Spent some more MD money.

[cwilk]

I only use MD money for major purchases. Until yesterday it was just that big gold coin. This is what I bought the day before yesterday. It is my first legal handgun. I started the pistol permit process on the Thursday after Election Day. I have a few MD sites where I will feel safer with it on my hip. S&W .40 caliber. I shot 50 rounds a day for the past 3 days. Today I started putting shots in very tight groups and pretty close to where I was aiming. I bought it primarily for a carry piece for personal and home protection. I put the laser site (free with purchase promo) on today and I'm taking it off because I can't find a holster to accomodate it. I like using it, though. It is fairly expensive to shoot. About 20 bucks for 50 shots.

Chris

 

[RickIowa2009]

Need protection now days, crazy world. Jesus has good life insurance!

 

[cwilk]

I am conflicted. I am a Christian and strongly believe in the philosophies of turn the other cheek, do unto others etc....... I am also imperfect. I have had 3-4 run-ins while metal detecting where I was threatened with harm. Situations that I either thought or talked my way out of. I would strongly prefer not to need or use a gun. I would not hesitate using one to protect myself, a loved one, or some other innocent from any thug, though. Hopefully I could do that with a show of force. There are a lot of bad folks in this world. Look at what's happening near our border. Sadly, it may be in your (yours, mine, and everybodys) town soon.

Chris

 

[ConfCav]

There's nothing wrong with carrying a firearm if you feel the need. On occasion I pack one along if going into some remote area due to being unfamiliar with the land, and with the owners knowledge. However that is the only time I take one along. Main reason - its just extra gear to pack in along with your MDing stuff, and after a while it becomes burdensome if out for long stretches of time. If I see an area I'd like to hunt, but find out prior it's a "bad" area or neighborhood, I just mark it off my list of places to hunt and go somewhere else. As much as I love this hobby it's just not worth the risk, even with places to hunt getting harder to find or obtain permission to do so, no matter how good the potential of a site may be. Sadly its the world we live in.

If you do decide to carry, suggest getting a concealed carry permit if allowable. There are folks in this world that see people carrying guns as a challenge or threat, and may approach you when they normally would have not. When you carry concealed you have with you the protection you feel is necessary without advertising it to others. I also recommend taking a course in defensive firearm use. Many people I know feel all they have to do is be able to hit a paper target and they're ready for anything - wrong perception. A good defensive course will prepare you for potential situations, as well as alternatives to help defuse a situaton and using the firearm only as an absolute last resort. I would also become familiar with your state laws regarding discharging a firearm in self-defense. Many states will automatically charge you and the assailant until they sort out the details of exactly what happened. This will include detaining and/or incarcerating you, as well as confiscating your firearm until they determine you were innocent. Also, many states have the "flee if you can" laws in affect, meaning you need to demonstrate you were absolutely cornered, there was no way you could safely remove yourself from the situation, and had to use your firearm as a last resort. There is no shame in running away to be able to MD another day.

My apologies if I came off as preaching as it is not my intent, and I'm sure you're a responsible person, just be cautious when introducing firearms into any activity.

 

[John-Edmonton]

Now that is cool. What a great buy! It just might save your life some day.

 

[cwilk]

Lots to think about. All permits in my county are CCW. I live in NY which has probably the toughest gun laws in the country. You can't own, possess, buy or even legally handle a pistol without a permit. The only exception is if you inherit one then you must turn it in within 15 days and you have 6 months or a year to get a permit after which time the firearm is destroyed. When you do buy a pistol you can't take possession of it until it is added to your permit. This requires a trip to the sheriffs department. I took an optional course prior to getting my CCW permit being approved that dealt with the legalities of discharging a weapon, deadly force, firearms safety, and lots more.

The worst situation I ever faced was at and elementary school (where I can't carry anyway without permission) in a nice middle class neighborhood by a group of young gang wanna-bes. The scumbags are everywhere now not just in impoverished communities or neighborhoods. I lied to the 911 operator and told her I had a pistol and I was about to brandish it. You are absolutely right too. When the police got there they were more concerned about me and my gun than the poor disadvantaged youths aka thugs. Next time I go to a field I like to detect I'll take photos of the M-13 and Latin Kings tags that are all over the place. This is in a community that is extremely upper class, lots of actors and famous musicians live there. One user here had glass bottles thrown at him and was cut pretty bad. If I remember correctly, he was a recently discharged Marine who probably would have torn the punks apart had he had the opportunity. It goes on and on and on.

I realize the chances of somebody breaking into my house some night while I'm sleeping are very remote, but should this happen, I wouldn't hesitate to incapacitate them with any weapon that's handy.

Did I write something that made you think I was going to go Charles Bronson on somebody?

Chris

 

[ConfCav]

Did I write something that made you think I was going to go Charles Bronson on somebody?

No sir; just wanted to share how firearms are perceived these days when carried/used by responsible folks for their personal protection. HH.

 

[zaxfire69]

Heck a hand gun wouldn't do me any good metal detecting. All someone would have to do with me is come up on me from behind. Heck my hearing is shot. I only cover one ear with my headphones. The other one I use to hear the sounds around me. That doesn't even work. My wife came up on me from behind the other day and scared the mess out of me. I need better ears not a gun.

 

[R-n-R Magnolia SpringsAla]

Good thing to spend the + $$ on. I had an SW9 that was a good shooter. I remember my fathers advice about defending yourself "We can always get you out of jail, but once your inside a box we can't do anything to help you." Keep the laser and mount it on a shotgun. Develop the mindset that if you draw it, you are going to use it. No warning, No freeze! or Stop Wrongdoer!! or any other "Hollywood" BS. Carrying a firearm is very, very serious business, also tell NO ONE that you carry. I mean it.
Off the soapbox, back to the fun of detecting!!!!

 

[jcooking]

Great idea! I do the same thing. Last year with my MD money I bought a laser rangefinder. The year before that I bought an autoload Beretta shotgun.

 

[lazyaussie]

all i"v got are my fists & a bad attitude
wow carrying a gun wile detecting that's series business sounds like ya need to move over here mate ya not even allowed to have a knife in ya pocket over here with out a very very good reason.

 

[cwilk]

Our constitution has a 27 word ammendment giving citizens the right to bear arms. You would not believe how much interpretation that ammendment receives. When Clinton was President gun ownership was a bit more restricted and certain firearms were banned. Most of those bans expired during GW Bushes term and firearms laws were relaxed. Preisident Obama and VP Biden are advocates of stricter gun control laws so who knows what the next 4 years will bring.

I will probably not carry much, if at all, but I can if I want to. I do carry a lot of cash and coins every once in a while and might start carrying then. I started the pistol permit process after our election only because I was pretty sure the process would get more difficult in the next 4 years. There are already whispers of a federal license to carry. Ammo tracking. Semi-automatic rifle bans.

It would be difficult to carry while detecting because I do get pretty dirty and dusty and I already have too many thing hanging from my belt.

Chris (My opinion only)

I have been hunting for 35 years, since I was 10. An afternoon plinking and target shooting with my buddies is as much fun as MDing in my book. Can you own rifles and shotguns down there?