General Discussion

janlyn

(735 posts)

39. 8

Tue Dec 18, 2012, 08:39 PM

Dec 2012

I have handled firearms since I was 7. I was taught safety,responsibility and above all else that guns KILL.I was a gun owner for 25 yrs.
Having said that I will explain why I do not now, nor will I ever own a firearm again.

During my 30's I had a male roomate,and we had issues with him paying rent on time.We got into an argument and he left the room,only to come back with my handgun and proceed to hold it to my head. I had the gun in a lock box and was not aware he knew were I kept the key.

I realized at that moment how easily my own weapon could be used against me!!! I had him arrested,moved.. and then went to my nearest gun store and sold my handgun.

Owning a gun does not neccesarily make you safe!!!

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Are there DUers here that have never owned or [View all] upaloopa Dec 2012 OP

Me. I am a 1. roody Dec 2012 #1

Why do you ask? XRubicon Dec 2012 #2

I am just curious in the context of gun control upaloopa Dec 2012 #10

How do you rate youself? XRubicon Dec 2012 #18

Well I had a lot of experience with military weapons in Vietnam but I only know about my single upaloopa Dec 2012 #61

So looking at the replies, what would you say about DUers experience with guns vs gun control? XRubicon Dec 2012 #66

This is only about me and only my opinion and I don't want anyone to jump on upaloopa Dec 2012 #67

I think there's room for your hobby and some common sense gun control XRubicon Dec 2012 #68

My hobby is not guns I only own a upaloopa Dec 2012 #73

If aim is to establish context intaglio Dec 2012 #116

You gun nuts get so paranoid Taverner Dec 2012 #100

We had a poll here once and about half of DUers were gun owners if I am remembering right. nt Mojorabbit Dec 2012 #3

The last time that poll was posed that I recall was.. 2010? X_Digger Dec 2012 #13

I think it was an older poll but this one is Mojorabbit Dec 2012 #70

Self-selection problem with this sort of poll. Gunnuts most motivated to respond. leveymg Dec 2012 #105

An 8 nt hack89 Dec 2012 #4

I've never owned or fired a gun. IL Lib Dec 2012 #5

I have never owned a gun. Never wanted one. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2012 #6

Never owned a gun. I have fired a gun on 3 or 4 occasions DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2012 #7

Not trying to make any point no judgement just curious upaloopa Dec 2012 #17

I can speak for the original poster but ... spin Dec 2012 #22

Yes, that would describe me, as well as my wife. NRaleighLiberal Dec 2012 #8

Me. renie408 Dec 2012 #9

Again, Men don't get abortions Politicalboi Dec 2012 #11

Apples to oranges... OneTenthofOnePercent Dec 2012 #54

I have never touched a gun in my 35 years. a la izquierda Dec 2012 #12

do you think that a persons knowledge of guns would effect their opinion on gun laws? bowens43 Dec 2012 #14

I'm not going to go there don't want to start a fight upaloopa Dec 2012 #20

Perhaps then you can explain how I have enjoyed shooting handguns for 45 years ... spin Dec 2012 #29

How many targets resemble people? Hoyt Dec 2012 #40

Yes. I must be a totally evil person since I have shot holes in a paper silhouette target. ..., spin Dec 2012 #45

As I thought. Hoyt Dec 2012 #47

You shot a picture spin! You're busted! rrneck Dec 2012 #84

So you admit that the use of guns to kill human beings is indeed a legitimate use? OneTenthofOnePercent Dec 2012 #55

1. And I wear that with a badge of honor. nt Comrade_McKenzie Dec 2012 #15

Apart from a spud gun, a water pistol and an airgun dipsydoodle Dec 2012 #16

I have fired a gun when I was a kid, but won't allow them in my house. nt oxymoron Dec 2012 #19

Me. I am a 1. I have never fired a gun and I'm 60 years old livetohike Dec 2012 #21

1 here BigDemVoter Dec 2012 #23

Used to target shoot with a .22 rifle ( lever action ) OKNancy Dec 2012 #24

I had a cap gun when I was a kid (showing my age here)? Nye Bevan Dec 2012 #25

I get a 1, no experience at all karynnj Dec 2012 #26

Don't own one, have fired one a few times, would probably rate myself around a 3 or 4 Posteritatis Dec 2012 #27

I do not own one nor have I ever touched one. hrmjustin Dec 2012 #28

While in college Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #30

I shot one gun one time. cbayer Dec 2012 #31

Katrina was an issue for me, too Aerows Dec 2012 #52

I thought we had spoken about it before, Aerows. cbayer Dec 2012 #58

We may have Aerows Dec 2012 #60

All I know about how many DU members have guns is that... bongbong Dec 2012 #32

For upaloopa: Have you never known or heard of anyone being killed XRubicon Dec 2012 #33

Yes I know quite a few who died in Vietnam. I am only knowledable about that kind of violence upaloopa Dec 2012 #62

I have never owned a gun or rifle. I have been around them but I won't have one in my home. southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #34

never personally used one - a 1 KT2000 Dec 2012 #35

Well, I've never personally owned a gun but.. ananda Dec 2012 #36

I have never MyshkinCommaPrince Dec 2012 #37

Family hunted, ROTC was mandatory during college, most relatives have guns (many inherited)-- JohnnyLib2 Dec 2012 #38

8 janlyn Dec 2012 #39

Ex-Gun Owners please stand up marions ghost Dec 2012 #90

What's your point? WinkyDink Dec 2012 #41

just would like to know the universe of gun experience at DU no other point upaloopa Dec 2012 #63

you mean a personal weapon? WooWooWoo Dec 2012 #42

any weapon upaloopa Dec 2012 #64

Never owned one and about a 1 and a half on the knowledge scale union_maid Dec 2012 #43

Never touched one. Never will. undeterred Dec 2012 #44

I haven't touched on in decades RomneyLies Dec 2012 #46

Hmmm... Marinedem Dec 2012 #50

Never touched one. I guess a 1 n/t taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #48

i got rid of my guns when i moved to town 35yrs ago madrchsod Dec 2012 #49

Have one Aerows Dec 2012 #51

Ex-Army tanker. Aristus Dec 2012 #53

I own several guns but have never ever fired any Raine Dec 2012 #56

1 here too. redwitch Dec 2012 #57

Had to fire a Magnum 57 for work. Michigan Alum Dec 2012 #59

I have fired many different guns. RebelOne Dec 2012 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author oldhippie Dec 2012 #69

About a zero LeftInTX Dec 2012 #71

Me. Beacool Dec 2012 #72

I have never owned a gun, but I was in the Army Jack Rabbit Dec 2012 #74

1/2 of that. I never owned a gun, but my redneck father... Lady Freedom Returns Dec 2012 #75

never so much as touched one TorchTheWitch Dec 2012 #76

Never owned a gun, never fired a gun. SheilaT Dec 2012 #77

I've never owned a gun but I did have to learn how to shoot Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 #78

Never touched a gun Awsi Dooger Dec 2012 #79

This message was self-deleted by its author ann--- Dec 2012 #104

Me. I'm about a 2. DearHeart Dec 2012 #80

I shot a bb gun. donheld Dec 2012 #81

Me too, fired it straight up in the air, aiming at nothing, and killed a robin when I was 9 condoleeza Dec 2012 #115

Never owned a gun or rifle; no military background No Vested Interest Dec 2012 #82

Once upon a time I 'kind of' owned one laundry_queen Dec 2012 #83

Never owned one. Never fired one. Never handled one. Zoeisright Dec 2012 #85

I'm a 4 Taverner Dec 2012 #86

I used to own a rifle when I was a teenager. ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #87

One need not be an expert knife fighter to have opinions about public policy on knives. bemildred Dec 2012 #88

I have never owned any type of gun or rifle. I have fired a pistol one time and a rifle one time. Arkansas Granny Dec 2012 #89

I have never owned or fired a gun Skidmore Dec 2012 #91

Maybe a 5. 99Forever Dec 2012 #92

I don't own a gun LibertyLover Dec 2012 #93

I am a 9.5 virginia mountainman Dec 2012 #94

I own one and grew up with a gun-nut for a father Victor_c3 Dec 2012 #95

I'm about a 9 Bake Dec 2012 #96

All I ever had was a BB gun. JVS Dec 2012 #97

I have never owned, used, or fired any kind of gun. nt gollygee Dec 2012 #98

Interesting question Savannahmann Dec 2012 #99

Never did til 9 years ago when we moved to the country. Now we have a 22 and a shotgun - both for peacebird Dec 2012 #101

This message was self-deleted by its author ann--- Dec 2012 #102

It intrigues me how much emotional power many non-gun-owners give to guns Recursion Dec 2012 #103

I have fired and owned a gun but I do not consider myself a nut loyalkydem Dec 2012 #106

Never longeyemom Dec 2012 #107

I have been around and owned guns all my life, as far as knowledge doc03 Dec 2012 #108

Um, do cap pistols count? or water pistols? k8conant Dec 2012 #109

This message was self-deleted by its author Piazza Riforma Dec 2012 #110

My dad hunted, as did most other men I grew up around (no women were invited in those days) Chemisse Dec 2012 #111

I'm a 1 Tien1985 Dec 2012 #112

Question is a negative, doesn't seem to work. But I've owned, and consider my knowledge minimal. freshwest Dec 2012 #113

I own several and have fired all kinds of weapons. Arctic Dave Dec 2012 #114