safeandsecure

Welcome

Been to both the Lebanon Gun Shop and the Armory. Took the better half; she liked the Armory better because she could "touch" handguns on the wall without having to wait on a clerk to hand her one. Both of us were treated well at both shops, and bought from both shops on different occasions. I could honestly recommend either, based on my individual experience. Neither had "cheap" prices, but both offered some reasonable prices on some items, IMHO.

Welcome to TGO

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome

Rotzaruck, Some here may admit to the wild, the neurotic, the semi-paranoid, and crazy gun nuts descriptions. But I'm bettin' that NO ONE admits to wettin' the bed ... ... ... (at least I'm hoping that no one admits to that one). Seems your background and sense of humor ought to stand you in good stead here. So welcome to TGO!

A .22 LR is an EXCELLENT starting rifle, in my humble opinion. Cheap to shoot while practicing/training, and LOADS of fun. And don't forget that a bazillion squirrels and rabbits have been taken with the lowly .22 --- growing up, we "supplemented" our table meat with wild game (and it was usually squirrels and rabbits). And by "supplemented," I mean that's basically the meat we ate. (We actually "supplemented" with pork. I didn't eat my first steak until I was a junior in high school, and then it was a cheap, stringy cut from our local burger joint. Took me several months to find and afford a good steak; until then, I couldn't see the attraction for beef.) Find a decent (or good) .22 and you will keep it, even after getting a larger caliber rifle. They are FUN, son.

That was good ...

Plus for the 637 -- you can shoot it single-action. Maybe improve your accuracy at the range, etc. The wife gave up her Taurus 709 slim for one. (Dang it --- the one she gave the Slim up for was MINE!!!!!!!!!!) Plus for the 642 -- no hammer to get hung up or tangled with your clothing, etc. My son planned on buying a 642, but after shooting the wife's 637, he's done gone and got him one ... ... (he took the replacement I bought for myself) ... ... now, if I can just find another one for ME --- or maybe I'll just hunt for a 642 and hope they like that hammer more than they like the hammerless.) My opinion? Personal choice. Try 'em both, get what suits you best. (Or get 'em both, and have a good time trying to figure out what fits you best.)

First, welcome. I haven't hunted in years. But I think you're on the right track, looking for someone to "take you under their wing," so to speak. I'm a little distant from you, but it appears that some folks near you are coming to your aid. As far as handgun vs. long gun: the basics in safety apply with any firearm. What you learn from one, you can use or adapt with the other. Spend some time with folks who know their firearms and are safe. One other thought: I used to sit around the old country store and listen to my elders. Old country stores might be hard to come by, but gun shops and gun smiths would be a good place to find that "elder" advice, it would seem. Good luck.

Hey, bro, nothin' wrong with giving him a little foretaste of what's to come in the here and now. You've got folks willing to help, and with what you're doing, and the help they're offering, maybe he'll begin to heat up pretty quick. I'll make that same offer on facebook. If you'd like, feel free to drop a PM my way. Either way, good luck ...

Jamie, I don't have any advice to offer aside from what's already been said. But I'm sorry, man. Neither you, your wife, or that child should have to put up with this. Nobody should. And especially a kid. Understand your feelings completely. My kid's long grown and gone, but never did like somebody trying to get at me through him. People like that, they're lower than low. I'm aware that you and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye on God, but I absolutely believe that this guy will get a special seat in hell for what he's doing.

I suspect you are right. Husband seems to "get it." Probably wasn't him in the first place. Too bad he's married to that POS. Seems she's the one with the problem, and is begging, just begging, for an "attitude adjustment" at some point. Maybe the husband will grow a pair and make that "adjustment." If not, I feel sorry for him, as well. ... Just watched an additional video. Seems the wifey "gets it" now as well. Her apology didn't seem too sincere, but maybe the death threats SHE'S been getting at least brought her to publicly admit that she was in the wrong ... or maybe the husband DID grow a pair and is working on that attitude ... either way, maybe that little girl won't have to deal with the POS neighbor while she's dealing with her own mortality ...

Outstanding!!! Welcome back!!!

Vontar, you seem to have missed the point I tried (probably poorly) to make. I do not and can not blame the guys riding the trucks with the info I have now. They have to do what they are told, or risk losing their own jobs. The necessity of following orders in the fire service is akin to those of the military, in that failure to follow orders can (and often does) result in injuries or loss of life. I'm not saying no one is to blame. First, responsibility lays with the homeowner. If there's any other "blame" to place, it falls on the politicians and elected officials there who failed to provide fire service to the county. After that, policy and SOPs come into play. Whoever is responsible for those may have to share in the blame. For example, if Dispatch (generally handled in rural areas by services outside the FD) never relayed the info to the station, then they wouldn't have known to respond. If they were notified, some officer had to order response. If this has come up before, and it likely has, then some sort of precedence has alreay been set. Etc., etc. But I can't place it on the guys who ride the trucks with the limited facts I now have. I know too many, both paid and volunteer, and this discussion, believe me, has played out in fire houses and stations across the state and country. To a man (and woman), everyone I've talked with have said they couldn't have just "stood by and watched." It's the work we do. Most of us are good at it. Most of us like helping people or we wouldn't be in this line of work (cause it sure ain't the pay or benefits). So yeah, most of us, and I don't know a single FF who wouldn't have helped, would WANT to do what we could. There may be some, somewhere, who wouldn't have responded, but I personally don't know a single one. Blame someone. Someone deserves it. Blame several someones. Maybe several people deserve blame. But don't blame the guys on the trucks, unless and until the facts, and ALL the facts are in, and then, if they deserve the blame, I'll jump on the pile with you.

Unless you have more info than I have, hard to call this a bull**** order. (Unless Dispatch relayed the info, the FFs on duty may never have even received the initial call. Then, once on-scene at the neighbor's property, may have been too late to do anything ... I wasn't there and don't know.) And unless I'm badly mistaken, soldiers face reprocussions for failing to follow an order. Same with FDs. I said that I wouldn't get into the rest of this discussion, but I personally could not have stood by and watched someone's home burn without at least trying to help. But then again, I'm close to retirement. Might be different for the FFs in question.

First, I won't get into this whole discussion over what was right, wrong, etc. Been in the firefighting "business" for 30+ years. But the last part of what you stated ... I have to answer that: First, you are absolutely right. Firefighters (ESPECIALLY the volunteers) all over the US are eager to be compared to the FDNY (NOT the "NYFD") ... You know why? FDNY has all their gear, equipment, and training paid for through taxes. I know a BUNCH of volunteer firefighters right here in middle Tennessee who 1) buy their own bunker gear and SCBAs, 2) have bean suppers or other fund raisers to buy their equipment (with a new engine (that's firetruck to you, Strel) starting somewhere around $175,000 ... so they buy "used" apparatus, and 3) pay for their own training. Sometimes, for a fact, they even pump the fuel for the apparatus out of their own pockets. So yeah. I know a BUNCH of volunteer FFs who'd like to be compared to the FDNY. Do NOT question their "patriotism" OR their dedication to their fellow man. You have absolutely no clue. As for the FD in question: The firefighters in that department that you slandered did NOT have a choice. They were ORDERED NOT to respond. Blame somebody else if you want, but not the guys on the "red trucks." All right. Off my soap box now.

All three family members here are permitted. So we carry, when and where legal. I don't always have my favorite with me, but I have something that goes "bang" (depending on attire, where I'm going and what I'm doing). Part of a philosophy, I guess, kind of like the old boy scout motto, "Be Prepared." I have a gun, a knife, and "emergency" cash on my person. I keep jumper cables and a fire extinguisher in my vehicle, and fire extinguishers at home and in the shop. I know that we can't always be prepared in every situation, and we can't account for every eventuality. But I try. I've seen some bad stuff, so I figure better safe than sorry, and I guess that attitude has infected by family as well.

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome

I always shot right-handed, and aimed with the right eye. Five years ago, a stroke left me with no vision (and I mean none) in my right eye. It's a struggle to learn to use the opposite eye with handguns, but it's a real pain in the butt with long guns. You can train yourself, though it takes a lot of practice. You'll also have to find what works best for you. About the only good thing to come out of that stroke, for me, was the realization that I needed to work harder to shoot with either hand. I'm actually a little better, now, left handed than I am right handed. But again, practice and learn what works best in your case. You may find that becoming a "lefty" when picking up a firearm works well, and at the very least, you can develop a working use with either hand.