Forgive me for stereotyping (Houston, Dallas: loan, home, safest neighborhood)

[NYRN]

but my husband's got it in his head that everyone in Texas owns a gun so if and when we move there he'll have to get one himself. So my question is it common practice to carry a gun around or is this just a silly stereotype?

[USA_Mom]

Stereotype. We don't own guns, my relatives there don't own guns, most of our friends don't own guns (we have a few that hunt) and the only person I know that owns and has a license to carry a concealed weapon is a friend of ours who is a P.I.

[kaykay]

Stereotype. Texas did enact a "right to carry" law a few years back where you can get licensed to carry a gun, but I doubt very many Texans have availed themselves of this law.

[Willys]

Lot's of people in Texas own guns, but it's not required. Lot's of people in urban areas of ultra-large metros like LA, NYC and DC own guns. From what I hear (or have stereotyped), survival there requires gun ownership.

It sounds like your husband actually wants to own a gun or have gun ownership experiences with other responsible gun owners. Considering the state of affairs in the world today, compounded by immigration unknowns, responsible gun ownership may not be a bad thing. Take all precautions.

[NCN]

Some people kill rattlesnakes with a hoe. I don't think I would want to get that close. Target practice would be a much better choice. Texas is a big state and the law enforcement officers can't be everywhere. It's just a safety tool in the rural South. We don't carry a gun around unless we go out on the property where wild animals may be a threat. One of the first things a Southern child is taught is the proper use and respect for guns. All guns are loaded whether they are or not. You never point a gun at anything you don't plan to us it on. Guns are not toys, so children are not to touch them.

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

According to the Dept. of Public Safety, there are just under 260,000 actively licensed concealed-carry permit holders in Texas as of Dec. 2006 (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/adminis...dInstr2006.pdf).

Not a huge number compared to the population of the state. Of course this doesn't include anyone who illegally carries a weapon or persons with legally owned weapons that are used for hunting or home defense.

Let's just say that there aren't a lot of gunfights in the street here (at least not in the suburbs ). Attention Dallasites - the preceeding is a joke, please don't shoot me

[Philip T]

Tell hubby that with everyone here owning a gun . . . wait a second . . . who just owns ONE? Anyway, with everyone having a gun, you do not really need one for protection or anything. Since everyone else has one, when they all start shooting at each other, all you have to do is duck. They all shoot each other, problems solved.

So my advice -- practice ducking.

And besides, anyone who has one gun, has at least one loaner to spare, so us being cordial and all, most anyone will loan him one until you let him have one of his own.

But on a brighter note, at least he does not want to get a Cowboy hat and boots, yet, right? So let him get the gun and play yee-haw. But be warned -- a pickup truck will next on the list.

[CallMeLaura]

Wow, lots of misinformation here.

There is a difference between concealed carry and hunting. Yes, a lot of people in Texas own guns for hunting (as they do in many areas of lighter population. Wisconsin and Illinois come to mind.) There are over a quarter of a million people licensed to carry concealed weapons, which just reflects those who have gone through a 2 day training course, extensive background check, and paid $140 for a 4 year license.

BTW, concealed carry was legalized in 1996, 11 years ago.

NYC and Washington DC don't allow concealed carry (well, NYC does in theory, but you have to be mighty important to get a permit issued) and are pretty liberal, so I'd be willing to bet that per capita, Dallas and Houston have more gun owners.

Also, people tend to associate with those who have similar values. I have as many friends and acquaintances who do own guns as USA_Mom doesn't.

Statistically speaking, guns are safer than buckets. I would say that if your husband wants either a pistol for concealed carry or a long gun for hunting, you should talk to him about it. It's not for everybody, but it's not this evil thing some make it out to be, either.

[kt2le]

I'd carry a gun but it would clash with my spurs.

[NYRN]

Thanks, the whole gun debate started awhile ago thanks to the influence of his gun crazed friends. We live in a so-so neighborhood in Long Island right now and I grew up in Brooklyn and so far haven't found myself in a situation where I thought to myself man I could so use a gun right now but obviously in the safest neighborhood you just never know. I'm just uncomfortable with the idea of having a gun in the home, especially since we have a baby now, which is kind of ironic considering my father was a cop. At least I feel like police officers get regular training on proper use of a firearm. I'm not saying my husband would be irresponsible about the whole thing but it still sits uneasy with me. What kind of training do you need to legally own a gun anyway?