Autism and gun ownership (Another one of PennSilverTaco's BS threads)

I have never been big on the idea of owning a gun until fairly recently, but I've always been a big supporter of the second amendment for as long as I've known what the Constitution is...

I went shooting for the very first time in September 2020...

I got my concealed carry permit in November 2020...

I plan on taking safety courses in the very near future...

I have Aspergers Syndrome (a high-functioning form of autism); I was diagnosed when I was nine years old...

One of my biggest concerns with regards to firing a gun and having Aspergers was sensitivity to loud noises; I wore earplugs in addition to "Gun Muffler" hearing protection earmuff things designed specifically for use at a shooting range and I was fine, even with a guy firing his AR-15 in the next booth.

I am currently living with my parents until I have enough money for a down payment on a house (One of my best friends, also an Aspie, recently moved back in with parents after a renting an apartment for seven years; He was sick of throwing money away and plans on paying off his car early and buying a townhouse); Renting does not appeal to me in the slightest unless it's extremely temporary.

I do not own any guns (yet), but my dad does...

I had a shitload of gun-related threads in this forum, and I ultimately decided merge them altogether into one big thread about having autism and being interested in guns and recreational shooting.

ENJOY!

 

My adopted daughter is severely autistic, but not a gun owner (she’s 16 and severely limited in what she can do).
As far as owning a gun, having a disability will not prevent you from owning a gun. The qualifications for firearm ownership ( on a federal level) is, no felony convictions. No misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. US citizen or green card holder. Not an illegal drug user.
I don’t know what specifics there are about your autism/aspergers, but i suggest you go to a shooting range with someone and be around firearms as they are being fired to make sure you are capable of handling the noise. It’s VERY loud, and many autistic people are sensitive to loud noises and it can cause adverse reactions. Once you know you can handle the situation, seek training in the firearm you wish to use.

 

heres the form 4473 you fill out... 11.f talks about mental facility on second page.
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/4...n-record-over-counter-atf-form-53009/download

but this would be a concern also...

 

But one would have to be declared mentally unfit by a court or court appointed medical facility/practitioner.
Just because you are disabled, even mentally, doesn't automatically negate your constitutional rights. If you are mentally challenged but capable of getting a state issued ID and you haven't been declared as prohibited by a court, then you can buy a gun.
Take someone with down syndrome. They have just as much right to but a gun for protection as a "normal" person.

 

And I don't have any mental problems, so I would definitely be fine...

 

I dont think I said anything about disqualifying for firearm ownership, what I quoted was about reaction to the loud noise. If the person cant handle that and freaks out about it they dont need to be owning a firearm. Im not saying this in a derogatory way just the reality.

 

I've got much, much, much better about loud noises...

Example: I used to be scared of the heat pump at my aunt and uncle's house in Maryland when I was 3-4 years old. Now I'm planning on becoming an HVAC technician...

 

Ive had a shot or two make me jump at a firing range before. Ive shot a fair amount of ammo and different firearms in my life but it still happens from time to time What will get me is if the person next to me has a muzzle break and the powder blast shoots back that makes me jump almost every time...even though I know its not supposed to Just have to get used to it or deal with.

 

The only ones that make me jump now are when we are reloading and have said, no shooting, and some one walk over and fires off a few rounds without telling anyone. .
RREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE is all i hear for a few minutes after that.

 

Here is a thought: start your family first then see where things are. You’re getting ahead of things a little here. So many things could change between now and then.

 

Can you elaborate?

 

@PennSilverTaco as others mentioned above, get with a mentor and go to a range. Try out different things. I helped run a training session for first time shooters a few weeks ago. These were people who had never been around a gun in their life. They started on a .22 pistol and moved up the ladder 9mm, .38, .40, then we switched over to rifles with .22 all the way up to .308. The favorite among new shooters was the .38 special revolver and the 9mm MP Shield. They were surprised to find the AR15 so easy and fun to shoot. As for shotguns, you don't need a 12 gauge for home defense but tuff guys are gonna tuff guy. 20 and 16 gauge (The Gentleman's Gauge) are fine. You'll find though, that sometimes 20 gauges cost as much or more than their 12 gauge counterparts.

I picked up a Winchester Defender for Christmas. I have a field barrel coming for bird hunting. It's a lightweight gun with smooth action. Shooting 12 gauge shells on repeat doesn't give a shoulder beating. Home defense rounds on the other hand, kick like a mule. It was $245 after rebate.

 

ASD here. I grew up around guns and HATED the sound when I was a kid. I wasn't diagnosed until later in life. I didn't like being around guns until my teens. Even then, the sound was a bit much on repeat. I've adjusted now and always use good earpro. I've shot a ton of stuff over the years but my current fav is the thump of an AK.

 

Why is the gun yellow?

 

It’s flat dark earth. That pic did funny things to the color.

 

I thought it was a dewalt

 

I've been tossing around the idea of buying a shotgun for home defense, once I get my own place, for a while now.

One thing you should know about me is that while I do not want to get a CCP/CCW and carry a handgun on my person or in my Taco, I am quite in favor of the 2nd amendment. I believe that the 2nd amendment is one of the many things that makes America so great, and that responsible gun owners keep everyone safe. However, I also believe that carrying a gun in my day-to-day life is too much responsibility. The idea of carrying a firearm rather stresses me out, but I applaud those people who exercise their right to carry!

Anyway, somebody on TW recommended that if I wanted a reliable, all-purpose, no-nonsense shotgun for general home use, then a Maverick 88 was probably the way to go. Another TW member also recommended looking online for ex-police surplus shotguns.

Do the people of TW think that a shotgun for home defense is a worthwhile investment?

 

I guess it depends on how many people live with you. How comfortable you feel with guns and how accurate you are. A shotgun is a safe bet because you will have less of a chance to miss your target than you would with a pistol using buck shot but if you have a loved one behind that person you will have to reconsider. There is no perfect gun, just the perfect one for you or a scenario. You can watch YouTube videos to get more educated on it. If you have a lot of land and no neighbors with pesty Wild animals than an ar15 would be best. A shotgun is definitely a good all around home defense gun for sure though and I’m sure everyone here will agree.

 

Maverick 88 is a great baseline. I have one in my closet. You can get a set that comes with two barrels so you can have one for home defense and one if you decide to go bird hunting.
Just make sure you take it to a range or approved outdoor shooting area and get to know how it functions loading/unloading/cycling/firing.