Concealed Handgun License

[Effluo]

As for home defense. My weapon of choice is a Tromix converted Saiga 12ga.

That's kinda hawt.

[BIGSTIC]

I've heard people complain that if you keep the mags loaded for too long that it distorts the top shell. Have you had that problem or is it just a myth in your experience?

No issue here. My mags I keep with the gun get unloaded/loaded every week and the top round always gets swapped.

Also one thing most people forget about in home defense is to have a plan. Even my 2.5 year old knows when he hears the word to run for mommy and daddy's room and hide under the bed. We have a secure box that the Saiga is in under the bed that little fingers can not open. Have a panic button directly wired to an Alarm/strobe system. Our furniture in the hallway is set up to hinder an intruders advance. Our bedroom door is steel Reinforced. And we have a cell phone charging 24/7 with every speed dial set for 911 in the lock box as well.

I guess what I am trying to say is the best offense is a great defense. With out a plan the intruder will still win and just take your shiny toy home with him. And a plan that is not practiced is just a waste of time. I know this all sounds a little extreme but with security(motion) lights. Dead Bolts, Locked windows, and a decent security system, I really hope that this plan will never have to come to fruition.

[BIGSTIC]

That's kinda hawt.

You should see the looks I get when I toss in a 2 round mag and take it pheasant hunting

[Elesirdur]

From a Canadian's perspective, it amazes me at how readily one can get a CCL in the US. From what I know, only law enforcement officials (not security, but "officers of the peace") under special circumstances can get a permit and permission for concealed carry in Canada. I think the only non-paramilitary force citizens who can get a concealed carry permit are the Prime Minister, Governor General, and members of Cabinet if their lives are being threatened, and witnesses and informants involved in high-level judicial cases where their lives or safety are threatened. Hell, just to move a gun from one location to another in Canada requires a transportation permit, let alone taking it across Provincial borders.

That being said, to the OP it sounds like a simple 12GA pump-action shotgun would be best for home defence - particularly since you live in an apartment where pistols with greater stopping power might put your neighbours at risk from errant bullets passing through floors, ceilings, or walls and injuring others. I doubt buckshot would pose as big a threat.

[Effluo]

No issue here. My mags I keep with the gun get unloaded/loaded every week and the top round always gets swapped.

Also one thing most people forget about in home defense is to have a plan. Even my 2.5 year old knows when he hears the word to run for mommy and daddy's room and hide under the bed. We have a secure box that the Saiga is in under the bed that little fingers can not open. Have a panic button directly wired to an Alarm/strobe system. Our furniture in the hallway is set up to hinder an intruders advance. Our bedroom door is steel Reinforced. And we have a cell phone charging 24/7 with every speed dial set for 911 in the lock box as well.

I guess what I am trying to say is the best offense is a great defense. With out a plan the intruder will still win and just take your shiny toy home with him. And a plan that is not practiced is just a waste of time. I know this all sounds a little extreme but with security(motion) lights. Dead Bolts, Locked windows, and a decent security system, I really hope that this plan will never have to come to fruition.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/...cf5b1bbaed.jpg

[aru]

From a Canadian's perspective, it amazes me at how readily one can get a CCL in the US. From what I know, only law enforcement officials (not security, but "officers of the peace") under special circumstances can get a permit and permission for concealed carry in Canada. I think the only non-paramilitary force citizens who can get a concealed carry permit are the Prime Minister, Governor General, and members of Cabinet if their lives are being threatened, and witnesses and informants involved in high-level judicial cases where their lives or safety are threatened. Hell, just to move a gun from one location to another in Canada requires a transportation permit, let alone taking it across Provincial borders.

That being said, to the OP it sounds like a simple 12GA pump-action shotgun would be best for home defence - particularly since you live in an apartment where pistols with greater stopping power might put your neighbours at risk from errant bullets passing through floors, ceilings, or walls and injuring others. I doubt buckshot would pose as big a threat.

Any round/shell that has the ability to kill a person has the ability to pass through a wall and kill a person on the other side. Just because the shot in a shotgun is smaller doesn't mean that it can't pass through 1-2 apartments and wound someone. Look up a website call Box-o-truth, they have a bunch of semi-scientific tests set up on this subject.

As for the "ease" of getting a CCL in the US, it really depends on where you live. Different states have different laws and different areas in the state will have different authorities with jurisdiction. It's all in where you live and who is in charge of processing the permits.

[BIGSTIC]

As for the "ease" of getting a CCL in the US, it really depends on where you live. Different states have different laws and different areas in the state will have different authorities with jurisdiction. It's all in where you live and who is in charge of processing the permits.

Got to love Montana. You can carry concealed WITHOUT a permit so long as you are not in a City, Mining Camp, or Logging Camp. For those you have to get the sheriff to issue you a permit. Pretty much fill out a form, wait a month, get permit.

The Utah permit is the best to get (so I have read) because it is the most widely accepted state to state. Also takes the longest and most $$$

[Kiehl]

Not MY gun, its just the 'house defense' weapon, but we have a Springfield Arms XD 45 ACP and yes the XD part still makes me laugh
Springfield Armory

I have the same exact handgun! I enjoy the reliability of it very much.
Back on topic. I do not have a license but I carry it in my car. I would not recommend doing that but you gotta do what you gotta do. The courses are not hard or expensive to get your license for it.

[jmc]

This is gonna sound stupid to a very big lotta you but don't you think that you'd be better off not pulling out a gun and just getting stolen whatever it is that the guy is stealing?

Not stupid at all.....usually if you have a firearm pulled on you, best of luck if your gonna decide to try to un-holster yours, draw it, remove the safety and fire.

The iphone just isnt worth it.

[Cyn]

Not stupid at all.....usually if you have a firearm pulled on you, best of luck if your gonna decide to try to un-holster yours, draw it, remove the safety and fire.

The iphone just isnt worth it.

This.

And honestly, the thought of several of the people who have posted in this thread carrying around concealed handguns is far more worrying to me than the chance that someone is going to break into my apartment.

[archibaldcrane]

Concealed carry permit holders are extremely unlikely to be involved in criminal activity with their guns - they are the most responsible of all gun owners believe it or not.

Seriously - try to find a news report from the last 10 years where a CCL holder unlawfully shot someone else. It's very difficult.

[Howard Roark]

he had 3 guns pointed at him and thought that having a gun in his pocket would save him?

what a moran



seriously what's he gonna do? take out one of them? lose his life over a blu ray player? people forget that whatever weapon you have can be turned against you

having a gun is just gonna make those guys more likely to use the guns rather than have them as insurance that you ack right

[Howard Roark]

(Marge is on the shooting range shooting cardboard cutouts of criminals and not shooting at civilians)

Chief Wiggum: You missed the baby, the blind guy...

[Jinxs]

Taurus Judge 3" Magnum Revolver
Takes .45's and shot gun shells...

[Gregorio]

And honestly, the thought of several of the people who have posted in this thread carrying around concealed handguns is far more worrying to me than the chance that someone is going to break into my apartment.

This is just stupid. Anyone who has posted in this thread is (at least in the case of gun laws) a responsible gun owner and statistically less likely to ever harm you than a criminal.

However, I do agree with the person you quoted...Your iPhone/Money/insuredcar/bookbag is not worth a life (although I'd have no problem if the person who robs someone at gunpoint be killed through their exploits or immediately be fatally hit by a car). I carry, my brother carries, and he was robbed at gunpoint and had his wallet/bookbag stolen and didn't pull his gun.

It's all situational. Do you feel the robber is going to harm you after he takes your belongings? Is he in/near your house and poses an immediate threat to anyone else? More often than not the person is just after money, but don't pretend there aren't instances of random violence or career criminals who just don't give a shit about anyone else.

[Cyn]

This is just stupid. Anyone who has posted in this thread is (at least in the case of gun laws) a responsible gun owner and statistically less likely to ever harm you than a criminal.

However, I do agree with the person you quoted...Your iPhone/Money/insuredcar/bookbag is not worth a life (although I'd have no problem if the person who robs someone at gunpoint be killed through their exploits or immediately be fatally hit by a car). I carry, my brother carries, and he was robbed at gunpoint and had his wallet/bookbag stolen and didn't pull his gun.

It's all situational. Do you feel the robber is going to harm you after he takes your belongings? Is he in/near your house and poses an immediate threat to anyone else? More often than not the person is just after money, but don't pretend there aren't instances of random violence or career criminals who just don't give a shit about anyone else.

The last thing I said was more a joke than anything. I'm not against the ownership of firearms, or a person's right to defend themselves. Alternately, I can't think of many times outside of your home that having a firearm will be of any use to you. I don't know, perhaps my issue is just with easily concealed handguns, as in so many cases they can be as much of a problem as a solution.

And I think a lot of the "FUCK YEAH GUNS! I'LL CAP THAT BITCH" people would probably do what most normal people would do when there's a firearm pointed at them. Hand over the wallet lol.

Like I said earlier, I've been robbed at gunpoint. I can think of at least 3 other close friends who have as well. To this day, none of us have ever owned a gun, nor at any point felt like anything would have turned out any better had we actually been carrying a gun at the time.

[Mots]

I dunno about you all but if I had a gun drawn on me I'd be more interested in buying a kevlar vest then a gun to protect myself. Granted if I get shot in the head it wont matter. I don't think I could pull a gun out, aim, and then shoot before someone who is already pointing a gun at me can fire his weapon. Let alone shoot 3-4 other guys who are pointing them at me.

I personally like guns. I think I like the mechanics of guns more then the application of guns though. I'd rather take a gun apart and put it back together than I would like to go out and shoot stuff with it. In fact if I actually did have a gun I probably would never have any ammunition for it anyways.

[Khamsin]

What about giving the mugger your money, then as he turns and runs away, draw your gun from it's hiding place and mug him back? Chase if necessary, or shoot if it looks like he may get away.

[archibaldcrane]

Just depends on what state you're in.

[Cyn]

You'd go to jail in nearly every state for doing that. Especially if you shot him in the back.