<p>I'm pretty sure it's illegal to carry on campuses across the nation, but I'm wondering who else out there legally has a gun or two in their home/apartment/etc. There's a pretty bad stigma these days, especially with the VT shootings, but damn I love my Glock19 :] (licensed)</p>
<p>I do NOT have a gun--and I live in one of the cities with highest murder rates in the nation....I find your post worrisome....why would anyone Love something that can kill or mame another person/life?</p>
<p>It is illegal to carry guns on almost all college campuses. I believe there are a few in Utah or something that allow it. I'm really not sure. I have always enjoyed some recreational target shooting and am thinking about buying a Ruger rifle with my summer job money. About guns on campus, I can understand why people shouldn't be allowed to carry guns. With the amount of alcohol and stupidity on campuses nowadays, guns simply would not mix. However, I think America has the wrong attitude toward firearms. We try and institute all these gun-free zones but no one seems to understand that if a weirdo wants to get a gun somewhere, he will get that gun in wherever he wants. By instituing these gun free zones, we are only taking guns away from the people who might be the ones to protect us in the event of an emergency. So it is alot more complicated than people think when they say "Oh guns are bad and no one should have one"</p>
<p>APOL, I didn't ask for a gun debate. Don't you love your car? Your car can kill many more people in a more horrific manner than any standard clip gun can. </p>
<p>Anyways I stand by my original post, I love my gun. And I'm no redneck white guy from the south (just stereotyping here). I don't go waving it around like a fool, especially since a CCW is nearly impossible to get in my area, but I use it for target shooting and it's always near me in case someone decides to break and enter.</p>
<p>APOL: There are many reasons for someone to love their firearm. Here is an example to put it in perspective. I have a bow (as in bow and arrow), a classic that was given to me by my grandfather. He taught me how to shoot and I enjoy target competitions. Keep in mind, I am against hunting and would never even think of pointing it at a living thing. I love that bow to death. Sure, with the wrong intentions, that bow could be just as deadly as a gun. But that is not why I love it. I think the same logic applies to the original poster and his Glock. He doesn't love it because of the fact that it can kill people. </p>
<p>Haha and I was going to use the exact same example with a car!</p>
<p>Seriously you both beat me with the car example ;)</p>
<p>And devilsrule is absolutely correct - "gun-free zones" have been proven time and time again to not work. When was the last time you heard of a mass shooting like this happen in a place other than a "gun-free zone" like a school or post office, etc? (save for the Luby's shooting)</p>
<p>And yes Utah allows CCW on its campuses, and so does California interestingly enough (obviously, its pretty tough to get a CCW here, but if you do get one, there are very few places you can't carry, which is contrary to many shall-issue states).</p>
<p>Obviously I am very much for concealed carry laws and firearm-ownership in general. There is no reason campuses should be off limits.</p>
<p>Personally I think that outside of law enforcement and hunting rifles, hand guns and any other sort of gun should be illegal. More progressive European nations have much lower gun related homicide rates, and they have much stricter gun laws. My state, NJ, has very strict gun laws and we are among the bottom for states with gun related homicide. Seriously, what is their purpose? Do we really need semi-automatic weapons for hunting?</p>
<p>^ do we really need Hummers and SUVs for simple travelling? Its not a matter of need, its a matter of right. Its your right to go buy whatever car you want, just like it is your right to own firearms for sport or self-defense.</p>
<p>Guns aren't dangerous, people are - otherwise, you would have to argue that even police shouldn't have guns.</p>
<p>I don't think many people would argue that people have a right to self-defense - why should they not be allowed to have the best tool for that right? Police do - what sets them on a pedestal above other citizens? Their training in firearms? Ha - I've seen police officers who are absolutely terrible shots. </p>
<p>As for the idea that countries that outlaw handguns have lower handgun crime... well, why do they have handgun crime at all? Because there are criminals that don't follow the law. Laws banning that form of self-defense only hurt the law-abiding. Its not a matter of gun control its a matter of people control. The UK has not had much luck stemming gun violence, especially in places like London. And they can't get much more strict with gun laws. What do you propose they do about that?</p>
<p>To live in a free state, we have to accept some risk. Thats how it works. If you want to live in a place with totalitarian laws that simply promote a feeling of safety, go see how its working for the UK and other places. </p>
<p>I see firearm ownership as a great symbol of a free society. Unfortunately, it seems that many people would rather live in a police state where they rely on the government for all support and protection, and sacrifice freedom for that feeling of security.</p>
<p>Bummer - it seems I've slipped into the gun debate. My apologies, but its difficult not to defend the issue because I do feel strongly about it.</p>
<p>Anyway, to answer the OP's question, I keep my guns in my apartment (off-campus). I have one scoped long-gun and one Sig handgun, both very fun :)
Unfortunately its a pretty expensive hobby, but thats the way it goes sometimes. A shotgun (my next purchase) is pretty cheap ;)</p>
<p>Well I don't condone SUV's either. Seriously, what are the statistics of guns actually defending folks? I am not promoting a police state, but where do you draw the line? Guns are made to kill people, cars are made to transport people--big difference. So why not just be able to slay a man if we want to, because this is a society of anarchy? right!?</p>
<p>I have a few and carry one on me everyday. I have a glock on me now. When I am at school and in the dorms, I have a special license allowing me to carry.</p>
<p>Everybody should own a gun.</p>
<p>Zorz, how did you get that special license? Did you mark down some extraordinary need? If you don't mind, what school is that at?</p>
<p>"Everybody should own a gun." I'll have to disagree with that...some people out there shouldn't be allowed to have kids, nevermind owning a gun.</p>
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Seriously, what are the statistics of guns actually defending folks?
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<p>Approximately 2 million times a year, someone in the US defends themself or someone else with a gun (According to a study by Gary Kleck, who is a criminologist at Florida State University). Now this doesn't mean that they necessarily shot someone - just displaying a gun can be an effective deterrent against a criminal.</p>
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Guns are made to kill people
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<p>Do you not see the flaw in this argument? Just because guns were originally designed to kill doesn't mean that is all they can do. The bow/arrow was originally designed to kill people - would you like to ban those as well? How about all knives? Also originally developed to kill. A car can be used just for killing - in the right hands. Same thing with a gun. All of these things are just tools.
Not to mention the fact that sometimes, killing is necessary. If someone is threatening the life of someone else, you'd better believe it would be morally justifiable to kill them.</p>
<p>You also haven't answered my question about societies that all but ban all guns (like the UK and Australia) - why do they still have gun violence? </p>
<p>And how do you explain countries like Switzerland, where it is a federal requirement to own fully automatic assault weapons and keep them in a ready state in one's home?? Their gun crime rate is very low. Also, despite sharing a border with Germany, the Nazis never invaded Switzerland during World War II. There are Nazi war documents that explain that the reason they left Switzerland alone is because of its highly armed populace that was able to completely mobilize for the defense of the country and that the resources they would have to throw at it (and its a very small country) simply weren't worth it. Yet the rest of western Europe fell pretty quickly. Interesting huh?</p>
<p>Anyone know their colleges policy on paintball guns. I was told as long as you keep it conceiled and are not an idiot, you should be fine.</p>
<p>A paintball gun is not a firearm and therefore doesn't fall under gun laws. So a school would have to mention them by name in any rules against them. My guess is that most colleges don't have rules against paintball markers.</p>
<p>I used to paintball a lot and called my local cops about it to see if I could get in trouble for practicing in the backyard...they said it was considered a fire-arm (bb gun), thus illegal to discharge. But I seriously don't think you'd get in trouble for owning one unless you're shooting people on campus with it.</p>
<p>haha I'd like to see that law. BB guns aren't firearms either. The typical definition of a firearm for state laws is a device which fires a projectile by some means of combustion. Paintball and BB guns do not fall under this definition because they use compressed gas or springs.</p>
<p>Also, consider that if they were considered firearms, you couldn't simply buy them online and have them shipped to your house - you would have to have them sent through a licensed firearms dealer (an FFL) - this is clearly not the case. I think those cops were just trying to get you to not shoot your paintball gun so your neighbors didn't call them to complain.</p>
<p>I got a special permit from my University(university at buffalo), along with my CC permit this other permit allows me to carry on campus. There was no extraordinary need I just asked for it and I was given it.</p>
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Sure, with the wrong intentions, that bow could be just as deadly as a gun.
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<p>No way! I can block or catch arrows easily.</p>