I think a bolt action .22 or .30-06 would fit Nexxo. Purely for utilitarian purposes such as rabid coyotes or other varmints. You have to take care of your own problems in rural areas.
Reminds me of a bumper sticker that my father likes "An armed society is a polite society." However, I don't how much truth there is to that. Crime will be there regardless of what weapon it's done with. In Australia it's almost impossible to own a gun unless you're a farmer or a police officer. While gun-related crime may have decreased, stabbings and bashings have increased. It always seems like Americans see a firearm as some sort of accessory. If people want to protect themselves, their families and their homes - they might want to think about installing an alarm system.
Alarms are great but you still have to wait for the police to arrive. A burglar might leave after hearing the alarm but that isn't always the case. An alarm and a large dog accompanied by a gun/baseball bat/OC spray is better than a frightened phone call if you ask me. If you're uncomfortable with a gun you should atleast have some other means with which you can defend yourself. A gun is easier to master than krav maga, though.
I can agree with your sentiments .308AR, but I don't think it helps that people are allowed to own serious weaponry. As said above, many burglaries are simply opportunistic things, not planned robberies. Another point is, if someone breaks into your house, he might just be someone who's fallen off the rails somewhat, and needs a helping hand to get straight again; not someone hell-bent on killing your wife and children then stealing all your worldly posessions. If you come charging out at him with a handcannon, he might do something stupid under pressure.
I'm with you .308AR in the issue of layers of defense. Again, maybe I'm a nut, but my house has: barred windows, no alarm (yet), big dog (she's friendly but barks her head off at anything), baseball bats, knives, rifle (SKS), and personal knowledge of several martial arts. Both of my parents are competent shots and though getting on in years have enough in them to give someone a wollop. I take personal and family security seriously. And I live in a safe neighborhood where the worst crime has been some vandalism by high-school kids. Yes, I feel American society does treat firearms too lightly and people do act the way that you have described, Krikkit, far too often. But I still feel that a "better safe than sorry" approach is best.
I say this will all the respect to those who died in WW2 and mean no negative slams, but do you think the Nazi SS would have thought twice about some of the attrocities they did if they knew that their victems were armed AND would fight back? It is not the robbers and the criminals on the street that we fear in America, it is the corrput politicians and police. Freedom of this country was won by the fact that people may have been afraid to fight a powerful foe (England) but they wanted their freedom more than they wanted the crown. A day is coming when America will remember that desire for freedom and when they do, the gods (which ever one you wish to invoke in name) forbid that they ever gave up their right to own a firearm. Politican prefer their slaves unarmed. The day a politican fears for his life because of a corrupt decision he/she made will be the day that freedom will ring out loud and clear. I will not forget the sacrifice that those who died to give me the freedom I have today. Wolf
No, they would not have thought twice. They would have used scare tactics, mob mentality, and bigger guns to achieve their purpose. That, with an apathetic (not necessarily unarmed) public, would have allowed the atrocities to happen. I think it's interesting that when a person is questioned as to why he owns a gun, his first answer is usually, "to protect my home from criminals." Indeed, most of this thread has centered around home security, and protecting one's family from burglars. That said, I do think the 2nd Ammendment was written with protection from the government in mind. Perhaps we should put more time and effort into educating instead of arming the masses, encouraging them to make informed decisions and not vote according to personal beliefs (i.e. all democrat, all republican, all white, etc.). If we elect competent leaders, we won't have to worry about gunning them down for making corrupt decisions. -monkey
The Warsaw and Białystok Ghetto Uprisings didn't stop the Nazi's but at least those Jews got to die on their feet. Why do I own a gun? In order of importance: To protect my family, myself, my property, and my country. Hunting and sporting uses come last. I won't look it up for you but read what the founding fathers said about firearms/2nd amendment. Protection from government is just one part. Being uninformed isn't a problem I have. I know, I know...how can an "informed" person believe what I believe? Scary... A competent leader...that's a good one.
Not to worry, .308, I've done a fair bit of research about the 2nd Ammendment. After reading quite a bit of the background information (including the interesting parts about the Congressional scribes changing the grammar at will), I've come to the conclusion that the core intent was to protect the ability to arm against a tyrannical government. Maybe my position has't been entirely clear: I'm not saying that you shouldn't be able to own a gun. In as much as some have made it clear that they would build arsenals in their houses if they could, I'm simply stating that I take the opposite stance. I choose not to weild a gun, and I feel just as safe when I lock my doors at night. -monkey
As long as you're not aiming to get every gun confiscated by the government I have no problem with your viewpoint. It's the people who do that make me angry.
Spider, I respect your beliefs. I also respect your RIGHT to have them. I hope that push never comes to shove and you do not have to tell a loved one, "lets wait for the police." I could never do that. If someone is in my home (illegally) there is no question as to my action. Wether that person needs a simple hand up in life, the moment he comes into my home I have my mate and my children to put first before his potential needs. I am active in my communtity and with aiding others. But what I fear most is the day the FBI or some other illegal govenrment agency, thanks to King George's Patriot act and his illegal position on "terrorist enemy combatants", which to me smakes way to much of Nazi germany's government, coming into my home becaue I happen to speak out against the corruption of this government and demand that it be held accountable, coming into my home do declair me an enemy combatant so that I can not have my Constatutional right to a fair and speedy trial given to me. Our current form of government has become no better than the Nazi government. Perhaps Hitlers vision did survive. Harsh words but lets face it. I am allowed that right to believe that way. Its part of what the founding fathers fought risked and some died for. It is too bad we Americans have forgotten that some times it takes a little revolution to bring about a government "of the people, for the people and by the people." I respect your desires to have faith in the system. But in all honesty thats kinda like having faith that Windows ME would not blue screen ever.
Gee, oddly enough, I have a number of ME boxes, and they never BSOD, and that includes the always-on fileserver Otherwise, I generally agree with you, That said, we do, as a society, pay a price in lives for our choice to allow widespread gun ownership. I think this price is justified, but many do not. There is a deeper fundamental difference of opinion when it comes to guns that is based on perceptions of power conferred by a gun, but I don't have time to go into that now.
