Congratulations On Becoming a Gun Owner

I know that background checks on gun sales are backed up 4 days where they usually take a half hour at most, and it's reported that most purchases of firearms are people who've not owned a gun before, so I figured I'd put this out there, make of it what you will. Lot of first time gun owners, might be you.

I'm probably not the best person to talk about firearms for personal self defence, I'm more of the "get gone before the situation gets bad" kind of person, and it has served me well over a lifetime. I am a gun owner though and have familiarity with firearms, and we are in the middle of a pandemic, and gun ranges are shut down. You can't take the basic handgun safety course at a range or the "hunter safety" course which is actually all about gun safety.

Your gun came with a cable lock, I'd hope at the least you'd also buy one of those shoe box sized little combo safes. Put your hand on it, push the right fingers, and it's open, you can keep it handy and no kids or other can access the firearm without taking the little lockbox away. A cleaning and lubrication kit are handy too. Lockbox maybe $80, cleaning kit, another 15. You have the net, look at it, google gun safety or something. Learn how to disassemble and re assemble your firearm. Check to make sure it's unloaded every time you pick it up, act as if it's loaded even when it's not, don't ever let the muzzle cover anything you don't want to destroy, make believe a laser is coming out the end of the barrel. Don't put your finger on the trigger until you are about to shoot.

I've just covered 3 of the 4 basic rules of gun safety. The fourth is know your target and what's behind it.

I can understand people who have never owned a gun before wanting to get one at this time, but I have to admit the idea worries me. So much can go wrong. Then again it is your right, and you are an adult, and I guess those kinds of decisions are yours to make. A couple things I suggest people to consider are do you or anyone in your household ever contemplate suicide,,, sorry, has to be said, , do you ever get uncontrollably angry?

Me? I keep ammo out in the barn, empty guns in the safe. I'd load my double barrelled shotgun if things looked to be headed that way but I just doubt they ever will, just my opinion which is no more relevant than your own. We have the second amendment for self protection as well as tyrannical governments. I support you in making your own decisions on the matter.

Oh, and politics. Firearms aren't republican or democrat, they are used in a safe responsible manner, or not. Take any advice on safety from any source, doesn't matter their politics.

Good luck, stay safe and stay healthy.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-owner-covid/?fbclid=IwAR0e4aSMJpah...

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Not Henry Kissinger's picture

wants to close gun stores as non-essential businesses during the crisis.

Since last week, Villanueva, who says he owns guns himself, has repeatedly said he was concerned over how many people were buying guns, only to stay cooped up at home.

“Buying guns is a bad idea,” he said March 16. “You have a lot of people now that are at home…cabin fever sets in, you’ve got a crowded environment … weapons are not a good mix.”

Not to mention that hospitals are already overloaded with COVID patients, so shooting victims are going to have a much tougher time finding treatment.

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13 users have voted.

The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

@Not Henry Kissinger Thank you for your comment but I think you missed my point. My objective in writing this piece was to provide some source for safety for that portion of the public who bought a firearm in the last few days. Nothing to do with politics. Whether you or I or the LA sheriff support gun purchases or not is irrelevant to safety.

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7 users have voted.
Not Henry Kissinger's picture

@ban nock @ban nock

I was simply pointing out that the Sheriff agrees with you that newbies with guns are a danger to themselves and others without proper training, and I'm saying that danger is exacerbated by the quarantine.

Wasn't really a comment on whether the gun stores should be open or not - just context for the quote.

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8 users have voted.

The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

Hawkfish's picture

@Not Henry Kissinger

Is named for a suburb of Anchorage Alaska to describe what happens when February is going on too long and one partner gets to the gun first...

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1 user has voted.

We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg

is not likely to be helpful, for anyone. They may provide an illusion of safety for those without training who carry, but surely only add to the add to the climate of fear and escalating danger of living during a global pandemic for the rest of the population.

Gun shops are not “essential” businesses and should be closed like all other non essential business until general pandemic restrictions are lifted. This is simply common sense.

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6 users have voted.

Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."
- John Maynard Keynes

@ovals49 Thank you for your opinion, but bear in mind it is only that. We've no requirement for "training" nor is it applicable to a basic civil right. We've no idea who exactly is dangerous or fearful or not. All we have are personal decisions as that is all that is required to exercise this or any other civil right. My objective is to assist others in being more safe, if they wish to do so.

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3 users have voted.

@ovals49 Just happened, but it is up to the states to follow or not follow federal guidance like this.

https://maineexaminer.com/contradicting-gov-janet-mills-feds-declare-fir...

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3 users have voted.

I grew up in the country with shotguns and hunting rifles. I then spent six years in the United States Marine Corps learning the use and care of their instruments of war. My home currently holds two shotguns and three handguns. The most important safety advice I can give to a new gun owner is to never point the weapon at anything you're not willing to pull the trigger on. Please be careful with those weapons and stay safe.

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7 users have voted.

@crbngville
1. Never point your weapon at anything you don't want to shoot.

2. Never shoot at anything you don't want to kill.

#2 covers "warning shots" "just wanted to scare him" as well as "I didn't know anyone was there"

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4 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

@The Voice In the Wilderness
Correct!

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3 users have voted.

I'm finding people's reactions to pandemic fascinating. Wasn't it just a week ago they were calling it Dem Panic? Now they're hoarding guns. Much more than they were. What a difference a day makes.

Just what we need, on top of a whole lot of death: more death.

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8 users have voted.

@Paul ADK
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/us/maine-coronavirus-forced-quarantine-tr...

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1 user has voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

edg's picture

What could go wrong?

That being said, thanks for writing this important essay, ban nock.

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4 users have voted.