OK we all know that there is a wide range of feeling about this subject. So let's get down to it. What is the prevailing attitude about GUNS where you live?

Here in NC (at least in my part) the general feeling is If you want a gun you should be able to have one. Yes we feel that criminals should be executed also, and NO I know of no-one that would willingly sell a firearm to (a) Criminal (b) underage kid (c) nut case (d) drug-user, seller, etc.

PERMITS: take 3-7 days to get after a exhaustive background check. My county in particular goes overboard on this check. The officers in charge are o.k. about getting the permits in your hands after the red tape.

My neighbors are armed. Many are veteran's of the many "conflicts" the USA seems to keep getting into.

PLACES TO SHOOT: Other than on your own property not many. Because of general disrespect for property and pets the locals have put up fences and No Trespassing Signs. (Uhh Yep Us Too, Dang 4-wheelers)

YOUR TURN:======>next

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001

Answers

Well, generally speaking no one is afraid of them as they are simply a tool. I really don't know the waiting times. I believe you can buy a long arm and walk right out with it after you finish all the bureaucratic requirements. Handguns are supposed to be a two week wait, but if you have concealed carry you may buy one the same day.

As for shooting...it warms my heart that my neighbors to the north have recently acquired a bunch of different rifles and are becoming avid shooters. I don't shoot enough, but am puttering around at making a decent range. I honestly don't know of any ranges around here.

-- (bisquit@here.com), August 31, 2001.

Well just take a look at my email address and that should give you some idea of my attitude about guns. God bless rednecks, hillbillys and good ol boys :o). Only person I know that doesn't own a gun is my Mom(she's a might odd anyhow...liberal). When I was younger(not too terribly long ago....I'm 30) everyone carried guns in their gun racks in their trucks.....to school!! Grew up in northeast Tx....guns were just something everyone had....no big deal. Up here in the ozarks you still see folks toting guns in their gun racks. They look at a gun as a tool....which it is. I don't have much use for pistols...didn't shoot one until I was about 24 yrs old. Guess that is one reason I can't hit the broad side of the barn with one. Pistol might be handy if you lived somewhere like Houston or LA. I'm a crack shot with a rifle though. We have a range set up in the back of the place for hubby to shoot in other folks guns(and for a bit of target practice just for fun too). I wholehearted agree with you about the 4 wheelers!!

-- Amanda in Mo (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

Hey Kenneth, Here in SW TN most everone I know has guns, I only know of 2 places in my county that you can shoot and both are private (private to anyone with a gun) I feel that guns have been given a bad wrap. When I was growing up from the time you could walk you know how to shoot a gun. I came from a family of 8 did any of us shoot one another NO, (not that we did think about it once or twice), did any of use take our gun to school, NO. If the news would quit playing things up it may not give some of the idiots ideas. Now please do not get the idea that I am a gun carrying mother who will shoot on sight. I feel that this is a right of mine to choose to have them or not.

-- Tracy in TN (emilyfarms@tsixroads.com), September 01, 2001.

Here in our area of ALabama, I think there are more guns than in downtown Philly. I do not know anyone who doesn't have at least three guns of different types. I took me 24 hours to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon and that was because the sheriff was out of town for the day. Lots of rural roads around here where I feel perfectly safe alone at night, or when husband is away for an evening. We use shotguns for snakes, etc., rifles for hunting, and pistol for weirdos who come to the porch uninvited looking for trouble. The nice thing about everyone having guns is that the weirdos do not come here..they know better!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I worked at the max security prison, I used to ask the guys what was the best way to keep them out of my house..they all said large barking dogs, and the sound of a pump shotgun being loaded...it works for me!

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), September 01, 2001.

Here in wild Windsor, NY guns are no big deal. Most everyone has a deer huntin' gun. I bought hubby a Remington 20 gauge last fall and the permit took all of 10 minutes. The salesman called a number gave them my name, and I think, Social Security number. Appearantly, I cleared cuz I signed a form and away I went.

I did have one friend that was "funny" about guns. This was before we lived on the farm. We were talking about deer hunting (she was against hunting of all kinds) and I said that hubby had a 12 gauge shotgun. She was appalled that I would allow a gun in my house. I simply told her that guns were tools, both hubby and I knew how to handle them and the gun and ammo were properly secured.

Hubby, me, a friend, and the four dogs walked the hill yesterday in preparation for deer season. Just looking at the deer runs, and thinkin' were we should put up deer stands. It was a beautiful walk. We saw quite a bit of coyote and bear scat but haven't actually saw the animals much this year. This week we have to go get our deer, doe, and landowner permits. We are virtually guarenteed 4 permits between us this year. There are a ton of deer out there. I see a herd of between 8-10 nearly every day in the horse pasture.

Stacy in NY-->I'm asking for a 22 for Christmas this year.

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), September 02, 2001.

South Texas: Guns are pretty prevalent here, and from what I hear, in most of Texas. Gangs and drugs have changed some attitudes, but for the most part, Texans are sticking to their guns. Many of us like to hunt and fish; don't expect that to change much either.

Access to land is not easy. Except for the "Piney Woods" region in east Texas, public hunting lands do not exist here, like in the west. Here, you either lease hunting land or know / own a place to hunt for free. Lots of NO TRESPASSING signs, and landowners do not have a sense of humor either. Poaching does exist, but leasers and land owners combat this as much as possible.

All in all, the "suicide addiction" in Texas is alive and well, and thats okay by me.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), September 05, 2001.

In NE Texas, the prevailing thought is that guns will be confiscated only from "my cold, dead hands". People don't carry guns in their vehicles so much any more because of the ongoing police harrassment/confiscation of guns when you are stopped and you do not have a license to carry. Twenty years ago nearly every pickup and most cars had at least one firearm in it at any given time. However, judging from the ongoing talk shows on the radio stations from Dallas, most of the city folk seem to think that possession of a gun either makes you a criminal or a hillbilly, or both. Since they outnumber us poor country folk, I'm afraid they will eventually end up voting to take our guns. And that's when the fat will hit the fire.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), September 05, 2001.

My favorite quote, "Why should I care if criminals have guns? Mine is bigger and I'm a better shot."

That is the attitude of our region and we have very little crime.

-- Huh? (Whatever@dialaprayer.com), September 05, 2001.

the question in my country about gun laws have already been answered by most people. the most commen attitude is that people who own guns are those who would commit crime with them. most do not realize that those of us with guns use them in a responsible manor and would not dream of breaking the law. but the commen public who know nothing of guns do not know this mostly because our government trys to discourage people from owning guns. it takes us months to get a licence for live rifles has low powered has .22. i am only a junior shooter and i shoot at a club in south England, ven people who live 50 meters away do not know its there. the legal limit for rifles in England is 12 ft/Ib. the people atour range would not alow anyone who they deam unsafe to stay at the club. but in Britian the typicle view is still that guns are bad things.

-- ben allen (allen50001@yahoo.com), April 27, 2003.

I'd say about 60% of the people in my town own at least one gun, and most of them hunt. We don't have to be assigned "permits" to purchase a handgun, and as far as a place to shoot, most people (including me) go to the dunes or on public land outside the city limits.

-- Thomas in SW Oregon (IrradiatedGunBroker@techie.com), March 09, 2004.

Northern Virginia. As in most subburbs, guns are villified here. That yuppie mentality that guns are evil seems to have taken hold quite effectively. It's kind of ironic though, because Virginia as a whole, outside of three counties in the northern part of the state (where I live), is very conservative. You can take a gun pretty much anywhere, and it's pretty easy to get one. People just shun them in the subburbs.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), July 22, 2004.