If you lived in America, would you own a gun?

[DaveShoelace]

Hate guns, really really really hate them. Glad we don't have them here.

Having said that, if you lived there, knowing what the gun situation is in 2016, would you own a gun for self protection reasons (or fun, or hunting)?

I think we Brits are quite quick to decry their obsession with guns, but I wager many of us would also bite the bullet (pun intended) and get one.

I still think I wouldn't, but I don't judge my American chums as harshly as I used to on this subject.

[neeko]

If I lived in New York City then no, if in rural nowhere then probably, although it would have to be locked up very securely (which would defeat its purpose of protection) but the number of deaths from accidental use / suicide are so high it would crystal maze style security would be required.

[KarmaDope]

Yes.

Very easily yes.

[Junior Senior]

Yes, deffo.

[DMorgan]

Nope

Not getting shot is pretty high on the list of life priorities for me and the best way to not get shot is to not be in a position where you're waving a gun around

[PokerBroker]

Nope

Not getting shot is pretty high on the list of life priorities for me and the best way to not get shot is to not be in a position where you're waving a gun around

Unless some other tool has a gun and you don't have one to defend yourself. 

I anti-gun i think America's gun laws are stupid, but for as long as they were legal I'd definitely be packing. 

[Rexas]

Again, hate guns, think their laws are ridiculous, but if every redneck and their mums are packing the sorta shit that the media makes out they are, then yes I'd want to own one. I'd also want to learn to shoot it properly.

[DMorgan]

Defence is a complete red herring though?

Outside of Hollywood if the other person shoots first its gg you

So unless you're willing to shoot first you may as well be holding a whoopy cushion

If guns were good at stopping people nicking your stuff then home insurance premiums for households with guns would be lower right? Actually they are much higher and most home insurers won't even offer cover unless the gun(s) are locked away.

I'll just pay the excess on the insurance and move on I think

[Doobs]

Very easy no.

Your gun is way more likely to kill you or your family than a baddy.

[Jon MW]

Very easy no.

Your gun is way more likely to kill you or your family than a baddy.

This.

There are a certain number of crimes per year which are actually stopped by the 'good guys' having their own guns, but they are far outweighed by the number where their guns have been used against them (either by a criminal or by accident).

The figures are staggering (in somewhere like London gun murders are something like 4 per 100,000 and somewhere like New York it's closer to 400 per 100,000) but the best way to avoid being shot by a gun is to not own one.

[Woodsey]

Hate guns, really really really hate them. Glad we don't have them here.

Having said that, if you lived there, knowing what the gun situation is in 2016, would you own a gun for self protection reasons (or fun, or hunting)?

I think we Brits are quite quick to decry their obsession with guns, but I wager many of us would also bite the bullet (pun intended) and get one.

I still think I wouldn't, but I don't judge my American chums as harshly as I used to on this subject.

Don't we? lol. I know loads of people with guns here in the UK, my family has quite a few between them, I grew up with them around.

[MC]

Don't we? lol.

Don't know why this elicits a lol. We clearly don't have guns in the UK in general, especially in comparison to the states.

Personally I haven't ever known anyone who owns a gun and I'm sure that's likely to be the case for most people in the UK.

[Graham C]

Very easy no.

Your gun is way more likely to kill you or your family than a baddy.

I'm with this. 

As for having for protection, the thought of getting into a gunfight isn't something I'd want to get involved with.

[Woodsey]

Don't we? lol.

Don't know why this elicits a lol. We clearly don't have guns in the UK in general, especially in comparison to the states.

Personally I haven't ever known anyone who owns a gun and I'm sure that's likely to be the case for most people in the UK.

Because we do have guns, especially in the rural community. Just seems a little naive to suggest otherwise.

[marcro]

Definite no to owning a gun.  I used to live in the USA and never felt the need to own a gun and most of people I mixed with over there did not own guns.