If you had owned a gun....

[Spexxvet]

If you had owned a gun, would it ever have prevented you from getting raped or mugged? We read MrNoodle's story that he believes just seeing his gun made his allegedly would-be attackers flee. Has your owning a gun ever stopped an attacker? Were you packing when this happened? Did you shoot someone? Did they die from the gunshot wounds that you inflicted? Did you brandish your gun before the violence started? If you did, how were you sure that violence was about to ensue? Were you protecting your physical safety? Were you ensuring that you retained your posessions? If violence had already started, were you able to use your gun effectively? Was your gun ever taken from you? Was your gun legal? Was your attacker armed? With what weapon? Have you ever prevented an attack using a weapon other than a firearm?

Let's see some stories!

[LabRat]

The Cellar is gettin' pretty big, could you link to Noodles story please? Thanks!

[Spexxvet]

Sure

When I was in Merced, CA, I was at the motel unloading my stuff. Because of the value of the items I was carrying in my vehicle, I carried a gun whenever transporting them. I took my suitcase up to the room, and when I returned, 2 guys approached my truck from different angles. One hopped over the fence by the pool and came from the rear, and the other was already peeking in the back windows when I came around the corner, so I don't know where he came from.

I'm normally pretty friendly to people when travelling, but these guys were up to no good. I said "how's it going" and started around to the passenger side to get the vehicle between me and them. They both moved to block me in, then suddenly they didn't seem interested in me at all. They took off running (literally) in 2 different directions. The reason? I had a Glock 21 on my hip that they apparently hadn't seen because of the stuff I was carrying in.

There was no cowboy music playing, I didn't feel like a tough guy nor did I feel overly freaked out or anything. I just went around to the desk and told the woman there that there were a couple of guys casing her customers. I dunno if she ever called the cops or not, or even if she understood me. I never saw the guys again, and the rest of the month went by without incident.

Did I "make the country a safer place" or "blahblahblah reduce crime blahblahblah"? No. But the presence of a weapon kept me from being a victim. And I don't care for people telling me that they don't think I should have that right. If other people are misusing their rights, take it up with them. I have nothing to do with it.

from page 16 of this thread.

[glatt]

If you are looking for anecdotal evidence, the only one I have is that my grandfather was a gun owner. His home was robbed once when he wasn't home (lived out in the country in an isolated location) and the thieves took their time taking all his good stuff, including all his guns. The result was that his guns didn't protect him and they are now in the hands of criminals.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by glatt

...Wait. I have another story that I can't really tell in detail. Let me be vague. ...

You could tell me, but then you'd have to kill me?

[Cloud]

not ever been raped or mugged, how would I know?

[Hoof Hearted]

Not me, but it affected me as a child and left a lasting impression.

Many years ago, Mother and her fiance took my younger sis and I (ages 8 and 11) to a state park for a day of fresh air and picnicing at Frank Raines State Park, up in the foothills of the California farmlands along the San Juaquin Valley. We stayed all day, playing in the playground, hiking some trails and catching polliwogs in the creek. We had sandwiches for lunch and for dinner Bill fired up a BBQ and made steaks to go with some side dishes Mom had brought. We thought it was a treat to have such a grand meal outdoors!

It was after dark when we finished eating and we were lounging on two huge quilts layed side-by-side and illuminated by Bill's coleman lantern. Mom & Bill were reclined, snuggling and talking while Sis and I were coloring in books with crayons and such. We shared the park with a few other visiters during the day, but by dusk, we were the only ones left.

I noticed a change in voice tone between Mom and Bill and looked up to see two young men (early/mid 20s?) approaching us out of the dark. No vehicle had pulled into the lot or driven past on the road at the bottom of the hill. As they approached, Bill reached his hand under a nearby quilt corner and the "snick" of the safety being released was clearly heard in the night.

The two men immediately stopped approaching. One commented about 'how safe the sound of a gun sounded' to him. I have always remembered that comment because I found it a strange thing for a person on the other end of a gun to say. They chit-chatted for about a minute more and then left.

Were they up to no good? I am certain of it.
I don't want to speculate about what could have, or would have, happened without having had that gun available...but I am certain the "snick" curtailed any thoughts of mayhem with us that night.
hh

[Hippikos]

The idea of picnicking with a gun ready under a quilt boggles ones mind.

How far was Bill from shooting probably innocent people? If the guys had bad intentions bullets would have been exchanged already.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Hippikos

If the guys had bad intentions bullets would have been exchanged already.

This statement boggles the mind. I suppose it at least speaks to your good character that you have absolutely no freaking clue how a criminal thinks or acts.

[LabRat]

Thank you for the link, I'd have never found it!

I grew up with my father's guns locked in a glass front gun cabinet in our basement den. We as a family spent a lot of time in there, because that's where the TV with cable was. I believe there was a handgun in my parent's bedroom as well, but I don't recall aver finding or playing with it. The gun cabinet had maybe 4 shotguns and some other handguns and black powder rifles, as well as some ammunition in the locked drawers. I honestly don't remember much because I guess they were just part of the background. He would take them out shooting occasionally, and I went along some of the time. When his brother commited suicide (only sib, shotgun to the head) he inherited their father's gun collection, which included some antiques and ones with personal value. My brother and I were taught gun safety and respect. Mostly with the fear of a beating like we'd never seen if we messed with them when he wasn't around .

fastforward to ~5 years ago:

I'm married and out of the house. My dad is dead, my brother is living at home with mom, and hanging out with some real winners. My mom calls one day to tell me the house had been broken into, and low and behold, guess what the main target was.

None of the guns have been recovered, to my knowledge.

Bottom line. Guns first in hands of responsible owner. Owner dies, leaving irresponsible wife in charge. Guns now in the hands of ???

My husband's guns are in a fireproof gun safe with combination lock. That was the law I laid down once our child was born. An unbreakable-into safe. Actually it's nice, cause it's fireproof, and doubles as our safety deposit box for important stuff.

I have never been involved with any incidents regarding guns. We don't keep any in the house out of the safe, so they wouldn't do us any good in the case of a break-in. I want to learn to properly shoot our handguns, but it hasn't been a priority.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Has your owning a gun ever stopped an attacker?

While sitting at an intersection at a red light behind several other cars some years ago, a guy walked up to my window, banged on it, and made the "get out of the car" motion. It surprised me so much I rolled the window down a bit thinking he wanted change, but instead was yelled at to get out of the car. The guy seemed enraged. I'm not sure why, but at that moment I felt the need to proceed calmly and even said "just a moment" before I opened the glove box to retrieve my HK. The moment I had my hand on the grip, his arms lifted into the air and he quickly walked away.

Does that mean having a gun in the car managed to scare away a possible carjacker? Maybe, although I would have felt a lot more threatened had he approached the passenger side. He clearly wanted the car, not me. Was it the right thing to do? Absolutely not, especially given Florida state law at the time.

Would I repeat the same action when placed in that situation again? You bet.

[Hoof Hearted]

Originally Posted by Hippikos

How far was Bill from shooting probably innocent people? If the guys had bad intentions bullets would have been exchanged already.

Bill was a former city policeman and quite schooled in the use of guns and how to deal with the 'criminal element'. I'm sure if they started something, Bill would have finished it, but having the gun available and ready meant he was prepared. They obviously were not...
These characters approached us out of the dark, in a State park in the late 70s wearing t-shirt, jeans and probably workboots. They were tall and lanky, hair about medium/short length, not too scraggly looking...I guess I thought they looked 'okay', not scary or out-of-place if I'd seen them somewhere else.... I seriously doubt they had weapons, certainly not guns, but perhaps they wanted to intimidate a family and rob them for fun or drug money?

I distinctly remember not feeling scared at all. I knew Bill would take care of us.
hh

[Ronald Cherrycoke]

If you had owned a gun, would it ever have prevented you from getting raped or mugged?


Certainly can`t hurt................

[Hippikos]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

This statement boggles the mind. I suppose it at least speaks to your good character that you have absolutely no freaking clue how a criminal thinks or acts.

Can't imagine you have. Do you really think bad guys will approach you openly in t-shirts? Of course they stopped immediately cause they were the ones who got scared. All the rest is just guessing.

Hoof Hearted; just the idea of picknicking with a gun ready is just unheard of overhere, I expect that in countries like Russia, Cheznia, Iraq but not in the US.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Hippikos

Do you really think bad guys will approach you openly in t-shirts?

Will, and have.

Jesus Christ man, a t-shirt is a t-shirt. Everyone from homeless people to millionaires wears t-shirts. What do you think they should be wearing, ninja outfits?