Guns at home

When I was growing up, my dad had a .32 semi-automatic pistol. He didn't lock it up, but he kept it unloaded and separate from the ammo. After moving to upstate NY, he traded it for a spud gun, which is larger caliber, but muzzle loaded.

When my mom started spending time at their rural NY house, she bought a shotgun. They kept it, unloaded and in a fiberglass case, until they moved to a senior community.

We've never had a firearm in our house. I've never regretted that decision. When I was in college, I went deer hunting with a 12 gauge rifle. While I practiced firing it, and several other firearms, at the Knoxpatch city dump, I never fired it at any animals.

The data show that homes with guns have a higher probability of homicide and suicide.