Do you own a firearm?

January said:
What is happening in those countries??

cant speak for the others but in Australia people manage quite fine without guns t o defend their homes - or themselves.

the need t o defend yourself against other people with guns is somewhat diminished when the other people don't own guns either.
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Okay, but what do they do when it's the middle of the night and they hear someone bust in the front door, then footsteps coming down the hall toward their bedroom, and it's too late for 911 to respond to a phone call?
 
The chances of that happening are so minimal.

Never heard of anyone here wanting a gun just in case someone somehow busts through their locked door in the middle of the night and heads down the hall after them.
 
January said:
The chances of that happening are so minimal.

Never heard of anyone here wanting a gun just in case someone somehow busts through their locked door in the middle of the night and heads down the hall after them.
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It's unlikely, but I've owned the gun since 1986; it costs me nothing having it here, and poses to risk to children or anyone else, since I live alone. I suppose it brings me some peace of mind. Thanks for your input.
 
I hunt waterfowl and small game whenever the seasons are open. I have two adult sons who also enjoy hunting with their dad. They both also hunt deer and even elk when they can take time to go back to Colorado or Wyoming.

Hunting has always been part of our family traditions. It all started with my late father. He was in WWII, and he carried a M-1 rifle. He was wounded in 1945 but did recover well from his wounds, long before I was born. Growing up, his family was poor, and he hunted to help feed the family as he grew up. We now do it for sport, and we all enjoy eating what we hunt... None of us have side arms as the serve no purpose to us. If I needed to protect family from an armed intruder, my rifle or shotgun would work well for me...
 
MACKTEXAS said:
It's unlikely, but I've owned the gun since 1986; it costs me nothing having it here, and poses to risk to children or anyone else, since I live alone. I suppose it brings me some peace of mind. Thanks for your input.
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Extremely unlikely

But, sure, if it brings you peace of mind and is legal where you live and is no risk of danger to anyone else; no problem.

Was just answering your question of what people in Australia do.
 
January said:
The chances of that happening are so minimal.

Never heard of anyone here wanting a gun just in case someone somehow busts through their locked door in the middle of the night and heads down the hall after them.
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Not so fast there partner:

Recent reports confirm multiple home invasions in Australia involving malicious intent. Here are some notable incidents from 2024 and 2025, based on available information: May 26, 2025, Kingsgrove, NSW: Five armed men forced their way into a home, indicating a threatening and deliberate act.

February 10, 2025, Melbourne, VIC: A man fought back against intruders during a crime spree targeting homes in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, suggesting intent to steal or harm.

January 2, 2025, Perth, WA: A couple confronted an armed intruder dressed as a "ninja" carrying weapons, clearly showing harmful intentions.

December 27, 2024, Adelaide, SA: An intruder allegedly attacked an elderly woman during a home invasion, resulting in injuries to both the victim and the perpetrator.

December 20, 2024, Mornington Peninsula, VIC: A 24-year-old was charged with murder following a home invasion that led to two deaths, indicating severe malicious intent.

October 31, 2024, Brisbane, QLD: A man was shot by an unknown intruder during a break-in, highlighting violent intentions.

July 1, 2025, Perth, WA: Two burglars armed with a knife threatened occupants of a home in Perth’s south before fleeing, showing clear harmful intent.
July 1, 2025, Turner, ACT: A 22-year-old was arrested for a violent home invasion, found hiding under a house, suggesting intent to evade capture after a malicious act.
December 4, 2024, Western Australia: A 20-year-old armed with a machete broke into a home, resulting in a confrontation where both the intruder and occupant were injured, with the intruder later dying.

These incidents involve actions such as armed entry, assault, theft, and even murder, all pointing to "bad intentions" ranging from robbery to physical harm. Home invasions in Australia often target personal items like jewelry, money, or sporting equipment, with 2% of households (195,000) affected in 2021-22, and a slight increase noted post-COVID. Many cases involve weapons, escalating the threat to residents.
 
Sure, but most of those you listed involved people with connections to each each other. Chances of such happening randomly are extremely unlikely.

Nobody claimed there is no crime in Australia- but likewise people don't feel the need to have a gun in case somebody somehow busts through their locked door in the middle of the night. My point remains - I have never heard of anybody wanting a gun for that reason.
 
The following quotes were extracted from the link provided at the end of this post.

"a gun is possibly the most effective way to protect oneself from crime."

" . . . gun-wielding civilians in self-defense or some other legally justified cause killed between1,500 and 2,800 felons annually. The view that potential crime victims run a greater risk of injury if they are armed has been proven groundless."

"The decision about whether or not to own a handgun should be made by individual citizens rather than an overprotective government, particularly when the courts have held that governments have no legal responsibility to provide protection when a person's life is threatened."

From U.S. Department of Justice / Office of Justice Programs
 
Threads like this seem to always become contentious or have the potential to.
Why I decided not to post my Stack-On cabinet and locker that are packed full and overflow elsewhere.
Starting a thread asking if you have a firearm is about like asking do you use a condom during intimacy? ... none of your business.

muSY7rm.jpeg
 
Self defense is only one reason for owning a firearm. Growing up rual we used guns for hunting and dispatching varmints, now I no longer hunt but still have need ocassionally to get rid of a varmint.

Later in life I became very active in shooting sports, primarily clay pigeon shooting. There were days I'd shoot 400 targets, and was good enough to win trophies and money. Good times with a lot of good people, I had many years of enjoyment.

Also as a former machinist I appreciate fine quality workmanship, and intricate working mechanisms. Many guns are beautiful works of engineering and artistry, something to be appreciated. I know plenty of people who collect high quality firearms and never shoot them, they simply like to own something nice.

Then comes self defense. Living alone and fairly isolated I've taking to having a gun with me most of the time. Several times over the years I've had strangers come down my long drive, their excuse is selling asphalt or roofing, but could just be looking for places to rob. Being older now and alone I would be an easy victim if I were defenseless, and Im not going to let that happen.
 
"Public attention and legislative action have largely focused on firearm homicides and mass shootings, but suicides have been the leading cause of gun deaths for decades."

It appears folks like to buy a gun when contemplating suicide and many actually do that. It would be better to legalize MEDICAL Aid in Dying nationally and have doctors do that for patients who are suffering terminal illnesses or simply got too old to be comfortable anymore.

I believe that 11 American states have legalized Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) and so have several European nation including Switzerland and Belgium and recently the UK.
 
I inherited several from my dad. When I knew he was dying, I went and got a pistol permit so I could legally keep them even though I am no expert on firearms and barely know where the ammo comes out. There's a Browning "Sweet 16" shotgun, a WW2 souvenir Polish Radom Vis 9mm handgun and a late 1950s Ruger 22 caliber pistol. I also have a Sterling 25 gauge pistol. Here a pic of dad testing his new Ruger handgun:

dad ruger.jpg
 
GP44 said:
Yes! I started carrying in 2010 when I saw how bad things were getting here in America.
I have a morbid curiosity about countries where firearms are banned and look at what is happening in Canada, The UK and Australia.
Interesting to see how people are supposed to defend their homes without any kind of weapon.
Then I read where there are more guns In Australia now than when the ban went into effect in the late 90s. Then they point out that one guy has over 400 guns. I don’t know why they would be that far out of proportion. One guy with 400 and a few million without any gun at all.
So it isn’t as much whether we have a right to carry a weapon here in the States as it is that we have a basic right to defend our selves from the threat of death or bodily harm at the hands of an assailant.
Of course that depends on being reponsible and using good judgement.
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Hunting rifles are not banned in Canada, neither are pistols,however military type guns are, there is a limit to the types of ammo for those guns. We are thankful that Canada has sane gun laws!

Here in our little town we live in a good area and don't fear our neighbors, or anyone else for that matter.
 
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MACKTEXAS said:
The decision about whether or not to own a handgun should be made by individual citizens rather than an overprotective government, particularly when the courts have held that governments have no legal responsibility to provide protection when a person's life is threatened."

From U.S. Department of Justice / Office of Justice Programs
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yes that may be the US stance

as Warrigal pointed out earlier, is not the stance in Australia:
WA premier Roger Cook said "for the first time, Western Australia's firearms laws elevate public safety above the privilege of owning a gun”.

and rightly so, IMO
 
I have motion lights at entryways, security alarm, cameras covering the home exterior, smoke alarms, and water alarms in bathrooms and the hot water heater closet - only 2 years ago, that one went off in the night, thankfully sparing me a flooding issue.

As previously posted, I have a revolver which is maintained and fired periodically to insure it stays in working order, to protect me in case a break in / home invasion gets out of control before police have time to arrive and help.

It's interesting that some people think it will never happen to them, but I'm an unwavering believer in taking all legal and reasonable precautions allowed in MY country, "and rightly so."

"If you’ve never personally experienced a burglary, you may not realize how common it is. According to the FBI’s 2019 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the U.S. sees 3,062 daily burglaries. This jarring statistic highlights the unsettling reality of home invasions in America."

Above from FORBE'S at this link
 
MACKTEXAS said:
It's interesting that some people think it will never happen to them, but I'm an unwavering believer in taking all legal and reasonable precautions allowed in MY country, "and rightly so."
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since you used my wording in inverted commas - - like I said before- sure, do so if it is legal in your country and you feel peace of mind from doing that and nobody is at risk.

In MY country, I have never known anyone to feel the need to do that.

and since somebody asked the question about other countries, I answered saying that.
I presume he wanted an answer, since he asked a question.
 

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