Concealed carry laws and women

[mhsjax]

Yep. Someone comes in my house uninvited and they are getting shot. Period. Of course, 'round here, the intruder has to be IN my house. I can't shoot them on my property or my doorstep, or even in my barn.

Just bust a window and drag him inside. Problem solved.

 

[mhsjax]

You're kidding, right?

For example: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a total of 3,042 children and teens died by gunfire in 2007— a number nearly equal to the total number of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq and four times the number of American combat fatalities in Afghanistan to date. Another 17,523 children and teens suffered non-fatal gun injuries in 2007 and the emotional aftermath that follows. In each case it was a gun that ended or changed a young life forever.

In 2007, the USA had 33 fatal dog attacks on people. 19 were children.

I admit those figures include murder, suicides, and accidents, but all involve guns in the hands of children. I didn't see any figures on dog bites that maimed children but didn't kill them. My dogs were family pets who slept in the house and were not guard dogs. I do agree that large dogs can be dangerous with children but to compare them with guns...

OP, sorry to take your thread off topic.

Yes, but how many of those kids and teens are in bad areas with drive by shootings or are in gangs. I know not all of them are, but you do have to look at that, and those types of people are the ones I am trying to protect myself from and they will carry guns no matter what the law.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

My question for the ladies who carry it in their hand bags- doesn't it break your shoulders?

My hand bag is heavy enough with coins, phone, car keys, and all of the other "stuff" that just gets shoved in a bag. How much does a loaded gun weigh?

In winter fair enough you could have it in holster under a jacket - but what about summer? there is no space in a pair of shorts for the gun - so therefore heavvy hand bag

My loaded gun weighs 437 grams, less than one pound. In the holster it weighs exactly one pound. So, not noticeable at all. I keep a minimal amount of change in my purse to make up for the added weight of the gun.

 

[MIGrandma]

I do not, as of yet, have my concealed weapons permit but I hope to by spring. DH has had his for about a year now. It made me a bit nervous, at first, when he carried the gun with him but I'm so used to it now that I don't even think about it.

He mainly wanted to be able to carry it on our property up north. We have 30 acres and a lot of the time he is in the back, cutting up downed trees for firewood, and he spends time making/grooming our 4-wheeling trails so if he were to come into contact with an aggresive animal he could protect himself. He does carry it around home too though. There are very few places he can't carry it. He usually has it on him when we go shopping, or out to a restaurant. It's concealed, people don't even know he has it.

I do want to get mine, as I sometimes stay alone at our property and want to be able to protect myself. Especially when I'm walking in the woods.

Yes, the gun is loaded when it is carried. But of course the safety is on, and it's in a holster. At home he keeps them (he has several) in locked gun cases.

 

[ratherbeatdisney]

You're kidding, right?

For example: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a total of 3,042 children and teens died by gunfire in 2007— a number nearly equal to the total number of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq and four times the number of American combat fatalities in Afghanistan to date. Another 17,523 children and teens suffered non-fatal gun injuries in 2007 and the emotional aftermath that follows. In each case it was a gun that ended or changed a young life forever.

In 2007, the USA had 33 fatal dog attacks on people. 19 were children.

I admit those figures include murder, suicides, and accidents, but all involve guns in the hands of children. I didn't see any figures on dog bites that maimed children but didn't kill them. My dogs were family pets who slept in the house and were not guard dogs. I do agree that large dogs can be dangerous with children but to compare them with guns...

OP, sorry to take your thread off topic.

im confused here.... the statistics you quoted are the amount of kids killed by gunfire. I would imagine a VERY small percent of that is accidental shootings. but you said "I admit those figures include murder, suicides, and accidents, but all involve guns in the hands of children." no they dont?! they involve the gun in the hands of some crazy criminal who shot them. Where in those statistics are you getting that kids were causing those numbers?

And having a big dog is an added defense, But what do you do when the bad guy breaks into the house , Fido hears it and runs downstairs to attack him and then he fires one into Fido's head and now you are face to face with a bad guy with a gun and you are stuck there with nothing but a dead dog? I prefer to have a gun as backup in that situation. I pray everyday that nothing like this will ever happen in my life but God forbid it does i want to be prepared. I live in Phoenix, and while it has gotten a lot better in the last few years, there used to be tweekers all over the place out here breaking into peoples houses, tying them up, robbing them and sometimes killing them before they left.

I can understand if you have never held a gun or been around them they might be intimidating. Go take a course at a gun club, or go to a shooting range and see if they have lessons for first timers, hold a gun, learn about it, shoot it, before you know it you will realize it is just a tool, and not nearly as scary as you envisioned.

 

[dbarker]

I personally don't carry.

But, my grandmother and my great-grandmother both slept w/ their pistols under their pillows.

 

[heatherwillmom]

When I got my first gun years ago, my brother-in-law, who is a police officer, told me something that really stuck with me. He said, "Don't draw & point your gun unless you intend to use it." He also said if you shoot someone, it needs to be able to take them down. Aim for the chest. I had a CC permit years ago but I let it expire. I am getting ready to re-take the class to get my permit again. I grew up with guns. My father had an extensive collection of all types. When I had my permit before, I usually carried my gun in my purse. It was a 38 so it really wasn't that heavy. I also had an ankle holster & a waist holster. No one who thinks ahead, keeps their gun unloaded. Do they think a burglar will wait for you to load your gun?

 

[Jex]

Great website that will answer some questions. WWW.corneredcat.com

 

[hambirg]

I didn't know these existed on a small scale for home use. I think it is strange that some people claim they have a gun for safety reasons but they keep the gun in a combo lock safe and the ammo in another safe. I could never understand how that made them feel safer. I really like the idea of a biometric safe. In our case, we have a house alarm so I would likely be alerted and have enough time to put my hand on the safe and retrieve my gun.

That said, I am still not a huge gun fan. I have told DH that I would be interested in a gun that shoots rubber bullets. Someone told us about it one time and made it sound like it worked so well. DH went into a gun shop to inquire about it and they basically laughed at him. They said they don't work and he either needed to man up and get a real gun or forget it.

No offense, but they are right. Talk about making a bee angry. If an intruder came into your home and threatened you, your DH and your kids. . .why do they deserve rubber bullets? If they are armed, you just sealed your fate.

I grew up in a home with guns. . .we were taught how to handle them and how to respect them. My ex is German. . they don't understand that kind of gun relationship. . .so we didn't have any while we were married.

However, I have been in two situations now. . one being a mall shooting where the man that stopped the rampage was carrying. . and had a permit. . .he stopped it all! He drew and he fired. . .he was paralyzed in the exchange, but he saved a lot of people. The other, was a night a friend and his friend brought me a dryer when my went out. After wards they asked if I wanted to go have a beer at the local place. . .why not? It was dead. . the 3 of us, one young couple and the bartender. Three masked armed men came in and put a gun to the bartender's head. . .robbed the till and then asked everyone for their wallets. . .made the young lady go to the ATM and withdraw money. They then lined us all up along the wall. . .that was really when we all thought it was over. but just about that time a group of young guys tried to come in. . scuffled with the robber at the door. . .that gave my friend's friend just enough time to draw and fire. . .the robbers got away, but one of them had been shot. Unfortunately, a few weeks later the same guys robbed an armored car driver while he was at Walmart making a drop and shot him dead. I didn't know my friend's friend was carrying. . .you aren't suppose to carry in a bar here. . .but I am SO glad he was. He had a CCP, but it is still not legal in a bar. I am with those people that say that the ones that are legal and carrying are not the ones you need to worry about. . .they are the ones that just might save your *ss one day. If everybody carried openly, there would be a lot less crime.

BTW, in my state you have to have CCP to carry a concealed weapon, but you can legally open carry. . .in fact. . you can open carry on public transportation. Some people don't like it, but nobody is acting a fool and beating up on bus drivers when somebody is open carrying on the bus.

 

[marie1203]

I'll first say that I don't have kids, guns, or dogs. But I'm more scared of dogs than I am guns.

Kids have been killed by guns. But kids have also been killed by dogs. Probably more kids have been killed by dogs than guns. I don't ever really understand people having big dogs around young kids.

I'm sure you were careful with your dogs, but I'm just as sure that most gun owners are careful with their guns.

Most dogs will never kill a person. Must guns will never kill a person. Some people (including me) are phobic about dogs. Some people are phobic about guns.

ETA: I don't mean that you are phobic about guns. It's just something your post made me think about.

I am a little confused what is the difference between having small dogs around your kids or having big dogs?

I think anyone that carries a gun should be highly train (if you aren't very fast at pulling your gun most likely is not going to help)
with that being said I think in some situations guns aren't very helpful. Like if you are a mother and have your kids in one harm and groceries until you put both down you probably too late. If you see in most cops shows they can have 5 cops pointing the gun at the suspect and he keeps trying to escape but once they bring a dog in they calm down .
My bother has been training dogs for the police for years and once his wife had a baby she usually took her dog everywhere with her instead of the gun she knew that no matter how busy her hands were it will at least buy her some time. We have talk about having a conceal weapons permit but we haven't seen it as being useful around here it so calm. At home we do have a gun (in a save) but we also have 5 dogs so if you make it thru our dogs you won't make it pass a marine (DH) with a gun I feel save at all times .

 

[cm8]

I have a concealed carry permit and while out the gun is always on my person, in a holster. Its loaded and the safety is on. I can always easily get to it if necessary. 99.9% of the time no one knows I have it on me. They call it "concealed" for a reason.

At home its in the gun safe (we actually have several weapons at home and several safes). All of our safes are biometric (I place my hand on the scanner the safe opens and I take the gun out, or the gun just pops out). Again, gun is always loaded and the safety is on.

I've taken multiple gun classes and go to a shooting range at least once a month, just to keep my skills up.

That sounds just like me. We keep one safe downstairs and the other upstairs. I also have a carry bag for my HG and we also travel with it. I'd rather be safe than sorry in this day and age.

Going to the range was hard on me. I cried my first time. Hearing all those guns going off at the same time were very nerve racking. I still can't for the life of me understand how some are easily able to take another person's life and have no feelings. If it ever came to life or death, then I would not hesitate to pull the trigger

 

[cm8]

Just bust a window and drag him inside. Problem solved.

OMGoodness, well, I know to call before I come over to your house

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

spinoff from the other thread.
question for anyone that carries, where is the gun when home? is it loaded all the time? when you carry is it loaded?
so in the instance of the person who had someone in their garage, if she had a concealed carry permit, would she have a loaded gun on her?
I always thought the gun was not to be loaded when on your person? maybe I am wrong.
and what about the kids, if you have kids, do you walk around with a loaded gun in your purse.

guns make me nervous, especially with kids in the picture.
just trying to make sense of how carrying a concealed weapon when you also are carrying kids around makes sense.
help me out.

It depends on what I am doing at the time as to where my gun is. Normally I carry it loaded at all times in my pocket book. When I am home my pocket book is within reach in my bedroom. If I am riding the motorcycle with the hubby then it is either on my side or in the saddlebag within easy reach. If I am home with just me and the kids and I feel uncomfortable because I have heard noises then it is on my bedside table. My kids know about guns and have been to the shooting range with us. I will teach them how to shoot when they ask me to. I have taught them gun safety and they know not to touch my gun or my hubby's gun. I also have a gun cabinet where the extra ammo is and there is also a Smith and Wesson 357 in there. The keys to the gun cabinet are on my key chain and on my hubb's key chain. We are fixing to move to a piece if land where we don't really have any close neighbors and I want to be able to protect my family if the need arises. Very rarely do you catch me without my gun.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

You're kidding, right?

For example: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a total of 3,042 children and teens died by gunfire in 2007— a number nearly equal to the total number of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq and four times the number of American combat fatalities in Afghanistan to date. Another 17,523 children and teens suffered non-fatal gun injuries in 2007 and the emotional aftermath that follows. In each case it was a gun that ended or changed a young life forever.

In 2007, the USA had 33 fatal dog attacks on people. 19 were children.

I admit those figures include murder, suicides, and accidents, but all involve guns in the hands of children. I didn't see any figures on dog bites that maimed children but didn't kill them. My dogs were family pets who slept in the house and were not guard dogs. I do agree that large dogs can be dangerous with children but to compare them with guns...

OP, sorry to take your thread off topic.

I have to say that I'm suspicious of dog defending stats coming from someone called "TheBigBadWolf". I bet a lot of those "shootings" were really dog attacks. It's not uncommon for a dog to bring a throw down gun. Ever heard the phrase "clever as fox"?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Yep. Someone comes in my house uninvited and they are getting shot. Period. Of course, 'round here, the intruder has to be IN my house. I can't shoot them on my property or my doorstep, or even in my barn.

The rules vary greatly by state. Here in Texas a property owner has extraordinary latitude. We had a case where someone was legally repossessing a car. The car owner thought it was being stolen, so he shot and killed to repo man. He was no-billed. We had a fairly recent case where to men emerged from a house they were robbing in broad daylight and were shot and killed by a neighbor. He was no-billed.

My understanding is that in Texas, you can use deadly force when you think it is necessary to prevent a arson, burglary, robbery, or theft at night. You can also use deadly force to prevent someone from fleeing after a arson, burglary, robbery, or theft at night time if you think they'll get away and if you are afraid that using less than deadly force will expose you to the risk of harm. You can also use deadly force to protect yourself in many situations. You have a duty to retreat, if possible, but that duty is much less strict than in other places.

 

[uncle duck]

we live in the pacific northwest. always carry when going out fishing and/or camping. too many pot growers shooting first not bothering with questions

 

[heatherwillmom]

Someone who lives close to us had a home invasion a few months ago. It turns out, a teenager that they had as a foster child in the past was behind it. 3 robbers forced their way into the home after the home owner answered the door. They had a AK 47. The home owner had a 22 caliber pistol that he had bought for his wife. There were many shots fired. Luckily for the home owners, the only ones that hit anything, were the ones that he shot at the intruders. One died in the yard, another went to a hospital for treatment where he was arrested after his hospital stay.

 

[LisaR]

No offense, but they are right. Talk about making a bee angry. If an intruder came into your home and threatened you, your DH and your kids. . .why do they deserve rubber bullets? If they are armed, you just sealed your fate.

I grew up in a home with guns. . .we were taught how to handle them and how to respect them. My ex is German. . they don't understand that kind of gun relationship. . .so we didn't have any while we were married.

However, I have been in two situations now. . one being a mall shooting where the man that stopped the rampage was carrying. . and had a permit. . .he stopped it all! He drew and he fired. . .he was paralyzed in the exchange, but he saved a lot of people. The other, was a night a friend and his friend brought me a dryer when my went out. After wards they asked if I wanted to go have a beer at the local place. . .why not? It was dead. . the 3 of us, one young couple and the bartender. Three masked armed men came in and put a gun to the bartender's head. . .robbed the till and then asked everyone for their wallets. . .made the young lady go to the ATM and withdraw money. They then lined us all up along the wall. . .that was really when we all thought it was over. but just about that time a group of young guys tried to come in. . scuffled with the robber at the door. . .that gave my friend's friend just enough time to draw and fire. . .the robbers got away, but one of them had been shot. Unfortunately, a few weeks later the same guys robbed an armored car driver while he was at Walmart making a drop and shot him dead. I didn't know my friend's friend was carrying. . .you aren't suppose to carry in a bar here. . .but I am SO glad he was. He had a CCP, but it is still not legal in a bar. I am with those people that say that the ones that are legal and carrying are not the ones you need to worry about. . .they are the ones that just might save your *ss one day. If everybody carried openly, there would be a lot less crime.

BTW, in my state you have to have CCP to carry a concealed weapon, but you can legally open carry. . .in fact. . you can open carry on public transportation. Some people don't like it, but nobody is acting a fool and beating up on bus drivers when somebody is open carrying on the bus.

Your examples are very black and white but that isn't always the way reality works.
Could I shoot to kill if someone came into my house with the intent of causing myself or my family harm? 100% yes. However, the situation doesn't always go like this:

Bad guy breaks in, homeowner grabs gun, homeowner shoots and kills bad guy, happy ending.

What about the guy that breaks in and grabs one of your children and uses them as a human shield?

What about the homeowner that took a sleeping pill or had a great deal to drink before they went to bed and they aren't aiming well and hit their child instead of the intended target?

What about the homeowner that is simply frightened out of their mind because reality is, most people don't EVER have their homes broken into so it isn't a situation that one prepares for daily. When the situation arises, there aren't any guarantees how one will respond.

I don't want rubber bullets so I can spare the life of the poor gunman because he might just be down on his luck! I want rubber bullets because if I panic, I don't want to kill off the rest of my family and miss the gunman completely. If I got a gun (unlikely since I have made it this far in my life without one) I do not plan on spending my life becoming a perfect sharp shooter. Therefore, I recognize that I am not the ideal candidate for a gun. But how many people are like me but they still get a gun anyway?

Now, I know that everyone on the Dis that owns a gun is a highly trained marksman. But what about the rest of the country? I know people who have gotten guns because of a frightening situation they have encountered. They train for a very short period of time at the gun range and that is it. How is someone really going to defend their family when the last time they shot a gun was five years ago?

I am thrilled that your situation in the mall and bar worked out but again, how realistic is it?

My DD has a good friend that is very much into guns. His entire family goes to the range multiple times a month. If there was a mall or bar situation like you described and this family had their guns, I would feel very confident that they could do what your friend did. But how many people are like this family? I don't believe for a minute that outside the Dis world, everyone carrying a gun is an expert marksman.

Again, thrilled that your bar situation worked out for the best but there is a reason that guns are not allowed in bars. MOST people that go to a bar go there with the intent of drinking alcohol that would impair their judgment. What if your friend or another patron with a gun had been drinking heavily? Are those really the people you want firing a gun?

I am not anti-guns. I just think there are a great deal of people out there that are walking around with guns on their person or guns in their homes that have an unrealistic image of how every situation will go down and feel they are very well prepared to handle anything that comes up. Again, for those that are well trained, that might be the case. A woman that felt insecure in her work parking garage that ran out and bought a gun.....not so much.

 

[ozarkmom]

Really the only thing I have to say is the person packing with a cc permit doesn't worry me. It's the criminals that have guns and yes they will always have guns that worry me. They're not carrying to protect themselves. They plan on using their guns to commit a crime and if they have to kill someone oh well.

 

[Carly_Roach]

For the most part people who teach you to handle guns for home protection will tell you right up front, if your life is threatened or the lives of your family are threaten you need to accpt the fact that you will be shooting with deadly force and intending to kill the intruder. Do not think in the heat of the moment that you will shoot them in the leg, or wing them and hold them till the police get there. You aim center body mass and fire at least twice (double tap). To think any other way means you don't need a gun in your house for protection. Guns are a personal choice and not for everyone. I own numerous guns and am proficient with all of them. I see them as tools and take the same precautions with them I would with any other tool. I operate them safley in a cautious manner. At the end of the day my family means enough to me that the possibility of using deadly force to protect them does not bother me at all.

We never had guns in the house growing up. My father always said that the only reason for having a handgun was to kill another human being, something he'd never do and would give up his own life to avoid doing. I believe my mother has the same attitude.

FFWD to their daughter marrying a cop.

I grew up with guns in my house because my father was a police officer. Very early on my dad made sure I knew how to handle the gun in the proper way so that there wouldn't BE an accident.

Agreed. It was a bit of an adjustment to my pacifist elders but we've all accepted the fact that my DH may have to kill another human being in the course of his duties. I am still uncomfortable with his service piece being in the house and loaded, but I comfort myself with the fact that he knows what he's doing and maintains control over the weapon at all times.

He's tried taking me to the range a few times to shoot his mother's handgun but I'm not really all that into it. Too freakin' loud (even with hearing protection), the kick hurts my wrists and forearms, and I really don't like the whole idea of shooting at a human outline. Once I was able to hit the head and chest with some accuracy, DH stopped suggesting the gun range (thank God).

I don't want to ever be in a situation where I have to take another human being's life, but if the incident warrants that action then I shall ask for the grace, courage and forgiveness to pull the trigger and snuff out that life. It's not something I look forward to doing, or spend time relishing the thought that I can (physically) do it.

However, like cleaning toilets and scrubbing the garbage can when something leaked out of the bag, the idea of killing an intruder is a distasteful chore that may need to be done should that event ever happen.