Problem Owning a Firearm with a “Body” on it?
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sacp81170a
Member
I still have the bullet they pulled out from under the skin of my right thigh. It was nearly a through and through wound. Just missed the artery, might have hit the bone because the tip is deformed. I keep it as a good luck charm. 
I wouldn't mind having the gun it came from. Likewise, it wouldn't bother me having a gun with a "body" on it, unless the crime was still under investigation...
I wouldn't mind having the gun it came from. Likewise, it wouldn't bother me having a gun with a "body" on it, unless the crime was still under investigation...
scurtis_34471
Member
I should clarify in my case that I don't really care about history, as long as the gun is legal and I don't know about it. I don't blame the gun for anything it was used to do. I'm just a bit creeped out by the suicide thing. Personal hang-up.
EricTheBarbarian
Member
wouldnt bother me unless I was a suspect. I have a small milsurp collection and have no problem at all, its quite the conversation starter to where the rifle may have been or what it was used to do.
CajunBass
Member
It's just a gun and there ain't no such thing as ghosts. Wouldn't bother me a bit.
gunsmith
member
As long as it isn't haunted
Then I would have no problem with a suicide gun.
Of course if a gun is possessed by an evil spirit that takes over my
body and engages in questionable criminal acts while doing so, then I would have to call a Priest and sprinkle it with Holy Water...
Then I would have no problem with a suicide gun.
Of course if a gun is possessed by an evil spirit that takes over my
body and engages in questionable criminal acts while doing so, then I would have to call a Priest and sprinkle it with Holy Water...
HuntCast
Member
Kinda creepy...... no thanks.
Nothing wrong with it, but like a house for sale the old lady lay dead in for weeks, I wouldn't want it, lol.
Nothing wrong with it, but like a house for sale the old lady lay dead in for weeks, I wouldn't want it, lol.
I guess it depends on the circumstances. I'd have to judge it on a case to case basis.
I know my father probably doesn't care. He only owns one gun, a Smith 6" .357 magnum for home protection (which I don't even know if he can use properly ) - the gun formerly belonged to a Chicago PD officer and was his duty weapon for the entirety of his career to my understanding (so it would probably be safe to say it's been used once or twice ) - anyways, that's his gun.
He also owns a watch that was worn by a man while committing suicide (the guy jumped off a building). Somehow the watch survived unscathed. The man's family gave the watch to my grandfather (I think payment for legal services or something - although I'm not sure 100% of the details). Anyways, my grandfather passed it on to my father, who actually wears it every so often without even remembering the history of it.
Both the gun and the watch as far as I'm concerned, can be passed on to my brother. He's an anti anyways, so I figure it's the only way he's going to get a gun, and it wouldn't hurt for him to be able to tell time while he's at it.
To be honest, the watch creeps me out. The gun, not so much, and I actually serviced it for the first time in 20 years the other night (taking a mini vacation at my parents' house) taking it completely apart and cleaning and oiling every part as needed.
If the gun had been used in a suicide, I'd probably stay away, unless there was some majorly historical story behind it. Same for a murder. I wouldn't want to own a gun that had been used by a serial killer, but if on the other hand, it was formerly Al Capone's, I might be overwhelmed by the history enough. Or if it was Lee Harvey Oswald's Mannlicher-Carcano rifle - same. Although I doubt that's ever going up for sale.
I know my father probably doesn't care. He only owns one gun, a Smith 6" .357 magnum for home protection (which I don't even know if he can use properly
) - the gun formerly belonged to a Chicago PD officer and was his duty weapon for the entirety of his career to my understanding (so it would probably be safe to say it's been used once or twice ) - anyways, that's his gun.He also owns a watch that was worn by a man while committing suicide (the guy jumped off a building). Somehow the watch survived unscathed. The man's family gave the watch to my grandfather (I think payment for legal services or something - although I'm not sure 100% of the details). Anyways, my grandfather passed it on to my father, who actually wears it every so often without even remembering the history of it.
Both the gun and the watch as far as I'm concerned, can be passed on to my brother. He's an anti anyways, so I figure it's the only way he's going to get a gun, and it wouldn't hurt for him to be able to tell time while he's at it.
To be honest, the watch creeps me out. The gun, not so much, and I actually serviced it for the first time in 20 years the other night (taking a mini vacation at my parents' house) taking it completely apart and cleaning and oiling every part as needed.
If the gun had been used in a suicide, I'd probably stay away, unless there was some majorly historical story behind it. Same for a murder. I wouldn't want to own a gun that had been used by a serial killer, but if on the other hand, it was formerly Al Capone's, I might be overwhelmed by the history enough. Or if it was Lee Harvey Oswald's Mannlicher-Carcano rifle - same. Although I doubt that's ever going up for sale.
ojibweindian
Member
No problems, whatsoever. It'd be like owning a hammer that pounded nails.
Sharps-shooter
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I try to avoid owning guns that might have taken part in an as-of-yet unsolved crime, as it might make me look suspicious and cause a hassle if one of my guns turned out to be a murder weapon.
other than that, I don't mind. I have guns from the civil war (definitely saw action, used by a cavalry regiment from new jersey) and from the revolutionary war era (not possible to tell whose it was). I have another that was carried in the Mexican war for independence. I love the fact that these pieces are part of history. I would feel the same about a WWI or II era gun, from whichever side.
other than that, I don't mind. I have guns from the civil war (definitely saw action, used by a cavalry regiment from new jersey) and from the revolutionary war era (not possible to tell whose it was). I have another that was carried in the Mexican war for independence. I love the fact that these pieces are part of history. I would feel the same about a WWI or II era gun, from whichever side.
Aguila Blanca
Member
I'll admit to being more than a little superstitious, so I would not want to own a firearm that was used in a suicide -- or in a murder, for that matter. I would not, however, have any problem owning a mil-surp rifle or handgun, nor would I balk at a modern handgun that was used in self-defense.
Yeah, yeah, I know .. even in a murder or suicide, the gun didn't do it. As I said, I'm superstitious.
Yeah, yeah, I know .. even in a murder or suicide, the gun didn't do it. As I said, I'm superstitious.
MrPeter
Member
I have a russian mosin nagant m91/30 stamped 1942 that has definately seen some use, and I would certainly like to think it has ventilated a nazi or two in its day.
As for a gun used in a suicide, I would only have a problem with it if it was someone I knew who used it in that way, in which case it would probably have increased value to me, rather than decreased. If it was someone I didn't know, then I would have to say that although I won't say that I don't care that they shot themselves, but I wouldn't hold it against the gun, if you know what I mean.
in the situation of the poster owning the gun his father-in-law killed himself with, depending on what the gun was, I would encourage her to carry it on her. Someday, it might save her life, breaking even in a gun-karma sort of sense (take a life and save a life)? It would be almost poetic.
As for a gun used in a suicide, I would only have a problem with it if it was someone I knew who used it in that way, in which case it would probably have increased value to me, rather than decreased. If it was someone I didn't know, then I would have to say that although I won't say that I don't care that they shot themselves, but I wouldn't hold it against the gun, if you know what I mean.
in the situation of the poster owning the gun his father-in-law killed himself with, depending on what the gun was, I would encourage her to carry it on her. Someday, it might save her life, breaking even in a gun-karma sort of sense (take a life and save a life)? It would be almost poetic.
Damien45
Member
Having owned 3 WWII bolt action rifles, I would have to say it doesn't bother me. When I selected my M98 I did look for "indications of fighting". Not because I wanted a rifle that was used to kill people, but I did want a true historical weapon. That make sense?
As far as the murder/suicide/violent crime gun, I would own one. To me, it's like "convict rehabilitation"....only, it wasn't the gun's fault.
As far as the murder/suicide/violent crime gun, I would own one. To me, it's like "convict rehabilitation"....only, it wasn't the gun's fault.
03Shadowbob
Member
I have no problems with owning a firearm used in murder, suicide, etc.. I am not much on superstition or anything of the the like. I have a .45 that my great grandfather used on the bad guys in the war.
Dorryn
Member
Maybe im superstitious, but im definitely sentimental.
A good milsurp used in combat has a better story to tell than a never-used one. So that, to me, raises its relative value. No matter who it killed, death is a significant event. The weapon/"tool" used commemorates both the killer and the killed, without arguing right vs wrong. Like other posters have said, its just a tool. That doesnt make the act of killing less significant.
As far as suicide, if it was someone I never knew, it would be merely a footnote in the story of the firearm. It would be largely irrelevant to me. However, if someone I cared about killed themselves with a firearm, it would automatically become sacred to me. I could never then sell that weapon, as I would feel it was tied to the person who used it... i would probably mount it somewhere as a memorial to the individual. I think death should be sacred, just as the moment of birth is. I probably wouldnt fire the weapon again, either.
A good milsurp used in combat has a better story to tell than a never-used one. So that, to me, raises its relative value. No matter who it killed, death is a significant event. The weapon/"tool" used commemorates both the killer and the killed, without arguing right vs wrong. Like other posters have said, its just a tool. That doesnt make the act of killing less significant.
As far as suicide, if it was someone I never knew, it would be merely a footnote in the story of the firearm. It would be largely irrelevant to me. However, if someone I cared about killed themselves with a firearm, it would automatically become sacred to me. I could never then sell that weapon, as I would feel it was tied to the person who used it... i would probably mount it somewhere as a memorial to the individual. I think death should be sacred, just as the moment of birth is. I probably wouldnt fire the weapon again, either.
tinygnat219
Member
I am a milsurp collector so I guess my answer is no.
Pitt762x54r
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- Apr 6, 2007
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I have no problem owning a gun that has killed someone. Suicide, murder, or self protection.
I would also have no problem living in a house where someone has died, or a car, or living next to a graveyard. Just does not bother me.
My parents on the other hand, had their new house "smudged" with sage and cedar after they got it just for good measure. I don't know if it worked.
And finally, a good friend of mine actually hunts with the rifle that his grandfather used to kill himself. The bad part is that they never told him, and never will.
I would also have no problem living in a house where someone has died, or a car, or living next to a graveyard. Just does not bother me.
My parents on the other hand, had their new house "smudged" with sage and cedar after they got it just for good measure. I don't know if it worked.
And finally, a good friend of mine actually hunts with the rifle that his grandfather used to kill himself. The bad part is that they never told him, and never will.
I think they used to call these "blooded" guns and knives.
I would not have a problem owning such a gun. I'd just do a purification ritual to dispel negative energy, if any.
However, many suicides are actually beneficial. At my age, I've known too many folks who stuck it out to the end, draining the family's emotional and financial resources. We've all heard the expression, "It was a blessing."
On the other hand I've known two people who took care of the matter themselves. The shock from a sudden death, to my mind, beats the long drawn-out agony to the family... as well as the individual. Another kind of blessing.
Ya makes yer choices and ya puts down yer bets.
I would not have a problem owning such a gun. I'd just do a purification ritual to dispel negative energy, if any.
However, many suicides are actually beneficial. At my age, I've known too many folks who stuck it out to the end, draining the family's emotional and financial resources. We've all heard the expression, "It was a blessing."
On the other hand I've known two people who took care of the matter themselves. The shock from a sudden death, to my mind, beats the long drawn-out agony to the family... as well as the individual. Another kind of blessing.
Ya makes yer choices and ya puts down yer bets.
rbernie
Contributing Member
When I look at the Enola Gay, I see a B-29. Nothing more. It has no history, no morals. The history belongs to the owners, the wielders of the tool. The Enola Gay is just another B-29; her crew and their mission and the folks that put them there are the history.
I may like the history surrounding the usage of a tool or find it unsettling, but I can't pin that history on the tool. It's just a tool.
I may like the history surrounding the usage of a tool or find it unsettling, but I can't pin that history on the tool. It's just a tool.
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