Guns for USA liveaboard cruisers

[sunshinesailing]

After over twenty countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe during twelve years of liveaboard cruising we are now in the USA and with so many laymen carrying guns and so many crazies shooting off we feel more insecure than ever before.
Should we buy a weapon, even an assault weapon, get proper training on the use of the weapon so we can protect ourselves and our property from those that carry weapons?
Input from USA liveaboard cruisers would be appreciated

 

[ukmctc]

Yes, its America, thats what they do.
You don't have to join in the game, many Americans have now bread outside the small gene pool and are begining to move away from guns, especially now that they are not seen as a great superpower, and feel the need tobe liked by others around the world.

 

[jordanbasset]

If you do purchase a gun you or your family are more likely to be killed by a gun, but the choice is yours.

 

[Nostrodamus]

It is not the guns that are dangerous.. it is the people that use them!
As you are now in America I would tend to be worried.
Fitting a Gatling gun on the foredeck and a cruise missile through the aft hatch may help deter them.

 

[macd]

many Americans have now bread outside the small gene pool

That gave me a rye smile.

 

[charles_reed]

That gave me a rye smile.

How cereal!!

 

[GrahamM376]

If you're on a UK registered vessel, then UK rules apply - 5 years in the nick if caught with a gun you haven't licensed at home, which rules out most except shot guns. Any firearm is likely to get you locked up in some countries and maybe loss of boat. Some info here - http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/guns_aboard.html

 

[jonic]

How cereal!!

He must have been toasted

 

[sarabande]

that goes against the grain...

 

[macd]

that goes against the grain...

...and the more grains, the bigger the recoil.

 

[tri39]

I've just returned from two weeks in Georgia and S Carolina. I was surprised how many restaurants and shops have signs outside saying "NO Firearms"!
On our first night in Savannah someone tried to open our front door at 2.30am! It does make you wonder whether you should become a gun owner too!!
However I agree that owning a gun makes you more likely to be shot, like Peter Blake.

 

[prv]

I've just returned from two weeks in Georgia and S Carolina. I was surprised how many restaurants and shops have signs outside saying "NO Firearms"!

Working in the UK for a US firm, it amuses me that company policy explicitly tells me that I shouldn't bring any firearms into the office.

Pete

 

[BR34]

It's the end of the empire. As history has show, the collapse happens from within.

Don't get involved with guns, bad karma i reckon.

 

[sailorman]

If your not happy to be in the USA.Why are you here in the first place

After over twenty countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe during twelve years of liveaboard cruising we are now in the USA and with so many laymen carrying guns and so many crazies shooting off we feel more insecure than ever before.
Should we buy a weapon, even an assault weapon, get proper training on the use of the weapon so we can protect ourselves and our property from those that carry weapons?
Input from USA liveaboard cruisers would be appreciated

 

[Marsupial]

If you do purchase a gun you or your family are more likely to be killed by a gun, but the choice is yours.

what do you mean, like those school children in Sandy Hook? I did n't know they were armed - learn something new every day here.

To put the record straight, I don't agree with anyone causally carrying firearms, but the USA at the moment is probably as dangerous as parts of the middle east, until that changes I would want a gun.

 

[jordanbasset]

If you do purchase a gun you or your family are more likely to be killed by a gun, but the choice is yours.

what do you mean, like those school children in Sandy Hook? I did n't know they were armed - learn something new every day here.

To put the record straight, I don't agree with anyone causally carrying firearms, but the USA at the moment is probably as dangerous as parts of the middle east, until that changes I would want a gun.

Some facts here to back up my claim
http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunviolence/gunsinthehome
'The risk of homicide is three times higher in homes with firearms (Kellermann, 1993, p. 1084).
Higher gun ownership puts both men and women at a higher risk for homicide, particularly gun homicide (Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Injury Control Research Center, 2009).
Keeping a firearm in the home increases the risk of suicide by a factor of 3 to 5 and increases the risk of suicide with a firearm by a factor of 17 (Kellermann, p. 467, p. Wiebe, p. 771).

Every time a gun injures or kills in self-defense, it is used:
11 times for completed and attempted suicides (Kellermann, 1998, p. 263).
7 times in criminal assaults and homicides, and
4 times in unintentional shooting deaths or injuries.

Of youths who committed suicide with firearms, 82% obtained the firearm from their home, usually a parent’s firearm (The National Violent Injury Statistics System, p. 2).'

So, I would repeat what I said, If you do purchase a gun you or your family are more likely to be killed by a gun, but the choice is yours.

 

[sunshinesailing]

First let me thank most of you for your input. We have tried to have discussions with USA cruisers on this topic but most are silent until you get a wink and a nod from the gentleman.
The statistics on how many people own guns, how many guns there are in total and how many gun deaths there are are very upsetting.
Concealed weapons for the most part are legal.
To answer some questions from some of you.
Nostradamus. Yes we are worried, more than any other country we have enjoyed.
Graham. USA gun laws also apply, there are no officials from any other country where our boat is registered that will prevent us from having a weapon.
Tri 39. The signs No firearms. Do those carrying sealed weapons abide by this law and check their guns at the bar, desk or otherwise. We have seen police with holstered Guns sitting next to the sign having donuts and coffee. We have also seen signs advertising concealed weapons schools.
Sailor man. We are there continuing our life of sailing. The USA has some interesting and fun places to see at an affordable price. The USA still has great influence world wide and to experience the culture is an education.

If we have a weapon aboard I just may be able to get the crazy coming down the pontoon shooting his weapon before he got my wife. I would most likely be killed by him if I didn't have a weapon to get him first. This is not a culture or action I agree with but it could save my wife.

For us we are still undecided. Maybe we will stay that way until we finish cruising the USA and maybe not.

It would be good if USA cruisers would speak up here.

 

[jordanbasset]

what do you mean, like those school children in Sandy Hook? I did n't know they were armed - learn something new every day here.

One more thing, specifically in relation to Sandy Hook. The killer in that awful massacre used the weapons his mum had purchased and stored at her home for defence. The killer first killed his mother with the weapons his mum had purchased and stored at her home for defence. The killer then went on to kill all those children and teachers with the weapons his mum had purchased and stored at her home for defence. The killer then committed suicide with the weapons his mum had purchased and stored at her home for defence. You could not have provided a more perfect example to back up the figures I have given above as to why gun ownership is not likely to make you safer.

 

[z1ppy]

Aside from actually owning the weapon you have to be prepared to use it. if im totally honest, im not sure i could point it at someone and pull the trigger if the time came?

 

[TimBennet]

I lived on board for years in both Florida and Washington State, plus years cruising up and down the coasts.

I can't think of a place I felt safer than the USA. Even gates and fences around marinas and boatyards were unusual as boaters aren't seen as being rich and upper class as they are in the UK.