Do you own any guns? (repost w/poll for BVAR)

[rDigital]

I'm re-posting this at the request of Bvar (this is not my OP):

I am no longer a Star Member, and can not post a poll,
so I will post an informal thread instead.
I would appreciate it if a Star member would post a simple Poll:

1)I am a Democrat who owns a single gun

2)I am a Democrat who owns several guns

3)I am a Democrat who owns NO guns

I am a Liberal Democrat who owns several long guns, and a hand gun.
I maintain them, and shoot them at least twice a year on our rural property.
I keep them all loaded, readily accessible,
but out-of sight on a wall rack in the back hallway.
(We have no children or adolescents in our home.)

I have used them to protect ourselves, our property, our stock and our pets,
and will do so again if the need arises,
though I prefer to Live Trap & Relocate.

I am not a Gun Nut, though some here would label me as one.
In 11 years at DU, I have never visited the Gun Forum and have no desire to do so.

I am one of the many, many responsible Liberal Democrats who own guns,
and will continue to do so.

63 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I am a Democrat who owns a single gun
	10 (16%)
	I am a Democrat who owns several guns
	26 (41%)
	I am a Democrat who owns NO guns
	27 (43%)
	2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[NashvilleLefty]

1. I own a single gun, because

I live in the woods. I have a dog for personal protection. The problem here is the snakes. My property has a good deal of Copperheads. Normally, I leave them alone and they leave me alone. But my dog has been bitten once. Luckily, it must have been an adult male because very little poison was released, and it was treatable with anti-biotics.

Normally, as I said, I leave them alone and they leave me alone. But twice they have decided to take up residence in my front yard area where my dog usually stays. That is unacceptable. So, for those occasions I have a single shot .20 guage shotgun - what is sometimes referred to as a "barn gun". I have a box of bird shot shells. The only reason I own this gun is for the snakes that are not just passing through" but have decided to take up residence where they present a danger to me but more importantly, my dog.

[Aerows]

19. I live in the sticks, too

and that's why I have one.

[Warpy]

52. A lot of urbanites don't realize how wild a lot of this country is

We've had hungry brown bears make it all the way downtown here but we city folk use Animal Control rather than guns. Out in the woods, they don't have that alternative. People here know to fire a warning shot to get Yogi out of the trash cans but they need that second shot in case he's got an attitude problem and he charges instead of fleeing.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I inherited 2 .22 rifles and .22 handgun. (I think. Looks kind of like an old cowboy gun.) I am not

keeping them here at my house. They are at my BIL's because I have kids. They want to learn to shoot but I have not been comfortable with it, although now they are teens they are bringing it up more often.

Also, not being a Dem I didn't vote in the poll. Didn't want to skew the results.

[Scuba]

3. Three shotguns, two rifles and one handgun.

[Quixote1818]

4. Do BB guns count because I have one of those. nt

[LeftInTX]

7. I've got one too.

[kydo]

11. Sold mine

had one of those red rider bb guns like in a christmas story. I used it to shoot at rats that were attacking my garden. Then let the dog do the rest as hitting the rat with a bb doesn't kill it. Later though our area had a stray cat boom, and I found that if I leave food for them they take care of the rat issue. So I sold my bb gun in a yard sale and my garden is still rat free.

Other then the bb gun, I have owned hundreds of plastic water guns, dozens of cap guns, several sci-fi laser gun things that never worked, a few nerf dart guns and a light saber, oh wait thats not a gun. I almost bought a glue gun once and the house we moved into about 10 years ago had a nail gun that didn't work.

But I have never owned a real gun. I have never even touched a real gun.

[LeftInTX]

23. ROFL - Same BB gun, same reason

The rats were jumping from a bush into the attic. We finally repaired the attic. The rats are still out there, but they can't get in.

[OutNow]

5. No guns

I have never owned a gun and never will. My dad was a small game and deer hunter in Pennsylvania. When I was 12 he talked to me about the next deer hunting season and going with him. I told him I was not interested. That was 50 years and and I haven't changed my mind.

I teach my 6 year old grandson about the danger of guns. He knows grandpa's favorite sign is the peace sign and that grandpa doesn't like guns and won't allow shooter video games.

I would confiscate all assault weapons and most hand guns if I could. I might allow hunting shotguns and bolt action hunting rifles.

[rDigital]

8. How do you define an assault weapon? nt

[OutNow]

12. As broadly as possible

I'd make the definition as wide as possible. Any gray area would be included as an assault weapon.

[rDigital]

17. All guns can be used to assault. That could be pretty broad. nt

[Trunk Monkey]

6. I'm a democrat who thinks it's really no one's business how many guns I own

Just sayin'

[Warren Stupidity]

29. The un is carefully monitoring this poll for the upcoming confiscation.

Just sayin'

[rrneck]

9. More than one but not several. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

10. Two rifles, two shotguns, two pistols.

All but one pistol inherited or passed down to me.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. I am a democrat who owns no guns,

But I have absolutely no problem with people in Bvar's situation (like many people here in my home state) who own guns for the reasons that he does.

[bvar22]

14. Thank You for posting this poll.

!

[rDigital]

15. No Problem. nt

[Chorophyll]

16. Never in my life have I felt the need to own a gun.

Never will.

You're welcome.

[RichGirl]

49. Same here....

I lived 20 years in a small (pop 8,000) town, in the country at the end of a long road...no gun. Now I live in the city alone...no gun. Never had a gun, never will. To me, living in fear is not living....it's existing.

Oh...and I was a single mother, raised a child...didn't need a gun to protect her.

[Kaleva]

18. 2 bolt action rifles

[Aerows]

20. I'm hardly a gun nut

but they are a necessary evil where I live. I'm in the sticks, and NOT having a gun would be irresponsible.

[rDigital]

21. Same here. Police response time is measured with a calendar or sundial. nt

[Aerows]

22. Precisely n/t

[Glassunion]

33. Ah.. The speed of smell.

[RichGirl]

51. Interesting....

Is "irresponsible" code for "I'm scared of my own shadow" so I need an excuse? I lived in the sticks for 20 years...never had or needed a gun.

These shooters always go to populated areas. The fear of having them show up at the back door of a farm house by far exceeds the reality of it ever happening. Fear is a very toxic emotion. The threat to your health is greater than being killed by an intruder.

[Aerows]

58. Clearly, you don't live in the sticks

and don't have situations where there are wild hogs, alligators, and snakes. Your idea of the sticks is clearly different from mine.

[Raine]

24. I have several guns, handguns & rifles. I inherited them, never used them,

I keep them hidden and locked away.

[SpartanDem]

25. I own 2 although I don't consider that "several"

both inherited from my grandfather .38 pistol and 12 gauge shot guns. It's been some years since I've shot them, but I want get back in to practice with them.

[loli phabay]

26. a glock 22 a glock 27 two 12 gauge pump actions a m4 carbine and a m16a1

Also own a couple of 22 varmint rifles.

[Terra Alta]

27. I have NO guns

Don't plan on ever getting one, either. Owning a gun would make me feel LESS safe, not more so.

[Fresh_Start]

28. but they are stored in a locked gun safe nt

nt

[PDJane]

30. I live in downtown Toronto; as in a few blocks from the Eaton's Centre.

The wildlife here comes on two legs, for the most part. While I've felt the occasional urge to punch someone, I don't feel that guns are necessary here. In fact, a gun would cause more problems than it would solve here.

Have I ever owned a gun? The family did own a shotgun when we lived on a farm. No handguns, ever. If you live in the middle of nowhere, a shotgun is a necessity. Once you live in even a small town, you don't need it.

[Jackpine Radical]

31. I own several.

They are all unloaded, with the ammo nowhere near the guns. They are hunting & target weapons, not for self-defense.

I haven't shot any of them for several years.

I do sometimes use a pellet rifle for pest control.

[flvegan]

32. More than one, fewer than several.

3 to be exact. .22 long rifle, .45 Colt Officer's and a Mossberg 500 with twin pistol grips.

I have enough ammo to protect my home, but not enough for a zombie uprising. Black Talons in the .45, slugs in the shotgun.

[Aerows]

47. Not enough for a zombie uprising?

You disappoint. I was counting on you to be the one when we had one

[flvegan]

50. I'd be the first one to Ammo R Us if one started, though.

LOL!

[Aerows]

57. I'll race you :D n/t

[HockeyMom]

34. Democrat with a Republican husband owning guns

I have no intention of ever using HIS guns. I would let a burglar TAKE those guns and not even try to stop them.

Shoot and slam me, but don't depend on ME for gun protection with guns in my house.

[southern_belle]

35. I own a gun handed down

from my grandfather but have no/will not buy ammunition for it. It was kept by me for sentimental value but I don't even want it any more. I am a strong supporter for gun control.

[oneshooter]

40. Take it to a "buy back" and get $25 for it.

Or take it to a FFL dealer who would give you closer to what it is worth.

[riderinthestorm]

41. +1. Family heirloom passed down to me but I've never shot it, no will I ever. No ammunition.

HOWEVER, I do hold onto mine since my nieces and nephews are just now entering their teens. Someone may actually want it (my kids do not).

Every 2 - 3 years a friend takes it home for me, cleans and oils it. Makes sure it shoots fine and hands it back. Then I store it in the ceiling tiles of my barn until my calendar says its time for maintenance.

If no one indicates any interest in it in the next 20 years I'll pass it along to the LEOs. For now it waits.

[oneshooter]

36. Daily shooters, hunting, or collectables?

[Arkana]

37. Not me personally, but my father owns several hunting rifles and a crossbow.

(He got the crossbow because he can't pull a compound bow any more, but he loves hunting too much to give it up). He's also voted for every Democrat since George McGovern and thinks Republicans are pond scum, and he's all in favor of tougher gun laws.

[Major Nikon]

38. I have several guns but only one of those were purchased by me

All the rest were inherited. I keep them because I have a strong sentimental attachment to them. I have my grandfather's police service pistol which is my connection to his days as a police officer. I have my dad's rifle, which is a military surplus rifle converted for use as a deer rifle and it connects me to the many hours spent in my dad's workshop converting those rifles for hunting which my dad did to earn a few extra dollars. I have my dad's and my grandfather's pump shotguns which connects me to the times when we went bird hunting. The only gun I ever bought was an over/under shotgun barrel set used for shooting skeet. It has fixed skeet chokes and is wholy unsuited for pretty much anything else. I spent about 15 years shooting skeet on and off and I might again someday. I purchased a gun safe when my youngest child was an infant and they have been locked up from that day. I can't remember if my kids have even seen any of my guns and my youngest is 16. Neither has ever expressed any interest in them and I have never encouraged them to do so. I have never been in any situation where I think a gun would have helped, even in my 10 years with the military.

[L0oniX]

39. Like every DU poll I have ever seen about member gun ownership ...it's about 50/50.

I am sure the irrational nuts would be happy to ban all the members who own a gun ...because that would solve the problem. pffft

[Missouri Lad]

42. I own a shotgun,

I bought it in 1956 when I came of the US Navy. I used it for quail hunting until about 1975. It hasn't been used since, as I don't have any shells for it.

[MadrasT]

43. My ex had several but they moved out when he did.

If I lived a little farther out in the country I would have a shotgun.

No guns in my house right now.

[LP2K12]

44. I own two...

A 9mm pistol passed down to me from my father and an "assault rifle" that fires .223 which I inherited from my father-in-law, an ex-marine, when he passed. He wanted to hand it down to another veteran.

[Wolf Frankula]

45. My Wife and I have pistols, I have a vintage .303 rifle

Hers is a small 9mm Walther. She keeps it in her car. I have a .38 S&W snub nose revolver. I used to have a concealed carry permit, but I no longer need one so I let it lapse. I have a Lyttleton Engineering Lee-Enfield Korean War vintage rifle I use for target shooting. We have a brace of flintlock black powder pistols, a brace of wheel lock black powder pistols, a reproduction black powder blunderbuss and a reproduction black powder matchlock musket. I used to have a 1895 Mauser but someone made a monetary offer I couldn't refuse and I sold it.

For self defense, a semiautomatic rifle is contraindicated. You want something easily concealable, like a small pistol, or a pistol carbine. For home defense, you want a pistol or a shotgun. Semiautomatic and automatic rifles are not good home defense weapons. For hunting, a dedicated hunting rifle is good, or if you MUST use a military type, get a Springfield, a Lee-Enfield or a Mauser. (None of these have a clip greater than ten rounds). Bolt and lever action rifles IME are more reliable, durable and cheaper than the semi-auto assault rifle knock-offs available. Semi-automatic rifles and full automatic weapons are for war, not for civilian use.

Wolf

[A Brand New World]

46. I am a Democrat & have not nor ever will own a gun.

As a child victim at the age of 16 of gun violence, I am VERY anti-gun. My father shot my mother, my future step-father & then killed himself. If he had not had easy access to a gun, my life & my sister's lives may very well have turned out differently. At now the age of 57, this tragedy is something I will carry with me til the end of my life.

[jackbenimble]

48. None here, but...

I expect to inherit a couple. One of them is a handgun that holds a limited amount of bullets. The other is an antique rifle that has been in my family forever and is sought after by collectors. As of now I don't know if I will keep them or not.

[DefenseLawyer]

53. "I have used them to protect ourselves"

Really? When and how? I'm not doubting you, it's just so statistically rare I would be interested to know the circumstances.

[bvar22]

61. You posted a partial quote.

Here is the whole statement:

[font size=3]"I have used them to protect ourselves, our property, our stock and our pets,
and will do so again if the need arises,
though I prefer to Live Trap & Relocate."[/font]

There are predators and varmints that will occasionally require the use of a firearm in order to protect stock, veggie gardens, and pets.
A ground hog can destroy a 5 year old mature Asparagus bed in less than an hour.

A raccoon in the hen house after dark will kill ALL the roosting hens (and eat NONE of them) in short order.

Our Constable/Ranger has advised us that ANY Skunk, Possum, Raccoon, Fox, Coyote seen in open areas during broad daylight
is probably rabid.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/157351

[DefenseLawyer]

64. That's what I figured n/t

[Speck Tater]

54. When I was fresh out of the Air Force I owned a couple guns.

A 22 rifle and an M1 carbine. I used to enjoy target shooting.
That was back in 1965 for a period of about 6 months, until I got bored with it and moved on.
I haven't owned any firearms since then.

[Chan790]

55. None of the above.

I am a socialist who owns several guns. I know how to shoot. I will never set foot in the Gungeon. I hate the NRA like I hate murderers, Hell and war. I am anti-hunting.

I support very-restrictive gun-control measures. I'm having mine creatively-destroyed.

[sweetloukillbot]

56. .22 revolver and .22 pump-action saddle rifle

Both were inherited. And I appreciate the craftsmanship in both of them immensely.
I use the revolver for target shooting only and don't take it out of its locked case anywhere away from the range, except to clean it occasionally. I don't keep any ammo in the house, I don't even know where to get ammo for the saddle rifle - it's 100+ years old, takes a discontinued size and I find most of the vendors at gun shows to be really creepy.
I've thought seriously about getting a shotgun for protection while camping, and also maybe getting a .357 revolver. The .357 would only be because I enjoy target shooting and would like to try something that made a bigger bang. But I have much bigger priorities in my life.

[rbrnmw]

59. I have 4 kids I have zero guns in my home or elsewhere

I've never owned a gun and never will

[rdking647]

60. ar-15,12 gauge,.22lr bolt action,.22lr and .40 s/w handguns

[Motown_Johnny]

62. No, "I am a Troll screwing up this poll" option?

[Savannahmann]

63. I own no guns.

I also think anyone who does own guns is not a real Democrat. If we can unite behind womens rights, why can't we unite on the right of people to live without the threat of gun violence?