#ONELESSGUN

[Econoline]

Disabling your own gun, that you would never have used for an evil purpose, is the height of meaningless idiocy...

It doesn't even rise to the level of "futile gesture"...

If you really want to destroy a gun in a way that will have meaning and a positive social impact, go destroy the gun of a gang banger...

Yeah, why do one small thing that you actually personally *CAN* do when you can fantasize about doing something that you know you personally *CAN'T* do? Yes, it's mostly symbolic--except for the publicity it got-- but the point, clearly stated by the author, is this:

I know I will no longer allow myself to be used as a justification for doing nothing.

Maybe cutting up a perfectly good gun is just a symbolic gesture... But at the very least, there is ONE LESS GUN.

ONE LESS GUN that might be stolen and used by someone else "for an evil purpose." ONE LESS GUN that might be used by a family member or friend to commit suicide. ONE LESS GUN that might someday (who knows when or by whom) be handled irresponsibly with an accidental tragic result. ONE LESS GUN that the NRA can claim, falsely, to be "protecting".

[Lord Jim]

except for the publicity it got--

Yes, it's like he put a big sign on his lawn saying:

"Attention Home Invaders! No Guns Here"

[Econoline]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it pretty strange that so many people spend so much time worrying about home invaders. Frankly, over the course of my entire life, I'm sure I've literally spent less time worrying about home invaders than I've spent worrying about getting struck by lightning.

At least he knows for sure that that gun is never going to be stolen by a burglar and used in a homicide or any other crime. And all those worrisome home invaders will never know until it's too late whether he's got a machete, a baseball bat, a taser, or a can of pepper spray. (Or, for that matter, whether he was really telling the truth about having no other guns in his house... )

[Big RR]

I think you have something there econo; while home invasion does exist, I have never had one in my home or even known anyone who has. I have had friends who had their homes burglarized and robbed while they were not home, but never anyone who had someone break in and terrorize them. Yes it does happen, but it is, thankfully, rare (and I doubt that is because they are afraid of being shot by the homeowner--statistics have shown that in the majority of cases, if the homeowner pulls a gun (s)he is disarmed and many times the weapon is used on them). In fact, I read a while back that the majority of police officers (who are much more likely to come into contact with these violent criminals) never draw or fire their gun except on the shooting range.

[Sue U]

As a general rule, burglars do not want to break into residences where people are at home, simply because it presents too much hassle, too much chance of things going wrong and too much chance of getting caught. Why risk a confrontation if all you want is cash and jewelry?

So unless you take your gun with you wherever you go, if your home is burglarized then owning a gun merely gives the burglar an additional piece of property he can steal and sell or use for his own later crimes. The opportunities to actually use a gun for self defense in a "home invasion"-type crime are vanishingly small, especially when compared to the much greater likelihood that the gun will be accidentally discharged or otherwise mishandled, stolen or even used against the owner during a crime.

[Big RR]

Yes, it's kind of like kidnapping by strangers (where there is no custody dispute) or white slavers, etc. It does occur, but it's not something common enough for policy to be based on.

[rubato]

As a general rule, burglars do not want to break into residences where people are at home, simply because it presents too much hassle, too much chance of things going wrong and too much chance of getting caught. Why risk a confrontation if all you want is cash and jewelry?

So unless you take your gun with you wherever you go, if your home is burglarized then owning a gun merely gives the burglar an additional piece of property he can steal and sell or use for his own later crimes. The opportunities to actually use a gun for self defense in a "home invasion"-type crime are vanishingly small, especially when compared to the much greater likelihood that the gun will be accidentally discharged or otherwise mishandled, stolen or even used against the owner during a crime.

Excellent point.

A burglar who knows you have a gun is more motivated to break in than one who knows you don't.


Home invasions (as mentioned by others as well) are very rare events and unless the gun was loaded and next to you it is unlikely you would be able to use one to defend yourself successfully.

The fact that gun nuts always mention home invasions is evidence of the fact that, to them, guns are magic totems.


yrs,
rubato

[wesw]

at least every machinist in the country and any geek with a good enough 3-d printer can make their own guns if necessary....

hell I could make one that would work well enough in a pinch.

where the heck do you get saltpeter anyway?

that s the only ingredient that I can remember in black powder...

sheesh, I m just a guy with a shotgun who believes in the bill of rights, imagine how the real gun nuts feel.....

[Crackpot]

You should know you produce it on a regular basis.