No. I’m single and live alone with my dogs. My dad was career military, but in an engineer/procurement sort of way rather than a combat sort of way. I think he had a service-related handgun of some kind, but that was the extent of firearm exposure for me growing up.

I’m not anti-gun. I just don’t really feel a need to own one. I think whatever sense of security it would give me would be outweighed by a fear of what could happen if it were stolen or lost.

No. We are anti gun.

I come from a crazy Southern family. Some of them were always armed to the teeth. Various relatives threatened to kill each other - and sometimes even meant it. As a cousin said, "at weddings and funerals someone's always gotta show out." [Behave badly.] That was an understatement.

By the time I was 10 or so, I maintained my father's service revolver. (Did I mention crazy?) No one did so after I moved out. The result was one of two truly funny stories involving my relatives and guns.

I don't own a gun and won't have one in my home. My father once - only once - made the mistake of bringing a gun inside when he visited. I believe the term he used to describle me was "rabid and dangerous." I never touched the gun. (I'd make an exception for Fori's musket.)

I hope your niece has given careful thought to how she feels about killing someone, because it's possible that she will. If she thinks she'll just point a gun and scare someone off, she shouldn't own a gun. There's a good chance that it'll be snatched and used on her. She should learn how to use, maintain and store it properly. Regular practice is a must. Never point a gun at anything or anyone unless she's willing to kill it. Accidents happen.

No! Many years ago, I moved from the safety of the city to an extremely isolated rural area. I had an uncle who was a woodworking hobbiest who made gunstocks. He gave me a 22 rifle he'd made because we were so isolated and my husband would be gone for work for weeks at a time. I was petrified all the time. I'd actually been target shooting before and knew I was a good shot, but I was not really comfortable with guns. It did make me feel a bit safer, but omg was I happy when we moved from that place.

I kept that gun in my closet for 45 years without ever imagining I'd ever use it. Recently, I reminded my cousin (his daughter) that I had one of his handmade guns. She was excited because one of her grandsons is interested in ??? hunting maybe? So I gave the gun back to her.

I am in a ruralish area now, the end of a dead end road, but feel no need to have a gun. No dog, no security system. Just me. And I think I'm going to be fine. I have double deadbolt locks on all my doors (all have glass) so someone would have to make a lot of noise to try to break in. My bedroom is upstairs, but I have an exterior door and stairwell. Someone comes in downstairs and I am out the upstairs exit. Someone tries to break in upstairs and I kill him with my bare hands.

No gun, although when I get livestock of the four legged variety I will do so. The main reason being if I suddenly need to put a goat, sheep or alpaca down quickly (because they are severely injured or sick) it is much easier and humane to use a gun than a knife (which I use with chickens).

I don't feel the need for one for home/personal defense, however. Even though I live alone.

We grew up with guns, as dad was a hunter, and we did target-practice on soda cans in the back yard, at a young age. So I am not afraid of guns, and I respect them for what they can do.

No guns here. No family or friends that are gun owners either.

No, but have considered. BTW, there is a gun store and indoor range on the main road not too far from our house. It is PACKED every single time I drive by there, so keep that in mind. They are normally not open Sundays, but they were open yesterday.

The gun rights here in Michigan are insanely liberal and it is one of the few things I hate about where I live. People are reckless and take that 2nd Amendent right to carry arms to the extreme. I don’t like guns, I won’t allow them in my house and I would readily vote a big YES to have them banned across the board. That would include for hunters who are only hunting for their own enjoyment (as opposed to a source of food)

Just.a BB gun which DH has had since he was a teen. No actual weapons. I didn't grow up around guns, and have no interest. We don't feel the need for one for security.

I do have one gun-nut friend, who thinks he needs his sidearm everywhere. He is a very responsible gun owner, well practiced and trained (and licensed.) He has tried to engage me in the fervor, but I told him I couldn't be less interested if he was showing me his transmission.

I'm not anti-gun, I just think they're dumb.

No.

I have my Pepa’s vintage (40s-50s) Mossberg bolt action .22 rifle. It’s only ever been used for target practice on our then-ranch; it hasn’t been shot in 25 or so years. My dad had a beautiful tooled leather case custom made for it in the 80s.

We don’t have bullets for it.

I don’t own a gun, but I am not anti-guns. I suppose for self defense my weapon of choice would be a 3 iron, or would one of the woods be better?

There have been 2 murders in the past 50 years in the little town where I live. One was a lover’s quarrel, the other was a family dispute.

No. I have never lived in a house with a gun.

No. I did think of getting one many years back when my then neighborhood was getting burglarized several times a week by gangs. Most break-ins happened in the middle of the day, I was home alone. I decided against it because I knew I’d be nerved up and terrorized enough to shoot myself by accident. I got a Rottie and big double six foot gates instead. When I sold that house the new owners were robbed shortly after. I hear they left the gates wide open.

No. I don’t have one and don’t feel the need for one. My mother had a handgun that was stolen during a house burglary. It upsets me to think of where that ended up and what damage it may have caused. I have very, very rarely read about anyone actually protecting themself with a gun but I read every day about innocent bystanders and children being shot. I do think that guns need to be much more strongly regulated.

No

My Dad had a hunting rifle when I was growing up(in the Bronx!) and would go rabbit hunting with his brothers in NJ. My husband now has that rifle. He doesn't hunt. I've always been anti-gun. My son is a police officer and has several guns in addition to his service revolver. He does not live with us.

I am disturbed by the amount of guns in my small rural PA county. I'm not talking hunting rifles, but automatic AK type guns. It is a regular topic of discussion on our local facebook group. Showing off their new toys. I am seriously fearful for the future of our country.

No. I am with @aok27502 and the transmission thing. I would never allow a gun in my home.

My late husband always had handguns. I enjoyed target practicing with him. A couple of years ago I sold them through a dealer. Even though I live alone I feel safe where I live and didn't feel at all competent using a gun.

Predator control. I don't have my gun yet for taking care of severely injured or sick livestock (you can't just haul them off to a vet to do the deed), but I can see one wanting and using a gun as a rural farmer to do that as well. Read my first post, above.

Although I admit - shortly after two of my chickens disappeared last May... I saw a beautiful red fox roaming my back yard. At that point my chickens were indoors (which is not optimal for them, but as noted, I'd already lost two of them...) Even if they were out, and even if did have my gun, I don't think I could have shot him or her - so much grace and beauty! I think I would have run out and screamed a lot at the fox before he got anywhere near one of my chickens!

I can understand others doing otherwise. I wouldn't blame them in the slightest. Guns are useful for those of us who farm livestock and poultry. And I have appreciated the venison and squirrel (and even bear) I've eaten in the past. To this date, I haven't been the hunter who bagged them.

Would I re-consider my reaction to that fox, if predator pressure became worse here? Yep. I would.

I haven't heard a thing about murders in my town - maybe back in the colonial era, before this was even a town? Or colonialists wiping out some of the Native population? There have been some break-ins, mostly in cars, but that doesn't make me want a gun for personal defense. For the critters I select who live/will live here, yes.

Yes for several reasons. Let me clarify no one but us can access them. We're in the country, dirt road country. After we moved here to this small town a major major MAJOR home invasion murder happened. I'll never forget the day after when my friends and their babies came to my house while helicopters were all over the place and our husbands were getting prepared.

I know how to use a 22, but to be honest, it's been so long I doubt I'd recognize what it looks like. lol

DH bird hunts one day a year along with thousands of others on that same day. lol

If DH goes before I do, I'll get to know a gun much better and it won't be far from me.

Lots. Well, not me, but DH and DS. We live in the country, where it is occasionally necessary to shoot things, but the boys enjoy recreational shooting, and our neighbor is a machine gun dealer, so it can be a little loud around here.

No (I’m in Canada). My grandfathers and uncles and cousins own or owned hunting rifles.

When I ate meat I happily partook of their game meat, including bear, venison, rarely moose (hard to get a moose permit), snowshoe hare (not sure if the hares were snared). So I can’t say I’m anti-gun!

the whole scene wrt guns is very different here, however. Canadian gun culture in general is very focused on hunting and sport shooting and restrictions aimed at other guns are generally supported especially after our recent tragedy (portapique).

Sure. Grew up in the military--guns were common to see. My father never had one in our home. He was a bomber. DH took the time to teach all our kids safety and joined leagues with them. Son trap, oldest daughter pistol, youngest archery. He has been a hunter since young. Early on I was very happy he never came home with the pheasants he tried for. No guns are loaded at our house. The amo isn't even in the house where they are stored. I do not see guns as protective in any real life scenario I have ever heard of. The most interesting thing I ever heard was a story DH heard about a discussion between a cartel boss and a newsperson. When asked if what has happened in other countries, these factions taking over wrecking havoc he said no. Other countries citizens don't have guns to fight back...in America there would be no way to round them all up. The second amendment has kept us safe in ways most will never know.

I have a 14 gauge shotgun which has been effective on a few copperheads.

We have an air rifle, basically a glorified BB gun. It's used for rodent control. On our list for someday is a gun that we can use with snake shot for rattlesnakes. From a protection standpoint, I highly doubt that it would be in a convenient location when I need it and I highly doubt I would ever really need it. As far as burglaries, nothing I own is worth taking someody's life over and if somebody was willing to shoot me or my family for my stuff, I'm not conident that me having a gun would be all that helpful and would likely just escalate the situation.

You do realize the answers you get will be very skewed?

Chispa - It was a simple yes or no question. All the responses are appropriate and I love the backstories and everyone's reasoning.

As someone who did not grow up with guns in the house, and still don't have one, I was interested to see who had one.

No. I had always lived in large cities. Guns in cities make you a target. They are valuable so burglars look for them if they think you have them ("protected by smith and wesson" means "break in and steal me.") If you pull one out you better use it or it will be taken and used against you. In big cities you are actually safer without them.

In the west, though, where I live now it is very different. The sheriff is somebodies cousin and he is probably not interested in helping you. And anyway, it would take a deputy a long time to respond to a call. People have them around me and there is little crime. Most violent crime happens with relatives or known associates. It is almost never random.

So I am agnostic about them.

Unless one hunts or protects livestock, one would probably find adopting a dog to be better for personal security and more emotionally rewarding than gun ownership.

No. I did not grow up around guns and have never even seen one up close. Have never felt a need to have one around.

Many years ago, while living in a somewhat rural area, I awoke one night to very loud men's voices which appeared to be coming from inside the house. I cannot begin to describe the fear and helplessness I felt. As it turned out, there were some inebriated men outside our open window (summer) who were lost and looking for directions. I never wanted to experience that feeling of terror and vulnerability again and insisted we acquire a gun. We keep two (smaller one for me, larger for DH) in a hidden compartment in our bed and, though it will likely never be necessary, I wouldn't hesitate to use it to protect myself or my family. DH has a few other guns purchased as investments and kept unloaded in a safe. I've been encouraging him to sell them because I don't want to deal with them should something happen to him but I'll always have one for myself.

We have an antique muzzleloader. It works but we don't use it. I live in Western PA so a large percentage of the people that I know have a gun/s. Western PA has lots of hunters that use rifles. My DH is a hunter but he only hunts with a recurve bow.

Whatsayyou, I know how you felt. Around 10 one night the doorbell rang, dh opened the door and a bloodied man was standing there. DH turns around to DS to whisper "get the gun." Shotgun. The guy ran into a tree on our road, and since we could tell he was hurt we invited him in but still called the cops for our safety while telling him it was so the cops could help him get home. He didn't live around here, his buddy was still in the car.

DS's girlfriend was at the house and she almost fainted in the hallway and I had to catch her!

We had them in a locked safe in the house I grew up in. DH as well. My Dad hunted, I think DH's dad inherited some guns but didn't use them. My Dad took us skeet shooting a few times which is actually pretty fun. My brother and I never hunted.

No guns in my own house. I was always worried about an accident with my kids.

I'm in Canada so not really an option, not that I would want or need one . My DH has a pellet rifle that he has had since he was about 6, which he uses occasionally to shoot into the ground to scare the birds out of our cherry trees.

Yes. I have shot skeet and trap for many years although we haven’t done so in a couple of years. And we domour own target practice here where we live with small handguns on occasion. I keep snake shot loaded in a handy .38 nearby when I am outside working as I never know when I might run across a copperhead or rattlesnake. Haven’t but DH has a couple of times. I like the peace of mind of having my 20 gauge handy if I am home alone.

My grandfather and uncle on my mom’s side were huge hunters...deer, pheasants, other types of birds (ducks?) and such. I remember going with Grandpy pheasant hunting when I was very small. I didn’t love the killing of the birds, but he explained the whole hunting philosophy so I understood. I never went deer hunting, though. My dad didn’t hunt, so I didn’t have guns in my house growing up. I’ve always been somewhat scared of them frankly.

Dh has become interested in acquiring a gun. He has taken up target shooting, and is learning about responsible gun ownership. He took me to the indoor range once...and I shot my first handgun. It was terrifying, and LOUD. I told him I wasn‘t comfortable shooting it. He said that he wanted me to learn in case of an emergency and he wasn’t home...but I’m not sure. It would take a lot of practice before I felt comfortable and I just don’t see it happening. He is planning to get one, along with this high tech safe with some sort of biological lock? Retina scan? 😂 Of course, right now it’s all a moot point anyway bc there is a complete back up in gun registrations, and there is NO AMMO around, at all. People are buying guns and ammo at a fierce rate! And the range is always PACKED.

I grew up in NYC so no, never had guns in the house. DH also grew up there also- when we moved, he got into target shooting. I have never shot and have zero interest, but I am fine with him having them.

He keeps them in a VERY HEAVY (that was a major event to move when we did) secure safe. He is very responsible and safety oriented. He gave some safety classes at the gun club where we used to live. The ammo is stored separate, elsewhere. I always joke that if we had an intruder, by the time he got the safe open, and then got the ammo, ... you get the picture. I am fine with it because I don't really look at it as protection; I see it as a sport. He doesn't do it much anymore but it was a social thing. I have no problem with responsible gun ownership.

No. I live rural but don't own livestock. Would it be easier to shoot a coyote than a fox Fori?

You seldom hear of someone successfully using a gun for personal safety. I'm surprised that the NRA doesn't try to publicize that more.

"I'm surprised that the NRA doesn't try to publicize that more."

I believe they share personal incidents passed along by their readership in their monthly (quarterly?) publication. DH has read some to me. Not sure it was the NRA; perhaps another magazine he receives(ed). They are rarely covered by the msm..

Yes we do. My husband has a carry permit and has had classes. My dad and grandfather always had a gun/guns and we were taught to respect and never, ever touch them. I have been taught to shoot a gun and how to safely use one.

Yes, we do too! Husband and son have concealed carry and do a lot of skeet shooting. We belong to a gun club where you can do skeet and target shooting. My son started a Skeet Club at his college, FSU. They are all kept in a large safe. It is considered a hobby for them.

Yes. I also have my concealed carry permit for reasons I won't go into.

We also live off the beaten path. I've made emergency phone calls to 911 only to be told it'll be 20 minutes before anyone can get there. A lot can happen in less time than that.

We have had numerous break ins in our area, mostly by meth heads.

Our guns are kept in a gun safe, ammo in a separate area.

Several family members (on both sides) are in law enforcement. They ALL encouraged us to get our CCPs (of course after proper training.)

Husband is an avid sportsman, he hunts & fishes. Occasionally I join him. He also shoots skeet/trap & sporting clays.

I target practice frequently to keep "fresh." Our children & grandchildren are/were educated about them. The children are grown, and they are also raising/educating their children about the safety & rules about firearms. Any firearms they have are also stored in a gun safe and

I respect those who do not wish to have any part of firearms, and respectfully ask for the same courtesy.

If you want to read stories about women and their experiences, there's a site called The Well Armed Woman.

Well Armed Woman

Edited to add -- Oakley, I know of the experience you're referencing. It was a nightmare.

No guns, no hunters.

"respect and never, ever touch them. "

Tina Marie, this reminded me of an incident years ago when DD was about 4-5 and began having terrible fears/nightmares about having our home broken into and someone hurting the family. I was able to calm her fears initially by telling her the dog would bark and warn us. That helped for awhile but then nightmares resumed and she asked what would happen if they hurt the dog. I told her we'd call the police, etc., etc. She'd be okay for a few days but then would have a recurrence of nightmares and new concerns about how this scenario would play out.

Finally, one day, this began again and I could see nothing was going to ease her fears. When she said the bad guy would hurt DH because he'd be armed and DH wouldn't, a flurry of thoughts when through my head. Should or or should I not tell her about the gun. When I told her the expression of relief on her face was one I'll never forget. She then said, "I don't want to know where it is but can we (her brother and herself) see it?". I brought it out (yes, of course it was unloaded) and showed it to them. She then asked if she could touch it. They both touched it and that was the end of both her nightmares or any interest in the gun.

Not now, when I bought a farm 20+ years ago, my Dad gave me a 22. I learned how to use it and maintain/clean it. My concern was a rabid animal going after myself, my dogs or my donkeys. It never happened and spent most of the time in a closet. I sold it to one of the guys that used to hunt on my land before I moved to the suburbs.

Yes. Several, in fact.

"Would it be easier to shoot a coyote than a fox Fori?" was asked.

Yes, because they are bigger targets. I assume I would need a very big target to hit anything.

Growing up, there were hunters in my family, but guns were never displayed in the home. To be honest, I don't even recall where they were kept.

As far as self-defense, I'd be more effective and feel 100% more confident with pepper spray.