MOMania

By past50mom

November 7, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

Yes, we ahve guns, and I am a crack shot. And I would first warn, then shoot anyone entering my home unlawfully. We have never kept a loaded gun within sight or access of the kids when they were young. We taught our kids to shoot and about gun safety and cleaning and respect. This tragic case is due to negligence by the parents and the child bears no fault! Hopefully, since he is only 3 his memories will blur over time. Certainly he should have counselling.

By Mrs. Ed

November 7, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

We have several guns in our home but no children yet. But we have thought about what we’d do if we did - a lot. Both my husband and I have taken several gun safty classes and go the range every weekend. We have planned out what do “if” anything should happen. We are prepared the best we can.

I have read and seen on the news many stories like this, but often there is more to the story than the media is giving out or so little is said that it is easily read-over. Often the parents have left the gun out unattended or put it in a place that has easy access. Both are dumb mistakes the gun-owner did - very irresponsible mistakes. If you are irresponsible with such a weapon that can harm or kill, than you have to take the responsiblity for your irresponsiblity - it is NOT the gun’s fault. To talk about gun safty to your children is important, but you have to put in that child’s maturity level into account and you have to make it an important conversation - no joking around. You are going to have to be completely honest with your child - completely. Sugar-coating it is not going to help. If don’t want your child to know the truth and the honesty about this serious matter, than don’t ever bring a gun into the house.

(It is proven that if you have a pool, a SUV and a gun that your child is more likely to be harmed by the pool or SUV than the gun.)

By jenny

November 7, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this

NO! NO! NO! NO! While I do not have a problem with the proper people having guns for the proper reasons, I would not and could not have a gun in my home.

By Pedro

November 7, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

I have several guns in my home. I have hunting weapons and target or sport shooting weapons that are locked away. I also have home defense weapons that are readily available to me. Any gun owner has to recognize that there is a latent hazard to keeping weapons in an accessible location and in a quickly usable (loaded) state. When my kids were young, I never kept a loaded weapon available. When I have guests, young or old, I’m paranoid about leaving my defense weapons where untrained hands might stumble upon them. For any gun owner to leave a loaded weapon in an accessible location where a child or firearms unaware adult might accidently discover and discharge it is simply irresponsible and shows total disrespect for the power and danger of firearms. Gun owners need to be educated to the dangers and manage their property accordingly. You wouldn’t leave your pet rattlesnake on the coffee table or in a nightstand drawer where it could bite an unsuspecting child or adult. If self defense paranoia outweighs good sense and safety, then accidents are likely.

By katie

November 7, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

We have several guns, rifles and shotguns in our house. We don’t have children. We keep a hand gun in the living room and each of us has one on our night stands. With all the home invasions we feel safer this way. I would feel sorry for anyone trying to break into our house. We also have a state of the art home security system with two cameras. It’s sad that we’re resorted to protecting ourselves this way but it is a dangerous world out there and there are lots of bad people. And some of them are policemen.

By MA

November 7, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

I had guns in the house until I had children. Then I gave the guns away. I invested in a state-of-the-art alarm system, four state-of-the-art barking dogs, and made friends with two watchful neighbors. I feel that my children and I were safer without the guns.

By Charlotte

November 7, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this

I often think about how the Columbine killers and other school shooters accessed guns to commit their crimes. It’s likely that many of the weapons came from their parents’ arsenals.

My husband is a hunter and has quite a cache of rifles that are unloaded and locked in a safe. That way our children cannot access them for any reason.

We don’t use guns for home protection; we understand that we are more likely to shoot ourselves than an intruder. Therefore we have an alarm system, motion detector, and ample outside motion-senstive lighting. Better safe than sorry.

By HMW

November 7, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

“I feel that my children and I were safer without the guns.”

What will you do when someone breaks into your house and threatens your kids? It has happened. Here in the Atlanat area in the last year. In that case, the child died. Even if you dial 911, the cops can’t protect you or your kids. It’s your responsibilty to be armed and educated. You can have guns in your hause, and keep them away from your kids.

By not afraid

November 7, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

@hmw - how do you know someone won’t use your own gun on you. My dog keeps most scum away. Then there is me. Bad to the bone.

By Producer

November 7, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

I have many guns in my house and I DO NOT store the ammo separately! (That’s insane!) The kids know where each of them is located and have been told never to touch them for obvious reasons. No problems!

By HMW

November 7, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this

Remember, the bad guys will already have guns, they don’t need yours. The gun they already have will make short work of the dog. How to prevent them from taking your gun? Shoot first, don’t warn or ask questions, now or later. The woman that stabbed the rapist to death yesterday got lucky, She was life flighted to the hospital with severe wounds. If she had had a gun (and the training and will to use it), she would be unhurt today.

By DaTaWho

November 7, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

When I was a child my parents had a shotgun they kept under their bed and the shells stored elsewhere (I had no idea where). I was told when I was young (around 1st grade) about guns by my parents. They also kept their door to their room shut and I was never allowed to go into their room by myself. I would be punished or grounded for two weeks (everything would be taken away and no visiting friends, it was home and school only) if I was caught in their room around the bed. If they caught me looking at the gun - that would be an instant spanking with a leather belt and a stern talking about the reality of guns. They never took it out from under the bed. It was for only for self defense. They told me about what could happen if an accident happened with a gun. They told me people can be hurt, made disabled or even worse killed by irresponsible gun use. Yes, they used the words “killed” and “death” to me when I was about in the 1st grade (that I can remember). My parents were always blunt and honest about important stuff to me from as far back as I can remember…. and I turned out just fine. No meds or doctors needed here because of it and I was never traumatized either. To them, they were just being responsible parents.

By "dd"

November 7, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this

I have guns in every room of my house. I raised 4 children (all grown now) with those guns. My husband took my children out, when they were little, and they watched him shoot a gallon jug of water and how it exploded. Needless to say we never had any problems with any of the children respecting the guns and never touching them and to this day all of my children can out shoot any sharp shooter around.

By frank123

November 7, 2006 11:24 AM | Link to this

Yes, I have about 5 guns in the house from when I was single. The guns are all in a locked room up high on a shelf. The handguns are locked in a brief case. Both rifles have locks on them and are high on a shelf. My kids, 10 and 13 don’t even know I have them. I don’t plan on letting them know I have them until they are past 26-35 years old. Teenagers are tempermental and sometimes us guns on others or themselves.

Instead of guns, we have mace and cells phones to call 911 in easy reach. Even if a cell phone is not in service, the cell providers are required to let 911 calls go through so old cell phones are a great home protection device. Calling 911 or using mace are non-lethal and if I make a mistake the person (i.e. my kid) will be able to recover. I don’t practice enough to be able to load quickly and accurately fire a gun in an emergency. Guns are way too dangerous.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

I have had military training on the handling of guns and my wife claims to be a crack shot. I do not have guns in the house. I have cats, not dogs. Do I fear intruders? Just as much as any one else. We do have an effective neighborhood watch. What would I do if an intruder broke into the house? I don’t know, but I do know that I don’t want killing someone on my conscience. That’s the ambiguity which one lives with. Yes, I can imagine all kinds of horror stories, but I choose to live with the ambiguity. My preference, of course, is that we take the British approach to gun ownership. No one has guns, except the military and SWAT squads. But that will not happen in my lifetime, so I live with the ambiguity.

By Hmw

November 7, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

“British approach to gun ownership. No one has guns, except the military and SWAT squads”

Do you actually beelieve that no one in Britain has guns exept those that are supposed to? It is already against the law to shoot someone (excpet in certain circumstances), do you actually believe that a gun prohibition law will make a killer think twice?

By Bubba Grump

November 7, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

We have several guns in our house. The important thing to realise is that kids will be curious about guns. That is why it is important to show the guns to your kids…..explain them and the rules about firearms to your kids. Answer any questions they have and make sure they know…….you NEVER point a gun at ANYTHING you arent prepared to kill. ALL guns should be considered LOADED no matter how SURE you are that they are not loaded. I took my kids to the shooting range and let them shoot with me. They are no longer curious about guns and now fully understand that they are not something to be played with. RESPONSIBLITY is something all gun owners must have. It is very true that if guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. In this day and age everyone should educate themselves and be prepared to PROTECT their family and not think that the police will instantly be there when an intruder comes in the middle of the night.

By anita

November 7, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this

We also have multiple firearms in the home. However, unlike the low IQ neanderthals, we LOCK them up! They are double locked. Stupid is as stupid does. The parents are ALWAYS responsible for such tragic children deaths. IDIOTS. Thats the only word I can come up with. They essentially “murdered” their own kids. But as long as there are humans on the planet, there will be idiots.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

Yes, gun prohibitions work. Compare their death by shooting rate to ours —any state, any municipality. In Britain, a Columbine or a 3 year old shooting a 5 year would be nearly impossible. Oh yes, I’m a very strong advocate of gun prohibition. The British show us that they work; our newspapers show us that we need them.

By not afraid

November 7, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

We have guns put away for hunting. I have never been afraid. God watches over crazy people I guess. I have a gaze that apparently scare the H* out of most people. So, no gun use.

By Cletus Snow

November 7, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

we have several firearms in our home,always have. Our children are both grown and own thier own now,when they were children they were taught firearm safty and how to use them. They are both excellant shooters and have taught their children to shoot. Firearms are like automobils,they’re great if used properly,if misused they will both kill you. In todays world self protection is a requirement if you are unarmed you are pretty much at the mercy of the nearest crackhead,if you watch the news you are aware that the police are not capable of protecting you, you’ll have to insure you’r own safty.I would reccomend every one take a gun safty course and buy a gun, Guns are a lot cheaper than coffins.

By aa

November 7, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

No guns…these people are crazy bragging about a gun in their house with kids.or without..Listen, If its time to go its your time..my cousin was murdered by a gun last november…think people

By Peter

November 7, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

As the police officer, Cpl. Nicole Ebbeskotte, describes the accident, “his sister just happened to be in the way.” Don’t let them blame the victim! My guess is that it was more like the 3 year old just happened to be pointing the pistol at his sister.

Neighbor Donna Jenkins says, “It really grabs your attention.” Unfortunately, an incident last March where a 9 year old shot his 12 year old brother in Oconee County wasn’t the sort of accident that caught Sandy King or her husband’s attention.

It’s criminal that “Nothing in Georgia law says a gun has to be in a locked area” and it is unlikely that charges will be filed.

Responsible parents everwhere need to ask if homes where their children go to play have firearms and how those weapons are stored because our legislature doesn’t care about your family. This is another, too frequent, wake up call in Georgia … unfortunately, there will be others who sleep through this one.

By Mrs. Ed

November 7, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

I would have an easier time living with myself if I killed an intruder than if an intruder came into my home and shot my spouse and I had no way to stop it - I could never live with myself if that happened.

That is why my husband and I have a plan to do if an intruder came into our house.

PS - Mace, bats, etc. are not going to completely stop an intruder with a gun, just slow him down.

By Cletus Snow

November 7, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

Several have mention the Brits have no guns,completely untrue the Brits have as many as we do maybe more per/capita. they have no handguns supposedly, but shotguns and hunting rifles are plentiful as hunting and skeet shooting are major sports there.

By DaTaWho

November 7, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this

Q: If you sat alone in a room with a loaded gun, would that gun shoot you?

A: No, it takes a person to pick that gun up, aim and shoot another.

So…Guns do not murder, people use them to murder others.

By Fulton County Mom

November 7, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

I grew up with a rifle under my parent’s bed too. We were told not to touch and not to go under the bed. When we got older and asked, Dad got the rifle out and showed it to us. Dad grew up on a farm and was hunting most of his life.

In High School I had hunter’s safety (pretty sure my brother did too). Many of the guys I knew hunted with their parents. It was not big deal to know about weapons. Notice I said weapons, because that is what they are.

In college I learned to fire (pretty well I might add) a 9mm pistol.

However, I have never lost sight of 2 things… Hunter Safety Rule #6 Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot and handguns are only meant for shooting people.

Teaching children the above two rules, at age appropriate levels is imperative. I do wonder about weapons in other’s homes, I have told my children that should someone suggest they just “look at” or “see” the parent’s gun they are to immediately go inform the adult/parent in the house…the answer is always NO!

As for my house, a good alarm system, a sharp knife, a good lock and a 911 call. No handgun. If and when the time is right, I will get a rifle.

By anne

November 7, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

I grew up sport shooting and know how to clean and handle a gun. I would never allow a gun in my home as we have two small children, and I always ask other parents about this before allowing my children to play in their homes.

Those of you with guns, plans and fear of intruders: do you bring a parachute on plane rides? Drive in an armored vehicle on the interstates? Never eat any food that hasn’t come from your own back yard?

Living life in this sad state of paranoia (I know, you call it preparedness) and fear of fellow citizens must be sad indeed.

By EW

November 7, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

I bet a lot of home invaders would like to know the exact addresses of some of you all that admit to not having a gun to self protect. I have seen video tapes of would be big bad guard dogs walking around a house with a robber, wagging it’s tail the entire time. Any police officer will tell you the one thing a robber fears the most is a person who is armed and knows how to self protect. I have a loaded shot gun in my foyer closet as well as a couple of loaded pistols in my house, no kids in the house, they are grown. About two weeks ago two young men came to the door, it’s partial glass so I can see out of it, they can see in it. It was about 10 PM and we live in a wooded area on a hill and we’re not the type people who gets unexpected company at that hour of the night. Both boys were wearing the sweatshirt type jackets with hoods and the hoods were covering half their faces. I know they saw the shotgun I was holding when I went to the door, I could tell that by the way they ran down the driveway. They never came back. I won’t let my last thought be ” I wish I had pulled the trigger first.” Oh yes, the house across the street was robbed a week later.

By Bubba Grump

November 7, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

aa………….Was your cousin murdered by a GUN……..or a criminal??? Guns dont kill on their own. It takes a person to USE that gun in an unlawful way. That is what the gun grabbers of the world dont get. Hold the MURDERER responsible for his / her actions NOT the GUN. If your cousin were stabbed with a kitchen knofe would it be that a kitchen knife murdered your cousin??? Seems to me that you are the one who needs to THINK! Also…..Cletus is right…..Throughout Europe many people own guns. As in the case with the rapist yesterday a SHOTGUN can be used just as well if not better than a handgun to commit crimes.

By Teacher's Kid

November 7, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

Here is a suggested strategy:

One thing that anyone who is considering owning a gun must remember is that once you pull out a gun, you must shoot and you must shoot to kill (Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6!). However, if you do not shoot and shoot to kill, your gun WILL be taken away from you and you WILL be shot and killed. If you do not have the above mindset, do not own a gun.

By DaTaWho

November 7, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

So, have your airbag taken out of your car. It is there as a preparedness, to protect you during an accident that you may or may not have. You are paranoid if you have one.

More children are killed by a vehicles (either they are run over or are in an accident) than by guns.

(I love how that point just keeps getting passed by….)

By Brian Kingn

November 7, 2006 01:30 PM | Link to this

If you want a gun in the house for defense and have small kids, a short-barrelled pump shotgun is a much better choice than a handgun. You can lift it; small kids can’t. Plus it’s easier to aim when scared and groggy, the sound of the pump is fearsome to the intruder and may scare him off, and there’s far less chance of penetration through walls and windows. The lady in this case could have at least put the gun in a higher location the children couldn’t reach.

By The Dude

November 7, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this

If you make it criminal to own a gun, then only criminals have guns. Think about it.

By Keith

November 7, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

Yes, I absolutely have guns in the house. The police can only respond after an incident. Last time I checked there wasn’t a patrolman stationed in my living room to protect my family. It is YOUR job to protect your family; I am NOT going to delegate that job to the police or military.

Rather than compare British gun crime rates with ours (as suggested by PHenry) why don’t you compare gun related crime in Britain before and after the gun ban? Australia? New York? Washington DC? Gun crime goes UP when the law abiding citizens are disarmed. Gun crime is way down in Florida since they enacted the castle doctrine laws. Criminals are looking for easy prey.

Far more lives are saved every year by law abiding armed citizens than are killed by accidental shootings. Accidental Shootings are a tragedy but rare; Crimes committed by armed thugs is a greater threat. My children are far safer because I have a gun than they would be if I did not.

Yes, I keep my guns out of the childrens reach AND teach them gun safety.

By Gun totin' Non-Con

November 7, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

I have two guns in my home, always have had. Yes they are loaded, because I don’t see much use in having them if they are not loaded. I have a 13 year old daughter and a two year old son. The guns are up about 6 feet on a shelf in a case. The case has to be consciously opened but is not locked. I taught my daughter from the time she was 3 to never ever touch those guns and the repercussions and serious danger of them. The only stipulation now being if she is threatened by someone who tries to forcibly enter the house before we get home from work or any other time we may be out for some reason. Hence one of the guns is a revolver, which she has handled UNLOADED under my supervision a few times. My daughter has never once touched the guns otherwise and I have no concern that she will other than to protect our home and herself.

Now I realize as my son gets older he will be much different by my daughter, but I will instill the same education and discipline in him about firearms. I’m not worried.

By alch

November 7, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this

wow, i never realised so many people own guns!! A.MAZ.ING but enlightening. and no, i do not own any…never grew around any either.

By Stacey

November 7, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this

My parents had handguns and shotguns in the house when I was a child. To my knowledge, none of us ever bothered them. My mother wanted us all to learn to use a gun but I was afraid of them and never did. My husband said when he was a child, his grandfather kept a loaded shotgun propped against the headboard (they all knew better than to touch it too). His mother told him that when he was about 3 years old, he managed to pull the trigger while the gun was still propped! Luckily, no one was injured though there were several other kids in the room.

I saw a special several years ago on one of the news shows. They interviewed dozens of parents who had all taught their young kids about gun safety and they all knew that their kids would never touch a gun. With the parents watching through a two way mirror, they allowed the kids to play in small groups in a room which had a real unloaded gun. 99% of the kids not only touched the gun, but proceeded to pull the trigger and shoot the other kids in the room. They then passed the gun around and allowed the other kids to have a turn being the cop or cowboy (or whatever game they were playing).

I don’t have a gun in my house because although my son is very well trained & well behaved, he is still a 5 year old boy.

By Mrs. Ed

November 7, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this

For some reason some people think that everyone is good, we live in a perfect world and that you are crazy to think that your neighbor or fellow citizen could ever hurt you. News Flash - yes there are good people, but there are also bad people too looking for trouble - and they could be living right next door or in your neighborhood: it is just the REALITY of the world we live in today. The world we live in is not Care Bear Land. It is better to be prepared than to find yourself face to face with someone who is prepared to deal with you in your home.

By BPJ

November 7, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

I have two big German Shepherds, who protect the house regardless of whether I’m there. The cowards who invade homes will not come near them, guns or no.

No one I know proposes to outlaw guns; most sensible people think we should make it very difficult for minors, convicted felons, and lunatics to buy guns. But a small minority is sooo concerned that such rules might restrict their right to buy a gun in 5 minutes rather than 20 minutes, that such legislation has been impossible. Nor is it any answer to say that criminals will find illegal ways to get guns; all we need to do is make it HARDER for felons to buy guns legally. The fact that we can only make it hard, not impossible, for felons to buy guns should not be a barrier to action.

By dm

November 7, 2006 02:15 PM | Link to this

wow, I’m with alch. I can’t believe the number of people bragging about owning guns. we gave ours away when we had our child. i could never live with myself if my child found that gun and accidentally shot himself or anyone else. we’ll take our chances with intruders, from what i’ve read guns kill more innocent people than intruders.

By CLD

November 7, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

We keep a loaded 9mm in the night stand by our bed. We do not have children, however, I grew up in a house with shotguns and rifles standing in corners around the house and a loaded handgun in my parent’s room. We were taught as kids not to touch the guns and there was never a problem. Any kids that came over to play with me also knew not to touch the guns, their parents had them, too.

The problem with kids and guns today goes back to the same root problem. No discipline and not being made to obey rules and adults.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

To Mrs. Ed,

I live with that ambiguity every day and count on the fact that ostensibly we live in a civilized community, well governed and well policed. I came to grips with the ambiguity many years ago, and I’ve very comfortable with it. I have no guns, and genuinely wish we could develop strong grassroots support for very strict gun prohibitions in the face of the 3 year killing a 5 year old, Columbine, the shootings in the Amish community, and all the other horrors which take place in the course of a year.

By Gun Owner

November 7, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this

I have a 13 YO daughter. In my humble opinion, I would be remiss in my responsibilities as a father and husband if I did not have a firearm available protect my family. Are you going to have the opportunity to make a call and wait for the police to arrive? With that said, I also FIRMLY believe that if one decides to keep a firearm in the house, it is also their responsibility to train yourself as well as anyone in the house (especally children)on gun safety. The worst thing that could happen is that someone mistake the gun for a toy or assumes it is not loaded. There are some very good firearm safety programs. The NRA is a good place to start.

By Mrs. Ed

November 7, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

If your child found your gun and shot him/herself or someone else it is because YOU were NOT responsible with that gun.

It is all about responsibility. If you do not want it - don’t have a gun.

By Jeffrey

November 7, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

Even if you don’t have kids, even if you only have your friends and relative children’s in your home you should not have guns. Kids are going to look and sometimes they are going to find. It should not be a tragedy. Why do you need the gun? Protection? Get a dog. Get a security system. Get a clue.

By Gerald

November 7, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this

I own a .45, and I feel sorry for the scum that kicks my door in! My wife doesn’t even know I own it. Nor does my 17 year old Autistic son, because I keep it hidden with no round chambered, but close to me at all times. The only way they will know about it is when I tell them to call 911 to come pick up the body of the intruder!

By RJR

November 7, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this

Yes I have kids and I have guns in the house. My 12 year old has used a gun since he was very young. He knows what they will do and he knows how to use them. He was trained in gun safety and their use. My 8 year old daughter also has been trained on the use and safety of guns. They both have their own guns as well. He has a 35 for hunting and she enjoys going to the firing range and shooting her 22.

I have no worry about my children bothering the guns. I do keep a loaded 9mm under the mattress, but they both know how to load and fire the various guns in the house.

By kurt

November 7, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

Anyone who believes that they are safer by having a gun in the house is a fool. Only military and possibly policemen should have guns. There is absolutely no reason for private citizens to own them.

By Peter

November 7, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

• Gun Owner - 02:28 “The NRA is a good place to start.”

Perhaps a better place to start would be the ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign.

www.www.paxusa.org/ask/

That way we don’t have to introduce firearms into environments that don’t already have them.

By Gun Owner

November 7, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

Accidents can even happen with a dog - espically one big enough to protect against a home invasion. Did you read the news today? “A two-year-old boy has been killed after being mauled by two dogs at his Southwest Side home near Tucson”

• 2,000 children in the U.S. die of child abuse.
• 1,236 children (0-18) died from drowning in 2000
• 1,946 children (0-18) died in fires in 2000
• 2,523 infants died of SIDS in the United States in 2000
• There were 238 child deaths (0-18) of other or undetermined causes in the United States in 2000
• In 2000, only 174 children (0-18) in the United States died from unintentional firearm-related injuries

By Gun Owner

November 7, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this

Accidents can even happen with a dog - espically one big enough to protect against a home invasion. Did you read the news today? “A two-year-old boy has been killed after being mauled by two dogs at his Southwest Side home near Tucson”

• 2,000 children in the U.S. die of child abuse.
• 1,236 children (0-18) died from drowning in 2000
• 1,946 children (0-18) died in fires in 2000
• 2,523 infants died of SIDS in the United States in 2000
• There were 238 child deaths (0-18) of other or undetermined causes in the United States in 2000
• In 2000, only 174 children (0-18) in the United States died from unintentional firearm-related injuries

By Pat

November 7, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

Children are curious, and something hidden and unknown is always fascinating. If a firearm is in the house, the mystique and magic associated with something hidden needs to be dispelled. A gun may a dangerous tool, but so are the mother’s kitchen knives, for example. Both need to be treated with respect and properly handled. We sucessfully raised two very intelligent and talented daughters. I have always kept at least one loaded gun in the house, as did my parents and grandparents, with no problems. We kids knew where they were, and NOT to touch them unless adults were around. Many of our family members are also hunters, and firearms have been and are a normal part of the household environment. I kept my loaded gun hidden, well above where a small child could access it, even climbing. As they became older, I showed them the guns, warned them not to touch them,unless I was there, and took them to shoot and provided safety and competency training for them. They still enjoy shooting.

By Mrs. Ed

November 7, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

Dear PHenry,

We are just going to have to agree to disagree. Many of the problems of kids shooting kids is because of a complete lack of parental supervision and responsiblity. Guns are not going around shooting people. The parents of the kids who caused the Colombine attack didn’t even know their kids had guns and they didn’t belong to the parents. Again, you cannot count on the cops to show up ASAP when you call 911. In fact, one time I thought someone broke into our house it took the cops almost half an hour to show up. There are not enough cops to just sit around in front of every home to protect everyone immediately. You gotta use your head and have a plan. The 2nd Amendment is a great thing - you can have guns if you want to or not have one if you don’t. You fail to see that more children are killed by being run over by SUVs in a year than guns - the truth is the numbers. Yet, to have motion detectors on SUVs are not a required item on many - costing over $1,000 to have added. Do some research. It is true, if you make it criminal to have a gun, only the criminals will have guns. I can agree on stricker gun laws on getting guns - I would not be bothered if I was told I had to wait an extra hour, it is better for the whole. But no matter what you do people will find a way to get a gun. You cannot stop that from happening. Not even a ban on guns will stop it. That is just the reality of it. So, until that perfect world you think we are in does happen, I feel much safer with the guns in my house.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

To Kurt,

I totally agree.

By RJR

November 7, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

Sorry Kurt, you are the fool. Your simple few of the world and who will protect you says it all.

By Jason

November 7, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this

All of you liberals need to wake up. Proper education is the answer. If you teach your kids proper safety and what a gun is capable of then they will respect that. If you don’t want to own a gun fine, but don’t push legislation that tramples the constitutional rights of those of us who do.

I hope that all of you gun owners are NRA members. If not join. You can bet that if the Hillary Clinton’s and Ted Kennedy’s of the world have their way, we will be forced to give them away tomorrow.

By EW

November 7, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this

There is a word we call people who don’t own a firearm for self protection, VICTIM. If you are lying in bed in the back of your house and you hear the crash of broken glass and someone invading your home and you call 911 do you realize how dead you are by the time the police arrive. In the same amount of time I can empty a 15 clip, reload and empty another one. Georgia laws were changed to allow for self protection including deadly force for a reason, it happens, people have to use self protection, you owe that to your family. Jeffery you sould like one big coward to me, you’d probably mess your pants if you got scared by a home invader.

By Police Officer

November 7, 2006 03:32 PM | Link to this

I was not surprised when I read through some of the responses in this thread and saw the anti-gun responses. However, I was amazed at how misinformed some of them were.

First of all, you need no reason to own a gun because it is clearly outlined in our country’s second amendment that the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Anti-gun activists will say that is for a well-regulated militia which we do not have. However, anyone with a middle school education will realize that basic sentence structure applies and the militia is not a requirement of the right to keep and bear arms. It was merely a good reason why they put that right in the Constitution. We will yell and scream when someone tries to violate our other rights but anti-gun people don’t hesitate to trample the second amendment.

Secondly, the person that touts Britain’s anti-gun laws needs to do some research. They are trying to arm police officers at a quicker rate than they can find officers to arm. Why? They have realized that criminals still have guns and deadly weapons and their officers are being hurt and killed because of the idiotic decision not to arm their officers. In addition, their officers are carrying guns that would rival any American Police arsenal.

Third, in a best case scenario (again best-case), it will be a minimum of five to ten minutes before police will arrive after a 911 call. If you are dealing with a criminal intent on causing severe bodily harm, it will be done long before the police arrive. It is your duty to protect yourself and your family from harm.

Fourth, to the people who tout their “barking dogs”… A barking dog is not going to deter an armed criminal regardless of how vicious the dog is. A dog can be shot and killed in less than a second. Pepper Spray, knifes, and sticks are also a good deterrent against the most vicious of dogs. Your dog might deter the insecure criminal but not the serious criminal.

I support the legal ownership of handguns fully by law-abiding citizens. I think they should be well-trained and versed in their use and they should be allowed to carry for their protection.

As far as kids, I grew up with many guns. Keeping them secret is not the answer. If you keep them a secret, your child will do their best to find out about them on their own. If you are honest and show them the guns, safe operation there will be no mysterious secret to learn about.

I have two young children. My guns always stay locked up but they have been taught about guns. When I get ready for work, they say “There’s daddy’s gun, kids don’t touch guns.”

There are hundreds of stories of successful self-defense situations where the gun-owner saved their own lives or that of someone else. There are thousands of stories of unarmed victims being killed and/or injured. There may be stories of victims being killed with their own guns. However, I’ll take that chance over being unarmed and much more likely to be dead or hurt.

You can choose to protect you or your family however you want. However, you have no right to take that away from another law abiding citizen.

Punish the criminals harshly for gun crime. Punish people who sell guns to criminals. Punish people who allow reckless and inappropriate access to their weapons. Don’t punish law-abiding citizens.

By David

November 7, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this

It is a shame that so many people attach such venom to things they fail to fully grasp. Safety with weapons of any sort and especially guns, require the sort of self-discipline that some people just don’t possess. Guns are designed for two purposes; to kill and for target shooting. The are not to threaten or menace, they are to kill or punch paper.

I have guns in my house (target shooting) but they are all locked away in a safe because I have kids and because I don’t want anyone else to have access to them either. While I am not opposed to the idea of using a gun for self-protection in a situation where the law permits it, I do not feel that that need warrant’s the risk of having an accessible firearm.

I even went to the extent of discouraging my kids from pointing toy weapons at each other as they grew up. I was not totally successful at this but any time I witnessed the behavior, I let them know how serious pointing a firearm at someone is. The goal wasn’t to stamp out the behavior but to heighten the awareness. The police are taught never to point their weapons unless they are prepared to use deadly force. Shouldn’t we teach our children the same? Or is life that worthless to so many?

The problem we face today is that so many people think that the threat of force is the easiest and best method to resolve a conflict. It may be the easiest (we can argue that point) but is is almost never the best. As long as children are allowed to believe that violence is acceptable method of problem resolution we will continue to lose kids.

The fault when a child gains access to a deadly weapon clearly lies with the adult who provided that access. Yes, I have on many occasions, turned a conversation to the topic of guns to assess whether my children’s parents possess them and share the same level of concern as me. How many parents allow their children to sleep over at a friend’s house without ever having met the parents? As I began this tome. Safety is a matter of self- discipline.

By DB

November 7, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this

To the people comparing violent crime rates in England with those of the United States, you are comparing apples and oranges. Crime rates there were MUCH lower than ours to begin with. The truth is that the rate of violent crime has more than doubled in Britain since firearms were banned in 1997. Now, take for instance Kennesaw, Georgia. Believe it or not, residents of Kennesaw are required to own a firearm. Yes, required by law. Kennesaw has one of the lowest crime rates in Georgia and is WELL below the national average. And Kennesaw is just minutes away from Atlanta, which has an extremely high rate of violent crime. Why the difference just miles apart? Because criminals do not break into homes in Kennesaw, because they know the owner has a gun. Instead, they go to areas where there is only a small chance that the homeowner will be able to defend himself or herself. So when you point to Britain’s lower crime rate, perhaps it is due to the fact that our country is young and grew too fast, we let anyone in our borders, and we don’t have adequate law and order to control the people in this country. And before I’m called a racist for saying we let anyone in our borders, I am referring to population booms associated with immigration (legal or illegal) which are historically followed by increased crime rates due to poverty and organized crime (a.k.a mobs).

By DaTaWho

November 7, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this

I have friends who think that a bat is the best form of protection and that a gun should never been in a home.

By the time they raise the bat they will have been shot dead.

Now. Who is going to protect your family?

If you don’t want to be responsible and not educate yourself and your family about using a gun as a form of protection from someone who broke into your home - then you will have to deal with that when you find someone aiming a gun at you standing in your home. You realize that one sudden move you could make is going to make the person with gun shoot. Also, if you don’t want to be responsible and not educated yourself and your family about the gun you are keeping in your house and someone gets shot, that is you own fault caused by your own irresponsible and uneducated self - why should I be punished by people who will be reading about it and want all guns banned? I am responsible and educated (and will educate my family).

By Preacher

November 7, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this

The unarmed that talk about not needing a gun at home to feel safe, never consider that a criminal will think twice about kicking their door in while they are at home because he knows that in America, they “might” have a gun. Your sleep is better because of the willing, armed and ready to protect citizen next door. The criminal mindset and resolve is much too mean these days to go unarmed. Ask the lady who recently had to fight with a butcher knife to keep her 6 year old from being raped. A 357mag. would have been much more effective and much less traumatic for her.

By Ed

November 7, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this

My daughter would never marry a wimp of a guy that doesn’t own a gun to protect his family. Kurt, you are a crimminals dream victim. Both of our vehicles have NRA stickers on them; this is a warning, we are loaded to the gill, you cross our threshold with intent to cause bodily harm to any one in my home, there’s a toe tag waiting for you with your name on it.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this

To Police Officer,

I would think that you would be among the first to lobby for sane and sensible gun control to get guns out of the hands of unqualified homeowners and to make it more difficult for them to pour over our borders. A well armed citizenry is absolutely necessary in times of invasion, but I’ve had other officers tell me that a well armed citizenry is a threat to the peace because some small percentage of that well armed citizenry will use the weapon on a loved one or an acquaintance. Since most homicide calls are domestic violence calls, not homicides by intruders, other officers have told me that if we can drastically reduce the number of citizens shot by people close to them with good gun controls, it would also make their jobs a lot easier. Yes, we need to seal the borders to make guns very hard to get, but it would reduce the homicide rate and incidences such as Columbine and the Amish tragedy.

By Bubba Grump

November 7, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

PHenry…….you need to pack up and move to some socialist country where you can fit in with others like you. Where did you get those idiotic ideas? Who are you to say who is an “unqualified homeowner”? The gun laws that are in place are not enforced as it is. Do you really think the answer is MORE laws? Do you REALLY think that if all honest gun permit holding armed citizens like myself turned in our guns the country would be safer? I garantee you that 100% of the liscensed gun owners hope they NEVER have to point there guns at another human being. Only when forced to act in self defense will that happen. The lunatic fringe in our society is out there and things like Columbine will happen from time to time unfortunately. How many of those firearms do you think were LEGALLY obtained?

By anne

November 7, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this

OK, OK, you all convinced me. There is a threat lurking right outside my door - a bad guy just waiting for me to turn out the light so that he can “break in” to my house and rob me. Gee, maybe he’s watching me while I go to work, too - guess I should get 357 to carry along in my purse? And what about at the shopping center or the bank - I might need something a little bigger to protect me if there are multiple bad guys - how ‘bout a semi-automatic shotgun? Gosh, what about terrorists? They could attack Atlanta any day now! Better get a grenade launcher, and built a fence around my house with some barbed wire on it, just in case (will also protect me against thieves in the case of a race riot or that influenza thingie y’all keep talking about). What if all these guns aren’t enough? Maybe I’d better dig a hole in the back yard and make a shelter, store enough food for 10 years, etc etc.

People: do you realize how ridiculous you sound with your macho boasting and posturing? Pathetic.

By Play that funky music whiteboy

November 7, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this

My father was a champion marksman in high school (back when schools used to have rifle teams) at Fulton High (no longer there). But growing up, we never had guns in the house and I don’t have any in my home either. With two boys, I just don’t want to risk it. I’ve got a great alarm system and live in a “close” neighborhood (the lots are about 1/8th an acre, very close together). If I lived in an isolated place (farm, etc) - I would probably have a gun.
I have to say it though, every guy I’ve ever known that was a “gun nut” like many posting here (you own more than two - one pistol and a rifle for hunting), were truly compensating for other “deficiencies”.

By Play that funky music whiteboy

November 7, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

Anne, see the last line in my post - it’s very true.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

To: Bubba Grump

Yes, Bubba, I do.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 04:35 PM | Link to this

To Anne,

Well said.

By HomeInvader

November 7, 2006 04:40 PM | Link to this

Those of you without guns please post your address for me. Like Santa Clause, I’m dying to pay you a visit. You would definitely make my job easier and take away my worries of somebody BUSTIN A CAP IN MY AZZ.

By Mrs. Ed

November 7, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

anne: You need to remove your airbag in your car. (Yes, I know I posted this earlier, but some didn’t read it or want to comprehend it.)

What?! You say!

Hey, that airbag is there to protect you in an accident you may or may not have in your car.

So does a gun protect you from an intruder you may or may not have in your home.

So, again, we have guns in our house and our person (we have permits) for our safety and protection in our home. We don’t have an arsenal of guns of all shapes and sizes. We are not paranoid either. We rather be prepared for that person that comes into our house prepared to protect himself from the homeowner. You can NEVER say that you will NEVER have some one break into your home. I think that an unprepared person is the fool.

Please read and think about it REALISTICLY and do some research to get the FACTS about it. See “Gun Owner” to see the FACTS in numbers – and they don’t lie.

For those people who think you will never need a gun - you obviously never have driven thru Atlanta’s side streets at night or the areas south of Atlanta. You don’t stop and the cops don’t go there either. Have fun!! :)

By Bubba Grump

November 7, 2006 04:42 PM | Link to this

Aaaaaay yii yii

By DaTaWho

November 7, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this

To all those who think of us who own and keep guns in our homes as protection (and we feel safe at home having them) as paranoid: Keep looking at the world in your rose-colored glasses.

R-E-A-L-I-T-Y of the world today really hasn’t hit you yet has it?

By GunSlinger

November 7, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this

A Gun in the home is a deterant to crime and it could come in handy someday. My home was about to be broken into before I bought my first gun. The guy had already busted down the glass door and was moving the curtains back so he could stick his leg in and come right in. I could have just ran out the other door and let him take whatever he wanted. I thought about hitting his arm with a broom handle, ax or knife, but then I thought that might make him mad and start spraying bullets all over the place if he had a gun. What I did was act like someone else was upstairs fetching the gun so I hollered “GET THE GUN, HE’S COMING THROUGH”. You should have seen him breaking his neck to get off my deck. I think he missed most of the steps hauling azz outta there. JUST THE TOUGHT OF A GUN IS A DETERRENT. IF THERE IS A SHOOTOUT, HE STANDS A CHANCE OF GETTING SHOT, THEY DON’T LIKE THE ODDS.

By Dawgbees

November 7, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

First, while I do support the right of private citizens to own guns, I think that many people don’t consider the awesome responsible of a gun. You must be prepared to take someone’s life if you pull your weapon. Not “scare someone off.”

Frankly, my first line of defense is to get out the back window. I realize that it isn’t always an option but every self-defense class I’ve been to doesn’t talk about shooting an assailant but about getting away. This is includes your home if possible. Granted, it isn’t always possible but how many more violent crimes can be prevented by giving up the money, jewelry, etc. and getting away from the situation.

I don’t answer my door at all if someone comes knocking after dark or if I’m not expecting them. I know that’s no guarantee but frankly I think I’m better off to avoid the confrontation then to have a weapon in the house that I’m not prepared to use. Ask a police officer how many times he/she’s had to draw their weapon in the line of duty. I bet it’s a lot less than the general public expects. So why risk a more likely outcome (shooting a family member/friend) in order to avoid a very unlikely outcome (being attacked by an intruder).

By Stacey

November 7, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

I choose not to own a gun but I don’t try to infringe on anyone else’s right to. My parents owned guns, a couple of my siblings do, as well as my in-laws. My sister has had to use a gun on an intruder. The man didn’t die but he spent several weeks in the hospital.

My brother-in-law has a gun rack on his bedroom wall where he keeps his hunting rifles. My nephew got his own rifle for his 13th birthday. Thankfully, no one has had an accident…yet.

One thing about it though, if I did have a gun, it would be loaded and accessable. If an intruder is breaking in, I don’t expect him to wait for me to go to one room to retrieve the gun from the lockbox and another room to get the ammo.

By GunSlinger

November 7, 2006 05:00 PM | Link to this

AMEN PREACHER, you said a mouth full about the lady who just stabbed to death that low life predator. A GUN WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT CLEANER TOO. One time I stopped to gas my car. As I was about to leave this guy on the other side of the gas pump approached me Hollering and Screaming that I stole his gasoline credit card. He was twice my size and quite intimidating. I tried telling him that I had my own gasoline card, why would I need his, but he wasn’t buying it. I politely got into my car to leave and he approached me on the driver’s side and was reaching for in telling me “You are not going anywhere”. Being more and more intimidated I figured if this guy pulled me outta da car he was gonna mop the concrete with me, so I reached over into my glove compartment as if I had a gun in there. SUDDENLY HE BECAME MORE CORDIAL. He backed up, and said “wait a minute there is no need for anything like that”. You should have seen the size of his eyes too. Anyway, the attendant at the service station walked out, bent down on the ground and found his credit card that the wind had blown under the car. THE IMAGINARY GUN SAVED ME.

By anne

November 7, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this

Nitwits: If the imaginary guns are saving you, why do you need real ones?

By DaTaWho

November 7, 2006 05:16 PM | Link to this

anne: Because situations like that are few and someday the criminal is not going to buy it - you can only cry wolf so many times.

By GunSlinger

November 7, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this

Anne, I need the real one because I want to make sure he don’t just run away and pay someone like you a visit. I want to drop him right there, make sure he takes the DIRT NAP.

By sergeant s

November 7, 2006 05:24 PM | Link to this

To add to Police Officer, with thesecond amendment, the founding fathers intended for every able bodied man to be the militia. They were to supply their own weapons and drill regulary. We keep forgetting the right to keep and bear arms is not to simply “keep guns” but to insure our government and elected officials keep adhereing to the constitution and precepts of what makes our nation free.

If you are depending on the government to keep you safe, you are already dead and just don;t know it yet. There will almost never be a police officer or soldier where and when you need them. It is up to you as a citizen to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Childeren should be taught about firearms at an early age, but not allowed access to one until they are of a responsible age and have shown responsbility enough to handle one. No shild should have unaccompanied access. This is why they make safes, including quick access safes for the bedside.

When, not if, our society breaks down, everyone who currently advocates gun control will either quickly change their mind, or will soon perish. Most of the celebrities and politicians who are most outspoken against weapons are the ones with the most armed bodyguards. Hippocritical to say the least, and reminiscient of NAZI Germany, where Hitler was a firm advocate of gun control. It allowed him to better control the population. Be really suspicious of those who want the guns away from the people and only for the military and police.

By PHenry

November 7, 2006 05:26 PM |