going to take a conceiled weapons class. ..

“yupp, i have nothing better to do with my life. what do you all think about this? could be fun (very funny if you watch me, I have never shot a gun before)”

“You will probably get a lot of good knowledge and training out of it and have some fun as well. I personally think that teaching about gun laws, gun safety, and owner responsibility from professionals is a good thing.”

“What Phil said. You're going about it the right way. Have fun!”

“Are you planning on sneaking up on some prey?

I thought guns were for hunting?

Hypocrites!”

“A good handgun for concealing would be a Desert Eagle. Just make sure you don't eat alot when you stick it in your pants.”

“Phrases you will NOT learn in gun safety class:

Dead men tell no tales.

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.

Never bring a knife to a gun fight.

Smith and Wesson always beats 4 aces.

Gun control means using two hands.

Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again.”

“It's my personal opinion that should you desire to own a gun, you should be taught it's proper use, but first & most important....safety. I also hope that should you choose to become a gun owner that you have a secure safe (bolted down) to lock it up in. I carry a gun for my job, so I have to qualify with it every year.
Using a gun for self defense can be a legal nightmare, but agree with it's use for your family's protection in your home. You should clearly identify your target before you shoot as you don't want to shoot an unexpected guest that is welcome in your home or family member. Be carefull of the ammo you choose that it doesn't penetrate walls into your kids or neighbors rooms.”

“I am more then careful. (some say I am too carefull) hubby owns guns for years. I made him bring the guns to his mom because he wasn't careful enough (kids and stuff). Belive me, if I own a gun it will be locked up, it will be seperated from the bullets. Nothing worth then a gun in the home that is not secured.

I always was scared of guns, don't ask me what bit me when I decided to take this class. Just like you all said, it's going to be a good thing though. Hopefully this will show me that guns are not as bad once you know how to handle them and to secure them.

I am really excited. Not sure though if I will ever carry it with me.”

“Gemini, I think you are approaching this wisely.

Ultra, are you on a trolling frenzy tonite?”

“Good for you . That is exactly how to approach the problem. Training and practice, learn safe habits from experts .”

“Those are good words to live by Prosecutor.

8)”

“I think you actually have to be able to spell "conceal" before you can apply for one. ;-)”

“Texan wannabes...........welcome”

“You'll shoot your eye out.”

“"Belive me, if I own a gun...it will be seperated from the bullets."
Gemini
07:16:16 PM
01/30/03

In that case, all you will have will be an expensive (and ineffective) club. But I laud your decision to seek professional training.”

“YOU HAVE EATEN FROM THE ALLPLE TO YOUNG FRIEND”

“What's an allple???”

“BAD SPELLING”

“apple apple apple,,, new laptop haven't quite got it down yet”

“So you'll be packin' some heat, eh?”

“Smart to take some training. I did it when I was a kid. In MT the offer gun safety classes for kids. That's why you don't hear about alot of us shootin' our eyes out or blow our brother's foot off and stuff.”

“yeah, yeah, yeah...some of you just can't stop dogging those Germans. sorry, but my spelling isn't perfect yet. Why don't you try to write in German. ;)

anyway, I understand that it is kind a rediculious to keep the bullets seperate from the gun, but I do have kids, and I am NOT taking the risk. If you know what I mean...

The bullets don't need to be in another room. Gosh! :) Anyway, the pamplet I have read did "speak" about this issue, and noted not to put the bullets in the same case as the gun.

Just like i said, I am going to take the class, maybe I will learn more about gun safty, maybe I am over reacting, maybe I am not.

gun safty classes for kids are cool. Wonder if they have them here. For now, I didn't even tell my kids that I take those classes. If I get the gun, I probably won't tell them either.”

“"Why don't you try to write in German. ;)"
Gemini
11:37:32 PM
01/30/03

In diesem Fall haben Sie nur einen kostspieligen (und erfolglosen) Knüppel. Aber ich genehmige Ihre Bemühung, professionelles Anweisung
zu suchen.
Ja bin ich vom deutschen Geschlecht. :-)”

“Show off.

:-)”

“Did Father Goose just say "free sauerkraut for everyone"?”

“And free beer, too! ;-)”

“I am interested in taking a gun class also. I don't own one, never have, maybe never will, but I want to understand better what the options and issues are.

And if I am ever in a situation where I think my family's safety is threatened, I sure will want to still have the right to have a gun, and I will want to know how to use it.”

“fritz, i could've not said it better myself.

father goose: not bad!”

“Danke sehr!”

“bitteschoen!! :D

fritz: what I was trying to say was: I am not really thinking about buying a gun. I want to know how to use it. I am strange like that, so it could be that after I have the class completed, i'll run to the store to by me a weapon. I really don't know for sure yet. I guess that's why I am a gemini...never know what's going to happen next”

“Father Goose is correct, an unloaded gun is an "ineffective club".

IF you decide to have/carry a firearm the objective is for it to be readily accessible to you in a loaded state, but inaccessible to ANYONE else including your kids and their visiting friends.

You may find that the concealed weapons class deals more with legal than hands on practise. Proximity, means and intent, and what to do AFTER you have fired. That tired old saying about dragging them inside and put a kitchen knife in their hand is so illegal and so stupid, but there are things you do need to do. #1 would be having the number of a lawyer who deals in firearms related cases as handy as the gun.

Concealed weapon means a handgun, home defense is best with a shotgun. Concealed implies the gun is to be carried not locked in a safe.

A firearm is a tool which is dangerous if misused, sort of like a chainsaw. I am a State Hunter safety instructor and in this State we cite 3 rules that if followed means you will never have an accident.
#1. Treat every gun as if it is loaded. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun.
#2. Point the barrel in a safe direction. This requires thought, where is safe here, or safest, up is not good on the ground floor of an apartment building, down is not good on a concrete floor.
#3. Be sure of your target, and what is behind the target. Bullets do not magically stop when they hit something and they seldom go straight after hitting something.

That takes care of accidents, intentional firing is a whole different scene. Police have to face this frequently, when do you pull out the gun. Too late and the person is now wrestling with you for control of the gun. Too soon and you with face charges for threatening them with a gun, no one gives better 'victim' cries than a scuzball.

Unfortunately people who are afraid of guns, such as yourself who insisted on your husband removing his guns from the house, have set a political climate that a person with a gun is someone who is somehow flawed. Many prosecutors think that gun owners are a bigger danger to society than the predators and will lock a person up for defending themself while letting the scuzball out on bail. Might pay to check on the disposition of cases in your area where a firearm was used for defense to see the arguments that were used and what details decided the cases either for or against.”

“#1 would be having the number of a lawyer who deals in firearms related cases as handy as the gun

I was going to say this as well. Also, ~$20K wisely invested would be a big comfort after you are forced to take a life in self defense. I know a guy (well, on the Internet) who shot 2 would-be armed robbers on the street and paid around $25K on legal defense. Also keep in mind that taking a life can leave life-long mental/emotional troubles, as well. For example, the guy I just mentioned eventually went through a divorce because his wife - who was with him at the time - couldn't handle the fact that he killed, and because of both their resultant emotional trauma.

Concealed Carry should never be taken lightly.”

“Who would want to be a Texan?”

“Here I sit, my buns a flexin', just gave birth to another ...”

“don't hide your dreams with opposite comments”

“FG, I didn't know you were from the German gender”

“sounds like you went to Texas with your flap down.........on purpose?”

“Texas is Mexico's 32nd state.”

“Baja Oklahoma....”

“Good for you, Gemini. Do what you need to protect you and your family. But what did Father Goose write???”

“Ill never forget the day when I told my wife and kids...

"all the guns in this house are loaded"

She about hit the roof. Then I expained Manuka's #1 rule. Then my wife and daughters understood.

None of my guns are loaded, and they are all in a gun safe.”

“Good idea Gemini. One of the things you will learn is that good shooting requires relaxation as you learn to hold the sight picture and gently squeeze the trigger. It is the opposite of combat shooting, but a necessary step in learning proper shooting technique.

I have used my air pistol in the basement to relax in the evening. By the time I've fired of 10-20 shots, I've put the stress of the day behind me.”

“I can not stress enough that I am not having a gun yet. Yes, I am scared of guns,but hey, I was scared riding my bike too a long, (LOOOOONG) time ago. I will learn and hopefully get over my fear (I am pretty sure I will).

Also, IF I ever decide to purchase a gun, that does not mean I will run the streets like a maniac.(or shoot the walmart cashier because she forgot to remove the magnetic stripe once again). Gosh!!! :)

I am 39 years old, I do think I am responsible enough if it ever would get to the point where I would purchase a gun.

I know that an unloaded gun is not more then a bat, but hey, that should just show you that I am not intending to use a weapon any time soon.

If I do decide to buy a gun, and I decide to lock it up without it being loaded, I think I still have time enough to load. It takes how long to load a gun? 5 seconds? bullets in the dresser next to my bed, gun somewhere close, but locked up. That's what I was thinking...

BUT just like I said, I have no clue what I am doing, at least not yet. I WILL LEARN!!!”

“I like a small (solid metal/not insul.fire) 4 sided key safe under my bed. I leave my loaded gun there in easy reach. I leave my car keys in the door, so that I cannot forget to lock it up if I don't bring it with me.

Wear ear/eye protection. My first shooting was inside a darkened building. When I fired my .357, I learned that I lost my night vision from the muzzle flash & my hearing from the blast.

I haven't been interested in guns in some time, but recently purchased another as I liked my partner's 2 shot derringer that fires .410 shotgun shells (or .45 long colt). I keep it in my pocket & I'll fire it thru my pocket if need be. I used to use a mauser Hsc in .380, but discarded it on reliability difficulties.”

“Wow! And the Catskills used to be such a safe place!!! (j/k)!”

“Catsk - that derringer with the .410 shells sounds impressive! I always thought derringers were too small to hold anything larger than a bullet.”

“Sounds like that might kick a little.”

“I hope this doesn't make my parents seem like idiots, but we had loaded pistols and rifles in our home when I was a child. They were unlocked and easily accessible in my parent's closet. We (as in kids) NEVER, NOT EVEN ONE TIME, touched them. I know it is safest to have them locked up and unloaded, but we were told not to do it and we never did. We were also taught that they were not a topic for discussion w/ friends. Not one of us ever spoke to our friends about them when they were over. It was never a curiousity issue. Partially, due to the fact, that we spent alot of time practicing the proper way to handle them w/ our father and uncle. We had a chance to witness what they could do, see that it was real, and that it was a weapon, not a toy. Education is the first step in every area of life.

P.S. I'm not trying to argue that guns should be left out for children, I'm just demonstrating that my parent's education type approach to firearms worked well in our home.”

“ I'm just demonstrating that my parent's education type approach to firearms worked well in our home.

Agreed. My dad had his shotgun loaded, cocked, and unlocked in his bedroom. Us kids *never* touched it because he taught us the dangers of it.”

“.410 shells are not that large. About the same diameter as a .45 is right, a bit smaller.

If you use the right stance you can absorb the recoil.

Gemini, you will take the course and you will do fine. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

You will learn to change your fear of firearms into a healthy respect. It is a lethal weapon, but there are safety steps that will prevent accidental discharge. It is the people who do not follow the safety steps who shoot accidentally.

I believe firmly that children should be given firearms safety courses, particularly if there are guns in the house, locked up or otherwise. For one thing, it takes away the element of mystery, which I think is a large part of the reason kids are attracted to firearms. When they learn proper handling and using a firearm only under supervision of an adult, and when they get the opportunity to actually fire it and shoot at targets, they are more likely to respect the power it has.”