U.N.: Nearly 1 Gun for Every American

AP ^ | 7/8/03 | EDITH M. LEDERER

[TC Rider]

The best gun to have, is the one you have with you.

My Mom carries a Mauser .25 in her purse. She's had it at least 60 years. She got it from my Uncle.

Uncle George was visiting another man's wife in the afternoon, he was an iceman in Louisville at a time when that made sense.

He was a truly huge man and handled 200lb blocks of ice with no problem.

He was stepping out of the back-door, when he met the husband with the .25 Mauser. The angry hubby planted a .25 in my uncles thigh, Uncle George reached out and took the Mauser away from him.

He later gave it to my Mom. I don't know if he ever had the slug removed. Uncle George passed away about 20 years ago in Albuquerque, he was always the cowboy of my Dad's family.

[AnAmericanMother]

Gosh, sort gives "the iceman cometh" a new meaning, don't it?

. . . sorry. I couldn't help myself.

[Mr. Mojo]

Bump

[Mr. Mojo]

The 870 is your best choice for 'just in case', think buckshot or slugs. Buckshot is like emptying a magazine of 9mm all at once.

Probably alot more than that. One 20 ga. buckshot shell is roughly the equivalent in energy of two .44 mag rounds. 12 ga. is much more poweful yet -- probably the equivalent of at least 6 shots from a .44 mag, which is of course considerbly more powerful than any full magazine of 9mm.

[TC Rider]

Heck, I guess it would just hurt more then.

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of number of pellets. While I would prefer to be shot by neither, I agree, I'd rather take my chances with being shot at by a 9mm handgun than a twelve guage shotgun.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The South would like to take this opportunity to thank California, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, DC and any other states that make it difficult to own guns. We get extras to help keep the average up.

Little do those people in North Carolina know, but Calfifornia without a doubt, has many times more weapons than *any* five states put together....

[NRA2BFree]

Only one? Every good home should have at least 2 sheesh. :0D

Definitely need more than two. I have one hidden in every room of my house, except my bedroom where I have a shotgun and a 38 special. Those 2 are for a potential rapist. The others are for burglars. LOL I'm very well organized. I'm very well armed. 8-)

[Mr. Mojo]

I have a shotgun and a 38 special.

Smart. Nothing deters crime quite like a shotgun -- that big hole at the end of the barrel is a frightening sight. Sometimes stupid (or drugged up) perps might regard someone with a handgun - especially a small one, held by a woman - lightly enough to attempt the crime anyway, and you might end up shooting and fighting with him. Not a desirable circumstance, to say the least. But shotguns sober BGs into complacency, most of the time.

Only problem with a shotgun is that it can much more easily be grabbed away from you than a handgun, especially if you're looking for the intruder. That's why it's always wise to carry a backup handgun (like your .38 Spl) when you're wielding the shotgun. In the event that a perp attempts to grab the shotgun away from you, you should be able to quickly draw that .38 with one hand and unload on him before he can turn the long gun on you. It's definitely something one should practice.

....But you probably know all this. Sounds indeed like you're well prepared and well armed :)

Stay safe!

[NRA2BFree]

But you probably know all this. Sounds indeed like you're well prepared and well armed :)

No, actually I didn't think about it. I'm not sure how to carry both of them at once? I live alone out in the country so I'm at risk but I installed intrusion alarms to give me the advantage. Once I know he's in that shotgun will blast him back out the way he comes in. I hope. LOL! IF somehow I miss, the 38 is right there on the night stand. By that time the SO will have been called by my alarm co. and they'll be on their way. The shotgun I keep in my bedroom is a short barrel pistol grip so there's not lots of barrel sticking out there for him to grab or do you think that is a miscalculation on my part? Thanks for the info! I do appreciate it.8-)

[Mr. Mojo]

No miscalculation at all --- the short-barrelled shotgun is the way to go. (Although I prefer a standard stock to a pistol grip. I like the control it gives me, especially for followup shots).

Here's what I would do: Keep your .38 in a high quality holster (like a Galco), either in your nightstand or on your person at all times (except when sleeping, of course). If an intruder appears in the middle of the night when you're not dressed, and you're pressed for time, just leave that .38 alone and go for the shotgun. (You can go back and get that .38 if necessary, although it probably won't be). OTOH, if the intruder appears in the day, you're appropriately dressed, and you have a little time, then grab that holstered .38 (after getting your shotgun first) and stick it in your pocket. Most likely you won't need it, but it's always wise to have a backup that you can access (draw) quickly.

It's also wise to take a tactical class that specializes in training for the type of scenarios we're discussing.

(Btw, the 158 gr. SWCHP +P "FBI load" is a very potent round for the .38 spl, if your piece can handle the high pressures).

[NRA2BFree]

I*m very sorry I didn*t get back to you before now. I got hit by a tornado this afternoon and I won*t be on much for a while. I do have other questions for you. It blew my windows out so that took care of my plan that the alarm would work. It did a lot of damage at my house and then it skipped about a mile away and took a roof off of an Alsups 7-11 story. I thought I was going to be killed. I*m very happy to be alive. I*ve got cuts and bruises but I*m just grateful to be alive. Thanks for all your help. Kristy

[<1/1,000,000th%]

"By any measure the United States is the most armed country in the world," it said. "With roughly 83 to 96 guns per 100 people, the United States is approaching a statistical level of one gun per person."

Mysteriously, we are also the most free country in the world. Hmmm...

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 7/09/2003. Thanks Mr. Mojo.

But in surprise findings, the survey found that Europeans are more heavily armed than commonly believed while there are far fewer small arms in Afghanistan...