ashley83 Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I know this is a personal matter. But would you marry a guy who owns guns and arms himself, and loves to hunt? I am dating a guy who is like this, and I worry if I had kids, things could go wrong, etc. Just want to hear other girls input on this.
BigB Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I know this is a personal matter. But would you marry a guy who owns guns and arms himself, and loves to hunt? I am dating a guy who is like this, and I worry if I had kids, things could go wrong, etc. Just want to hear other girls input on this. I'm not a girl, but I own guns. My dad taught me to shoot and taught me gun safety starting at a young age, around 10 I think. I got my first gun at age 13, but my dad still kept it in his safe and I only got to use it under his supervision. If you ever had kids, he could get a gun safe and keep all the guns under lock and key, but if the kids learn about guns they'll know the dangers and they'll know how to be safe. just my 2 cents....
kitkat826 Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 Growing up, my father had two hunting rifles tucked away in his closet. He would go hunting out of state only once a year, and I never really even thought about them being in the house. The bullets were kept somewhere separately. As a progresive liberal, I have always had a strong instinct towards being anti-gun ownership. I think its one of those things that breeds a cycle of violence. However, in real life situations I have dated guys that are pro-gun; I've also been in or dreamt up situations where I would prefer to have a gun on hand should I need it for self protection. Ideally though, I would rather bring up kids in a house with guns. The risk and exposure of it would scare me.
Author ashley83 Posted November 20, 2005 Author Posted November 20, 2005 thanks for your input! My bf actually tought me how to use a gun, and how to do it safely, but it still kinda scares me, because I want kids. I just wouldn't want anything to go wrong.
Outcast Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 Nope. If the person was some sort of high-end politico or public figure who had received death threats maybe but otherwise no way.
BigB Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 Nope. If the person was some sort of high-end politico or public figure who had received death threats maybe but otherwise no way. I have family members who work on death row in a state prison, the death threats come daily... I wonder how many girls start dating cops without realizing that most will never leave the house without a loaded handgun on their belt?
Outcast Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I wonder how many girls start dating cops without realizing that most will never leave the house without a loaded handgun on their belt? Would have to be pretty stupid girls. Policemen apparently aren't the best bets as partners - a lot of alcoholism, anger issues, abuse, etc. My friend's dad was a cop. Beat his sons - two of whom have since committed suicide and the daughter's an alcoholic.
BigB Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 Would have to be pretty stupid girls. Policemen apparently aren't the best bets as partners - a lot of alcoholism, anger issues, abuse, etc. My friend's dad was a cop. Beat his sons - two of whom have since committed suicide and the daughter's an alcoholic. I've heard that, cops have something like a 70% divorce rate. It's all about the uniform..
JS17 Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 Never. Violence is never the answer and hunting is just barbaric.
Author ashley83 Posted November 20, 2005 Author Posted November 20, 2005 Are you joking?? By looking your avatar I'm wondering.
JS17 Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 That was great. The avatar was just a joke about someone holding a gun to my head forcing me to start dating again....but I digress. I do not believe in guns or violence. I certainly don't believe there is a need to kill for sport.
7on Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 No, I'd never marry a guy who owns a gun because I don't swing that way... However, in YOUR case I don't see why not. If you love the guy regardless of the gun thing and aren't too outspoken on anti-gunship then I couldn't see a reason not to marry him. Unless he's Ted Nugent *shudders* Coming from a town where we get off of school for deer season, I think safety can be achieved. Basically don't keep guns near the children - but don't make it taboo. Don't be all "SEE THAT GUN UP THERE, YEAH NEVER NEVER TOUCH IT EVER." Instead of being like that try and focus on caring instead of scaring your child. Explain to the child that is what daddy uses to kill animals for food and it's not for kids because kids can get hurt using it. Then if they're still curious, buy them toy guns. Should distract them for 10 minutes until their mind wanders onto other things. Children do have short attention spans. Proper parenting will solve all problems in the end.
catalyst Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I would not marry a guy with guns cause I dont swing that way either. But I was a child raised in a house with guns. It all depends on how he handles them. Whats his "gun philosophy". Growng up, we had some strange rules regarding guns. We were all required to learn to shoot and care for them. By the time we were teens we were all licenced to kill, and damn good shots besides. We were NOT allowed to own toy guns. There was no such thing in my fathers "gun philosphy." Friends could have them, but while at our home they had to be treated EXACTLY like a real one. Our friends were asked to unload them and store them locked with the rest. No one ever has been shot or has shot himself in three generations, although dad almost lost his leg in a tractor accident. By the way, I dont hunt and have never killed a living thing. Folgers cans fear me though.
Walk Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I seem to be in the minority here, but I was raised out in the boon docks. I grew up with at least 12 guns stashed in various locations around the house. My brother and I NEVER touched the guns without our fathers permission. I don't remember them being out and accesible when I was really young. But I'd been through hunter safety class by the age of 12, and was a dead shot with a .22 by then. Guns are dangerous if you treat them like toys. Don't be an idiot, and you're fine. My brother (33) owns guns, and hunts. The deer meat means his family can eat great tasting steaks and stews all winter long, while I'm paying out the nose for ground beef from the store. I never understood peoples views on why hunting is bad. We kill cattle and eat them. Have you never seen this done? It's not any better then hunting. (I want to clarify though, I'm refering to hunting done by a serious hunter, not the ones who can't shoot or are in it to cause pain for the animals. But the ones who only take clean 'kill' shots.) Maybe it's just because we used to raise cattle and I saw them slaughtered. And chickens. Ever seen a chicken decapitated. After the heads hacked off they jump around a lot, squirting blood all over. Pretty nasty. But you still eat chicken though, don't you? So they kill bambi and we eat it... As long as the intent is to make it as clean and quick a death as possible, I don't see a problem with it. If they're just throwing the meat and carcass away, then that's completely irresponsible, and should be reported. Any way, if he's responsible, knowledgable, and safe. Why would a gun be a disqualifier? If you're concerned about children and guns, then either get a gun safe, or see if the guns can be kept at a seperate location until the kids are much older.
Walk Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 Folgers cans fear me though Heck Yea!! You rock! Funny, we shot coffee cans a lot too. Oh and the sign across the street. (Nobody drove down our road). And GI joe men. That was fun. Dad got a little worried though when I started taping pictures of my brother to the coffee cans and shooting him between the eyes. heh. Just a little sibling rivalry.
Outcast Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I suppose if someone kills something humanely and makes use of everything it's not as bad; native folks, for instance, who eat the meat and then use the skins and everything else but sport killing just to have trophies or bragging rights makes me sick. And I don't eat much meat anyway
Woggle Posted November 20, 2005 Posted November 20, 2005 I am very liberal, radical leftist even but one area where I disagree with the left is guns. I own guns but I know how to use them. I go to the range and I know the ins and outs. My girlfriend is 100% fine with it.
catalyst Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 I dont think its enough just to store them away. Although that is a must. There also has to be an overall way of handling them and the child has to be included in that. If you hide it and give em the "dont touch its dangerous" speech guaranteed they will break that one. Kids are curious, If you hide it you make them curious. I believe kids must be involved in gun safety if guns are to be kept in the house. It is never to young to start teaching them this. Bringing guns around an older child whos never been around them, (epecially a child with any social problem) can be damn dangerous. Even a kid well educated in gun safety can be swayed by his/her friends to "show me!" Be carefull if your kid is easily led by buddies. When I look back I think this was the reason why my friends had to unload thier squirt guns before entering the house. The guns are kept in a locked room (disassembled) or in a locked cabinet, unloaded and each one has a lock on it. Seems excesive but even if you can trust your kid, dont forget the buddies, most of whom have parents who say "dont touch its dangerous!" Im not saying you should not be concerned, but I dont know your bf. Is he the type that just likes to go hunting once a month with buddies? Or is it part and parcel of his lifestyle, who he is? Does he, in your view, behave responsibly with them? Does he go out drinking and hunting ect or does he follow the law? Sit down and talk with him. Find out what his gun philosophy is and go from there. Find out how willing and able he will be to educate the kids and enforce the rules. Most of all know that if you marry him you will wind up with kids who hunt and/or like to shoot, be sure you are ok with that.
catalyst Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 Dad got a little worried though when I started taping pictures of my brother to the coffee cans and shooting him between the eyes. heh. Just a little sibling rivalry. THAT was allowed (once even encouraged) But we were not allowed to point so much as a squirt gun at the actual person. My parents were just wierd.
TUDOR Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 I own several guns which was a new thing to my now wife when we first started dating. Her family never owned a gun and she was very stand offish about the idea of being around them. After being around them and taught how to safely handle, use and secure them she went from not comfortable around them to asking for one of her own this last Christmas which she got. As it turns out she is pretty damn good shot to. Guns are not dangerous and they do not kill or harm people. It is the people that do not take the time to properly learn how to handle them, shoot them and store them properly that cause harm. Kids are always a concern around guns because until they are old enough to be taught to understand them, their curiosity and familarising them with toys can be a concern. But guns can be secured and stored in your house so that kids do not and will not have access to them. We have a gun safe at our house and there is no way for them to be accessed with out the combination. The combination isn't written down any where so that it can't be found and there is no key. There are many dangerous elements to a house for kids like: outlets, kithchen knives, the draw strings on windowblinds, medications, etc, etc....BUT as a responsible parent you know to make these items less dangerous by taking percautions. It is no different with guns. With a responsible approach they are not an issue. To not date a person on the account of them owning guns is selling them and yourself very short and you very well could pass up a great thing all beause of your misinformation and lack of experience around guns.
TUDOR Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 good posting TUDOR Thanks B. I have no problem with those that do not want to be around guns for what ever reasons but hate to see that reason be out of fear of them. Guns are not scary, people are scary.
BigB Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 Thanks B. I have no problem with those that do not want to be around guns for what ever reasons but hate to see that reason be out of fear of them. Guns are not scary, people are scary. I agree 100%.
mental_traveller Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 I know this is a personal matter. But would you marry a guy who owns guns and arms himself, and loves to hunt? I am dating a guy who is like this, and I worry if I had kids, things could go wrong, etc. Just want to hear other girls input on this. Unless he's a complete moron, I'm sure he's both capable and willing to keep his guns safe & away from kids if and when you have them. Also think of it this way - if your man owns a gun and is trained to use it properly, your kids will be safer if you are unlucky enough to ever have an intruder in the house. I don't see guns as a problem as long as they are owned responsibly. Statistically, gun-owners are better educated, more law abiding, higher earning and higher IQ than people who don't own guns.
Outcast Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 Statistically, gun-owners are better educated, more law abiding, higher earning and higher IQ than people who don't own guns ROTFL! I bet those stats are from the NRA!
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