So really, I am. Reading the news, checking the business pages, and keeping tabs on things in general has lead me to become concerned about the future state of America (a sentiment, I know, shared by many Kossacks). With all the potential crap that could hit the fan, I'm considering purchasing my first gun ever. My wife isn't too keen on the deal, though, and I wouldn't purchase a gun without her express consent.
We're both die-hard liberals, but I'm from Ohio and she's from Boston, which is usually the source of any serious disagreements that we do have (Tribe vs. Red Sox, for example). I'm a general advocate of gun control, but I do think that law-abiding Americans should be able to own a rifle or shotgun for hunting and self-defense purposes, with a registration system (like Canada, for example). And my wife shares the same sentiments.
More below the break.
Incidentally, we skeet shot together over Christmas at my parents' place in rural Ohio, and she did enjoy herself. Her concerns are generally that we live in an urban area and are both vegetarians (which means that, not only will we not hunt, but we can be legally hunted in other states) and just generally the idea of having a gun in the house creeps her out.
I'm would prefer getting a 20 gauge shotgun that my wife and I could both handle and practice with. It would be kept separately from ammunition, both in locked cases. We'd both take it to ranges to practice. When she shot skeet over Christmas, it was the first time she'd shot a gun, so she'll need a bit more practice than I.
I didn't grow up in a home with a million guns, either, my dad has a hundred year-old shotgun that my great-grandpa bought during WWI to hunt with, and that was it. And I think my dad might have hunted twice during my entire childhood. I did learn shooting, beginning in third grade, but never went hunting.
At any rate, I know a bunch of folks think I'm crazy for thinking about owning a shotgun, while others think I'm crazy for not already having one. But I'm interested if other Kossacks have run into similar situations. Anyone else in the same boat? My general reasons for owning a gun are three-fold:
- I'm concerned about our general safety and would like some form of protection (living in a not-so-great area of greater-DC)
- My work involves international trouble, and I would like my wife to have a way to defend herself if something happened while I was overseas
- I'm also concerned about specific event security problems, like a severe economic downturn, natural disaster or terrorist strike. After Katrina, I don't really trust authorities to turn out in force to help after such an event.
And lastly, no, I'm not a pro-gun troll. Check my profile if you doubt my liberal credentials.