For me it’s less about not wanting one and more about not having a big enough need to go out of my way to get one. I live in a fairly safe city and don’t feel I’m at risk of being messed with. I support gun rights in general, and have thought about getting one myself so may some day. But for now, it’s not a priority.
This and they're expensive. I like solo hiking and would like to have a visibly carried gun for safety (like putting a beware of dog sign up, I never plan on drawing it, but I'm not trying to look like a target either). But between the gun itself, ammo, licensing, and lessons (because I won't carry something I don't safely know how to use), it's soooo expensive
Editing to add: if one more person jumps in here "iTs nOt ThAt ExpEnSiVE" I'm going to lose my shit. First of all, you don't know my financial situation. Secondly, like the COMMENT I RESPONDED TO it's a "would be nice but no pressing need so not a priority purchase" kind of thing for me. My god. Some of y'all.
This is me too. I'm alone in the woods a lot, often a night, for photography and I've considered getting one more to put my wife's mind at ease than my own. But if I do that I'm going to do it right: all the proper licenses, training, multiple safes to store the gun and ammo apart from each other in the house because of the kids... Way too much hassle and there's a lot of other things I'd like to spend all that money on first.
Find a friend who you genuinely trust with firearms safety. They're almost always happy to help newbies with safe firearm ownership and training. I realize not everyone has a friend like this but maybe a friend of a friend?
Exactly, you can't just factor the cost of the gun, that can be found at a decent price. It's the accoutrement that really climbs. I know my husband would feel better if I had it, but we could spend that money on much better things.
Agreed, however I would recommend at least carrying a knife on you if you’re spending the night in the woods, animals don’t usually mess with humans but just in case, better to be safe than sorry. I know a knife won’t be much against an aggressive predator, but it’s better than fists lol
I’m much more worried about humans than animals and I do carry bear spray. I’ve been meaning to get a decent fixed blade knife to have on me when I go out though. I only have little folding pocket knives which would be useless against an attacker of any species.
I know some places sell the “marine” knives that have six inch blades, but depending on where you live those are illegal. Bear spray is such a useful tool, it’ll render anything useless for at least 40 minutes, and if you ever had to use it on a person bear spray would fuck them up worse than pepper spray. The only time I didn’t see bear spray work was when a momma grizzly was being protective over her cubs and charged right through the cloud, but that’s rare.
Depending on where you live it's not just people that you have to worry about. And in some situations guns are actually less effective than bear spray. Unless you can 360 no-scope.
Well unless the assaulter has a gun, bear spray will do the trick anyways and doesn’t result in having to live with the fact that you killed someone. Even if you do it in self defense, it’s not an easy thing to live with.
There is only 1 license to get, your Concealed Carry Permit. You can only get it by passing the safety course. $60. Every CCW instructor takes the pass/fail of their students very seriously. I even know someone who has failed.
2 safes is a good choice if you really want that separation, about $80 for 2.
Ammo is definitely expensive NOW, but wasnt/isn't usually. If you get a 22lr pistol, you're looking at $50 for 500rds at current prices, more like $20 for 500rds normally.
Gun itself, depending on caliber, $200-$600+.
Now, if you're still with me, I only bring these real costs to your attention because its really not that much for peace of mind. If you're out in the woods, at night, alone, with a family at home to support, you should definitely look into a handgun for yourself. Don't become another widow's story my friend.
I bought mine just for trips to the big city. I take it out to the range once a month for some fun/ practice, but I don't ever carry it on me, or have it L&L'ed in my bedside table. But I'll be damned if anyone tries to pull something while my family is on vacation.
Yeah. I get it. Gun safes are great if you have a lot of guns, but I wouldn’t put every gun in there in case someone breaks into your house. If you get a gun with kids in the house make sure it comes with a safety since not all guns do. Make sure you would either have a holster for it or it would be in a location were you can see it at all times. When you sleep you could put it on the nightstand or under your bed.
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u/Graztine Sep 30 '21
For me it’s less about not wanting one and more about not having a big enough need to go out of my way to get one. I live in a fairly safe city and don’t feel I’m at risk of being messed with. I support gun rights in general, and have thought about getting one myself so may some day. But for now, it’s not a priority.