Quote:
Originally Posted by Taribor
There are a million arguments on both sides of this debate and in my opinion, this is a very personal decision.
As a law enforcement guy, I would just offer to you the following:
-If you are getting a gun, get the training first. ...and shooting at a target in a controlled environment is one hell of a lot different than waking up disoriented on the middle of the night, locating your weapon, and using it as deadly force.
-Get something easy to use and reliable (I like Glocks, but that's just me), and be sure everyone in your home knows what it is and how to use it (for safety purposes).
-If you have kids, find another means of self defense. Not sure about the public, but on the federal side we are actually required by agency policy to lock our weapons up at home. The "pistol under the pillow" crap in hollywood is a good way to get hurt.
-To those who think trained individuals do not have accidental/negligent discharges, you are wrong. Google the video of the DEA agent who shot himself during a school presentation. There are numerous others. Familiarity breeds laziness sometimes.
-Motion detectors, double locking doors, and a dog will prevent/deter 99% of potential problems.
As far as a concealed permit goes, if that is your desire, so be it. But you better understand the rules change when you leave your home and if you pull your gun for anthing other than self-defense, you are openning yourself up to a boatlaod of problems.
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Oh geez, I remember that vid of the DEA guy giving a presentation with some other officers to some school children.
He broke two of the four rules I had mentioned above.
He had his finger on the trigger when his sights were not on the target AND he was pointing the gun at something he WAS NOT willing to destroy
Just because you are law enforcement certainly does not mean you know anything about how to handle a firearm.
Just look at the hit percentage of LEO's involved in shootouts. It is horrible!
I remember a cop I worked with who had pulled his shotgun out of the upright carrier in his car for a riot situation. When all was cleared up and he returned to his car, he put the shotgun back into it's carrier loaded. For some unknown reason, he decided to pull the trigger to CLEAR THE CHAMBER!
Blew the lights off the roof.
Also, just because you have kids does not mean you cannot own a firearm for defense.
Two of my best friends, none of which were/are LEO's, have little girls AND have handguns locked away in their bedrooms. Combination safes.
The girls have all been introduced to the guns, know what they are, know not to touch them (they are all under 9 yrs old), etc...
With a little common sense, firearms can be very safe with children.
Also, all this talk about being disoriented when waking up in the middle of the night...
I personally have never had a problem with this. When a noise wakes me up (like my dogs barking), I come to already knowing that I'm sleeping in my bed (where else would I be sleeping
), in my bedroom, in my house...I'm also already aware that it is night time.
If it is something that is alarming to me, then I find myself pretty darn alert as I roll out of my bed and pick up my handgun on the night stand next to me (loaded and ready).
Very little disorientation for me...I dont know about other people...