Firearms

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 30, 2015

I don't really care whether the bullet that kills me came from a good person's gun or a bad person's gun. The bottom line for me is that I am safer with fewer bullets flying around.

Believe it or not, I think most people, be they criminal, law enforcement, military, or regular folks would tend to agree...

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 30, 2015

Why is it that anyone feels the need to carry at all? I realize that this is a choice, however, I find it disturbing that people have the illusion they're safer carrying a weapon.

Have you ever been sitting on the toilet answering natures call and had a huge man bent on rape or robbery, or both, violently kick in the stall door?

Watching that man's look of anger turn suddenly to fear, and observing his very quick about face and leaving the scene in a squeal of tires because, on kicking in the door he finds not a helpless victim, but himself staring into the business end of a revolver may change your mind.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Sep 30, 2015

Have you ever been sitting on the toilet answering natures call and had a huge man bent on rape or robbery, or both, violently kick in the stall door?

Have you? :what:

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 30, 2015

Have you? :what:

Yes, that is my story. Happened in a gas station bathroom in Truth Or Consequences New Mexico. I was 16 years old and one of a group of four 15, 16 & 17 year old boys who were driving from Southern California to Arkansas to go boar hunting with my grandfather.

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2015

I must be some people's nightmare then. Between my son and I, we have 18 guns in the house and card and person. we have everything from revolvers ND semi autos to rifles, shotguns and semi auto " assult" gun. In fact I recently purchased Thompson sub mchine gun from WWII era. The sicker kicks... As for carrying, you can count on me having. gun in my vehicle at ll times and you will never know if I m concealed carrying or not because the is the whole idea.

Farawyn · Sep 30, 2015

I must be some people's nightmare then. Between my son and I, we have 18 guns in the house and card and person. we have everything from revolvers ND semi autos to rifles, shotguns and semi auto " assult" gun. In fact I recently purchased Thompson sub mchine gun from WWII era. The sicker kicks... As for carrying, you can count on me having. gun in my vehicle at ll times and you will never know if I m concealed carrying or not because the is the whole idea.

Yes. I would say you are.

Farawyn · Sep 30, 2015

Yes, that is my story. Happened in a gas station bathroom in Truth Or Consequences New Mexico. I was 16 years old and one of a group of four 15, 16 & 17 year old boys who were driving from Southern California to Arkansas to go boar hunting with my grandfather.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 30, 2015

Why is it that anyone feels the need to carry at all? I realize that this is a choice, however, I find it disturbing that people have the illusion they're safer carrying a weapon.

A sentiment or two among those that carry weapons every day is one of: "when seconds count, police are minutes away..." and "I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop (or Chuck Norris) in my pocket." It is unfortunate, but it is generally true that violent crimes (including those involving lethal force) are over within a couple minutes and before Law Enforcement has even a chance of responding. Also, I am responsible for my own safety. Unless a specific promise is made to extend law enforcement protection to an individual person, there is no requirement that law enforcement provide protection to anyone. You read that right: Law Enforcement has a responsibility to protect society at large, not the individual. They will try to protect you if they can, but if they can't, they won't be held liable for it.

I live in California. In my county, about 5 years ago there were less than 1,000 people with CCW licenses. Now there are close to 7,000. Here's an interesting statistic: At the end of 2014, violent crime and murder rates were at a 40 year LOW in my county. Since Prop 47 took effect, crime has increased about 25%. Certain violent crimes have also increased, but murders haven't. That's an increase off of the 40 year low. While about 7,000 more firearms are out in public in the area, that part hasn't contributed significantly to increased crime rates. Prop 47, however, certainly seems to have done that instead, according to a significant number of Sheriffs in the State.

What's Prop 47? Well, it changed certain Felony crimes to misdemeanors, forced "realignment" of the prison population to county jails and release of many inmates from prison and jail.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2015

I sort of understand the logic, however.....the same sentiment is true for those of us who do not carry guns. Meaning, there is always a level of risk involved and police are not on the scene to protect.

Many still do not carry despite the risk of crime.

To answer your question above, no I have not been in any situations yet where a weapon would have saved me. That sounds horrifying.

meowmeowchirp, BSN · Sep 30, 2015

As a Canadian I always find these threads horrifying. I cannot imagine anyone coming to work armed.

Seriously. The paranoia all you people with guns (excluding hunting), especially with you CC, have is truly frightening. How sad is must be to live like that.

Dogen · Sep 30, 2015

But if they can't see it and don't know about it, I don't see the issue and clearly Texas does not either. I would still not carry concealed on my person though. For safety reasons that's not a good idea. But I will be packing in my purse. Thought you all would find that interesting. God bless Texas!

Texas is kind of the barometer of where someone stands on gun issues. Both sides - people who are advocates for gun rights and those that want stricter controls - point to Texas and say, "See what Texas just did?" One group in praise, and the other in bewilderment.

Dogen · Sep 30, 2015

We actually have more to fear from the LEO than we do the typical CCW holder. Why? Law Enforcement as a group commits crimes at higher rate than CCW holders do, as a group. LEOs, as a group, also shoot the wrong person more often. It's been shown over and over that CCW holders tend to be among the most law-abiding people around.

Do you have data to support any of this? Not that I necessarily doubt you - within the gun debate you can pretty easily find a study that says anything - I've just never heard "CCW holders tend to be amongst the most law-abiding people around." I'm not even sure how you'd study that... does it include every law? Do CCW holders use their indicators before changing lanes more often than non-CCW holders? Do they make fewer illegal U-turns? I've read research that people who drive with guns in their cars are more likely to report engaging in aggressive (and sometimes illegal) driving behavior. But that's not CCW, right?

I don't mean to be car-specific. There are a lot of laws out there. Do CCW holders follow all of them more closely than those of us without CCWs? Do you jaywalk less? Open other people's mail less? Do you join office betting pools or play poker with your friends less? Do CCW holders speed less than non-CCW holders? Do you guys wear your seatbelts more, or pee in the woods less? Help me out here.