are gun owners more likely to shoot intruders or members of their own family?

Question

im just not buying the notion that having a gun will keep out intruders or make you safer at home. its far more likely that a kid will get a hold of it and shoot someone, or the it will go off accidentally, or the owner mistakes a friend or family member as an intruder....i wont even go into guns used for suicide........im open to be wrong on this, but i wish you a lotta luck finding anything to prove it.

Answer 1

If a parent tells their children about gun safety and keeps their guns securely locked then there should be no problem. Gun owners are more likely to shoot members of their own family than an intruder. HOWEVER, this is incredibly biased and misleading. The odds of someone breaking into your house is very unlikely. (The following is merely an example and is not accurate data.) In a random city if four people broke into houses and were shot by the owners, and some guy snaps and kills his family of five, Then anti-gunners would use this to "prove" their statements that gun owners are more likely to shoot members of their own family than an intruder. While technically true, it is incredibly misleading and not practically true.

Answer 2

Locking up your guns and teaching your children as a cure for gun deaths is a big myth. Many of the dead got access to the "locked gun" or were killed by the family member after they "unlocked" then pulled the trigger. So called education does little either as many shooters and victims took courses and were members of the NRA.

Try this simple test. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the one side list everyone you have ever met in your life who was actually shot (injured or killed). Include only people you actually met, not heard of or read about or saw on TV, but personally met in your life. My list had 8 names on it. Then write on the other side the names of anyone you know that held an intruder at gunpoint or actually shot an real intruder in self defense. My list had no such self defender names on it. Every time I had someone sit down and take this simple test, without fail, the self defense list has been much shorter.

Perception is often inaccurate on this issue, because any time a property owner defends him or herself, they make the news. Very few accidental or suicide shootings make the evening news at all. If they reported every name of every person in your state that was killed each day with a gun in your state, they would have to put a scroll at the bottom of the news!

The other myth is that one who calls for stricter limits wants to do away with guns. That's just not true. I don't know a single person who wants to wipe out guns. I do however know many who would like to see more sensible controls, a great start would be to close the gun show loophole.

Answer 3

You're clearly not asking a question, you're making a statement. No kids live in my home, so none will "get hold of it". When they were, my guns were empty and locked up, separate from the ammunition, which was also locked up. Both still are locked up. Guns don't "go off accidentally" in the hands of properly trained owners, and no savvy handler "mistakes a friend for an intruder" in darkness, because he uses a strong light or other means to positively identify any suspect and makes sure that the person responds.

Many deaths and injuries do result from criminal use and untrained use of firearms. However, it is a long-established and well-documented fact that lawful ownership of firearms, whether in the home or in businesses subject to intrusion, and guns that are carried in a lawful manner, do reduce violent crime. Also, it is well known that the simply displaying a firearm is often enough to stop a violent crime.

Answer 4

Properly secured firearms pose no threat. Responsible gun stoarage is part and parcel of being a responsibile gun owner. Personally i think you should be able to get a tax credit for purchasing a gun safe.

As far as you "not buying the notion that having a gun will keep out intruders or make you safer at home" why don't you find somebody whose has defended their life or the life of a family member and ask them whether they felt the gun helped keep them safe? Civilian gun ownership also serves as a check against the power of the state.

Answer 5

I See whole lot of speculation in your question and lack of any real information included in your question.

You say it's "far more likely that a kid...." and "or it will go off accidentally"...the owner mistakes a friend/family member, etc.

On one hand I commend you for your position that you could be wrong. On the other...why is it you didn't provide any facts to support what you believe to be true...the stuff your not buying as you say. Your case would be stronger if you cited specific cases and sources.

I have had a hand gun in my home since I was 21 years old. It was always secured it unless it was needed. And I needed twice to deter a crime and an intruder. But I used it only to hold the guys until the police arrived. If I would have to use it to protect myself or others...without delay.

I have never pointed my weapon at a friend or family member and I taught my ex-wife nd my son how to fire and respect firearms.

By they way...did you know that more people are killed or injured by vehicles driven by their friends and family members? And I won't even go into cars being used for suicide.

It all comes down to the intelligent and safe use of any type of weapon.

Answer 6

Actually, "accidental" shootings are going down, and have been for years, while gun ownership has been going up.

By the way...guns don't go off accidentally. Someone must load it, make it ready, and pull the trigger. The last part, while pointing it at an innocent person. That is negligence, not an accident. Either the negligence of the person who owns the gun, or the person holding the gun, or both. Education seems to be the ticket, and it's working.

Answer 7

Would you go out an buy an airplane and try to fly it if you've never had flying lessons? People who do not know how to handle guns should not own them until they are properly educated on them. My husband owns several guns, and yes they are in my house and yes my children know where they are. No they cannot get into them and they DO know the importance of gun safety. I feel much safer knowing I have guns in my house. I personally don't have any friends or family that would walk into my house as though they were intruders. If they're acting like one there's something wrong with that!! My husband works at nights and I am home alone. All of my family and friends know that I wouldn't hesitate to protect myself and my kids. They're not stupid.

People and parents need to be more responsible and inform their children of guns. As with anything you try to hide from a kid, they want to know why they can't have it and they will do whatever they can to get to it and find out why they can't have it. It's like telling them not to push that button and leaving the room. You know they are going to push it. It's natual curiousity. My kids know that the guns are dangerous and that they can hurt people. They also know that ONLY mommy and daddy can handle them. They don't!! It's not an issue in our house.

It's just like with anything in this world. You need to know about it before you get into it. As for the suicide by guns, that's just one of the many ways people commit suicide. Don't you think that even without guns those selfish suicidal people wouldn't find another way to kill themselves?

I think you are sorely misinformed about gun control and use and you need to do a little more research before you go criticizing their "safety."

It's not the guns that are dangerous. It's the person holding the guns and misusing them.

Answer 8

Right here. a gun toting liberal. I own a couple of fire arm's. i use them to hunt, and for sporting clays and such. If the time arouse it will be used to shoot and kill an intruder. my daughters are young, (elementary school) and they can shoot better then most men I know. they have also hunted and gutted most small game here in the North east. My son, who is younger is already working on his aim with a youth pellet gun that all youngsters start out with here. but do you know the very first thing i teach them before they can even touch or come with in 3 feet of any kind of fire arm? that's right, all of my hunting brothers know. its gun safety! first and foremost. here at my house, if you do not handle your self with a fire arm in a responsible manner you get sent in to the house with the rest of the hens. I've humiliated a few of my buddies that for some reason, could not think clearly with a gun in there hand. its ignorance that kills people, not the fire arm.

Answer 9

Of course it is more likely that a gun (or a piece of furniture for that matter) will be used to injure family members that are in the house 365 days a year than to injure someone who intrudes in your home, say, once a decade.

Answer 10

I agree with cliffpott. However I don't think it is always a good idea to get a gun if you don't know what you are doing.
Bottom line: People are in control, not guns.