Hallucinator
New member
Alcohol+gun+moron = endless litigation and grief. You can't control the morons in your life. If you can't secure the weapon, don't have it.
Room Mates
- Thread starter jrock18
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If you're REALLY lucky, you'll get a roommate like the one I had. He brought his semi-auto .22 handgun and I was able to leave mine at home. We were both experienced (and safe) shooters, so we had no reason to lock it up. It was right there in the dresser drawer with the understanding that either of us could use it if we felt the need.
I know the .22 isn't my first choice for SD, but it's better than nothing, and less likely to go through a wall and injure someone else. In a small space, even a .22 makes enough noise to get a BG's attention.
I know the .22 isn't my first choice for SD, but it's better than nothing, and less likely to go through a wall and injure someone else. In a small space, even a .22 makes enough noise to get a BG's attention.
Nwilliams184
New member
My .02
I had this same problem before purchasing my first pistol. I was too indeed worried about my roommate and any idiots that might come around that I did not know. I never keep pistols out in the open, nor do I tell people that I own firearms. My roommate knows and thats about it. I showed him everything about my gun, how to load,unload,mag release,slide lock, take down and some other things just so he wouldn't get "too curious" on his own. He doesn't even know where I keep it. I too am in college and people come around after the bars and are intoxicated. Like I said earlier no one knows about it and I don't let people randomly just wonder throughout my room.
I think with the right introduction to gun safety and rules, your future roommate(s) should abide by and learn to respect them and your firearm.
I had this same problem before purchasing my first pistol. I was too indeed worried about my roommate and any idiots that might come around that I did not know. I never keep pistols out in the open, nor do I tell people that I own firearms. My roommate knows and thats about it. I showed him everything about my gun, how to load,unload,mag release,slide lock, take down and some other things just so he wouldn't get "too curious" on his own. He doesn't even know where I keep it. I too am in college and people come around after the bars and are intoxicated. Like I said earlier no one knows about it and I don't let people randomly just wonder throughout my room.
I think with the right introduction to gun safety and rules, your future roommate(s) should abide by and learn to respect them and your firearm.
+1 mattro
The safest place for it on campus is attached to a responsible you (VA Tech?). If you're going to be drinking till you stagger, forget the gun till you mature and you'll live a better life out of jail. Keep in mind that if you get charged with assault with your baseball bat or fists, you'll have trouble ever getting a gun.
The safest place for it on campus is attached to a responsible you (VA Tech?). If you're going to be drinking till you stagger, forget the gun till you mature and you'll live a better life out of jail. Keep in mind that if you get charged with assault with your baseball bat or fists, you'll have trouble ever getting a gun.
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There are no colleges that I know of that allow a student to carry and it's a bit late in the game to switch schools
Does anyone know of any gun ranges/clubs in the philly area. It would be cool if they offered rental lockers or the like for patrons to store their arms. I know it defeats the purpose of home defense, but at least I'd be able to own and practice with a firearm. Therefore, when I do manage to get my own place I'll have a weapon readily available that I have ample experience with.
As far as alcohol is concerned yes I do drink, but I never get to the point of retardation. Also, I would never attempt to handle a firearm with any amount of alcohol in me, not because I believe that 1-3 beers would impair me, but because god forbid something did happen alcohol makes one look negligent.
PS - I think alot of people are missing the point that I am ONLY 18 and CANNOT carry legally. If I believed that carrying a gun would be worth the legal trouble I would, but on a liberal campus, which sadly Drexel is, god forbid I printed or "flashed" someone my life as I know it would be over. If there was a known threat to me I would consider skirting the law, but as it stands I'm in no more danger than any other student, and probably less because of my size.
Does anyone know of any gun ranges/clubs in the philly area. It would be cool if they offered rental lockers or the like for patrons to store their arms. I know it defeats the purpose of home defense, but at least I'd be able to own and practice with a firearm. Therefore, when I do manage to get my own place I'll have a weapon readily available that I have ample experience with.
As far as alcohol is concerned yes I do drink, but I never get to the point of retardation. Also, I would never attempt to handle a firearm with any amount of alcohol in me, not because I believe that 1-3 beers would impair me, but because god forbid something did happen alcohol makes one look negligent.
PS - I think alot of people are missing the point that I am ONLY 18 and CANNOT carry legally. If I believed that carrying a gun would be worth the legal trouble I would, but on a liberal campus, which sadly Drexel is, god forbid I printed or "flashed" someone my life as I know it would be over. If there was a known threat to me I would consider skirting the law, but as it stands I'm in no more danger than any other student, and probably less because of my size.
Could someone please refer a Pennsylvania resident to this thread so that I can ask them a couple questions?
1.) What is the process like in PA to obtain a firearm
2.) Is an extendable baton legal?
3.) Does anyone know any good ranges in the Philadelphia area?
4.) Would anyone be willing to shoot with me if I traveled to their location/preferred gun range?
5.) Do you know if any ranges have a storage facility that I could pay to use?
Thanks in advance for any help.
1.) What is the process like in PA to obtain a firearm
2.) Is an extendable baton legal?
3.) Does anyone know any good ranges in the Philadelphia area?
4.) Would anyone be willing to shoot with me if I traveled to their location/preferred gun range?
5.) Do you know if any ranges have a storage facility that I could pay to use?
Thanks in advance for any help.
I always carry a kershaw 3 inch folding knife, I use it for everything but I could definitely do damage with it if need be. I'm more interested in a baton because I'm a big guy so a knife is great, but why not use my size to my advantage and inflict some blunt trauma. I'm more of a "smasher" anyway I'd rather smack someone over the head and knock them out than stab/cut them. IMO a baton would be more effective in my hands because I'm not the nimble quick type, but more of a slow powerful type.
Hopefully someone with an understanding of PA's gun laws will check in to clarify matters, but I seem to recall that while long guns are easily acquired with a background check from a dealer, or without in a FTF transfer, handguns are more closely regulated and require a FFL to transfer. I seem to recall mention of some kind of backdoor registration for them as well.
As for securing a shotgun, if you can't get a gunsafe, would simply securing the ammunition in a smaller lockbox, when prudent, provide enough security? I'm not necessarily advocating this as a solution, but a consideration.
As for securing a shotgun, if you can't get a gunsafe, would simply securing the ammunition in a smaller lockbox, when prudent, provide enough security? I'm not necessarily advocating this as a solution, but a consideration.
If I can't secure a firearm I'd rather not own it. I would think that my room mates would be reliable, but they may have friends who aren't; and I can't risk some idiot getting his hands on a 12ga shotgun. Realistically I think it would be better if I bought a pistol and a small safe if I bought anything, but like I said this isn't an option for another year.
philapdrcrt
Inactive
PA firearms
1)Purchase from FFL, requires PA-issued driver's license or non-driver ID card. Must be 18 or over for long guns, 21 or over for handguns. Must pass a PICS (instant-check) background check (usally takes 15 minutes, may take up to a 15-day pending period if there are complications.) Face-to-face transfers at an FFL are legal but many FFLs do not process them because there is too much paper involved. Off the top of my head, the only place in the Philly area who does do them is Johnston's Automotive and Tackle in Croydon (Buck's County.)
2) Expandable batons are technically legal but using one in a self-defense situation that is not 100% justified in the use of force can lead to a number of charges including the use of prohibited offensive weapons, aggravated assault, posession of an instrument of crime, etc. etc. Pepper spray is a much safer (from a legal standpoint) alternative.
3) There are several good ranges in and around Philly. The ones that come to mind are The Firing Line in South Philly (S. Front Street @ Dickinson Street,) South Philly Archery & Gun Club (Ellsworth St. btw S 8th & S 9th,) and the club where I shoot, Classic Pistol (Southhampton, Bucks County.) There are several others, but those are the ones where I have experience.
4)I'm always looking for shooting partners, but Southhampton's a bit of a hike from University City, and not worth the complications of SEPTA if you're not bringing your car to school.
5)Don't know of such facilities at a range. Not likely, as I'm pretty sure ATF regs require that a weapon left in the custody of an FFL (as most ranges are) log it into their inventory and their bound book, noting the name and contact info of the legal owner and the reason it was left in their custody (ie. sale, repair, consignment)
More to the point, though, I've lived in Philly my whole life and have never NEEDED a firearm. I've lived in neighborhoods far worse than Drexel's corner of U.City (East Kensington, anybody?) and never drawn my weapon. If you want a long gun, fine, but it's definitely not worth getting kicked out of the dorm or expelled for. Pepper spray, folding knife, flashlight are all, or probably more, than you will need.
On the note of roommates and storage, I kept my handguns in a storage locker with cable locks on them, and my shotgun in the closet cable-locked to a U-bolt in the walls stud when I had roommates.
1)Purchase from FFL, requires PA-issued driver's license or non-driver ID card. Must be 18 or over for long guns, 21 or over for handguns. Must pass a PICS (instant-check) background check (usally takes 15 minutes, may take up to a 15-day pending period if there are complications.) Face-to-face transfers at an FFL are legal but many FFLs do not process them because there is too much paper involved. Off the top of my head, the only place in the Philly area who does do them is Johnston's Automotive and Tackle in Croydon (Buck's County.)
2) Expandable batons are technically legal but using one in a self-defense situation that is not 100% justified in the use of force can lead to a number of charges including the use of prohibited offensive weapons, aggravated assault, posession of an instrument of crime, etc. etc. Pepper spray is a much safer (from a legal standpoint) alternative.
3) There are several good ranges in and around Philly. The ones that come to mind are The Firing Line in South Philly (S. Front Street @ Dickinson Street,) South Philly Archery & Gun Club (Ellsworth St. btw S 8th & S 9th,) and the club where I shoot, Classic Pistol (Southhampton, Bucks County.) There are several others, but those are the ones where I have experience.
4)I'm always looking for shooting partners, but Southhampton's a bit of a hike from University City, and not worth the complications of SEPTA if you're not bringing your car to school.
5)Don't know of such facilities at a range. Not likely, as I'm pretty sure ATF regs require that a weapon left in the custody of an FFL (as most ranges are) log it into their inventory and their bound book, noting the name and contact info of the legal owner and the reason it was left in their custody (ie. sale, repair, consignment)
More to the point, though, I've lived in Philly my whole life and have never NEEDED a firearm. I've lived in neighborhoods far worse than Drexel's corner of U.City (East Kensington, anybody?) and never drawn my weapon. If you want a long gun, fine, but it's definitely not worth getting kicked out of the dorm or expelled for. Pepper spray, folding knife, flashlight are all, or probably more, than you will need.
On the note of roommates and storage, I kept my handguns in a storage locker with cable locks on them, and my shotgun in the closet cable-locked to a U-bolt in the walls stud when I had roommates.
Actually, University City isn't all that bad now, I was pleasantly surprised when I visited it a year or two ago. I used to live in Grays Ferry in the '70's and '80's (across the Schuylkill from U City area) and its a sewer, has been for 30 years. U City used to be as bad, or worse, (especially when MOVE was in the area) but it's really gone upscale and been cleaned up. I went to college at St. Joe's, which is in the Overbrook area and was another bad part of town and had to cross West Philadelphia to get there. I carried illegally, first a Walther PP, then a Colt Mustang, in my front pants pocket! Never got stopped though it wore a outline of the gun in my jeans. There were 3 or four occasions where I desperately needed a gun, and you never know when those occasions will come along. Had to produce the Mustang on one occasion to deter a baseball bat waving thug. If you stck to U City and Center City (during daylight mostly) you lessen your chances of something bad happening. Good luck.
I've heard from others that the minute you wander outside of University City you're asking for trouble; especially at night. I don't know how true this is, but I'd rather be safe than sorry and I don't intend to alter my schedule and social life to skirt around the nastier inhabitants of the city. I'd rather just go about my business and be ready in case something does happen.
While I don't know this would work so well for a shotgun, I have learned that a filing cabinet makes a pretty good gun safe. They are big enough that no one is going to be able to move it without significant effort, time, and noise. Breaking into one typically requires even more noise, more that most people would be willing to make in an apartment or conjoined housing unit. There are models you can bolt to the floor and many have pretty sturdy locks. We had some locked and forgotten filing cabinets in the back of the equipment room at the school 's project garage and it took us about an hour to get them open with a full machine shop at our disposal (minus cutting torches, they were full of paper 
).
As for roommates, I purchased a couple long guns while I was living with my current one and they took temporary residence there until I could transport them back to my parents house. I think I really made him nervous with them even though I never had any ammo in the apartment. I have a revolver now, and I think I am going to take it back, but I am uncertain whether I am going to tell him about it. If you are going to have one and are not willing to tell the roomies everything about it (location, use, etc...) which admittedly doesn't sound like a good idea in this case, there is really no reason for them to know about it at all.
).As for roommates, I purchased a couple long guns while I was living with my current one and they took temporary residence there until I could transport them back to my parents house. I think I really made him nervous with them even though I never had any ammo in the apartment. I have a revolver now, and I think I am going to take it back, but I am uncertain whether I am going to tell him about it. If you are going to have one and are not willing to tell the roomies everything about it (location, use, etc...) which admittedly doesn't sound like a good idea in this case, there is really no reason for them to know about it at all.
SatanzBountyHunter
New member
This is all in what you feel comfortable with, but when my daughter goes off to college next year, believe me she will have her XD-9. Like someone else told you already, you can buy one from a private party and its legal. Had my first Colt .45ACP at 18 this way.
Have you thought about screening potential roomates for ones that hunt or have similiar gun interests? They may prove to be knowledgable enough about guns that they will have the proper respect for them and they won't be an issue around the house...plus you might end up with a couple more shooters in the house and that may end up being safer. Don't know much about the part of the world you live in, but just a thought. You might meet some hunters/shooters during your first year.
You could also just have pretty girls for roomates. Besides the obvious benefits, they probably won't be interested in firearms enough to mess with them.
I hope that whatever you are studying in that environment will soon allow you to afford to live in a place without mutants roaming the neighborhood. Good luck and study hard.
Have you thought about screening potential roomates for ones that hunt or have similiar gun interests? They may prove to be knowledgable enough about guns that they will have the proper respect for them and they won't be an issue around the house...plus you might end up with a couple more shooters in the house and that may end up being safer. Don't know much about the part of the world you live in, but just a thought. You might meet some hunters/shooters during your first year.
You could also just have pretty girls for roomates. Besides the obvious benefits, they probably won't be interested in firearms enough to mess with them.
I hope that whatever you are studying in that environment will soon allow you to afford to live in a place without mutants roaming the neighborhood. Good luck and study hard.
So you will be in a college environment with curious roommates, friends and girlfriends. Some of these people you hardly know and who knows what psychological issues they might have. I can tell you that your stuff will be thoroughly searched at some point by one or more of the above people. Someone is going to mess with the weapon even if its well concealed.
I say to get a small digital combo safe where you can quickly enter in 3 numbers to access the pistol.
In any event, there will be no truely secure way to store the pistol or shotgun. Steel boxes can be pried into using common tools.
http://gunsafestore.com/vehiclegunsafe.htm
I say to get a small digital combo safe where you can quickly enter in 3 numbers to access the pistol.
In any event, there will be no truely secure way to store the pistol or shotgun. Steel boxes can be pried into using common tools.
http://gunsafestore.com/vehiclegunsafe.htm
WhiteFeather93
New member
Just my .02
Here is all of the PA Firearms laws you need to brush up on.
http://members.aol.com/StatutesP7/18PA6109.html
Take some time and read over this information before you get yourself in trouble. Philadelphia has some preemption over state law in some areas.
I would stay clear of batons, auto knifes, nunchucks, switchblades. OC spray is advisable but check Philly law about the amount. There are restrictions on stun guns in Philadelphia. I personally do not carry a stun gun because of their ineffectiveness. I can stand still and poke myself in the leg with a stun gun and it doesn't bother me. A tazer on the other hand is different but I do not know the statues on them yet.
I live in PA but up in farm country. I doubt you want to drive that far to seek a range.
There is some good advice here good luck!
Here is all of the PA Firearms laws you need to brush up on.
http://members.aol.com/StatutesP7/18PA6109.html
Take some time and read over this information before you get yourself in trouble. Philadelphia has some preemption over state law in some areas.
I would stay clear of batons, auto knifes, nunchucks, switchblades. OC spray is advisable but check Philly law about the amount. There are restrictions on stun guns in Philadelphia. I personally do not carry a stun gun because of their ineffectiveness. I can stand still and poke myself in the leg with a stun gun and it doesn't bother me. A tazer on the other hand is different but I do not know the statues on them yet.
I live in PA but up in farm country. I doubt you want to drive that far to seek a range.
There is some good advice here good luck!
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