Guns Everywhere

[Bill]

What on earth do you hunt with a handgun?

[redtwin]

Bill said:

What on earth do you hunt with a handgun?

Whatever is legal in the locality where you are hunting. It tends to be mostly wild Hogs, Deer and squirrels though.

[Bill]

All surely better hunted with a rifle? Easier for the hunter and more likely to result in a clean kill.

[Jasandjules]

Bill said:

All surely better hunted with a rifle? Easier for the hunter and more likely to result in a clean kill.

I should imagine so but if you don't get a clean kill then a quick shot from the handgun I suspect would be the order of the day - if you are someone who hunts animals (I am not).

But I enjoy plinking cans and shooting static targets. Can't see why I can't have some fun guns for that.

[mackie1]

It's possible to own a handgun for humane dispatch in the UK too. It's a faff though, so I'm told.

[Bill]

I've seen discussions about it on other forums, there's a good argument that a .410 or low velocity rifle round is as effective and if you need a handgun for humane dispatch on a regular basis you shouldn't be taking the shots you are.

[redtwin]

Bill said:

All surely better hunted with a rifle? Easier for the hunter and more likely to result in a clean kill.

Not easier to carry, especially if tracking for miles through heavy undergrowth.

There are high powered handgun calibres that are very effective stoppers even with larger game like, Buffalo and Whitetail Deer.

Also, if you pop through some bush and find yourself face to face with a Grizzly, an unwieldy scoped rifle that is slung over your shoulder is no match (as far as readiness) for a handgun on on your hip.

[redtwin]

Bill said:

if you need a handgun for humane dispatch on a regular basis you shouldn't be taking the shots you are.

I was under the impression they were more for Farmers and Gamekeepers to dispatch injured animals rather than for hunters to finish off game?.

In any case, a shotgun would do the job as you mentioned.

[Rovinghawk]

Bill said:

What on earth do you hunt with a handgun?

[Rambo]Name it.[/Rambo] Oh- that was a knife, sorry.

On a more serious note, I've gone after rats & rabbits with a handgun in the past.

[redtwin]

Rovinghawk said:

I've gone after rats & rabbits with a handgun in the past.

Not with one of these I take it.

http://youtu.be/AN8kucao8ds

[santona1937]

No matter what Brits think about guns Americans not only have a right to them, it is very very unlikely that any American court will take away that right. The ramifications in social disorder, for one thing, would be writ quite large.
The majority of American citizens believe in the right to bear arms, and of those that believe in gun control only a small minority think that there should be no guns whatsoever.
There may be a few nutcase armed militia out in Snake River Idaho now, but if any government seriously attempted to repeal the 2nd amendment there would be a huuge increase in these armed militia, and a very real chance they would take arms against an American Government they believe is repressive, as is their fundamental right. Not too many politicians would be prepared to risk that.
And as to taking guns to work; if it is legal why not?

[longblackcoat]

santona1937 said:

And as to taking guns to work; if it is legal why not?

For the same reason that I don't take a chainsaw to work. It may be legal, but I cannot think of any sensible circumstance in which it might be used. And the chance of me needing to cut a fallen tree which is blocking the road is probably way more likely than one of my colleges going postal and needing to be 'taken down hard' or any other Ramboesque scenario. But stihl the chainsaw stays at home.

By taking a gun to the office you're demonstrating a certain distrust of the world, a slightly paranoid view that at some point you'll need to fight for your life. I've been to the USA many times on business, in all sorts of places, and not once have I thought "ooh, if only I had a gun". Those gun-carriers I've met in business (few, admittedly) I've been polite to but have regarded with extreme suspicion and scepticism; by openly displaying their gun they're demonstrating their worldview, which is not one that accords with mine.

[Saddle bum]

santona1937 said:

No matter what Brits think about guns Americans not only have a right to them, it is very very unlikely that any American court will take away that right. The ramifications in social disorder, for one thing, would be writ quite large.
The majority of American citizens believe in the right to bear arms, and of those that believe in gun control only a small minority think that there should be no guns whatsoever.
There may be a few nutcase armed militia out in Snake River Idaho now, but if any government seriously attempted to repeal the 2nd amendment there would be a huuge increase in these armed militia, and a very real chance they would take arms against an American Government they believe is repressive, as is their fundamental right. Not too many politicians would be prepared to risk that.
And as to taking guns to work; if it is legal why not?

+1

[jdw100]

longblackcoat said:

For the same reason that I don't take a chainsaw to work. It may be legal, but I cannot think of any sensible circumstance in which it might be used. And the chance of me needing to cut a fallen tree which is blocking the road is probably way more likely than one of my colleges going postal and needing to be 'taken down hard' or any other Ramboesque scenario. But stihl the chainsaw stays at home.

By taking a gun to the office you're demonstrating a certain distrust of the world, a slightly paranoid view that at some point you'll need to fight for your life. I've been to the USA many times on business, in all sorts of places, and not once have I thought "ooh, if only I had a gun". Those gun-carriers I've met in business (few, admittedly) I've been polite to but have regarded with extreme suspicion and scepticism; by openly displaying their gun they're demonstrating their worldview, which is not one that accords with mine.

Nice post. Been to the USA quite a bit as well and couldn't agree more.

[Rovinghawk]

longblackcoat said:

But stihl the chainsaw stays at home.

Very good.

[Rovinghawk]

redtwin said:

Rovinghawk said:

I've gone after rats & rabbits with a handgun in the past.

Not with one of these I take it.
http://youtu.be/AN8kucao8ds

I've always wanted one of these:

It would probably be cheaper than the psychiatric help.

[redtwin]

The Bunny would only be good for Bolognese after being hit by one of those rounds.

[Dr Jekyll]

longblackcoat said:

Those gun-carriers I've met in business (few, admittedly) I've been polite to but have regarded with extreme suspicion and scepticism; by openly displaying their gun they're demonstrating their worldview, which is not one that accords with mine.

Is it so much different from carrying a rape alarm or a pepper spray?

[redtwin]

longblackcoat said:

For the same reason that I don't take a chainsaw to work. It may be legal, but I cannot think of any sensible circumstance in which it might be used. And the chance of me needing to cut a fallen tree which is blocking the road is probably way more likely than one of my colleges going postal and needing to be 'taken down hard' or any other Ramboesque scenario. But stihl the chainsaw stays at home.

By taking a gun to the office you're demonstrating a certain distrust of the world, a slightly paranoid view that at some point you'll need to fight for your life. I've been to the USA many times on business, in all sorts of places, and not once have I thought "ooh, if only I had a gun". Those gun-carriers I've met in business (few, admittedly) I've been polite to but have regarded with extreme suspicion and scepticism; by openly displaying their gun they're demonstrating their worldview, which is not one that accords with mine.

I knew a few people who carried firearms on a regular basis and I would say it was due more to an element of machismo or over-compensating rather than outright paranoia or a dim view of the world around them.

I don't where you have been in the USA, but there are undoubtedly certain places where you would certainly be at risk and having a firearm would even things up a bit. Not saying that having one suddenly made you safe, just that there would be justification for feeling the need to have one.

Even when in those areas I still didn't carry a gun (company rules wouldn't have allowed it anyway), but I relied on being very aware of surroundings and being prepared to beat a very hasty retreat if needed.

[longblackcoat]

Dr Jekyll said:

longblackcoat said:

Those gun-carriers I've met in business (few, admittedly) I've been polite to but have regarded with extreme suspicion and scepticism; by openly displaying their gun they're demonstrating their worldview, which is not one that accords with mine.

Is it so much different from carrying a rape alarm or a pepper spray?

Yes, in that an alarm/pepper spray are entirely defensive. And, rather obviously, that they can't kill people.

At the same time, if I was working with a woman who felt it necessary to openly display a rape alarm when I was in the room I'd surmise that she felt somewhat threatened in her office. Worrying if she really felt this way with her colleagues.