'Don't Put a Handgun Under the Christmas Tree this year' (BARF!)

PRNewswire ^ | 12/11/01 | Citizens for a Safer Minnesota

[RogueIsland]

I don't get it. Why would you put a gun under the Christmas tree anyway? That implies you bought it for someone else as a gift, which is technically a straw purchase and therefore illegal. Now, if you transferred one of your own, that's a different matter.

Doesn't the author know that?

[Saundra Duffy]

Wanna know what's really sexy?! My hubby and fellow freeper has a concealed weapons permit! For victory & freedom!!!

[IronJack]

Don't Put a Handgun Under the Christmas Tree this year

Get two.

[wku man]

I hope Santa brings me an M1A this year...

[VRWCmember]

I too would suggest putting a handgun in a stocking out of the reach of small children rather than under the tree.

[DreamWeaver]

For your reading pleasure I copied this email I received from a friend:

---------------------------------------------------------

Number of physicians in the US: 700,000 / Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year: 120,000 / Accidental deaths per physician: 0.171 (US Dept. Health and Human Services)

Number of gun owners in the US: 80,000,000 / Number of accidental gun deaths per year (all ages) 1,500 / Accidental deaths per gun owner: 0.0000188

Doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. Not everyone has a gun, but most everyone has at least one doctor.

We must ban doctors before this gets out of hand. As a public health measure, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers, for fear that the shock could cause people to seek medical aid. However, you may want to encourage everyone to get a gun... just in case you see a doctor approaching.

[Lurker]

Speaking as one who owns a National Match version of the M1A, I sincerely hopes that Santa gets you what you want this year.

L

[CFW]

Dang, I've got to return everyone presents? I don't think so.

I do agree, however, that a handgun is a better "stocking stuffer". A shotgun or rifle belongs under the tree.

[John R. (Bob) Locke]

Additionally, most handguns lack safety devices like trigger locks and load indicators that would reduce the number of accidental injuries and deaths caused by the unintentional firing of guns.

Note to the bliss-ninnies: Guns don't go off by themselves. There is NO SUCH THING as an "unintentional" firing of a gun. For the weapon to discharge, the trigger needs to be pulled. That means that a person needs to have acted, and that means negligence. Let's get the terminology correct prior to going forward, shall we?

[Kryptonite]

Excellent retort!

[woollyone]

"shoulda asked her faster!" You snoozed.

[supercat]

Note to the bliss-ninnies: Guns don't go off by themselves. There is NO SUCH THING as an "unintentional" firing of a gun.>

Not quite true. Although it doesn't happen often (and it will never happen with a non-defective well-maintained firearm non-abused) it is possible for many types of firearm to suffer a mechanical failure which will cause them to fire even without the trigger being pulled. Part of the reason that for always keeping every firearm pointed in a safe direction is to ensure that even if a gun does fire under such circumstances it will not cause injury.

While 99.44% of so-called "accidental" discharges would be more accurately called "negligent", "reckless", or "just plain stupid" discharges, there are a few which could quite reasonably be termed accidental. For example, I read of a case where someone was killed when he released the bolt on an SKS rifle after loading it and it immediately proceeded slam-fire through the entire magazine. Since he was not securely gripping the rifle, he was unable to keep it pointed in a safe direction. Even though this persom may have failed to clean their rifle as often as they should have, I would still consider their death to be the result of an accidental discharge.

[Swordmaker]

Lessee... they put muzzles on pitbulls, rotweilers and other very dangerous dogs that can easily and willfully attack their owners.

Guns have muzzles as well... ergo, guns are dangerous things that can easily and willfully attack their owners.

Its logic... see.

Note that dogs and guns share two of the same letters... a coincidence... I don't think so...(insert eerie music here)

[Tuba-Dude]

That's right, I don't want a handgun under my tree....I want one of THESE

[BCR #226]

You are correct about firearms made for personal use, but even domestic firearms produced for sale must pass ATF scrutiny and regulations before it is permitted to be sold.

Mike

[m1911]

Got my CMP Garand a couple of months ago. Springfield Armory, November '44, barrel date matches. A joy to shoot. I have a Mauser, and although the ammo is similar, I don't know how the Germans did it! 50 rounds through that thing and my shoulder was black and blue.

[swampfox98]

'Don't Put a Handgun Under the Christmas Tree this year' (BARF!)

They don't need to worry about me. I buy my own and keep them in my bedroom. My computer room. My garage. My...

[harpseal]

You must be one o' them damnyankees(tm).

But I'm live in Southern Connecticut and was born in Southern new Hampshire. So we wrap the handguns in their boxes or a case and put them under a tree. Its not like Santa doesn't bring them. It is cold in the winters up here so our stockings have to be useful.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Merry Christmas (I hope Santa brings you the new handgun you asked for)

[2nd_Ammendment_Defender]

DEMOCRAT ALERT: Do not place barrel of gun in your mouth! I wanna do it!

Heh heh! :-)