Why do so many people carry guns in the glovebox? Is personal safety really such a problem?

Better to have and not need than to need and not have. Simple rules in the real world "The strong survive" and being in possesion of a firearm without any doubt increases your ability to respond to threats. I dont know what country you live in but in the US anything can happen and often does.

A bit like carrying a spare DME relay.

However, the glovebox is not accessable quickly enough for a handgun. A doorpocket or a purpose made underdash holster is better.

Milu,

Agree and after I started carrying a spare DME relay and DME computer, no problems with the car ever again in this area.

Feel that the same situation is with carrying a weapon. If I have it, chances are that it will never be used but sure would rather not need it and have it, than need it and it be sitting confiscated in some police warehouse and not a cop in sight!

Joe

I live in Los Angeles. The handgun murder capital of the US.

I know how to operate and maintain a firearm, however I dont own any. I dont think I would ever buy one either.

Just my opinion, but I think the NRA and other right wing orginizations like them are doing nothing positive, and after hearing a lot of what the upper echelon has said, I don't think they are all that different from the gangbangers down in the inner city. The only difference is that these individuals have money and political influence. Besides, are things really bad enough that carrying a firearm to the donut shop has become a neccesity?

Are you kidding me? The NRA card-carrying bunch, despite their political incorrectness, are probably the most law-abiding segment of our society. Why do they have money and influence? Not because the NRA is some monolithic universal force. But because they have a huge, politically aware, well-informed, voting membership. The NRA has led the fight in most of the states, which now have "shall issue" concealed carry laws. And the NRA spends a ton of money lobbying for harsher punishments against those who use guns in the commission of a crime. That would obviously be counter-productive for membership drives, were NRA members criminals. Furthermore, they are THE authority on firearms safety, training, hunting safety and competition shooting. I don't think you'll find a cop or soldier in the US who was not trained by an NRA-certified instructor. Name some other group that spends millions of dollars a year going to schools and teaching children what to do when they come across a gun - something that happens a lot these days. Meanwhile other groups spend millions trying to scare people into thinking that CCW laws will make us like the wild west (has not happened). If you don't want a gun, don't buy one. If you don't like porn, don't watch it. If you think alcohol is evil, don't drink it. I'd love to know how many gang members in south central LA are card-carrying NRA members. My guess is zero. Guess how many of the 100,000 CCW holders in VA have had their permit revoked for a misuse of a gun. Zero.

Like I said before, this is merely my opinion.

Wow, I wish I discovered this thread earlier.

First, I must state that I am described as a Liberal, but I firmly believe in one's right to own firearms as a means of self-defense. If you take away the public's right to own handguns, then your situation changes from armed citizens and an armed crime component to unarmed citizens and an armed crime component.

I do have to admit that most of the people that own handguns are improperly trained in how to handle them. Hell, most cops are improperly trained...

...I grew up the son of a cop. Actually, to be fair, he was head of the Hartford County SWAT team for awhile and taught tactical firearms everywhere from the local Bristol Police Dept. to West Point Academy. To give you some idea of how respected he is in the weapons-training field, he is one of the handful of people that is still allowed to carry a concealed weapon onto an American commercial aircraft. I like to think of him as the real-life Jack Bauer, but not quite as cool.

Needless to say, my brother and I both got to handle some pretty impressive firearms. I personally own a Smith and Wesson .45 automatic and a Walther TPH .22 (not a very good gun, it jams even if you clean it every time), although I do not carry a firearm. My father actually used to administer the same tests to us that he administered to SWAT candidates. I can shoot in the 95 percentile.

My father has been shot once and shot at a number of times. A couple of those times he was off-duty and intervening in someone else's business. He was always lucky enough to have his trusty GLOCK model 27 9mm with him all those times.

Like I said, I don't carry right now. I don't have a permit, and where I live in CT is very safe. Where I live in Boston is another story, but my college campus isn't too much to worry about. There is the occasional shooting nearby (Ruggles station is nearby, and that particular station is on the Orange Line, which travels through Roxbury), but I feel pretty safe. The only time I felt threatened was once we "dropped" an empty can of beer out my friend's 2nd story window... and accidentially hit someone. The jock in question literally broke down the door and threatened us with a jackknife. I would have loved to see his face if he busted down the door and the first thing he saw was a shotgun pointed right at him. WhenI get my own place after school, however, I plan to buy a shotgun for the house and I will file for a weapons permit. I know my way around guns, I'm not jumpy with them, I respect the firearm. I was a Boy Scout, and Boy Scouts are always prepared.

That being said in my glove box is a CT/RI state map, a MA state map with a Boston sectional, a phillips srewdriver, a flathead screwdriver, a monkey wrench, a set of allen wrenches, a knife, my original throttle cam, a rearview mirror mounting kit, touch-up paint. In the door compartments are pens, and in the armrest are tapes by Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Weezer. In the trunk are my not-yet-installed autocross springs.

Of course not Jared. Apparently a lot of folks are just to insecure to venture outside without the "protection" of a gun. I've read every post in this thread and still think its a case of "the sky's falling" mentality. I've lived in SoCal for 38 years and have never once felt like I needed a gun...even when I went to a Raiders game at the Coliseum back in the 80's. A gun only increases your odds of getting whacked and I doubt the crime rate would go up if we were not allowed to carry them. Just adjust the laws so that if you commit a crime with a gun then you're removed from society permanently. No fuss no muss.

I agree with you. I dont feel like I need a gun in L.A. either. It's more about being smart, for instance, if you are white, you DO NOT drive in South Central or East L.A. at night. It's basically common sense.

Maybe a lot of these people just don't like the idea of using common sense, "I'll drive when and where I want to", or "Say what I want, when I want, to who I want". A society of mixed cultures and religions cannot tolerate this kind of behavior. You get what's coming to you if you go looking for it. If you live in a high crime area, move. If instead you want to take a stand then put your gun down, make political waves and get the community behind your cause. If they don't want to then your only option is to find one that does.

Haha talking to myself now. Sure I never felt real secure at the game, who am I kidding, but toting a gun would be foolish. I used some common sense and was aware of what was going on around me. I pulled back and never drew attention to myself. Now had I gone in wearing a Fish jersey yelling at the locals with a beer in my hand I would have probably left in an ambulance. Sure its a free country, but there are limits to what you can expect to do. No amount of guns will ever change that. Some folks will probably see this as being meek or not standing up for my rights/respect, I just see it as reality.

I've found that people who need to carry a gun at all times, suffer from an extreme loss of common sense. I dont think most poeple realize it's very different in L.A. If these NRA pro-gun type people went down into the "bad" areas of L.A. they wouldnt be alive very long, regardless of what rights they are guaranteed by the constitution. It all boils down to common sense.

Listen folks owning firearms IS a constitutional right in this country and I doubt a time will ever come that its not. I don’t think the "SKY IS FALLING" I am just smart enough to be prepared for reality. My gun is like a spare tire in that in case of an emergency I have it. I am a concealed firearm permit holder and I have had to use my gun once back in 1989 and it saved my life and was a lawful shoot even though we had no conceal carry law back then. I don’t mix with rabble and I don’t go to bars or pick fights. If you try to do me harm or my family I will have the means to stop the threat within reach. If you don’t like guns don’t buy them and I hope you never run into the guy who intends to harm you or your family. I will never put my fate into the hands of liberals who claim we don’t need guns and shouldn’t have them. This is not the UK and guns are here to stay period legally or illegally. Do you doubt that? So I will have the means to match threats with equal force. On a side note I also enjoy shooting whenever I get a chance and by god it’s my RIGHT. So you liberals go back to reading your Rosy Odonald magazine and planning for your gay pride march this weekend, finish up figuring on how your going to spend the 48% tax you take from me to give to people who refuse to work and choose instead to rob me. I am going to go eat a big fat steak, drink a cold beer and smoke a cigarette while I clean my gun. J

Randy, I also have a right to express my opinion. If you lived in Los Angeles, I guarantee you that your views on gun control would be very different.

It is also my OPINION that your mentality and reasoning are incorrect.

This I agree might be true, South Carolina and LA are a long way apart and I am sure things are different. Im not angry I was just being silly, we all have our right to speak! take care.

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
"never once felt like I needed a gun...even when I went to a Raiders game at the Coliseum back in the 80's. "

I WOULD bring a gun to a game in certain situations... for example, if I were wearing a Jeter jersey in the bleachers at Fenway Park. Then again, they pretty much do everything short of strip-searching in good ol Friendly Fenway

Wow, so you would shoot and kill someone to defend your right to wear a jersey? If so then this is exactly why guns should be banned.

I must have missed the part where he said "I would kill someone to defend my jersey" or were you putting words in his mouth? I would expect this from the usual anti-gunner. Shoot someone to defend a jersey for god sakes get over it!

Randy you are right, I did assume that's what he meant. He mentioned wearing a particular jersey that would inflame the crowd to a point he would need his gun. How else should I read into that? Or is he going to do a movie stunt and just "flash" the gun? Then someone else pulls theirs and blows him away while his are still in his pants. Please! This is just common sense man.

My take on it was " Since he was going to a place other than his home territory and pulling for the unpopular team he would be exposing himself to greater risk than if he was at home pulling for the popular team". Sometimes one has to gauge the situation and in that case the risk increases as many drunken game goers have attacked and killed people in the past after losing or even after not losing a game. I think he was attempting to mitigate the increased risk by carrying some protection. My shooting incident was after a sporting event in which several of the rowdy fans thought they might have a go at me after the game. To answer your question " I have NO reservations about taking a life when my life is in danger". If you put yourself in front of a bull your gonna get the horns every time.

Lets evolve a bit more and try to avoid these drunk folks instead of challenging them like some gradeschool playground altercation. Of the 40-60K+ fans at the game most are there to enjoy the game and not kill the opponent's fans. If you happen to locate and inflame the 10-20 there with more serious intentions then you need to take a long look into what you're doing wrong. Not many stadiums (or parking lots) are more dangerous than the Coliseum or the Orange bowl. Sure I saw some fights but never a gun and 99% of the time both parties were to blame.

You guys should really go to a soccer match in England if you want to see some sports violence.

Randy, dmoolnar, you completely missed the point.

1) I would never shoot someone just because I was wearing a jersey

2) I would never wear a Jeter jersey, because I am a lifelong Red Sox fan

3) It was a joke

Awww Its ok half of being a gun lover is arguing with non gun lovers.

:)

Jared and David,

I turned down three jobs last year after being laid off and out of work because of the socialist republic of California and their gun restrictions. I would not venture into many parts of LA without one and the "sky is not falling" with me as well.

I have been to LA, and very recently and would have felt a lot better having some protection with me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and you guys feel that the cops will protect you and your family. I am positive that I can take care of myself and my family UNTIL the cops arrive in a better and safer fashion being armed as opposed to being unarmed and at the mercy of a criminal. I would rather be judged by 12 of my peers than carried by 6 of my friends.

As for the comment on common sense, it was really not needed. Nothing personal but respect my right to do and think as I please and I will do the same for you. Saying that a person lacks common sense because they carry a weapon is not needed. If this is true, then all the ladies in the world who carry mace or another protective spray in their purse all lack common sense as well because they carry a weapon to protect themselves on a daily basis.

Joe

My personal opionion is that that anyone that needs a gun to feel safe is a pretty weak individual. My mind is the only weapon i need.

I am not addressing this to any person specifically. I am voicing my opinion.

Jared,

That is a pretty wide brush you are using when discussing human strengths. Next time someone walks into your area with a shotgun or semi-auto pistol and starts threatening people, hope your will and mind are very creative.

Luby's resturant in Texas a few years back saw 23 innocent people killed in cold blood by a criminal with a gun. I assume that everyone of them were a "weak individual" as well? This was the start of the "carry laws" in our country and crime has gone down since.

Joe

Joe,

Having seen the police shoot and kill an armed suspect fleeing a bank robbery in my own backyard as a teenager, I am quite aware of what damage guns do.

Nevertheless, I stand by my statement.

MY mind is the only weapon I need to protect myself. If you choose to carry a firearm, that is your choice.

As much as I would like to have another Porsche fanatic living among us I'm glad you turned down the jobs. We have enough people migrating to California each year and I would prefer that the ones that do to leave their guns behind.

Like Jared I have ventured into most parts of LA unarmed with no drama or surprises. In high school I (Santa Barbara white kid) used to deliver machine parts for plating to some less desirable areas with the same result. Your "fear" of LA is mostly self inflicted and probably media hype induced. Sure if you're looking for trouble it can definitely be found in LA, or Santa Barbara, or Eden if you look hard enough.

Being able to do and speak as you please is great and all, but there is a time and place for everthing. Common sense helps us make this distinction.

First you must learn to use this (pointing to your head) before you learn to use that (pointing to your gun). - shameless Braveheart movie snip.

Part of living in Los Angeles is knowing how to carry yourself.

If you wander into a bad area and do not know how to conduct yourself, the locals will smell your fear and act accordingly.

If you wander into one of these areas with a gun, and the mentailty that you will defend yourself with lethal force... You are a dead man. plain and simple.

If you respect your surroundings and yourself, you will be fine. It is when people cop attitudes that bullets start flying.

Hell Joe, you're a pilot (drool, drool) so you've heard all the statistics about air travel. Nothing's more terrifying in my mind than going down in a commerciall airliner yet I will step on one again this Friday to fly home from DC. Now you're bringing up acts of mass murder which have a probability statistic of what - the lottery? Lets try and live in the real world or do you eat your burger with one hand on the trigger?

Agree with the statement about your feelings about yourself, however its not correct to say that someone is weak because they choose to be able to defend themselves and their family by using a weapon. A persons mind is a weapon and just as deadly as a gun at times.

You personally may not feel that you need a gun to handle any situation, while others may have been in situations where they do feel the need to be able to defend themselves and feel that having one in hand gives them an edge.

I want to be able to say to the guy with a gun pointed in my direction that this is a "lose lose situation" and its best that you find someone else to bother than raise my hands and get shot whilst giving over anything in my possession or worse.

Joe

Sounds like you all live in a zoo. Is LA really that bad? yikes! Ill keep the South.

Joe,

Have you ever had a gun pointed in your face? I have.

If it wasnt guns it would be swords and if not swords then clubs. Personally Id rather be shot.

Of course not Randy. Oops I mean, Yes, yes it is very bad here Randy. Stay where you are for gods sake :)

Randy,

soon we will be forking and spooning each other as well

Haha, how about that club with the big spikes on it. :eek: