The line between enthusiasm for guns and an unhealthy obsession

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Justaman

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Personally I have 5 firearms. I shoot only about once a month, and I don't intend to buy any more guns in the near future.

What concernes me is a family aquantince. When we went to the range he brought about 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 15 handguns, 3 Ak's, and wore a tactical military vest even though he has been out of the service for a decade. Just the thought of him driving around in a van with this kind of arsenal kind of makes you think.

What is your opinion?
 
I'm not sure 5 qualifies one as an enthusiast, just someone with 5 guns. I usually carry 2-3 rifles and 2-3 handguns every range trip, don't always shoot them all but you never know when you'll want to. Normal range day for me is 200-300 rounds depending on what I'm shooting.
 
It so happens that I have a one-ton van DEDICATED to shooting and handloading. It has a benchrest, handloading bench and cleaning/gunsmithing area as well. It ALWAYS has well-upwards of a thousand rounds stashed inside. I often take six or eight rifles on a range trip, plus a judicious number of handguns (of course!).

Am I "obsessed"? I don't see it that way. Rather, I'm just a good bit deeper "into" my hobby than some others. There is no hazard posed to the community by my "driving around in a van with this kind of arsenal".
 
. When we went to the range he brought about 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 15 handguns, 3 Ak's, and wore a tactical military vest even though he has been out of the service for a decade.
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Wow ... is he STILL cleaning all those guns?

I'd be more worried about the amount of Hoppes he's going through then the number of guns he's got :p

As for the military vest, some folk (especially vets) are more comfortable wearing such things at the range, and it makes sense to have "range wear" that you don't wear around elsewhere (much like it makes sense to have "shop wear" when you're working on the car or "lawn wear" when you're mowing the lawn, etc).
 
Just the thought of him driving around in a van with this kind of arsenal kind of makes you think
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Sounds like you suffer from an affliction common in modern America ... the confusion between the possesion of inanimate objects and the intent to do harm. I recommend getting plenty of rest, watching a bunch of Westerns and reading the Federalist papers...maybe you'll come out of it.

Since when is 15 handguns and 3 AKs an "arsenal" (I prefer armory, personally)? I have 58 guns...not sure that means I create a threat to anyone..with the exception of anyone who breaks into my house and/or presents a threat to my family. Not sure what you having 5 guns has to do with anything...other than you obviously need more. Just because you are happy with 5 doesn't mean everyone else is.

18 guns to the range, 10,000 rounds of ammo and a tactical vest simply mean that 1) he has no sense of focus, 2) has borderline mall ninja-itis and 3) has a poor sense of fashion.
 
I personally wear summer weight BDUs while going shooting, on occasion.

1) I was in the USAF, and believe it shows my support for our troops.
2) You can't beat the storage, for empties as well as fresh mags.
3) My wife doesn't have to worry about me picking up other women.

poor sense of fashion, actually that would describe me
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As far as fashion, I never mix my desert and woodland BDUs, that would be silly:p I got out before we were issued that new ACU/digi-cam stuff. Of course, my blue name lettering, green/blue unit insignia, and the 3 blue stripes on my sleeves go better with the 3 color desert than the woodland:cool:
 
I don't think there's a problem with your acquaintance...who's to decide at what point something is unhealthy? you?
 
That's not that strange. Last time I went to the range, I was unloading my firearms and ammo and made the coment to my buddy that if I brought any more stuff, I'd have to start pulling my trailer. He laughed and said "Yeah, me too!".
 
Ok, I only have about 5 guns, want many more, need some more ammo, and get to the range irregularly. Personally, I think the only time any hobby, not just firearms, becomes unhealthy is when it's eating up money and time for bills, food, and family. Would you ask this same question if he had, oh, I don't know, an extensive stamp collection? A garage full of snowmobiles or motorcycles or fast cars? Anything motorized is probably just as dangerous as a firearm in the hands of a true moron. Would a guy who collected novelty lighters be suspected of being an arsonist or a pyromaniac? Why is anyone with a healthy interest in firearms somehow vaguely assumed to be "dangerous" or "unhealthily obsessed". IT'S A FLIPPIN HOBBY, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER.

Ok, slight rant here, sorry, but I'm callin it like I see it.
 
I'm more worried abou you then him. I'm not worried that he's going to shoot up a school or something. I am worried that your attitude of, "What concerns me" and "That kind of aresenal makes me think," shows that you have identified anyone who has more guns then you, or shows more interest in guns then you, as "someone to be concerned about." Your on that slippery slope that leads to voting for "sensible gun regulation" because, after all, "some people can't be trusted."
 
If your friend is counting his ammo in terms of "number of rounds", it's definitely a "hobby".

If your friend is counting his ammo in terms of "cubic yards", it's "practice ammo" or "insightful neighborhood preparation".

If your friend is manufacturing or storing a significant percentage of the ammunition or weaponry for the land military forces of any one country, THEN it's an "Arsenal". Tough business to run out of a van.

If your friend is wearing a "vest", it means he has more "pockets" to carry "stuff".

None of which are cause for concern, IMHO.

If he uses just one gun, his fists, a rolled-up newspaper or his van to harm someone outside of self-defense, then you should worry.
 
Am I the only one wanting to see pictures of Bruce B's van?

I have been driving my retired service van (Astro) to the range for a while and found it quite handy for range stuff as well with the shelves and such in it.

As far as the 10,000 rounds and 13 guns guy... Well, to each his own. I don't leave for a range trip without at least 3 or 4 with me. You just never know what will fit the session.
 
Your buddy suddenly come into some money? I'd probably skip the AKs and get an M1A, personally - but whatever floats your boat.
Also, it's cheaper to buy ammo in bulk than to buy a few boxes at a time. This may last him for two or three years.
 
I want to be able to measure my ammunition in terms of cubic yards :(

Can someone, pray tell, explain to me how one legally acquires sufficient monetary units to be capable of acquiring and using on a frequent basis, those levels of ammo? The problem has been nagging at me for a while. ;)



10,000 rounds of .22LR is only a couple hundred dollars...less than half a grand, at most.

Remember: to some, firearms are just a slightly exciting aspect of work. To other, they're an interest and occasional diversion. But to many, they are a major hobby and interest, and in a few cases a true devotion. Most here would probably like to belong in that last category, if only life and work didn't preclude them from doing so.
 
This whole "unhealthy obsession" concept is pretty humorous to me. Hollywood and the 24/7 media have really done a number on the gun owner.

Would any small business owner, CEO, director, manager, politician, inventor, teacher, social worker, etc. who spends more than 60 hours per week on their job not be considered to have an "unhealthy obsession"?

"Unhealthy obsessions", by your assumed definition, gave us the lightbulb, all religions, pasteurization, powered flight, U.S. victory in 10+ wars, Darwinism, democracy, classical and modern physics, the IPod, journalism, every single movie ever made, Rock-and-roll, professional sports and the business model for Starbucks.

What, exactly, is "unhealthy"? A person having more passion about something than thou?
 
Some of the phrases you use kind of scare me. You sound border line anti-gun. I take quite a few guns with me to the range most of the time so I can shoot while others are cooling down. As far as ammo I have been known to take 1000+ rounds with me especially with my little 1919 Browning at the range. 50 rounds wouldn't last long in this! :neener:
Mvc-001f.jpg
 
He's got an unhealthy obsession. He should send that ammo and about a dozen handguns to THR to break his addiction. We're thrilled to help anyone!
:neener:
 
You want NUTS?

Substitute the word GOLF in the following paragraph...

My grandapa is a charter member of the left handed amatuer GUN association. He goes to 35 GUN tournaments a year. He owns 12 sets of GUNS (clubs) which he keeps around the house, the garage and at his GUN club. He invests in GUN clubs all over the US and has memberships in many private GUN courses. Most of what he wears is for GUNNING, from his special GUN shoes, his GUN pants, his GUN vest, his GUN-logo polo shirt and his GUN visor, and his specila hand made GUN gloves. Whan he retired all he did was travel the country for GUN events, even bought a big cadillac that could carry all his GUN stuff. His house is overflowing with GUN related stuff, GUN magazines, GUN themed toothpick holders, napkins, coffeemugs and even GUN towels. He even got grandma a sweatshirt that said "I'm a GUN widow". There are so many GUN balls laying around the house it looks like a GUN range, in fact he lives across the street from GUN pro designed 9 hole GUN course. he watches the GUN channel, shops only at GUN stores and eats most of his meals at the GUN club.

He once told me GUNNING was the key to success, as no matter what you did for a living you could always shoota round of GUN and at the GUN club have a few cold ones with your GUN mates and viola... you could find yourself a new job. In essence, if one mastered the GUN, one would never be unemployed. See what a pro GUNNER makes in a year? Enough to build thier own GUN themed resorts.

I can understand 15 handguns at a shoot... 3 ak's not so much. I will never understand GOLF. Except for miniature golf, which is pretty fun, even if they don't let you take the cart on the fairway, but you know what? A party mate bolts RIGHT TO the dashboard! Now that's forward thinking--if only they had a place for a GUN rack.
 
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