What is your emotional response when you see a gun?

Question

As I'm British and we very rarely see them, they scare me witless, but how do they make you feel, scared, protected, elated...
Can you please NOT post political comments this is not what I am after.

Answer 1

I can honestly say the only guns I have ever seen were been carried by policemen at the airport, I was petrified and felt sick with fear in case I dropped my bag and they shot me for a false move, pathetic and far fetched I know, but that is just how it made me feel, I honestly and truthfully do not know what I would do if I was ever confronted by a gunman, I honestly think I would die of fear just seeing him walk up to me holding one, very scary and something I know we have to be aware of but at the same time I try not to think about it or I would never go outside.

Answer 2

As a British sporting marksman, I say never point a gun at someone unless you intend to kill; which means never. The same applies when you know it's not loaded. As an extension of that thinking, there is no reason ever to be seen in public with a gun, unless you're a killer, which means that the sight of a gun in public makes me extremely nervous.

This applies even when the gun is in the possession of a soldier or policeman. The fact that he's got one means he's prepared to kill.

It also includes game shoots, which to me are stupid accidents waiting to happen. I have no reason for shooting animals. I very rarely eat meat and when I do, I want to know it's been properly slaughtered.

As a child, I used to play in the street with toy guns. It's become unfashionable these days, since children with toy guns tend to get shot by police marksmen. I think people have been made to think about the implications.

Real guns are an everyday sight in other European countries, where even traffic police are equipped with them. The little, closely holstered pistols seem to be a functional part of the tool kit, together with the torch and and the radio. But in the States, I've seen them wearing bulky and powerful pistols ostentatiously, and the reason they think they need to do so makes me feel positively unsafe.

In France when the Gendarmes want a criminal sent down for a long time, they park an armoured car outside the court room, right in the middle of town, for no reason other than to intimidate the judges. It's effective.

In recent years, I've seen British police carrying automatic rifles, and that profoundly saddened me.

Answer 3

I once had a very vivid dream that I was being held at gunpoint; I could actually feel the gun pressing into the back of my neck. and the strange thing was, I wasn't that scared. But that was only a dream.
The other week we were parked outside M&S and there was an army vehicle parked across the road. This huge guy with a big gun came over toward our car and tapped on the window. I was scared witless, but it turned out he's an old family friend who I didn't recognise at first.

Answer 4

A gun is a very powerful tool. I have had a gun pointed at me twice. Once in a robbery, and once by a police officer. Both times I seemed calm and collected, until the threat had past, then on both occasions I became a nervous wreck, shaking from head to toe, and having to have a sit down!
I have also held and fired a handgun. I was quite nervous, until I actually had hold of it. It's a very strange thing, the feeling of power it gives you! A gun is the ultimate '**** you!' That is where the danger lies!

Answer 5

I love guns I love the history of them I like WW2 and older guns like that or just cool guns like my Barrett 50.BMG model 99 rifle and automatic guns like my Sten MK2 sub machine gun Britain used it in WW2 its a fun gun to shoot I feel protected by my guns I carry a Colt 45 1911 everyday on me concealed I have a permit to I have been in predicaments when i was robed and I was scared and I thought damn I should of had my gun on me I was lucky that time but you never know what might happen if there is a next time you might not be so lucky plus I want to hunt its fun and I cant exactly go to the store and buy deer meat I wish I could get some real cool guns like a MG 42 or a 50. machine gun but they cost around $30,000 my Sten was only $3,400 I am glad I live in the U.S.A I have the freedom to protect myself if somebody is trying to kill me I think some people are scared of guns because they think only criminals have them but that is not true it is fun to shoot guns as long as it is done safe

Answer 6

If I have it then no problem. I have been around guns all my life. If it is in another persons hand even if I know them well they scare the hell out of me. Hand guns especially. Hand guns were invented for killing people and only people.

I live where guns are totally illegal. Most people I know have one of more. I do not have any living here.

Answer 7

where I was raised, having guns was natural, and believe it or not, no one was killed either. They were used for hunting and protection. Everyone should have a gun and learn how to use it
you don't actually believe there is going to be a cop around to protect you from a criminal act? they are only available after the fact

Answer 8

The emotional response would have to be fear along with an adrenaline rush, knowing I would have to respond to save my life.

Most cowards carrying a weapon don't know how to handle it, if they are holding the gun with an outstretched arm then they don't know what they are doing. The recoil would cause the gun to jerk violently, most likely causing the bullet to stray far from the intended target.

Answer 9

Why do people say all guns should be destroyed because they are for killing....What will you use in the kitchen to cut food as knifes are for killing too.

Guns can be used for recreation just as well as they can be used to kill it all depends on the person holding the gun and their intentions.

I carry a rifle for work and have no intention of shooting anyone unless my life or that of another persons is in danger.

Lack of understanding breeds fear.

Answer 10

depends on which end your looking at...
but most fears are a result of (mis - or lack of ) understanding. a gun is really just a tool, like a hammer, if you would like to get over this fear find a shooting range or gun club or something and take some lessons...not so you could own one or anything but just enough to familiarize yourself with them...not sure where you would go in the UK though...