How do you feel about gun ownership ?

[71Commander]

In almost every thread regarding gun ownership, someone refers to it as a hobby. Maybe i'm different as I perfer to look on it as a lifestyle. When I married my wife, her ideas and attitudes regarding guns were the same as mine or else we would have never married. This has made it an enjoyable journey through life. I have never had to explain the reason why I got another gun.

Last week I came home with a S&W 642-2 airweight. I showed it to her and she replied that it looked and felt like a girls gun, and propmtly kept it. She saw in it something to enhance her needs whereas I just thought it was a nice little gun.

Just how do you feel about gun ownership ?

 

[squibload]

Lifestyle...

Golfers are about as rabid about their sport as we are about shooting.

Both groups obsess about new technology.
Both purchase volumes of apparel and accessories, whether it helps your accuracy or not.
Both are willing to try out new places to shoot.
Both read incessantly, and usually subscribe to multiple magazines.
Both dream about winning championships (ahhhh...SOF 3-Gun...)
Many are members in multiple clubs.

BUT...have you ever seen a golfer hassled publicly, or insulted, or looked at in disgust when you announce your sport of preference?

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. Despite the political crap that revolves around our sport, we love it, we live it, and we would never give it up. We willingly participate in a sport that people don't like. That's what turns it from "just a hobby" to "a lifestyle".

 

[Smoke]

BUT...have you ever seen a golfer hassled publicly, or insulted, or looked at in disgust when you announce your sport of preference?

Yes, I look at most golfers that way.

Never did understand that sport. Trying to put a little round object into a little round hole at long distances.......oh, dang.

Smoke

 

[Amadeus]

A lifestyle -- it can be argued -- is what happens when your hobby is allowed to flourish.

Just as Civil War reenactors, who, once merely liked history, have allowed their hobby to give way to weekends in a canvas tent, or as people who have an interest in SciFi eventually take on a star trek persona, shooters soon find themselves with a vault full of hardware and a slew of friends with similar interests.

Sure. My shooting is a lifestyle. It relaxes me and holds my interest longer than most things I encounter on a daily basis. This hobby is ultimately a part of who I am. So why not allow it to be an integral element of my existance. Also, seeing as this sport is tied closely to a person's political views, I will seek to be around people with like interests and similar beliefs.

While it is not the first thing that comes up when chosing a mate, I have been known to include a trip to the range among the first dozen or so dates --am I testing her? Maybe. Who cares. I get to go shoot and enjoy my favorite hobby. If she doesn't like it then maybe our lifestyles aren't compatible.

 

[Amadeus]

Never did understand that sport. Trying to put a little round object into a little round hole at long distances.......oh, dang.

By the way, Smoke. That's another way we differ from golfers. We'd rather take a little round object and MAKE a little round hole at long distances.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Target shooting is a lifelong passion for me. Exercising my Second Amendment civil rights is an integral element in the way I live.

 

[jsalcedo]

Gun ownership is multi faceted for me.

Fun of shooting
Fun of collecting
Challenge and satisfaction of reloading
Keeping guns in the family heritage.
2nd amendment use it or lose it
Home defense
Personal defense
Sharing the sport with friends and family.

A lifestyle for sure. Most of my recreational time, spending money, computer time, and personal living space is devoted to guns and gun stuff.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Just how do you feel about gun ownership ?

Pretty darned good, actually.

Brad

 

[ID_shooting]

I dont know how to answer that. I grew up with guns in the house but they were really only for hunting. I really didn't own any while I was in the Army and didn't have any except my hunting rigs for a couple of years after I got out. Since then though, the count is up to like 14 and I got in to reloading, it is all I can think about most of the time. I find one reason or another to tinker with them daily and shoot when ever I can. I guess I am absolutly obsessed. I call it my hobby but I goes deeper than that. We worked out last years spending habbits and 75% of my disposable income went to gun related things. I guess that qualifies me as a gun nut.

 

[Black Majik]

Definitely not a lifestyle for me since I was the first to own a gun in the family.

My dad got a shotgun for himself a few months ago, but most of the shooting is done by me. I've even shot his shotgun more than he has (he's only shot it once )

I see gun ownership as more of a hobby. Only because I have multiple hobbies as "obsessive" as shooting (cars, sportbikes, guitar etc.. )

I'm trying to get my little sisters into shooting. Took my 10 yr old baby sis out to shoot her first handgun a few weeks ago (S&W .22) and she had an absolute blast. Sad thing is, my mom is an anti and she doesn't want me to take her anymore until she gets older. Oh well, I'll just have to sneak her out w/ me a few times here and there..

But in the end, as Brad Johnson said, Gun ownership feels pretty damn good!

 

[P95Carry]

I think ''lifestyle'' serves well .... I think and breathe guns most of the time .. reinforced by way too much time spent here!!

I'd also claim ''passion'' ... I don't like the term ''gun nut'' per se ....... ''obsession is too strong a word too.

Hell, I'm always trying to keep everyone convinced I'm just a happy-go-lucky regular type of guy ..... but with a BIG interest!!

 

[Dionysusigma]

How do you feel about gun ownership?

I can state wholeheartedly and with some embarassment that I simply do not own enough guns.

OTOH, the only law regarding RKBA I see as actually reasonable is the one stating that felons can't have 'em. There are times, yes, that I worry if someone is actually worthy of owning one (aside from their criminal record) based on emotional/ mental instability, but then I think of Stephen in BraveHeart, and that just confuddles that line of thought...

The only restriction that should be on machineguns (even including price) should be only measured by the owner's ability to keep the thing well-fed.

Handguns? Lower the age to 18. They can vote, join the military, raise a family...

AOW's? Meh. Most I just see as fancy toys, but if you want 'em, go for it. No silly tax stamps or anything else.

I think we should also keep the licensing for Class 2 stuff, but under the same spirit as the 1700s definition of regulated: Not overrun by regulations, but by some darn decent QC.

 

[Treylis]

Don't you think it'd more reasonable to have it so that it would be only violent felons? Waaaay too many things are felonies nowadays, and it's too easy for someone to lose their gun rights over something minor that's become a felony because of politcal drum-beating.

Handguns at 21 is ridiculous... in fact, I think that most everything's that's held off until 21 is ridiculous.

 

[Majic]

Considering some of the actions of teenages I see today, I see no problem in the 21 age limit for handgun ownership. Now not every teenager falls into this catergory, but right many show they haven't accepted responsibility yet. They are still looking to their parents to solve lifes problems for them. The line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere.
Probably the last thing a child has to learn is patience.

 

[Treylis]

I must point out that it's not handgun ownership at 21, merely buying handguns from an FFL--on a Federal level, at least.

In Arizona, you can buy handguns at 18 from non-FFL people and own them perfectly legally, or receive them as gifts from parents, etc.

There are a number of people on this very board who are over 18, but not yet 21, and own handguns. I must admit that I myself am among them--I turn 21 in a few months, so this is almost a non-issue personally--but in the meanwhile, it's more difficult for me to procure an effective means of self-defense.

I can't carry concealed yet, either, but luckily my state allows open carry, and I take full advantage of it. I plan on getting my CCW permit as soon as I'm able... carrying openly around here actually isn't that bad because I dress well, but it's still somewhat conspicuous.

Patience--to me, that argument is basically saying, "Well, you're an adult, but you can be patient and protect yourself with some of this not-so-effective pepper spray rather than an effective firearm for 3 more years." Someone's life isn't worth less because they're 18 or they're 20 and 11 months, especially if they have to bear the full legal brunt of their actions because they're no longer a 'child'.

I would say that yes, the line has to be drawn in the sand, and that line should be 18--when you're legally an adult, can vote, and can be found fully responsible in a legal sense for your actions, which is perhaps the most important thing in this respect.

 

[Dain Bramage]

I am against gun ownership.

Mausers, Makarovs and Mosin-Nagants, I consider it more rental, really. Just holding them until my kids are old enough to get them!

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Firearms are a hobby and recreation for me, much like bicycling or attempting to play the fiddle. On the other hand I do better at shooting sports than I do at attempting to play the fiddle.

I just have too many competing interests/obligations for firearms activity to be the center point of all activity and thus a lifestyle. Golf is not one of them, though. I could never understand why anyone would use up good hunting or range landscape to chase around a little white ball. Must be frustrating to have to start chasing it all over again each time you catch up with it.

I do not accept that there is any valid reason for anyone denying me the right to pursue my hobby. The freedom is even more basic than the 2nd amendment's guarantee of self defense.

I agree about the idea that only violent felons and perhaps carefully defined fringe types should be restricted on firearms ownership. I started another thread asking about laws on felons and guns as I am hearing rumors that someone I know who is a felon for falsely reporting an auto theft (insurance fraud) has firearms. In most cases I would this is absurd unless there are other factors involved. In this case I am not sure that the fraud is the whole story.

 

[JackC]

I look as it as my duty, IAW the Constitution.
And also to teach my kids the same thing.
Jack

 

[JohnBT]

Golf - A long walk ruined.

Owning guns for me is not a hobby.

Fiddling and messing with them is.

John

 

[PAshooter]

I like the lifestyle nomenclature. Having once assumed this lifestyle I cannot imagine ever again being disarmed. For those who don't "get it"... well, that's their problem. I do not take lightly to my freedom being infringed.

By the way, Smoke. That's another way we differ from golfers. We'd rather take a little round object and MAKE a little round hole at long distances.

I like that, Amadeus. And the really cool thing about shooting (vs. golf) is that while we may miss what we are aiming for, we never miss the hole.

 

[Jay Kominek]

Considering some of the actions of teenages I see today, I see no problem in the 21 age limit for handgun ownership.

Yeah, because those handguns are sooooo much more dangerous than .50BMG rifles which they can go buy at 18.

Now not every teenager falls into this catergory, but right many show they haven't accepted responsibility yet. They are still looking to their parents to solve lifes problems for them

Can we take the guns away from people who are still looking to their nanny state to solve life's problems for them?

 

[Gordon Fink]

I view firearms ownership as a responsibility. When I was single, I really had only myself to watch out for—only my own life to defend or not. Now, as a husband and hopefully someday a father, I have an obligation to protect my family.

This was the consideration that ultimately led me to become a gun owner, beyond my general, if vague, interest in weapons. Gun ownership was something that had been in the back of my mind for a long time, but anti-gun propaganda had left me reluctant. After marrying, I started to think about self-defense more seriously and began to do my own research on the gun issue. Soon, I recognized the propaganda for what it was and became a gun owner without further hesitation.

For me, therefore, gun ownership is about taking responsibility. I’m less interested in the hobby aspect, beyond my aforementioned interest in weapons. I also don’t want firearms to become an all-consuming aspect of my lifestyle. As is often said, a gun is just one more tool in the box—albeit an important one.

~G. Fink

 

[Edward429451]

Good question and responses.

Guns started out for me as something to do with dad then went to hobby, then tool and responsibility, then duty, all the while being fun & interesting. Am I full circle yet or still on my way?

 

[Mulliga]

I would say that yes, the line has to be drawn in the sand, and that line should be 18--when you're legally an adult, can vote, and can be found fully responsible in a legal sense for your actions, which is perhaps the most important thing in this respect.

Well said, Treylis. I'm 19 years old, and I can't get a C&R license, I can't buy ammunition over the internet, and I can't carry a handgun for self-defense (by Florida law I can keep an "unloaded" handgun in my home - oh, goody! ).

They'll "trust" me with an AK clone, a .30-06 hunting rifle, and a shotgun, but not with a handgun? I can go to Wally World and buy every single round of rifle ammo they have, but if I buy off of the internet, I'm a felon? I can purchase all the guns I want if I keep filling out 4473s, but apply for a C&R with requisite ATF and law enforcement approval, and I'll get turned down becuase I'm 19?

I mean, does anyone else see how silly this is? I'm mature. I don't drink. I live by myself (my parents still pay the rent, though ). I vote. I can be drafted.

I think we all know the gangbangers and school shooters don't get their handguns from a gun store. We all know the vast majority of people who buy ammo are not criminals.

How do I feel about gun ownership? Ask me in two years.

(sorry for the rant )

 

[zahc]

Considering some of the actions of teenages I see today, I see no problem in the 21 age limit for handgun ownership.

The line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere.

Safety placed where it's convenient for YOU I see.