the intensity of the responsibility of boom boom ownership.

3