June 6, 2000    
begin

write

look

learn

find

Have you ever fired a gun?

Yes.

Kevin, 32
Sugar Hill,
GA

Nope, and I hope I never have to. Guns scary the living hell out of me. I think they're one of the most dangerous ridiculous things in the world. Leave them to the hunters and NRA I say. At least they know how to handle them.

Amy, 23
Baton Rouge,
LA

When I was 10 or 11 I fired my friend's 22 rifle at some cans. I missed horribly and the darn thing jammed hard into my shoulder.  After that I didn't see much sense in firing a gun. As I've grown older, I have a very strong opinion about guns being where I am, accidents waiting to happen.

Felicia, 34
Somerville,
MA

No, I never fired a gun. One, because I am a woman and I hate to be stereotypical, but most women HAVEN'T fired guns. Two, because I see no need to. I am against hunting, and face it - in North Dakota, there's little  violence.

Jen
Minot AFB, ND

No!

Helena, 31
Sydney AUSTRALIA

I have never fired nor owned a gun. I've tried archery but only on bulls-eye targets.

Alias Irrelevante

Yes. I used to got out with a fellow that was an avid hunter. Through him I learned to make my own bulltets, shoot a 357 magnum, a shoot gun, skeet shoot and used a bow and arrow. But I have never shot an animal.

Janet, 42
E. Brunswick
, NJ

Nope.

Socrates One
Lowell, MA

No way, not my bag. I do not own a gun and, consequently, have never fired on, although I support people's rights to bear arms. My thing is: if you need protection, buy a dog.

Ernest, 28
Washington,
DC

yes...a rifle and a shotgun...no small hand gun types though

Tracy, 24
Ocean City,
NJ

nope. don't think i want to either

Firelady, 21
Dallas,
TX

A few times, as a teenager, when an uncle decided all the cousins should know how to handle one.

Jane, 60
West Linn,
OR

Nope, and I don't plan on even owning one.

Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch,
CO

I have never fired a gun and have no desire to do so.

Laura, 35
Lowell
, MA

As a teenager I fired a shotgun just once at a clay pigeon. Of course I missed the pigeon and had a massive bruise on my shoulder from the kick of the gun.

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg,
PA

No, and I don't plan to anytime soon. Guns scare me. I don't even think I've been close to a real one.Your email address says a lot about you.

Aurora, 17
Montreal, Quebec CANADA

I have a shotgun that my Dad taught me to shoot skeet with (a game where you shoot clay disks). And, my boyfriend is a cop so he took me out to shoot his off duty weapon so I could get used to it. I used to shoot my shotgun regularly but haven't in years.

Kathy, 26
Garden City,
MI

I want to
I want to
but, sadly no
I did jack a shotgun shell into the chamber once and was overcome by a feeling of power that thrilled and horrified me at the same time.

Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge,
LA

Nope, and I never plan to either.

Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario CANADA

No, and I never ever plan to either!

Lindsay, 21
Harrisonburg,
VA

I've fired a cap gun, water gun, laser gun, toy guns, arcade game guns. But not a real gun.

Ray, 17
Toronto CANADA

Nope, and I don't think I ever will.

Nicole
Elk Grove, CA

NO. I am against ALL that. Hunting is barbaric. Guns are sadistic. I don't care what your sad point of view is, and Holy Moses Charlton Heston is insane!, I guess he misinterpreted the fifth commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill. (unless it's defending your property, civil rights, or hunting) I guess if you only scare, maim and wound people it's OK right? I'm mean we have to defend ourselves right?? Our property! Our civil rights!! Oh,  did I mention the great sport of hunting? Guns don't kill people, bullets do! -

Jami, 27
Lowell
, MA

Yes, a medium sized revolver.

Kate, 19
Bellingham,
WA

No way! Although I used to live with one of my best friends, Mike,  who is a Chicago cop and he used to leave his gun on the coffee table all the time. I got used to it being there after a while.

Susan, 31
Chicago
, IL

Yes. I went on a holiday to the Philippines with my family when I was twelve and I went to a gun club then. It was a 45 calibre and I didn't expect it to be quite so powerful. The kickback was incredible.

Shanna, 15
Cardiff ENGLAND

More times than I can count. My grandfather put a pistol in my hand at age 10 and began teaching me respect for life and the power of a gun. I've owned several, and had to use one to protect myself once. After I had children old enough to reach for one I sold them all. There is more violence through TV and games, compared to when I was young. I felt guns in my home would be an accident waiting to happen.

Pamela, 38
Sugar Hill,
GA

Yes, it was a friends rifle and the kick-back nearly broke my shoulder, it also scared the S**t out of me.

Nikki, 27
Kirkham ENGLAND

Yes. But now I don't even like to touch the things.

Karen, 20
Marshelltown/Ames
, IA

Yesterday / Tomorrow