The Steel Guitar Forum

Paddy Long wrote:This is another reason why I am really glad I live in good old New Zealand ...even our police don't carry guns! It must be a pretty sorry state of affairs where you feel you have to carry weapons everywhere just for self protection!!!

I don`t feel I have to, I live in the great country where I have a free choice to do that if I decide to...there is a difference between "have to" and "choose to", people in New Zealand and England have nothing to "choose" ,they simply "can`t" have a gun, and I would go so far to say that it must be a pretty sorry state of affairs where a goverment denies it`s own people right to defend themself..

Db

ps

and as far as cops go, I like the ones around me well armed, ala Callahan style...

I find this a very strange topic for a steel guitar forum.

I'd hate to be put in the position of killing someone over a guitar or other piece of equipment. Things can be replaced, people cannot. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for defense of self and property, it just seems that guns are such overkill...

I find this a very strange topic for a steel guitar forum.

well, some of us have more than one hobby you know...

Db

Damir, in NZ, while we can't own a handgun, we can own 300 rifles and shotguns if we so choose!!

Looking on the good side, criminals don't have access to handguns either because there aren't any! I guess we don't have the same level of violent gun crime.

Sounds like the wild west is still alive and well!

Here is a question for you gun toten steel guitarists,
"have any of you ever had to pull that hand gun out to ward someone off or to protect yourself"?

Damir, I have heard Suzanna Hupp speak and she had a gun in her car but had to leave it there because of the law.After the Luby's shooting she ran for legislature on that one item-Concealed Carry , won and was the one who got the law passed. She's an interesting and articulate speaker. Her father pushed her and her mother toward a door but when he was killed her mom turned back to him and was the last one the creep killed. Sad story, but many Texans are alive today because of her wisdom and tenacity.
Memorial Weekend in the small town of Winnemucca Nev. there was a big celebration and some guy walked into a bar where the band was playing,people dancing and started shooting, killing two and wounding another man before a ccw holder shot him once, killing him instantly. People who were there unanimously reported the murderer was reloading and call the ccw holder a hero.He just went to have a fun weekend, but if not for him, how many more would be dead? You pray never to have to be in that situation but I'll always have a .45 Colt Officers model with me. I too don't feel fully dressed without it.
Paddy, it's not so much the wild west as it is drug dealers, meth heads and other criminals have lost respect for everything including human life and think nothing of shooting you for a few dollars

Twayn Williams wrote:I find this a very strange topic for a steel guitar forum.

I'd hate to be put in the position of killing someone over a guitar or other piece of equipment. Things can be replaced, people cannot. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for defense of self and property, it just seems that guns are such overkill...

If you ever need it, you won't feel that way.

And, I do understand the "strange topic" perspective. We do have many other fine topics for your enjoyment, however.

after living for nearly 30 years in the USA, i decided to settle in France
in these past decades, i truly understand & have compassion for those that have to carry to protect their families & property from thugs & slime bags.
War on drugs is a failure & a hypocrisy
the responsability of killing someone is never heart warming & surely causes nightmares
So to those who choose to live in these circumstances, believe me, you have my compassion & to each his kharma
if i had chosen to stay in the USA, i probably would be carrying too & would have no remorse in defending my family, property & self
nevertheless, the gun kulture is deeply imbedded in the American people since, along w: the bible, it forged the nation
yes, i learned how to shoot a gun & a bow
i did so for hunting & still do here in the Pyrenees
i cannot judge people for leading the lives they choose, but on judgement day, i'm sure the great spirit will
Lord have mercy !

well , just to clear up a mentioned comment from above, a handgun carrying person( with permit) will go to jail for HOMICIDE if they use the handgun to prevent someone from stealing an Instrument or property. The ONLY reasons that a carrying person can use there handgun is to protect is from the use of deadly force against imminent threat of death, severe bodily harm or sexual assault .

Never for the protection of an Instrument or property.

This entire conversation regarding Musicians is that we are and can be placing ourselves in harms way . Cash, late nights, gas stations, rear of buildings , out of the way area's etc. So, to me, this is a very important topic, probably long overdue and probably should be brought up every now and then. Not for the purpose of getting a handgun, but for the reminder that we as musicians may be placing ourselves into hot spots without even realizing it.


IF anything comes out of this discussion it is that we as musicians should be aware and always take notice of our surroundings. This doesn't mean do not have fun, notice your surroundings and have fun at the same time.

Unfortunately for us here in the USA, we have people coming here from all walks of life, all societies, all countries etc, everyday. We are not a nation made up of Americans from the Wild West heritage. That ended 100 years ago.

We are the most diverse nation on the globe, not everyone was educated here, not everyone is even educated. Many people could care less about the general society as a rule. Not everyone has roots here. BUT, they are here. Over 300 million now. People that respect society and there neighbors are NOT committing crimes with the intent to kill. People who have no respect for society , there neighbors, or there momma's, are...

Our US constitution gives us the right to own and carry a handgun if we decide to. Some do, most don't.

Everyone is opposed to violent crime/death , the entire purpose of a person carrying a handgun with a permit is to understand how to avid or prevent that from happening. Using the handgun is the final option.

Most important, the handgun training first and foremost discusses how to be aware and avoid these situations, not to pull and shoot.

I hate to use this word here, but the "political" conversation and climate has legal gun owners described as Gun Fighters, crazy gun carrying fools, reckless , red necks, etc. the truth is 180 degrees the opposite direction.

A musician with a legal handgun late at night at least has a chance to make it home provided they are trained, if a dangerous scenario confronts them.

Tony Prior wrote:IF anything comes out of this discussion it is that we as musicians should be aware and always take notice of our surroundings. This doesn't mean do not have fun, notice your surroundings and have fun at the same time.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

We have a winner! Situational awareness (SA) is the greatest weapon of all.

Great topic and great participation. We should remember where we are and why we are there. Out late at night, finished your gig, tired and want to go home, and then because we weren't thinking we lose our equipment and our money that years of practice and investment enabled us to earn(I'm not near to that level).
30 years of working all hours of the day and night being a railroad engineer made me feel much more secure with a weapon on or near me. I was stopped one time in the early 1980s and going thru the normal questions when the deputy saw my pistola in the map pocket on the drivers side door and asked me why I carried that and asked if he could see it. I said of course and he checked it out and did some more checking on me and then had his dispatcher call a friend of his who worked on the railroad that was younger than me in seniority, and the railroader said he knew me as a railroader and to throw me in jail and throw away the key(we were also friends). The deputy and I made friends that day and told me in the event I was stopped again to let the lawman know I had a weapon for self defense account of traveling all hours to persue my vocation.
Never had that happen again but never stopped carrying it with me. Jody Sanders had quite an experience with bad actors not long ago and THANK GOD he was packing and was ready.

This has been a wonderfully polite discussion, and I have hopes it will remain so. I want to make sure you are aware of this link, however:

http://offtopic44665.yuku.com/

This is an off topic board that b0b also hosts for all manner of discussions. I highly recommend a visit, and invite you to bookmark it alongside your SGF bookmark.

I don't know about you guys, but New Zealand sounds like a nice place to live.

Here's a direct link to what Mikey's talking about:

click here

Arch.

Wowza! 5 pages in 4 days!

This gives a whole new meaning to the term "PACK-a-seat!

What gun culture? Saves having to hire bouncers, and no one complains about the music either.

Tony Prior wrote:he ONLY reasons that a carrying person can use there handgun is to protect is from the use of deadly force against imminent threat of death, severe bodily harm or sexual assault .

Never for the protection of an Instrument or property.

Forgive me, but not everyone here seems to be drawing that distinction.

Peter it sure is .... and we are short of steel players !!! come on down, and you won't need to bring your gun

Twayn Williams wrote:

Tony Prior wrote:he ONLY reasons that a carrying person can use there handgun is to protect is from the use of deadly force against imminent threat of death, severe bodily harm or sexual assault .

Never for the protection of an Instrument or property.

Forgive me, but not everyone here seems to be drawing that distinction.

Probably because not everyone is actually reading this thread.

Whats important is that the folks who do decide to carry concealed know the purpose. It really doesn't matter what someone who is misinformed thinks.

I seriously doubt that anyone who carries concealed thinks it's ok to shoot someone for stealing there Nashville 112.

The description I offered, quoted above ,is from the NC Concealed handbook. That was not a guess.

it really gives me the creeps to read all these replies.

Up here in my part of the country you have to have a permit NOT TO CARRY

"You might never need a gun, but if you ever do, there is NO substitute."

Spoken by a true wise man.

"You might never need a gun, but if you ever do, there is NO substitute.

Spoken by a true wise man."

You might never need a sh*t, but if you ever do, there is NO substitute........for soft toilet paper.

Spoken by a truly desparate man!

Thank goodness I live over here, this is too much for me to take in:

shoot here

Arch.

criminals don't have access to handguns

About 230,000 licensed firearms owners, and hundreds of thousands of people without licences, own and use New Zealand's estimated 1.1 million firearms.

....Dominion Post November 6th 2006

yeah, I`m sure they don`t...

Db

the thing that I don`t understand about postings talking about guns is why people think that I`m some kind of psycho if I said I like guns??? on the gun forum when you say you play steel they get all excited and start talking about how great steel guitars are, but on the steel forum if you say you shoot gun`s they will tell you, you are a psichopat??? ..weird..I carry guns since I was 20 years old, as a LEO back in Croatia I always had my duty gun on me and after 20 years I still didn`t kill anyone (except few pounds of paper targets and few coke can`s) , so for someone to asume that I`m a agressive person or some kind of killer because I carry a handgun is ,if nothing else , ignorant, sorry

Db