TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The Gun Thread

Go To

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#14751: Aug 12th 2017 at 1:52:36 PM

Well guys, I'm kinda in need of some advice.

Recent events have made me pretty damn concerned for my safety lately and I'm putting some serious thought into getting my concealed carry permit. The huge riot in Charlottesville has me pretty damn scared I'm not ashamed to say. That could very easily be my neighborhood with the sorta Klan and white supremacist presence around me and I'm not super keen on getting beaten by a mob of them or run over.

I dunno, you guys all tend to be pretty smart and I know some of you have your own guns and permits. What do you think?

Oh really when?
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#14752: Aug 12th 2017 at 1:55:14 PM

@Le Garcon: What state do you live in? And since you are asking, I think it is safe to presume you do not have a felony record.

edited 12th Aug '17 1:55:32 PM by ViperMagnum357

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#14753: Aug 12th 2017 at 1:57:32 PM

North Carolina and my neighborhood is pretty bad. Lotta confederate flags here.

And yeah I've got a clean record. Honestly I'm asking because it's a not insignificant amount of money I'd need to do all this and I don't have a lot to begin with.

But I really just don't know anymore. Things are pretty bad these days.

Oh really when?
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#14754: Aug 12th 2017 at 2:04:11 PM

[up]You need to complete a safety course as part of the application, so it could take a while. This link has all relevant info that can be downloaded from the blue hyperlink. [1]

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#14755: Aug 12th 2017 at 2:08:24 PM

Yeah I know. There's a lot of places near me that offer those courses. I know all the requirements and what I can and can't do and stuff.

I'm just wondering if I should actually go through with it all and buy a gun.

edited 12th Aug '17 2:09:16 PM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#14756: Aug 12th 2017 at 4:25:20 PM

[up] If it's wearing you down this badly, then you probably should get one, even if it's just to make you feel safer in your everyday life, then it's worth it.

Life is unfair...
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#14757: Aug 12th 2017 at 4:40:40 PM

Garcon: I would ask you if you are gong to do that if you could honestly bring yourself to use lethal force. Better yet can you find your way out of trouble without a gun first?. If your answer is no, you need a different solution. If you can do both you need to train yourself and find a place to practice and remember be safe.

Who watches the watchmen?
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#14758: Aug 12th 2017 at 4:45:38 PM

No, I don't mind shooting someone like those guys trying to kill people in Charlottesville.

My only two real concerns are cost and whether or not it'll actually be of any help or if I'm just gonna make myself a bigger target or put myself in more danger for having it/trying to use it.

Oh really when?
AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#14759: Aug 12th 2017 at 5:12:59 PM

As mentioned above, the important thing is going to be finding and taking the time to get quality training, and to maintain those skills. When the shit hits the fan, you don't rise to the occasion, you drop to your level of competence.

On that note, also wanna footstomp the bit about "find a way out of trouble without using the gun". Avoidance or deescalation are both valid and very important strategies when you can use them, as getting out of a fix without committing to ending a life is much preferable to pigeonholing yourself into having to end a life.

It's a lot of responsibility.

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#14760: Aug 12th 2017 at 5:22:37 PM

NC legislature has been pushing recently for a vote on allowing CC without requiring a permit. Last one failed, but the fact it got as far as it did is motivation enough for them to try to push it again soon.

You might check with your local Sheriff's office for details. In my side of the state classes are given by most gun stores and occasionally by the Sheriff's office, but I personally wouldn't trust the KKK-loving nutters running my local stores to give lessons on paintball.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#14761: Aug 12th 2017 at 5:23:44 PM

Yeah, that's also someone I'm a little apprehensive about. I can't think of a single gun store near me that I'd call properly liberal tolerant. Let alone friendly.

Oh really when?
PRC4Eva Since: Jan, 2001
#14762: Aug 12th 2017 at 5:35:46 PM

If you are a persecuted minority, there absolutely zero reason to not be armed.

I do not foresee Garcon having much trouble getting a place to teach him or sell him a gun. My experience with every single gun person has been that they don't care about your politics if you don't wave it in their face (much like they'd wish you don't care about their guns as long as they're not waving it in your face).

Yes, yes, deescalation, avoidance, etc are important. They are also not difficult from the victim's persepective; the difficulty is in the other side accepting it.

"I don't like it when you do this to me, please stop."

"No."

Where do you "deescalate" from there? It's a good thing to keep in mind, sure. But it is not a substitute for the ability to back up your desire to deescalate by force.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#14763: Aug 12th 2017 at 5:38:48 PM

The places that offer the courses are the places where the people who I'm worried about shooting me buy their guns.

They've got confederate flags in the window and when they ask why I want a gun I'm not really keen on giving them a truthful answer.

There is an Eastern Outfitters near me which might be better because it's a chain store but I feel like I'm gonna get gouged when it comes to prices.

edited 12th Aug '17 5:39:35 PM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#14764: Aug 12th 2017 at 5:58:04 PM

Of course, the important thing to consider is that you might not always be the victim in the discussion. More than a few times, neither person in an exchange was a victim until the gun got drawn and they got shot. Just don't let the gun be an excuse to escalate things when there's no good reason to other than "I've got a gun."

And in my experience, a lot of firearms training courses tend to be offered by the NRA, which is about as prone to not caring about politics as the chairman of the Republican Party. I figure the best you can do is grin and bear it until you get the training you need.

edited 12th Aug '17 6:08:07 PM by AFP

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#14765: Aug 12th 2017 at 6:16:30 PM

Garcon, I recall previous discussions in which you mentioned that cost was a real issue for you.

Rock Island Armory (marketed by Armscor) offers a line of budget-priced .38 revolvers. Suggested retail price is around $280, with real-world pricing under $250. Granted, it's not a Colt or a Smith & Wesson — or even a Ruger or a Taurus — but all the credible reviews say that they're decently built and function smoothly and reliably.

edited 12th Aug '17 6:48:30 PM by pwiegle

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
PRC4Eva Since: Jan, 2001
#14766: Aug 14th 2017 at 7:29:57 AM

Do they really ask you why you want a gun/carry permit? Are there really no minorities who buy guns there? It has been my experience that people of all races frequent the gun stores in various Texas cities, and that the people running the classes generally figure that the mere act of you getting a gun for self-defense will eventually lead to you developing an animosity of any politician who might want to take your defensive options away. In any case, just tell them you want it for self-protection if it comes up. Everyone can understand that.

As I understand the NRA class is very meh. For the carry permit, it'll be through an instructor licensed with your state. If you want additional training, you might just search around for tactical classes. There's usually a couple of LE Os, current or retired, that also teach it as a side job.

As for price, I've generally found chain stores/sporting goods stores like Academy to have better prices than the "local gun store" on almost everything. The latter's primary cost savings seems to come in when you're a "regular" and thus they occasionally give you freebies.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#14767: Aug 14th 2017 at 2:01:55 PM

[up]It varies by state, and/or by county within that state. In Pennsylvania, for example, Concealed Carry Permits are issued by the County Sheriff, and each county has different criteria for qualifying for said permits, even though said permits are valid anywhere within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

edited 14th Aug '17 2:03:40 PM by pwiegle

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#14768: Aug 20th 2017 at 7:44:29 PM

Rat sniping!

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#14769: Aug 20th 2017 at 9:02:41 PM

I have seen that. There are several pest control shooter videos.

There is another one where the farmers stir up the rats and they have a small pack of dogs going to town on them.

Who watches the watchmen?
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#14770: Aug 20th 2017 at 9:21:48 PM

Last time I did some pest control on my own was when the sewer section connecting to my house burst and let all the roaches out, which then proceeded make a white wall look brown with so many roaches.

Me and my brother had assembled a homemade flamethrower with some very flammable bug sprays, it was very fun at the beginning but as we're setting them on fire we also learned that those motherfuckers fly.

It doesn't matter how tough you think you are, everyone screams and runs when the roaches start flying.

Inter arma enim silent leges
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#14771: Aug 20th 2017 at 11:36:42 PM

ROFLMAO.

Who watches the watchmen?
math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#14772: Aug 21st 2017 at 12:04:15 AM

Moral of the story: Flamethrowers are fun until the motherfuckers learn to fly.

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.
Imca (Veteran)
#14773: Aug 21st 2017 at 1:15:12 AM

..... Were.... were the flying roaches on fire?

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#14774: Aug 21st 2017 at 5:24:04 AM

[up]If there were, I couldn't see, when the first landed on my chest I ran faster than an ammo hoarder when they find out there is .22 LR in stock.

Inter arma enim silent leges
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#14775: Aug 21st 2017 at 6:04:45 AM

[up]There is no shame. Only a prize idiot stands around gawking when the roaches start flying swarm formations. It's bad enough when they turn flagstones into carpet. >_<

Reasons for killer robots #23: the fine aim, quick recovery and sharp shooting you need to get the airborne roaches before they get you.

edited 21st Aug '17 6:06:25 AM by Euodiachloris


Total posts: 17,933
Top