Just applied for my concealed carry permit

[porsch1909]

Originally Posted by RADAR1797

See my edit, it is not impossible to get a gun in the UK.

Originally Posted by porsch1909

The majority of our regular police in the UK don't even carry a gun. Just seems like it is rather easy to get a hold of a handgun legally in the US.

That's what I mean by impossible. Of course it's not impossible to get a gun Here there are a lot more knifes around. THe police are trying to crack down on those. New laws to allow police to carry metal detectors around with them. The question I ask is what will the police do if they do find a knife. Tell them they are very bad people? Just before the person stabs them?

[porsch1909]

I used to be very anti-guns. Had an argument with a guy at another forum about it. He said that about 4million is a high estimate for the number of people who have used a gun in self defence, with a lowest estimate at 400,000 people, either way that greatly exceed the number of deaths caused by guns or accidental deaths caused by guns.

Less than 2% of guns used in crimes, in the US, are legally owned. Criminal by nature don't obey the law. If someone is going to kill someone with a gun, they will get a gun, weather it is legal or not, and kill them. They won't think 'Oh it's illegal to own a gun, I think I'll use a knife from the kitchen instead.'

[Solid Snake]

So you need no official training to carry a gun in America?

It depends on the state.

PA = no
FL = yes

[sharder8]

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

It depends on the state.

PA = no
FL = yes

Not only by state . . .

In MN, it's controlled by the city or county. In the Twin Cities, it's extremely hard to get a permit, yet in Roseau County, all you need to do is state a reasonable reason. All I had to do is tell them who my neighbor was, fill out the app, and pay the fee. Of course I also showwed them my no longer valid permits from other states.

Harder

[Daft_Ghosty]

This is a big step for you.. As said above SAFETY first.. A handgun is not a toy.. It isn't to be flashed to scare someone.. Having a CCW, and using it means that when you pull your weapon, you mean to use it.. or you better not pull it at all..

IMO a .22 is a fun gun to practice with on the range.. but it should never be used as a CCW.. You do not pull your CCW to flash it at a perp, to scare them off.. When you pull it you pull it with the intention to end another person life.. This means, you better feel that your life is in danger, and that you feel the need for deadly force is warranted.. That being said.. I'll tell you about a woman who tried to use a .22 on a home invader.. She shot the man 6 times.. He walked up to her.. took the gun, and shot her in the head once killing her.. A .22 is a squirrely caliber.. you could get lucky with one shot that bounces off a bone, and goes through the heart.. or you could pump 20 shots into a person, and they would keep coming..

The point is.. Do not buy a .22, and carry it thinking you can pull the weapon out, and bluff your way out of needing to use it.. When you pull that weapon you need to be ready to use it.. and it needs to be a weapon that can do the job. Personally for me I would carry a .38 special, or a .40 auto Both have good stopping power, without being to large, (I personally have a Ruger p89 9mm)

To obtain a CWP here in SC you have to have a SLED check on your criminal record, take a firearm safety course on handguns, and pay the fee and that is it.. You can not carry the weapon into government, and public buildings, as well into any place that serves alcohol.. and a load of other small stipulations..

[dzee]

Originally Posted by sharder8

Not only by state . . .

In MN, it's controlled by the city or county. In the Twin Cities, it's extremely hard to get a permit, yet in Roseau County, all you need to do is state a reasonable reason. All I had to do is tell them who my neighbor was, fill out the app, and pay the fee. Of course I also showwed them my no longer valid permits from other states.

Harder

so who was your neigbour? osama bin laden

[Daft_Ghosty]

Originally Posted by dzee

so who was your neigbour? osama bin laden

hehe u British chaps =)

Personally I use to live near crack ally in my neck of the woods.. Its about being safe or being dead. The mentality of criminals here in the U.S. compared to England is very different.. Here if a person is ready to use violence against you to get what he needs, he is likely to kill you so that you can't point a finger at him in a line up..

It's your life.. either protect it, or lose it.. The choice is yours.. Lucky for you though you live in England.. I'm sure it has its dangers, but nothing like the U.S. =)

but it isn't to bad.. around 100 million Americans own about 200 Million guns.. =)

[dzee]

if you live in a area with alot of drug dealers & such then you have a very good reason for having a gun especially if you have a family & that as well id imagine it could be quite frightening to live in such an area.

[Solid Snake]

Here's a scenario for the gun experts.

You're in a takeout restaraunt and you're waiting for your food when someone walks up to the counter and pulls a gun on the cashier. I know everyone will say "just give him what he wants", but there's no assurance that he won't kill the cashier and you as well. I remember a while ago on these forums somone posting about a 16 year old girl that worked at a Subway who was shot to death even after obeying the robber. I believe the law really looks down on shooting someone from behind, but would you wait to see if the robber pulls the trigger on the cashier before firing to save your own life? What about his life?

[DarkStar02]

Originally Posted by sharder8

DUH!! That's not an option sometimes Chuckie . . .

I've had permits from CA, WA, MN, and Federal, in the past. I haven't bother here in OR because I haven't had or felt a need yet.

To give you an idea as to what might justify going somewhere where you may need/feel you need a piece would be when I was living in WA. My bro-in-law lived in a bad area of Spanaway while he was stationed at McCord AFB. Whenever I took my family to visit, I carried for protection. While I was visiting him one weekend, 3 teens were shot to death, right around the corner from where we were visiting. Get this, they were shot for throwing eggs for a high school prank. I've drawn a weapon twice and would have shot to kill both times, but the other person rethought and lowered their weapon quickly. Both times, we knew each other, but if I hadn't known them, I would have shot before they had a chance to rethink.

BTW, I've been a competitive shooter and I've had years of practice and training. I don't miss and I prefer some distance when the time comes, but I will take care of business when and if the time ever comes. (I just don't think the time will come, as I tend to avoid the situations as much and whenever possible.)

Solid Snake --

A .22 is perfect for practice and training and yes, it can be an okay defense weapon when loaded with the right ammo and in the hands of someone experienced. Personally, I wouldn't carry it as a concealed weapon or even as a backup. When I carry, I carry a 9x18Mak with alternating rounds of custom factory loaded Cor-Bon and Mag-Safe's (either round is considered highly effective and the Mag-Safe is the considered probably tops in one shot incapacitation) in a FEG PA-63 and I can consistantly empty a magazine into the center of mass at 50yds in under 10 seconds from either a combat position or off-hand, left or right handed.

Best advice I can give you is:

• Safety - classes, practice, training, thinking at all times.
• Know your weapon - know it inside and out. Know how to take it completely down and put it back together. Know how to do a functions check. Don't modify your weapon unless you know what you're doing and what the consequences of the modification are. Finally, keep your weapon clean at all times.
• Practice - practice, practice, practice . . . different ranges, different positions, different distances, but always with heavy emphasis on safety.
• Time - it takes a lot of practice and work to get to where you are actually good enough and prepared to carry for protection and not get yourself killed for stupidity.
• When you first think you're ready and prepared . . . you're not ready yet, practice and think about it for a while more. Then, and only then, you'll be ready.
  
• If you ever come to the point where you're thinking about drawing, make dang sure you know the 360 you're in, then attempt to get out of the situation without drawing first. If you have no choice and don't know the person well enough to know his move, draw and shoot to kill.
• If you do draw and fire, aim for center of mass.

Harder

I love you.