Beyond Angry

[ArmedBear]

In case you've never seen them, there are a LOT of products that allow quick access to firearms for you, but not for everyone.

If you have the money for a collection of guns, you have the money for a quick-access pistol safe, and a long gun safe with a keypad lock. Then you can keep a few guns loaded, but keep them from being used against you, being stolen easily, or being played with by children (or adult children, and there are far too many around).

I doubt that all those guns were loaded. An unloaded gun isn't good for anything, either.

Furthermore, if you're not home, you can't use the guns in your home for self defense, anyway. If there's a criminal in your home, he'll have YOUR gun pointed in your face when you get there. That's hardly a good place to find yourself.

 

[LoveMyCountry]

All stolen firearms are (supposed) to be entered into NCIC right away. If your guns serial numbers are run anywhere in the country, they will come back to you - once the courts are done with them.

Make double sure that the Police have the correct serial numbers!

LoveMyCountry

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Coatesville? PA?

Presumably not Indiana?

Dude, my condolences. Sux when that happens.

The reason I have a locking cabinet is that my daughter has friends that I know for certain I can't trust. She can't trust them and does anyway. She is continually amazed that her "friends" would "do that" to her.

Additionally, she doesn't even know of the existence of the sidearms. She knows I have rifles. That's all she's ever seen.

When she started bringing home "friends" who ripped off knives from her collection, various of her video games and music, her hats, a coat, money, and so on, I started locking up the arms.

Ironically, I was less than a month from training her with a pistol when this started. I told her she needed to get new friends. Unhappily, her new friends are as irresponsible and shifty as her old ones. She never found out there was a pistol in her future, and won't until that changes.

Meantime, anything with a trigger is locked up. I switched from pistol to carbine for HD. I figured there was no sense risking that one of her nosey light-fingered friends might find the pistol, even in its locked pistol case, and the cat would be out of the bag.

Having ANY of her friends know that there's a sidearm in the house would constitute serious security compromise. Some of them have roommates or relatives -- with whom daughter does NOT associate -- that are into assorted drugs or "petty" crime.

She can't tell when people are evil. She hangs with the "outcasts" and has bought into the leftist "they're not really bad" thinking. I take one look at half of her friends and get chills.

I lived in dread, for about two months, that she would bring home someone whose brother's roommate's dealer would relieve us of our excess shooting hardware. When I had the bucks, the cabinet went in. When more bucks are available, and I can improve on that, I'll upgrade and the first one can hold ammo.

Sorry about what happened to you. I have to say, given my own situation, I feel your pain.

 

[ArmedBear]

they will come back to you - once the courts are done with them.

What happens if they rust?

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Oh, By The Way

You ARE a member of the NRA, right? And you're covered by the insurance that comes with that membership, right?

 

[Speer]

Yikes. What a nasty situation.

Detective Quinn's attitude is especially disappointing.

"Why do you have all these guns?"

To protect myself, my home, and my country. I suggest you school yourself in the 2nd Amendment.

Then he went on to say I was a criminal and just "supplying the streets with weapons."

Nice to see a badge display such ignorance. How comforting.

Anyway, best of luck.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

You ARE a member of the NRA, right? And you're covered by the insurance that comes with that membership, right?

No. I quit the NRA after my last tangle with having a firearm stolen and being vitimized by the police (which, incidentally, led me to this forum in the first place) and they systematically ignored me.

The NRA gets no more of my money.

 

[Ed Ames]

...after my last tangle with having a firearm stolen...

As usual, there are two sides to the story. I'm thinking Quinn has a problem with habitual victims of gun theft, and you are being lumped in that category.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Heaven forefend, Pax, I intended no criticism of you with my comments about safes. My intent was to criticize the absurd notion that any firearms owner who doesn't lock them in a safe is negligent.

Infinitely more dangerous are the large, extremely powerful motorized weapons left casually on the streets without any real protection from thieves except their own doors, which often are left unlocked by careless owners. They tempt even teenagers who steal them, sometimes killing themselves and others. If we are truly concerned about carelessly disposed killing machines, we need to have strict laws requiring that all automobiles, trucks, and buses be kept in secure, theftproof safes when not in use. And our city's mayors need to initiate negligence suits against their manufacturers immediately on discovering any that are involved in so-called "accidents." It is well known that the biggest single cause of death to teenagers is automobiles, but--ironically--they are the machines that are most accepted in contemporary life. We should not criticize any gunowner for not using a safe unless and until we level the same criticism at vehicle owners for not doing so.

I am serious. Zero_Dgz did what a reasonable and prudent person ought to have done. He kept his firearms in his locked and secure apartment. The thief did not break past his security. Someone he trusted opened the door, invited the thief in, and left the thief unsupervised.

While I'm at it, I want to apologize to Zero_DgZ for commenting about his girlfriend. I overstepped the bounds. I'm old enough to know not to address another person's affairs of the heart. I forgot my manners and I'm sorry I did.

 

[ArmedBear]

As usual, there are two sides to the story. I'm thinking Quinn has a problem with habitual victims of gun theft, and you are being lumped in that category.

I suppose that someone who has those guns stolen, after already supposedly learning the lesson once the hard way, actually IS helping to supply the criminal underworld with firepower.

Should the cops act like that? No.

Could there be more to this? Could be.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Zero_DgZ:

No. I quit the NRA after my last tangle with having a firearm stolen and being vitimized by the police (which, incidentally, led me to this forum in the first place) and they systematically ignored me.

The NRA gets no more of my money.

My favorite reason that people offer for quitting the NRA is receiving annoying requests for contributions to help fight for their ability to own firearms. Your reason is good too, though.

I respond to all of the NRA requests for contributions, in part because I know that I have to carry some people who have really, really, truly good reasons for whatever they decide. I don't mind, so this year is on me: you're one of the people I'm carrying.

When I quit the NRA it will be because I don't like Wayne La Pierre's haircut. But that will be a while from now because I enjoy the shooting sports, I'd like to continue for at least a few more years, and I'll want to keep my guns during that time. And I carry my own weight. After that maybe someone else can carry you and a few other people. You're not heavy.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Girlfriend "says" she was in the bathroom during the heist- I wonder what the truth is?

 

[Glockfan.45]

Arfin it isnt my intention to overstep bounds here but I will assume by your post that said daughter still lives with you, and is still a minor. That gives you all the right to decide whom she associates with/ brings into your home. Zero_dgZ I wouldnt have too much trouble in parting company with a "girlfriend" that had some stange guy she met on myspace over to my place while I was gone . As far as the dective goes I would be lucky to control my famous temper in that situation. If I stayed calm and collected I would have informed him that his "JOB" was to apprehend the slimeball that stole my legally held firearms, not to question me exercising my constitutional rights which is frankly none of your damn business, followed by a discussion with his superior, and in my case a phone call to a friend of mine who happens to be a editor of the local paper.

 

[ilcylic]

You mean you advocate locking up all firearms at home[.]

Not implying it should be mandatory, but yeah, locking up spare firearms when you aren't in the home might be a good idea.

(Where "spare" means "the ones you aren't carrying on your person".)

 

[hankdatank1362]

Ummm... I'm all for working it out and everything, but I think it's time for you to seriously consider where your relationship is heading, if you're still compatible, and

PUT HER ON THE STREET!!!

 

[Ed Ames]

at least until the guns are paid for?

Two sides as in you know that the reason for the callback was that they found that this wasn't the first theft from this person and the "no break-in" theft.

 

[Il Duca]

I would say that the Detective was completely and totally out of line whether he was "feeling you out" or whatever. I would lodge a formal complaint with his CO and maybe send a letter to the local newspaper telling them how the local police won't track down a dangerous firearms thief when they have his address, and instead are saying you are the criminal, or something of the like. I would also get rid of the GF and stick her with the bill to replace the arms stolen because of her stupidity. I don't suppose Homeowner's/Renter's insurance will cover theft of firearms?

 

[Ryder]

You are a safer target for him than the real criminal. Stand up for your rights before you end up as another feather in his cap.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

Yes, I know.

Last time I lost a firearm I was beaten up at gunpoint and robbed of it. That was before I was 21 and couldn't legally carry in self defense. So, crooks got an unloaded gun I legally could not bring to bear.

That gun was quickly recovered, by the way - Sawn off to well below the legal minimum (it was a cheap shotgun) and summarily destroyed! This was in a completely different state many moons ago, so I find it hard that this detective put on his magic Karnak hat and divined this without any record checking.

I've already dispatched a letter to our (interim!) chief of police. Again, we'll see what develops.

 

[ForeverArmed]

He then goes on to ask me about my other guns. One Storm carbine, an AR-15, two shotguns, and my Kel Tec. "Why do you have all these guns?"

"For self defense, targets, the usual."

Then he leans over and says, "You don't need these guns for target shooting."

(1) It's none of his damn business what you need or want the guns for.

(2) With some exceptions, the police are NOT the friends of gun owners or of liberty in general. They are the willing enforcers of anti-constitutional legislation cooked up by the plutocrats who run the US. To anyone who thinks otherwise: try carrying a concealed gun in any area where they are illegal and politely mention to the first cop you see that you're carrying a gun to protect yourself. See what the response is. If the cop cares about the Constitution and your natural right to self-defense, he'll say something like, "Okay, just be careful." But I wouldn't count on that happening. And then there's the FOP's position on laws such as the expired Assault Weapons Ban.

What about "If you don't like the law, then get the law changed"? Well, that's BS. First of all, individuals have NO control over the law unless they're wealthy (so they can bribe...er, lobby politicians) or have access to major media outlets that can shape public opinion. Second of all, my rights, unlike the law, are NOT dependent on the opinion of the majority of gullible American sheep. I have the right to do whatever I want to as long as it doesn't disrupt the lives of others who are doing me no harm. I've claimed that right for myself and will gladly die to defend it while taking at least someone else with me. "Better grave than slave."

There is never any shortage of government lackeys who will do anything politicians tell them for nothing more than a decent salary, good benefits, and macho-ego gratification. The detective in the above encounter was obviously such a person. That's why we need guns. The more (and the more powerful), the better.

[/rant]

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Glockfan

I wish it were that simple.

Daughter is now 19. Still has bad judgement. We're working on getting her to stand on her own feet. Wife won't throw her out.

She starts her first ever full-time job this week. We will be helping her get a car of her own within 90 days. She will then find her own place or move in with one of her friends.

Its been a source of ongoing contention for years. We are so close to having this out of our lives, I can taste it.

* Sigh *

 

[Stevie-Ray]

He then goes on to ask me about my other guns. One Storm carbine, an AR-15, two shotguns, and my Kel Tec. "Why do you have all these guns?"

At this point I would have told him "None of your damn business!" I did just that to a desk cop when I bought my second handgun. In '79 when I got my first purchase permit, I was asked what I wanted the gun for. I replied, "Plinking." I had grown tired of their nitpicking when I bought the second. I asked for the permit and the cop asked "What do you want a handgun for?" I replied "That's none of your business." He starts to say something, looked to his left and another cop, smiling, said "Well, he's right." I got the permit, and it was the last time that question was asked.

 

[jnojr]

"You don't need these guns for target shooting."

Which guns would you recommend I use instead?

 

[jnojr]

Daughter is now 19. Still has bad judgement. We're working on getting her to stand on her own feet. Wife won't throw her out.

It's still your house, right? Tell her no more "friends" over, period.

And I'd be laying it pretty thick on wifey, too. What happens when something she thinks is important gets stolen? Or the police start showing up to arrest these "friends"? Or one of them "gets sick" or goes into a psychotic rage?

You're begging for trouble right now. I don't understand people who are standing out in the rain, complaining about getting wet, and when told to come inside, start telling me why they couldn't possibly do that and that there must be some other way for them to stay dry.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Years ago, my dad had a Ruger 22 stolen by one of my brother's friends during an unauthorized house party while my parents were away. Plenty of booze, loud music, naked chicks eek: ), and drunk 20'somethings, lol. Now the bad part, one of the party goers found my dad's gun cabinet, broke into it, stole the 22 and proceded to rob a bank with it, or he attempted too. My dad is not careless when it comes to storing guns. My brother almost went to jail for that one, he could have been prosecuted as an accomplice, lucky for him, he wasn't.

This might be the reason my brother is so ant-gun, he got up and close and personal with scum using guns in a crime. There can't possibly be a "law abiding gun owner", guns are only used to to commit crimes.. Give me a break!

I feel your pain, my family has been up close and personal with the same issue.

BTW, we now have a gun safe, when guest's are coming over that we don't know really well, everything goes into the safe. You just cannot trust people these days, especially strangers around guns.