Curious to what everyone thinks.Gun in room?

[El Rojo]

Do you have your computer locked in a safe when you leave? What about your television, microwave, stereo, jewlery (you might actually have this locked up), cameras, IPOD, DVDs, nice steak knives, ammunition, power tools, non-power tools, or anything else that is worth a decent amount of money? Why not?

A gun is simply a tool. I have a few guns that I don't mind getting stolen if someone breaks in. They are just guns. The more expensive and not as handy guns get locked up. Heck, lately I have been thinking of ordering three of those $90 Markarov's from J&G just so I can have some more cheap handguns stashed around the house just in case I need them. Put one in the couch cushions, maybe one in the refrigarator, and maybe one in the garage somewhere.

I mean serious, you are worried about losing a $400-$600 handgun, but how many other items do you have in your house that are much more expensive than that? And who keeps their serial numbers of all of their other expensive items handy so they can be tracked if stolen. Better yet, how many of those items are likely to be checked by law-enforcement to see if they are stolen? Guns? Cops check firearm serial numbers all of the time.

I think my home insurance covers up to $2000 of guns if they are stolen. I don't keep more than $2000 out of the safe.

As you might be able to tell, I also don't have kids yet.

 

[Strings]

Hmmm... TV, we don't realy care about. Stereo was a $100 Sprawlmart deal. Main computer (doubles as a business machine) is this one, in my office, and even IT isn't worth all that much anymore...

The expensive, hard to replace stuff IS all in this room with me. And this room is going to be reinforced soon, making it both office and gunvault. So yeah, I'd say Spoon and I are pretty well covered...


Almost forgot to add: all the guns, guitars, and expensive jewelry is documented. Both on paper (make-model.SN), but digitally (same info+pics). And I carry a copy of the digital version with me anytime I leave the house...

 

[IronLance]

I mean serious, you are worried about losing a $400-$600 handgun, but how many other items do you have in your house that are much more expensive than that?

I have maybe one or two other items in my house more expensive that my firearms. For me, not letting someone steal my firearms, no matter how many or how cheap, is a matter of principle. Every time they steal a gun and get away with it, they've won a round. They go sell it or whatever and go on thinking they've got the system beat.

Something else to consider: Not many people are going to pick up my TV or computer or VCR and maim or kill someone with it. Some day one of those cheap-ass guns, that doesn't mean much to you if you lose it, is going to come back to bite you in the ass. Perhaps not literally, but in some way, it will.

That being said, however... ::shrugs:: ..to each his own.

Wayde

 

[El Rojo]

Some day one of those cheap-ass guns, that doesn't mean much to you if you lose it, is going to come back to bite you in the ass. Perhaps not literally, but in some way, it will.

Do you care to offer some sort of logical reasoning behind your statement or am I only to take your word for it? By the way, note I said I am thinking about it, not that I have bought those handguns.

Something else to consider: Not many people are going to pick up my TV or computer or VCR and maim or kill someone with it.

That is true, but they might sell your TV, computer, and VCR and have the money to buy a gun so they can go kill someone with it. How will you live with yourself knowing that your personal possessions directly led up to someone being hurt or killed?

Hopefully you just answered, "I am not responsible for what a criminal does illegally." And that is the correct answer. So even if they steal your guns, you are not responsible for their actions. They knew it was wrong to break into your house. They knew it was wrong to take your guns from your house. Even gun safes are not fool proof and with the proper tools, equipment, and time can be defeated. So when they do take your guns, you should not feel guilty because again they made the decision to break the law to get the guns and they made the next decision to use those guns to hurt or kill someone else.

For me, not letting someone steal my firearms, no matter how many or how cheap, is a matter of principle. Every time they steal a gun and get away with it, they've won a round.

So if they come in and steal everything else in your house, you still win the round? If they take your couch, your refrigerator, your washer and dryer, your microwave, the AC unit off your roof or out of your garage, your tools, and anything else except your gun safe, you still win the round? That is a mighty interesting principle you have there. I personally do not choose to elevate my firearms to that status. I treat them like everything else I have as something valuable to me and I don't want any of it to be stolen. I would think anytime someone steals anything from my house I would feel defeated. Whether it is my garden hose out front or my M1A.

Take measures to secure your house and property. However, if someone is intent on stealing your belongings, they will steal your belongings. If and when they do, I wouldn't feel any worse about losing my $310 1911 or my $500 870P than my $1500 TV or $2000 in computers and accessories. They are just possessions that can all be replaced and I have the insurance to do it. Don't misinterpret my feelings as indifference to being burglarized, but as indifference to my guns. They are merely property just like anything else I have. In fact, I would be more upset if all of my JPGs or personal photographs were stolen as those cannot be replaced, but a handgun or shotgun can. Now if you are talking about a heirloom firearm being stolen, true, that cannot be replaced. And that is what you have a gun safe for, you lock up your house, you get a security system, and you have large dogs that bark.