I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

I don't know, PIP, I think I would rather err on the side of me having a gun than the dude standing beside me in my bedroon having one and me being defenseless. JMHO.

Well, I would carry if I lived in an area that was 'dicey' or had a job where people would be pi$$ed at me (my stepmother works for the US attorney). Don't have to now but would want to be able to if I had to. Criminals can get guns easier than I can. Just sayin'.

Barbara, criminals can only get a gun easier than you can if you aren't willing to get one illegally. Or just by stopping by a gun show in the many states where there are no background checks or waiting periods for gun show purchases.

Anne, GUINEA PIG??? Are they raised to be eaten or do guinea pigs run wild there like our squirrels? (hey, don't southerners eat squirrel?) 

In Alabama you can get a permit for a concealed weapon for $25. They do a background check but I can't believe it's all that in depth because they come back in 2 minutes with your permit.  It takes a week to get a hand gun (waiting period).

Yes, I'm packing but I live alone in a rual area. About a year ago, a drunk ran off the road about 200 yards from my house and took out about 40 yards of bobwire fence. The sheriff's deputy knocked on my door at 2:30 AM to ask who the cattle belonged to so they could notify them to come fix the fence. I met his happy little A$$ with a nine millimeter in my housecoat pocket. He was either fearless or dumb. I backed him away from the door and asked for ID. It didn't matter to me that there were 5 or 6 cop cars with blue lights flashing in the front yard. He scared the crap out of me and really should have been more careful at 2:30 in the morning. Everyone around here is packing and everyone (except that deputy) knows it. There's very little crime. No one but a meth head would be dumb enough to try anything.

revkat:  Guinea pigs??  Yuck!  Who would eat that?  Not on my hungryest days!  As for squirrels, they are rodents!!  Who eats RATS??  I have heard that there are people who eat squirrels but they must either be some hungry or very poor!!!   I won't even go near the squirrels that run wild around our outside area.  They are always looking for food from us.  Imagine if someone grabbed one and stewed it.  This gets very religious in my book.  "Thou shall eat of the pickled pigs feet and tails, rabbits, and chickens but no "squirrels".  I think it must be hidden somewheres in the Bible so whether you are religious or not, keep hands off of "squirrels" unless you want to pet one and then you have to be sure it's not rabid.  If it bites us, I think we turn into vampire squirrels!  Just my highly uneducated opinion.  Any one who believes "me" needs more therapy than "I" do!

I've seen them eat guinea pigs on Bizarre Foods I think.  Supposedly it's a delicacy in Peru and the "best" part is supposed to be the head!!!!

Sharon

No classes required, you can get a permit without even owning a gun although I can't imagine why you would want one. Most people don't carry a gun with them (so they don't need a permit). They just have one at home. I travel a considerable amount due to work so I carry one in the car.

The classes should be a requirement for the purchase of a gun but in Alabama are not. I think the gun shops assume that the purchaser knows how to shoot but I'm sure it would be helpful to learn the features of the weapon. It might prevent accidents.  My X was cleaning an UNLOADED (ha) gun and shot his microwave. (He was already an X at the time) That microwave will never cook (sprouts or anything else) again.

Years ago our home was burglarized while we were away. Many people said "don't you wish you'd come home while they were there". Uh, no. In fact, for the next several months, everytime I drove up to the house, I honked my horn, so if someone was there they'd leave! And, I won the Riflery medal at summer camp!

Nice article by John McCain in today's Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/14/AR2011011403871.html?hpid=topnews

Love this song............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUn0vvgEvBc&feature=related

In California, you can only shoot an intruder if he is inside your house.  Years ago when I got my first handgun in CA, you didn't have to take a class or have a wait period.  I know in Utah when I bought my shotgun, there was no wait period or class needed either.

In CA you have to take a class now to buy a handgun.  I did attend a class with a friend and it covered the basics.  One thing I do remember from that class was the instructor said, Do not pull your gun on anyone unless you intend to shoot to kill.  That alway stuck with me.

Bren

Many years ago my husband was going to Vietnam and he took me to a gun safety course.  I was alone in a strange town and he wanted to make sure I was safe.  He had me practice shooting his gun.  He gave me his .45.  I had never fired a gun before and I fired expert with my rounds so close together on the center target that one could cover them with a poker chip. 

I knew right then that if I shot someone, I would kill him.  After my husband left for Vietnam, I decided I would never shoot that gun to protect property.  A burglar could come into my home and rob me and I would do nothing.  I would only shoot to protect my life.

Medigal .. I'm a really good shot too.  It's hard to miss with a shotgun though!  I am also quite accurate with my .22 pistol.  For home defense, the shotgun is the best, in my opinion.  All an intruder has to do is hear you cock the rifle .. and they know exactly what's coming.

Bren

Hi BinVA,

Pretty quiet on the thread today (I have the day off from work and actually have time to check in--usually just get a chance to check in at night or on weekends).

Appropiate quote from you posted above.  Will be interesting to see how everything plays out re: health care reform. 

Just saw an interesting poll:

"Opposition to Health Care Law Decreases: Poll

The level of opposition to the U.S. health care law has decreased, according to a phone survey of 1,001 adults conducted Jan. 5-10.

The Associated Press-GfK poll found that 41 percent of respondents oppose the law, while 40 percent support it. Following November's congressional elections, opposition was 47 percent and support was 38 percent.

Opposition remains strongest among Republicans, with 71 percent against it, while 35 percent of independents and 19 percent of Democrats are oppose the law.

Overall, strong opposition to the law is 30 percent, which is close to the lowest level recorded in AP-GfK polls going back to September 2009.

Only about one in four respondents want the law repealed, 43 percent want it changed so that it does more to rework the health care system, and fewer than one in five want it left as it is, the AP reported.

Nearly six in 10 respondents are against the law's requirement that people must have health insurance or face penalties.

A Republican-led vote on repealing the health care law is expected to take place this week in the House."

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-your-healthcare/articles/2011/01/17/health-highlights-jan-17-2011

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Good point Lassie .. I wouldn't want our handguns or shotgun stolen either.  But .. my dogs are the best deterrent to home invasion!  Winston would bite an intruder and the other two would bark nonstop.

Floral .. will be interesting to see what happens when the repeal gets voted on.

So far having a pretty good day.  I've been busy with marketing for my transcription business.  Kind've boring, but necessary if I'm going to get more clients.

Bren