New to firearms? Here are some things to consider

First of all, welcome! Firearms are a great way to defend yourself and have a ton of fun out in your own backyard or at the range. But they are not toys! They demand respect, and this shouldn't be the first thing you read about them. If you came from another thread here, you more than likely skipped over the big red post at the top of the page. Please go read that first. It's a lot to handle, but there is a lot to know. Now, on to the easier stuff.<br><br>**Why Do You Want to Buy a Gun?**<br><br>* Because concealed carry is a good idea? You're right, it is.<br>* Because home defense is important? Absolutely.<br>* To threaten your ex-boy/girl friends? Umm...no. Just no. You are not a comic book character! There is a time and a place to draw your handgun. A dispute with your ex is neither the time nor the place. If you have a problem with your ex, acquire a good lawyer first and foremost, and/or a restraining order. If this is still how you feel, please do not buy a gun. I don't want you to hurt yourself or others.<br><br>**You Will Not Be Rambo**<br><br>You probably will never be in a situation where you need to discharge your weapon outside of a range. If you are, you will probably shit your pants and panic. That's how it is. Just because you own a gun does not mean you should try to be a hero. If you're already someone who panics easily, or you're prone to doing reckless things, please do not buy a gun. I will not come to your house and take your gun, but please, for your own safety and the safety of those around you, do not buy a gun.<br><br>**You Will Need to Educate Yourself**<br><br>Chances are you're reading this because you have no idea where to start. That's okay. Lots of people here are willing to help you learn. But if you can't take the time to read through our two big sticky threads, you have no business owning a gun. I shouldn't have to tell you why you should be educated before handling firearms. If you can't take the time to learn now, I highly doubt you will after you own a firearm. Please, for your own safety and the safety of those around you, do not buy a gun.<br><br>**The Lessons You Learned Playing Call of Duty Have Absolutely No Applicability**<br><br>This is not a video game. Guns are not toys. If you came here from playing Call of Duty, you need to take a deep breath and realize that this isn't a game, and you should not have an assault rifle that shoots the same rounds the military uses. If you still think that, please do not buy a gun.<br><br>**You Will Need to Store Your Firearms Properly**<br><br>There is a whole section dedicated to this in the big sticky post at the top of the page. I highly suggest you go read that. The most important thing to note is that they shouldn't be easily accessible. This is especially true if you have children. I should not have to tell you why you should not have your kid walk into a room with a loaded handgun sitting on a table. If you cannot properly store your firearms, please do not buy a gun.<br><br>**It is Your Responsibility to Learn About Laws**<br><br>I shouldn't have to say this, but I guess I do, since a lot of people seem to have a hard time with this. You need to learn about laws on acquiring firearms, transporting them, and carrying them. This is important. Please, for your own safety and the safety of yourself, learn about the laws in your area. I will not tell you what laws govern where you live. That is your responsibility. If you can't take the time to learn about the laws in your area, you are not ready for a gun.<br><br>**You Will Need to Learn How to Use Your Firearms**<br><br>Notice I said firearms, not guns. Whatever. A time will come when you will either need to defend yourself or you will go out to a range and have fun. You need to know how to properly use your firearms. Go to a range and learn. If you refuse to learn how to use your firearms, you have no business owning one. Please, for your own safety and the safety of those around you, do not buy a gun.<br><br>**You Will Need to Learn to Clean Your Firearms**<br><br>Cleaning your firearms is important. A dirty firearm can be a dangerous firearm. Furthermore, taking care of your firearms is very important. If you refuse to do this, you have no business owning a gun. I should not have to tell you why. If you refuse to clean your firearms, please do not buy a gun.<br><br>**You Will Need to Learn the Basic Principles of Gun Safety**<br><br>There's a pretty comprehensive list of these in this sub's big sticky post. If you can't take the time to read through that post, you shouldn't own a gun. I should not have to tell you why. If you can't take the time to learn about gun safety, please do not buy a gun.<br><br>If you didn't read that big sticky post at the top of this sub, you need to go read it now. Right now. Go read it. And realize that the most important sentence in there is this one: "If you do anything other than safely discard your gun immediately for forever, you are dumber than we are willing to tolerate. If you continue to own a gun, you are a menace. You are a danger to yourself and everyone else around you.弋tually everyone in the entire world would be better off if you were dead. Please sell your gun and kill yourself and save us all the risk that you might sooner or later hurt or kill someone."<br><br>This is not a joke. If you cannot properly handle a gun, you are a menace. If you refuse to learn about gun safety, you are a menace. If you refuse to learn how to properly use or clean your firearms, or how to properly store them, you are a menace. If you can't handle the idea of not being a comic book character, you are a menace. If you can't handle the idea that you will probably never actually need to use your gun to defend yourself, you are a menace. If you can't handle the idea that you are probably not ready to own a gun, you are a menace.<br><br>If you are a menace, I can't physically come to your house and take away your gun. But please, for your own safety and the safety of those around you, do not buy a gun.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>\Pass the ammo.