I really thought about this last year, took the class and everything. In the end I decided not to get one. My reasoning is this: Having a gun and not a lot of experience in what to do with it is like playing a board game for life-and-death stakes that you have never played before.

Maybe I will regret at some point in the future, but I had trouble coming up with scenarios where I wound up thinking "Thank God I pulled my gun out, now all my problems are resolved."

Unless you plan to carry concealed or get a concealed carry license skip the pistol for your first gun.

If you want something for home defense that sits by the bed get a 20-gauge pump shotgun. I've never met anyone man woman or child that couldn't shoot one and #3 or #4 buckshot is hard to miss with within 20 or 30 yards. You can go to almost any sporting goods store and pick one up for about $250. I like the Maverick 88.

If you want something to hunt with or just have in case of "troubles" get yourself a decent bolt-action rifle with a 3x9 scope in a popular caliber such as 308 or 270. Rifles are easier to shoot and you can use them for hunting. Once you shoot the rifle a few times and are comfortable with it you can put it away for those "troubles."

If the US gets ripe enough you need to stack bodies you are going to want a rifle more than a pistol and if you have a shotgun or a rifle you can pick up a pistol, there will be plenty on those bodies you are stacking.

That's my extremely qualified opinion, but with that said opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

Good luck out there, be safe.

To shoot ICE in their stupid fat faces.

Every american should be familiar with how guns work because we have to live in a country with more guns than people. Imagine if you've never drove, been inside, or even seen a real car your entire life then one day you have to cross a NYC street. Its hard to be safe without the right knowledge.

I support this

Also leftists. Also rightists.

So, basically, people from every political background are buying guns.

Do stand your ground laws apply when a warrantless unidentified “federal agent” comes to your door because anyone with sense would fear for their lives?

Lifelong anti-gun libtard here.

I've been doing my research and talking to friends with guns so I can begin the process of arming myself.

Fascism is here and I passed my history classes. I know where this is going. It's time to make sure you, and everyone you know, is armed to the teeth.

If things keep escalating, which they will, because that's what fascists do, then there will come a day when they attempt to prevent anyone who registered/voted Democrat from purchasing firearms.

Buy them. Now.

America's relationship with guns is darkly fascinating for those of us in other 'western' countries. The cliche of the right-wing gun-nut is seemingly way off the mark. You guys have absolutely normalised gun ownership. It's deeply entrenched in your culture and is married to civil liberty in a way that is alien to most other developed nations.

It seems that the state tempering gun ownership is widely viewed as an intrusive and sinister overreach, whereas for us allowing everyday people to own assault rifles etc would be viewed as a dangerous dereliction of duty by the government.

I totally get the appeal of firearms. We go "clay pigeon shooting" where I lived in the UK. It's fun. But the idea that the average citizen could legally own a gun is wild to us.

I've decided on a shotgun. With buckshot you don't have to aim, you get multiple shots, it's inexpensive and you can hit multiple targets in unarmored areas. It's just for home defense, I'm not sure if we should be carrying outside. We have to be careful though, life is worth saving not shooting.

Too few, too little, too late.

I hope not, but I think a lot of them are still living with the fear of yesteryear that has not updated with the times and the threat of their neighbors having it in for them, and not being as worried about the legal repercussions.

Trans person here who's been attacked by a neo-Nazi - I really, really wish I had my gun at the time. Because, without it I was in a situation where I either had to let him kill me (not a good option) or pull a knife on him and at least try to seem crazy enough that he knew he'd be badly hurt too. Luckily that worked for me. If I'd had my gun, I could have at least drawn on him and told him that he was going to leave me be or die. My chances of survival would likely have been higher had I had my gun on me at the time.