Do you cary a weapon on your tractor?

[TresCrows]

Roy, I think you misunderstand everyone, we or at least me am not against carrying, I just do not think it advisable for someone who has not a lot of gun experience to purchase a gun to carry on their tractor for the purpose of shooting at something which he admitted not having any idea as to what it might be---it could be you for all I know. I would not be likely to carry one of my several pistols or lever guns etc on my 'bota but I could if I wanted to and I could do it with safety as I am sure you can and perhaps do. Learned how to ride and shoot, why not tractor and shoot. J

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>I carry almost 100% of the time and have done so for many years...long enough that I feel uncomforatble without that revolver or pistol concealed somewhere</font color=blue>

I'm just the opposite; I carried one so long that I don't want that weight to carry anymore./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Otherwise, I agree with you; think it might be better if more people went armed as long as they've taken the time to learn how and when to use that weapon.

And of course we're primarily talking, in this thread, about using weapons against animals (with some discussion of accidentally injuring or killing a human being), but the possibility of shooting a human being really is a serious concern, whether accidental or on purpose, and is something to think seriously about for anyone considering carrying a firearm.

Example: I had a great uncle who accidentally killed his best friend (accidental discharge) while showing him his new pistol many, many years ago. He (the uncle) served a year in the state prison for that accident and became an alcoholic when he got out; never recovered from the trauma of knowing he killed his best friend.

Example: I don't remember the numbers, but the statistics on the number of officers who resign (get out of law enforcement) after shooting someone (even when they were absolutely right) is staggering.

I never had any doubt about my ability to shoot someone, could have legally on several occasions, came very close a couple of times, but just thank the Good Lord, I never had to find out for sure. And only one time in my career did one of my subordinates shoot anyone. A top notch field training officer working for me shot and killed a man - absolutely no other choice available to him at the time - even the dead man's wife said so, as well as other witnesses. That officer went on to become a sergeant and did a good job, but his personality changed drastically from cheerful, almost carefree, to always solemn, never smiling, and it wasn't long before he was also divorced.

So, yes, I've had guns since I was 10 or 11 years old; still do, and absolutely believe in others' rights to own and/or carry them also, but it's very serious business; not something any of us can tell someone else just a flat yes or no.

 

[knucklehead]

Bird - agreed. I respect your and others' service in law enforcement, and observations on a subject I see primarily as a sport, and secondarily from the self defense perspective. The issue was cleary re-defined in your last post; thank you. I think we all agree, if I may speak for others, on the issue of safety and mindset regarding self defense use of firearms. I also see the efforts of other posters to encourage our cigar-wielding TBN brother to seek training if he has the desire. I forgot, and I may not be the only one, that he has stated it is not really his desire to own and carry a firearm. You may have been one of the few to remember that. However, safety training is still something I would recommend to all persons; for like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, firearms are everywhere and we need to know about them.

 

[webbmeister]

I was born in Milwaukee, and what they are doing in Wisconsin with the deer makes me ashamed. A pathetic excuse to make it easy for people to satisfy their blood lust. Hunting is one thing, slaughter in the name of a hopeless goal is quite another. Shame. Shame!

Jim

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>"I carried one so long that I don't want that weight to carry anymore"</font color=blue>

I imagine you're already aware of this, but, for what it's worth I'll mention the new Smith & Wesson Airweight .38's that come in under 12 ounces. They also have .357's under 15 ounces.

 

[Ozarker]

I think you are absolutely correct. We teach our children how to cross the street, we teach them what to do if they encounter a stranger offering them candy to get in a car, we teach them not to touch hot stoves, but we spend no time at all teaching them what to do when they encounter a firearm. And they are more likely to encounter a firearm in somebody's house than they are to encounter a stranger trying to get them in a car.

The liberals claim it will "send the wrong message" to teach firearms safety in school. I wonder how safety and life preserving skills is the wrong message.

 

[RoyJackson]

"I'm just the opposite; I carried one so long that I don't want that weight to carry anymore."

Yeah Bird...I know what you mean! Weight for a handgun is very important for a carry piece. I've owned three (3) .38's, all made by Taurus. The first two (2) were stainless and weighed about 21 oz empty. Nice guns, but made my pocket droop considerably. Now, it's a Taurus 85 Ultralite (frame is aluminum, cylinder and barrel shroud are titanium). This piece weighs a bit over 15 oz. loaded. Not a great gun for target shooting, but an extremely nice pistol for carrying (in a holster!).

My favorite is still the Glock 19 though!! Now that shirttails out is the style, this gun gets carried much more often!

 

[knucklehead]

How often have I wanted to shout that the "Emperor is Naked", as I hear the litany of "facts" spew forth from the mouths of those who would have us put our trust in them. "Guns are more likely to be used [against those who have them" - oh, my! "His personal life shouldn't have anything to do with his ability to lead our country".....well, that emperor was a few times, wasn't he?

Both my kids could recite "Don't touch it!/Leave the Room!/Tell an Adult!" as soon as they could think that far. NRA supplied, by the way. Not hard, huh? How many more must die before the great thinkers decide to actually do something proactive instead of using firearms for a political football?

I'm tired. Someone else will carry the banner until morning. My wife is standing here giddily pointing out all my typos and goofy phrasing (and that there is only one "r" in "carry" in our topic heading). She can shoot, too. And drive the tractor.

'night

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>My wife is standing here giddily pointing out all my typos and goofy phrasing (and that there is only one "r" in "carry" in our topic heading). </font color=blue>

And here I was trying to get up the nerve to ask you about doing a little wife swapping just to get away from that........./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Hawkflyer]

I would have to agree with virtually every word of Roy's post. I too carry all the time, but I am trained and I practice. To me my side arm is like an American Express card, I never leave home without it. If I'm on the machine, I carry a revolver with snake shot. It is quite effective for anything up close (though .44 works better than .38) and unlike the perverbial "garden hoe" I will have it when I need it. On the occasional copperhead that takes up residence too close for comfort, it is perfect. We don't shoot all of them that we see, just the ones right around the house. They do after all serve a good role as mousers in the right places.But Training is absolutly critical for any firearm. While your Mil training was ok for what you needed at the time, this is different. If you decide to buy a firearm, get trained and most important learn and obey safe handling practices.As for the incident in the original post. It would have been a VERY big mistake to have taken a shot at an animal you could not identify that was running through the brush (training again). Especially since it was trying to leave the area. A firearm is always the last resort, and under those conditions you will be VERY certain of your target. Good luck with your decision. But remember, the greatest weight you will every carry is a firearm.