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Packin’ Poll: More Dangerous-Chainsaw or Handgun
Posted: 29 March 2008 06:00 PM   [ Ignore ]
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As long as you started the thread on packing, let’s talk reality.

Which is more dangerous from stats and your experience with both: chainsaws or handguns ? Serious personal accidents only ; no Wiki trollers allowed zipper .

My opinion: chainsaws.

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Posted: 29 March 2008 06:46 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 1 ]
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Chainsaws are much more dangerous. I have never been close to being shot but I have been close to being damaged by the saw.

Both are potential weapons. Both could be potential tools. Yet you can only own a handgun under certain conditions.

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Posted: 29 March 2008 07:00 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 2 ]
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It’s a toss up !

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“Optimism is a good characteristic, but if carried to an excess, it becomes foolishness. We are prone to speak of the resources of this country as inexhaustible; this is not so.” Theodore Roosevelt 1907

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Posted: 29 March 2008 07:03 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 3 ]
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An ignorant person with either is my vote!

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Posted: 29 March 2008 07:12 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 4 ]
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A chainsaw is more dangerous, of course. Guns certianly have their place, but I think the chaonsaw is by far more useful.....................

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My name is Mark and I pack a Regency..............

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Posted: 29 March 2008 08:37 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 5 ]
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Chainsaw

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Posted: 29 March 2008 09:00 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 6 ]
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Chainsaw, I have 5 stitchs to prove it.  And it wasnt even running!!!  Guess when I reached accross it after sharpening it was definitely sharp.  I own several guns both long and short.  Never hit anything that I did not intended to.  With a chainsaw you have the fatique factor.  Uneven ground can also be tricky.  Have you ever seen anyone at the range saying..."go ahead and use it but I am not sure about it?” I have heard neighbors say that while loaning out a chainsaw!!!!

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Posted: 29 March 2008 10:16 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 7 ]
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you wwill NEVER EVER EVER see a permit system for chainsaws or a laws to try and outlaw chainsaws or etc etc and so on.
.......

Unless you live in the UK, already in force there. Spent time there for work, my boss went to help a guy cut up a blowdown in his back yard. Hand saw. what?  can’t have chainsaw for personal use unless have the safety training and get permission to buy.  (didn’t sayif there is a 10 day waiting period........)

so the big brother attitude is coming here way faster than we realize.
saws, motorcycles, firearms, liability, etc. etc.
think, vote, write letters, etc. etc. get involve

kd.

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Posted: 29 March 2008 11:13 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 8 ]
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Chainsaws are only more dangerous to the user.  Handguns are infinitely more dangerous to bystanders.

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Posted: 29 March 2008 11:31 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 9 ]
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Not a hand gun but a bullet could have got me.  When I was real young I wanted to see what was inside a .22 bullet.  Of course the best way to find out is to take the bullet on a cement floor and hit the end with a hammer.  Never did find out what was inside but learned that a hammer makes for one crude firing pin.  Every now and again I get a ringing noise in my ear just to remind me of my childhood.  To this day I don’t have a clue where the bullet ended up but luckily it wasn’t in me.  So add hammergun to the list and that would be my pick.

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Posted: 30 March 2008 08:28 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 10 ]
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chrisN - 29 March 2008 11:13 PM

Chainsaws are only more dangerous to the user.  Handguns are infinitely more dangerous to bystanders.

From experience with bystanders injured or killed, or statistics ? Check out OSHA figures for chainsaw injuries and deaths compared to non-functional ( police action) dealths and injuries attributed to handguns.

I’m pleasantly surprised that in a generally left of center, “progressive/socialist” , America is “bad” site ( JMNSHO cool smirk from reading the posts) , that there are some of you who responsibly understand and use firearms. And no, there is no “neocon” in this house...none of your flamming here boys and girls. tongue rolleye

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VOX CLAMANTIS IN DESIERTO
2001 Encore cat ("new house” w plumbing 99 44/100 % heating)
2006 Jotul Oslo ("old" house wing w no plumbing 100% heat)
1979 Tempwood (shop)
2004 Snorkel ( hot tub )
60 a. Downeast coastal woodlands
Stihls: 044, MS260, 009L, FS110
Husky: 137

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Posted: 31 March 2008 01:37 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 11 ]
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This is my opinion on the handgun or chainsaw question.

Both can be very very dangerous! Also both can be used very very safely! A saw can be used in way that bystanders will be hurt, so can a handgun. I guess what I am saying that tools don’t hurt people. People hurt people, by not fallowing proper safety practices. I don’t loan out my guns,(long guns or handguns), or my saw. In my household, both are used for their intended purpose, and both are used with proper safety practices. We hunt, and shoot, for food, and recreation, and to bond as a family. We also cut, split, and burn wood to heat our home, and bond as a family.

I guess what I am saying, is IMO both can be dangerous if used improperly, both can be very safe, if used in a proper way. A healthy respect for both, and proper usage, will result in safe use of the respective tool. I don’t see that one is more or less dangerous then the other, if used properly.

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Posted: 31 March 2008 02:04 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 12 ]
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Own several of both. Chainsawed my leg but haven’t shot my leg. Yet.

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Posted: 31 March 2008 05:07 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 13 ]
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Every accident I know of an opposable thumb was involved.

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Posted: 02 April 2008 02:05 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 14 ]
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No personal injuries from either, but I’ve come closer with a chainsaw, and consider the saw to be FAR more dangerous… In fact I would say that the chainsaw is probably one of the most dangerous hand-held tools there is - a large cutting blade, moving at high speed w/ no guards, being used on a somewhat unpredictably behaving material, often under less than optimal conditions - hard to get much worse.  Even a skilled and experienced operator can easily be seriously injured through only minor carelessness, or even simple bad luck.  It takes considerable skill and understanding to operate safely, and requires that the operator understand some relatively subtle operating principles.

Firearms OTOH, are mechanically quite reliable and will function in a highly predictable manner 99.999% of the time - they have a simple “point & click” interface, and it is possible to operate one safely by adhering to only a few simple and easily followed safety rules.

As a few easily observed items - look at the amount of PPE required by OSHA for a chainsaw operator, compared to just about any other tool that doesn’t involve seriously toxic chemicals, and especially the amount of recomended safety equipment for a firearms operator…

I have no idea about the number of chainsaws in the US, but I would be seriously surprised if it were anywhere even vaguely close to the number of firearms - but my understanding is that ACCIDENTAL firearms injuries are incredibly rare even on a raw number basis, let alone a “per-capita” one, however the same can’t be said about chainsaws....

Gooserider

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Posted: 02 April 2008 03:13 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 15 ]
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Chainsaws don’t kill trees--people kill trees.

Neither one should be sold to people unqualified to operate one. Sadly, both routinely are.

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