[Werewolf]

What is it about firearms and shooting them that keeps you doing it?

After all it is a very expensive hobby if you indulge in it regularly. It's loud and can cause permanent hearing loss. Depending on the weapon it can potentially be painful to shoot. It can be tedious and boring to clean 'em up afterwards. In many cases you get to be treated like a criminal by your government for even daring to want to own one. God forbid you should ever use one to protect your life or the life of others - the government could ruin more than a few days and your financial well being for having the audacity to imagine that your life is worth more than the life of some scumbag who wants your stuff or worse your life. If you run into the wrong type of LEO who is ignorant of the law and you are CCW'ng your day can go downhill real, real fast.

Dang - that's a lot of bad stuff - but still I continue to acquire new firearms and love shooting every single one of 'em.

MY ANSWER:

I'm an instant gratification freak - for real. What that means is that when I do something I want to know right now what the results are. In real life the career path down which I've trod more often than not means I must wait weeks, months or sometimes years to see the results of what I do. I don't like that at all - I put up with it because - well - one's got to make a living

So the stuff I do for me is usually stuff that provides instant or almost instant feedback. For example I trade in the stockmarket heavily (even did a stint as a self employed day trader once). It is rare for me to hold a stock for more than a month. Usually I'm in and out within a week. But as fun as that is it's not instant gratification and waiting to see what a particular stock is gonna do can be nerve wracking (still fun though).

Which leads me to guns. The gratification from firing them is almost instant. You aim, pull the trigger and in a few milliseconds you immediately know the results of your action. "Damn - that sucker went dead center - cool" or "Crap - how'd that one miss so bad". AND then I can take action to correct the problem or reinforce what I did that was good. And the skill is always improving.

And that's the gist of it. It's why I put up with all the potential BS involved with shooting. It provides me with instant gratification while doing something that is both fun and improves a valuable and useful skill.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

[sm]

- Because I can. I have a right to keep and bear arms.

-Personal responsibility. To myself,and those close to me. To protect my rights, To teach and pass the knowledge and skills to others. Tradition - I feel is necessary be it the Constitutional, or shooting aspects.

-I enjoy firearms. hunting, sport shooting, historical, learning and helping others to learn, being with like minded persons.

-I want to.

[Werewolf]

...???

[geekWithA.45]

All the normal considerations aside, such as defense, satisfaction of skill, upholding American ideals....

For me, it's a zen thing.

[Dave R]

For me, a big part of the love of firearms is the love of hunting. I love to hunt because:

-Like many sources of recreation, it is an odd mixture of relaxation and excitement. In upland game hunting, for example, there is the relaxing long walk with good friends, punctuated by the adrenaline rush of the flush and the shots.

-Hunting always puts you outdoors where you can enjoy the beauty of the world and its wildlife.

-There is a deep satisfaction, probably in our genes, from procuring your own food for you and yours. Scientists tell us we are hunter/gatherers, after all.

And the practice for hunting--at the bench, or with clays, or whatever, echoes all the relaxing/exciting/satisfying emotions that come with hunting.

Another part of it, though, is self-reliance--the comfort that comes from knowing I could defend myself and my family if necessary.

I am calmer, more secure, more aware, when carrying concealed. And again, when I am at the range or running drills, I get a satisfaction that relates to that security. I am reminded by the successful completion of a drill that I have the skill to potentially avoid or prevent a threatening encounter. I am not prey. I am a protector of myself and my own.

[Carlos Cabeza]

For me, it's another reason to be outdoors. It gets me out in god's country, where I can see, hear and smell things that most people never get to experience. I also like the feeling of being personally responsible for my own well being, and that of my family. I'm very independent, and I like it that way. It represents a piece of my heritage and history since both my father and grandfather served in our armed forces. They fought to uphold american freedoms and ideals, and they both loved and appreciated those liberties that responsible gun ownership represented. I get my enthusiasm for firearms from those kind of men. I want to emulate that kind of patriotism. The old school kind.

[Eskimo Jim]

Werewolf,
Very interesting post and you do bring up some reasons to not get into this hobby of ours.

I've always had an interest in firearms. From when I was a kid, I was fascinated with playing cowboys and indians, army etc.

I stay in this hobby for several reasons:
1)independance -by owning and becoming proficient with a firearm, I can develop the skills to put meat on the table without having to rely on the super markets etc. Also, I don't have to rely on the policeman to come to my house at 2am to remove a goblin that is/was trying to harm my family.

2) Fascination -I find firearms absolutely fascinating tools. The technology of using a combustible material to propel a projectile has been around for what, 800 years or so? Yet there are many varieties of firearms, calibers, etc.

3) Character building -owning and using a firearm requires the user to take on a great amount of responsibility to use the tool safely. Becoming proficient with a firearm requires discipline, confidence, etc. A person can use a firearm to learn these characteristics as well as many other characteristics, like interest in the outdoors, comeraderie with other enthusiasts, competiveness, strive for excellance, etc.

4) Rebeliousness -Although a less noble reason, I'll admit to also pursing the shooting sports out of rebelliousness against the antis. As long as I'm safe, I don't think that the rebelliousness is a harmful situation.

5) challenge -the challenge to be more accurate with a firearm is fascinating and interesting.

That's a partial list of my reasons for pursuing the shooting sports.

-Jim

[Atticus]

I think it is a practical and rewarding hobby. I can use my guns as tools to hunt with - I can play at target shooting (at which I am too inconsistant to be good) - I can defend myself and family if the need arrises - It allows me to collect all sorts of interesting, historic, and beautiful works of art (IMHO), and the guns maintain most of their value over time, with some appreciating greatly. I've been in love with guns since my childhood days; most likely inspired by the old B&W cowboy shows on TV. But during the turbulent sixties, I learned that self defense was not just a TV fantasy...it was a matter of life and death, even in the heart of middle America.

[Leatherneck]

Why do YOU keep DOING It? It used to be because it was a job requirement and I enjoyed it. Now it's all about how much it pizzes off the antis! :evil:

TC
TFL Survivor

[wingnutx]

1- It's fun.

2- To be competent for self defense

3- Reservists don't get enough range time

[pbhome71]

a) It is fun

b) It is my duty:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce
and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate,
state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject
or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of
the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear
arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I
will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United
States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national
importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I
take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose
of evasion; so help me God.

[BluesBear]

It's just the way my brain is wired.

[foghornl]

Kind of a "Zen" thing for me....

I find that when i am at the range, no matter what else is causing me grief, I can block out those things and relax; concentrate on shooting. good stress relief for me. {and all that stuff everybody else said, too!}

[Werewolf]

Kind of a "Zen" thing for me....
I find that when i am at the range, no matter what else is causing me grief, I can block out those things and relax; concentrate on shooting. good stress relief for me. {and all that stuff everybody else said, too!}

Zen...
For me too really and I'm surprised that I failed to mention it in my original post. When I'm on the range I can get into a zone where the rest of the world just plain ceases to exist or almost anyway. No worries, nothing to agitate or cause frustration, just the target out there and the concentration it takes to put lead down range right into the center of it.

That feeling is even more pronounced when I'm shooting at an IPSC event. There are times when I have become so focused on the targets and shooting the stage that I literally (and quite unintentionally) block out the rest of the world 100%. The only other times that has happened is when I was in life threatening situations. A strange but not unpleasant state of being where time is expanded and one's mind is set on one and only one thing - ignoring all other external stimulus.

[Ala Dan]

After many year's of shooting enjoyment, and most
recently after toting a firearm in the performance of
my duties; its become a way of life. And I wouldn't
have it any other way!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Smoke]

I don't WANT to shoot these things!

I'd much rather be hugging a tree or trying to save Bambi from all the sadists out there spoiling the ecosystem. I'd rather go protest at the state capitol on behalf of the VPC, watch Oprah and Rosie, participate in the MMM and vote democrat.

If I could I would be lobbying liberal politicians to develop more socialist programs. I'd get your kids out of private schools, save inner city youths, ban books, boycott leather and eat vegetarian.

But my father and both of my grandfathers left me a bunch of guns, and (sobbing) in a moment of weakness in my youth (and last Thurday) I bought a few guns. I was bespelled under their demon sorcery into purchasing ammo, holsters, reloading equipment, accessories, tools, targets, cleaning supplies, and attending gun school. Horrors!

Now I'm such a slave to the guns and their truck; I haven't time to devote to the better things in life. So I bear the burden of my forebearers and just keep shooting them. :(

Smoke

:neener:

[Zach S]

one of several reasons from my 22 years on this earth:

When I was younger, Mom was married to an abusive drunk, not owning any firearms, she was forced to defend herself and her children with table legs, saucepans, coffeepots, chairs, lamps, you name it, she fought back with it. If she hadnt been so resourceful, I doubt she would have lived to this day. If she had been armed, I doubt she would have met so many cops, had so many hospital visits and a friend of hers wouldnt have been raped.

Despite having two kids, he won't come here. He wont call. He wont write. He knows the 9 year old stepson he had is now a grown man that was still standing after every fistfight, even after fighting a guy twice my weight or jumped by six guys. He knows I own several firearms and have plenty of rangetime. He knows I'll protect my family at all costs.

Mom told him this on the phone not long after he got out. He hasn't called since.

Ironicly, I guess I should thank him. He tought me at an early age that the police arent always there before the dust settles, and our own protection is our own responsibilty. I realize I wont be able to level the playing feild in all situations, but I can better my odds. Thats why I started. Thats why I keep going.

[John Ross]

Some good answers here, and I'll add one that I think is at work much of the time, but we don't realize it.

When a person buys a gun he is often buying a dream. Every time he holds that .458, or that double rifle his friends thought he was crazy to buy, he is on that safari he'll probably never make.

With his Pre-War M70, he's sitting around a campfire in Colorado, on an elk hunt with old friends now dead.

He's winning the Wimbledon Cup or some other match with his long range target rifle that he seldom shoots any more, but the last time he did, it put five shots under a nickel at 200 yards, and he can see that target just as well as if he were holding it.

He's shooting next to Rob Leatham (and beating him) with the high-dollar racegun he bought but hasn't fired yet.

All of a sudden he's on a horse in Wyoming with his $1,500 custom Linebaugh .475 in a flap holster, instead of thinking about how he's going to swing the $15,000 new kitchen his wife wants.

With his prewar S&W .44 Special and IWB holster he's shoulder to shoulder with Jelly Bryce, about to take on an armed robber holed up in a cheap motel room.

This is why you so often hear a man say "I never should have sold that gun." He sold it because he hadn't shot it in years, it was just sitting in the safe, and his wife wanted new appliances. He didn't realize the tremendous power it had to bring his dreams closer.

What gun brings YOUR dreams closer?

JR

[Werewolf]

John Ross asked:
What gun brings YOUR dreams closer?

My Win M94 in 45 Colt. Hands Down...

Figuring out why shouldn't be too hard - I grew up in the 50's - different times. Now I get to play for real - well - kinda anyway.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I shoot because I enjoy the power. A fine firearm in my hands and the skill to use it well give me great control over my surroundings. I may never need that power, nor have I ever had cause to use it, but it is gratifying to have it nonetheless. One of the gunwriters said it pretty well: a gun realizes the ancient Greek dream of Zeus throwing his thunderbolts down on the land from on top of Mt. Olympus. I like being Zeus.

Society may consider this attitude to be "uncivilized" these days. So be it.


I also shoot to spite the anti's.

- John

[iamkris]

Sort of like explaining why I like the color blue or the taste of spicy chili...I just do.

But here's what I can come up with:

I enjoy firearms because:

* target and competitive shooting
* hunting
* history...pick up a Garand, Trapdoor, Sharps, lever action...they just reek of it
* the firearm in all its forms is a mechanical and chemical marvel
* they can be a fine piece of art
* collecting stuff can be fun
* shooting can teach responsibility
* it's my duty to protect family, country and self
* sometimes it's just fun to shoot stuff


Oh, wait, I just read John Ross' reason...dang, I wish I had written that...that's pure poetry.

[Don Gwinn]

I have a deeply abiding and goblinlike fascination with loud noises, fire, and mechanical devices.

[tone]

Total Zen & the fact that I can defend my life in the this crazy *#@#ed up world.

[cool45auto]

I don't really know. I just know that there is nothing I'd rather be doing on my day off than punching paper.

[berto]

I'm a cordite junkie.:(

[wanderinwalker]

Because it's my religion! :)

Seriously, being a BIG target shooter, I can see many links between shooting and religion.

There is a sacred idol: The target, the x-ring. We worship something, somewhere. This is it.

There are rituals: My DCM-spec AR-15 is the focus of many, many hours of attention, both directly (cleaning, shooting and dry-firing) and indirectly (reloading, reading, discussions and more). Plus I am constantly refining my technique both on and off of the range.

There is a sacred destination: The target range and the hope for becoming better. Making Expert, Master and High Master in succession is like securing one's place in the heavens.

That's just the rough and gritty. It's too late to get any more indepth. But it's reason enough for me to make the sacrifice of time and money!

Take care all and shoot safe.

[Stevie-Ray]

Defense of self and family, improvement in skill with added time spent at range, excitement of a beautifully crafted tool working as advertised, (sometimes better than advertised) pride of ownership of some of the world's finest arms, stress relief, and it's the most fun I can have with my clothes still on.

[rust collector]

Very thought provoking. I am fortunate to have different guns teach me different things:

Dad's old AH Fox, which gets excercised at least once each pheasant season, reminds me of a gift I can never fully repay--those wonderful moments spent in the country absorbing Dad's philosophy, listening to the pheasants cackling or the ducks whistling overhead, and the smells of the coffee and Hoppe's #9 that frame some of the happiest moments of my life.

My Model 96 Carl Gustaf reminds me how fortunate I am that a well-built, accurate and fun to shoot rifle designed 108 years ago with a history I can only guess at can travel halfway around the world to a spot on my wall for $79.

My old model 70 7x57 reminds me that I don't need the latest greatest fattest fastest magnum to make that muley tip over in the next pasture.

And it only takes a .22 rimfire, just about any model, to turn me back into a 12 year old boy on a mission of exploration.

I guess my guns are mostly tools for time travel.

[Covey Rise]

It's all about power and controlling it with your finger tip, that's as close to being the final answer as we can get, well at least if your married like me, lol!!!!!!

[Dionysusigma]

My personal reasons are the same as a lot of other people's, but a few others as well. I like collecting stuff that interests me. Coins? Meh... stamps? Nope. Guitars? Yup. Guns? Yup. Cars? Only if I had more money... :)

Guns are tools. They are implements made by humanity to do a specific job. I have a couple tools, and a couple of guns too. But what sets the firearms from the screwdrivers is something... unexplainable. Somebody on these boards once mentioned how you never see a custom-made set of ivory grips on a pair of pliers.

Guns and cars have a lot in common. You have people loyal to their companies, both involve internal combustion, and each one is an expression of the owner. Some people (like myself, for instance) leave their cars totally stock except for required replacements of things like hoses, belts, oil filters, etc. but customize their guns in a variety of ways. Some have fully tricked-out their car with a 400w stereo system, larger engine, new rims, spoiler, or exhaust tip but see the inherent beauty in a battle-scarred stick of an M1. Also, guns are easier and cheaper to accessorize than cars (most of the time).

I also like guns because for me, it's like wandering into a store you've never been in before but they're having a "Going Out of Business" sale. I'm coming up on the one-year anniversary since I even fired a real gun, but I don't want it to be the only year I can enjoy this hobby. A lot of powerful people are saying that you and I are not capable of using guns responsibly. Call it a minor feeling of rebellion against the gov't, whatever...

In the 1960s, lots of young people rallied together against the war in Vietnam. They made a big yahoo and ruckus and people remembered it. Now, though, with guns, it's more like our side is bleeding to death instead of putting up a decent fight. It's like one scene during the last battle in Saving Private Ryan. Near the end of the movie in a struggle against the former German MG Steamboat Wille guy, Pvt. Mellish is slowly and quietly stabbed to death. That's how I view our side of the 2nd amendment political fight. The bayonet (which is not on a rifle as that would be illegal :rolleyes: ) is coming down lower, and lower, and lower...

This is something that I think is worth fighting for. A lot of (ex) college students protest and whatnot about marijuana legality, lower taxes, freedom of speech, and whatever else for which they want to fight. But this is mine. The uninformed citizens of the U. S. are being talked to death, into their own demise. Not me. :fire:

Plus, guns are loud and are really good for reducing your stress while elevating others'. :rolleyes: :D

[chickenfried]

Great post John Ross. I can't really put a finger on why I bought my first gun. But now I know why I keep on buying guns

I like collecting things, always have. And unlike other things like wine, comic books, etc. When I buy a gun I feel like it's something of substance.

This may sound strange, but being a gun owner makes me feel more patriotic. Being able to own a gun is a symbol of freedom to me.

They're what I like to call utilitarian art. Beautiful pieces of art, but they are also tools.

the challenge of becoming skilled at shooting.

It's just plain fun to shoot.

History and lore involved with guns such as the 1911, garand, and m-14.

Because certain people don't want me to have guns.

It's more addicting than crack.

[Hot brass]

It`s fun. Shooting is a great hobby.
Hunting is fun. I like guns.

Guns are cheeper than drugs, or a girlfriend;)
And when you get through using guns you can sell them.:cool:

[nero45acp]

=Taking responsibility for my personal defense rather than passively surrendering it to a government entity.

=The final means of defense of my liberty.

=A traditional masculine interest in an increasingly feminized society.

=It's fun!



nero45acp

[trooper]

Because I can only think of very few things that feel better :)

I've always been fascinated by guns from an early age and I still remember how badly I wanted one back then.

I grew up, became "sensible" and developed into some sort of slightly anti-leaning fence-sitter, even though I spent a great deal of my spare time practicing some forms of (unarmed) self-defense.

And then I actually got a gun. At least, I was issued one. My work environment consisted only of people who routinely carried guns all day long without causing any danger to me or others. And soon I came to the point of recognizing that a gun is only as dangerous as its owner. I took up sports shooting and started to get involved in the "gun culture". I wrote letters to our elected representants and got together with people who lobbied for our rights.

Today I consider myself a serious gun nut. I look forward to joining the ranks of law-abiding gunowners in the near future.


Regards,

Trooper

[BigG]

There is a little part of the brain that has this primal urge to control the destiny, survival but also ability to shape events. A gun is the lowest common denominator to satisfy that drive. I have that one highly developed, btw. ;)

Also, the gratification is good - shoot see bullet strike either pat self on back or correct behavior till can pat self on back, etc. :D

It's fun, educational, gets me in touch with history (another interest). Is also something that can be passed down to another. Many reasons. Thanks for asking. :)

[TallPine]

Cause ah ain't much good with a bow or a spear.

[Ky Larry]

Probably for the same reasons I like motorcycles, old muscle cars, rock and roll, rare steaks, and lean redheaded ladies with long legs. I just do! Do I need more reason than that?:D

[Mulliga]

Good Lord John Ross - if that's the kind of poetry we can expect in Detours, I'd better preorder it now. :D

[tc300mag1]

I do it becuse its fun and i can :)

[Willard]

Lots of reasons.

1. My happiest memories as a kid are shooting .22's and muskets (my first non .22 shot was a Brown Bess) with my Dad and Uncle.

2. I spent eight years+ in the Infantry, mostly joined the Infantry because I love shooting. Blasting with an AR-15 brings back good memories of the things I accomplished by being in the Army-my youth (lol, old me at 39), my friends, the difficult things we did, and the elation we felt when we did them. The smell of the gunpowder reminds me of rifle ranges and trainees, intense moments and relief at being alive. Happiness IS a belt fed weapon.

3. I'd rather participate in a sport than be a spectator (I watch no sports, and only follow my kids teams). I'm no Rob Leatham or David Tubb, but I'm not half bad, either. Doing something well makes me happy.

4. Owning guns has a political aspect, as well, and I feel it's my duty as an American to buy more guns whenthe Gov.org wants me NOT to have them.

5. Self defense. 'Nuff said.

6. Some of the best friends I have I've made at the range. Common interests and all that.

7. It's loud and noisy. Who doesn't like making noise every now and again?

8. History-John stated it more eloquently than I could, but he's right. My old SMLE, the stories it could tell. My L1A1 and AR represent the Cold War and the ultimate victory of freedom over the Warsaw Pact. etc etc etc.....



Willard

[Vasilia Zhietzev]

why do i shoot?

1) freedom. i am not dependent on anyone else to protect me. i am no longer an easy victim.

2) i fell into shooting because i was in a position where i realized i had no defences. i started to enjoy the sport very much once i got past the initial learning curve. also, being a responsible owner has certainly changed my outlook no small amount.

3) holding a piece of history in my hands allows me to dream a little, just as john ross said ( and quite well, i might add. kiss to ol' JR, LOL) . i recently ran across a written account of my great great grandmother engaging in shooting clays as a pastime. imagine what i'm going to feel like when i shoot clays in the same field...

good thread. good food for thought.

[PAshooter]

Wow - I come late to this thread and all the good answers are already taken. That'll teach me :D

I have lots of reasons... many of the ones above fit me. Firstly, because I can... and more importantly, as a responsible American adult, because I should. It's important to maintain those rights and traditions that have made America so unique during it's brief history... and pass them on to the next generation so they don't die out. One of my biggest regrets was that when my boys were young, though I owned firearms, my domestic situation was not conducive to my instilling a love of the shooting sports in them. Now they're grown and gone (though still local) so it's much harder to get them out to the range with me. One has the interest... the other shows little desire to shoot. I may yet have my chance, though, as grandchildren are on the way...

I have political reasons as well... too many people for whom I have no respect... and who show little respect for the values I cherish... don't want me to own guns. That's a strong incentive.

I love machinery and ingenious mechanical devices. Guns satisfy this passion admirably. Plus they go BANG, and the little kid in me (hidden beneath all the gray hair but still alive and kicking) loves things that go bang.

I too relish the zen of a day at the range. It's an effective means of banishing the stresses of modern life.

Then there's the power thing... not a macho ego-boosting kind of power as characterized by those who don't understand us... but the whole action-at-a-distance thing. Something I do here, that requires mental and physical skill but not much in the way of physical strength, makes something desired happen way over there. It's a cool feeling when done right.

The sense of connection with history; firing a single-action revolver, a lever action carbine, my M1 Garand, my M14 or M16 look-alikes make me feel connected with those I think of as my heros... those that built this country and have kept her safe and free.

Oh - did I mention it's fun?

Thus endeth my poetic waxing. :D

[Holly76201]

Zach, it's a shame your Mother was married to an abusive drunk. However I see a couple of positive things in the situation you described... your Mother used whatever weapon was handy for self-defense, good thinking Strategies and tactics wise. That behavior was good role modeling for you and your sibs: Don't be a submissive victim. Fight back!
And that thought brings me to one of the reasons I shoot... I will never be a submissive victim. There are handguns or rifles within easy reach in every room in my home except the bathroom [it's too humid in there, so a gun just goes in and out as needed]. I NEVER leave the house w/o a gun. I work in the middle of the night [1am to around 6 am] and drive with my doors locked and my pistol either in my pocket or under my leg.

I also shoot b/c it's FUN and empowering. [opening country accent] Ain't nothin sweeter than Center mass and two to the head. [closing country accent]

And it's something my Dearly Beloved and I can do together. And since he's such a good [retired competitive] shot and we go shooting with competitive shooters, their praise makes me glow with pride.

Holly