What guns mean to you

Many years ago, I was a skydiver. I made literally hundreds of jumps from light, 4-passenger planes.

We would remove the right door, the right front seat, and the right controls. Two jumpers would sit on the rear seat, and the third would sit flat on the floor by the open door. Is that scary? You betcha.

I used to watch my altimeter as we took off, and when we reached 600 feet, I would say to myself, "I'm all right. If the engine quits, the wings fall off, or ol' Thud Wilson in the pilot's seat has a hebephrenic fit, I can get down on my own!"

That's what guns mean to me -- if the worst comes to the worst, I can take care of myself.

Guns have been a hobby/tool for me for over fifty years. Once upon a time I was consumed by them and ignored finances to the detriment of my family obligations. As I matured I achieved balance and reorganized my priorities. Firearms are still important to me but I have a much happier life since I moved them down the ladder below family and financial considerations.

Shooting has been a pastime that I've spent numerous hours enjoying starting about 60 years ago. I have many great memories with guns.

Hmmmmmm. firearms Protect, feed and amuse my family, so without "the Gun" I would not have a happy, safe, secure, well fed, sharpshooters calling me Son, Dad, Bro, or Hubby......

.......and more than that, guns make ALL of us Equal.

I like guns, they represent freedom. Being able to defend yourself is important.
“But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”
Jesus

Guns have always meant that I have choices, options.
They mean that I can feed my family when things get tough.
They mean that I can protect my family when things get tough.
Incidentally, they are interesting to study, collect and shoot.
They hold their value pretty well, too.

You ever hear of the Rule of Threes? 3 Minutes without air. 3 Hours without shelter. 3 Days without water. 3 Weeks without food.

It's kinda stupid really, but it's a set of rules to define what's most important to human survival. There's one that got forgotten though. 3 Seconds without a means of defense.

That's what guns mean to me. That and something to tinker with.

I grew up in a family of mechanics, with a father who went from being a mechanic to a cop. Throw in my my inquisitive mind and study of history, particularly Military History, and it's a wonder I don't have a collection that rivals the one tark curates.

KY DAN said:

I don't have connections to people unfortunately, I am sure when the time comes in which health becomes a issue and my independence is compromised I shall remove myself from the gene pool.

Therefore I gravitate to items that will outlast me.

I do not allow my passion to affect my career, if I did how would I afford it? (Think functional drunk)

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Check your premise. If you use one of your cherished items to cause such removal, they may all end up in a Police property room until the inquest is over. Many dept's destroy those guns after they are not needed. They may not last much longer than you.

I gravitated to having two sons that should outlast me, (one is in the hospital as I type this) and passing my guns on to them on occasion while I'm living, and the rest when I'm gone.

KY DAN said:

I am sure when the time comes in which health becomes a issue and my independence is compromised I shall remove myself from the gene pool.

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This is becoming creepy and morbid.

Have always loved guns and the activities associated with them.. There is a saying that people who buy lots of books do so because of the time they hope they will have to read them. That goes for me and guns. I always have an idea in the back of my head about what I'll be doing when I get that next new gun. And in the last few months, guns have been my salvation. The China Virus has forced me into isolation. To avoid going nuts I go to my outdoor range 2-3 times a week and spend lots of time at my reloading bench, reading gun magazines and shopping on line for new guns. Many of the friends I have are also gun people and I make sure I stay in touch with all of them. Whenever I contact any of these friends, a portion of our conversation consists of gun talk. And I spend time on THR nearly every day, as well as other on-line sites. So what do guns mean to me. They mean a lot.

Hokkmike said:

KY, I am glad they make you happy. My motto, stolen from Ben Franklin and changed just a little is, "Moderation in most things".

Think about it this way, when you get old or become incapacitated (I hope that never happens to you or anyone), what will it be that gives you joy and brings satisfaction to your life? Guns on the wall? - maybe.

I REALLY like firearms and shooting. That is why I am here. I guess I would best answer your question about "what guns mean to me" with another old adage - "God, family, guns" in that order.

As someone who has a great passion for guns I am curious to know which is your favorite - not to hijack the thread but I am curious.

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You put it in the same order I do.
I like my guns. I love shooting and hunting. But I love God and my family.
Guns help me take care of my family and make it so I can serve God.
My favorite thing is shooting unknown distance targets. Then use a range finder.

taliv said:

Owning other tools is a right too.

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That's an interesting perspective. Guns are not the only tools used in furtherance of enumerated rights. For example, the 1st Amendment guarantees the rights of speech, press, and religion. This implies that tangible things like paper, ink, printing presses, Internet access, and religious objects are protected. (The courts can set out the exact parameters.) Likewise, the "arms" that are mentioned in the 2nd Amendment are purposely vague. The exact arms involved obviously change with the times.

For me, guns are:

1. a technical fascination going back to grammar school.
2. a tool to protect myself from the atavistic beasts increasingly allowed to run rampant in our society.
3. a means to ensure that if and when the time comes, I don't have to meekly get on the boxcar. There's never a time when it's better to die on your knees pleading than on your feet with a weapon in your hands.

AlexanderA said:

For example, the 1st Amendment guarantees the rights of speech, press, and religion.

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What guarantees the 1st? What are you going to do when somebody tells you not only that you can no longer speak your mind, but tells you what to say?

I like guns. But my life doesn't revolve around them. God and family first, vocation and church second, guns when I have the time. I've done some reloading in recent weeks, but it's been months since I've been to the range. Stage of life prevents me from hunting or competitive shooting. Hope to do more when I retire in a few years. I didn't grow up with guns, and developed the interest when my father-in-law introduced me to hunting. My interests have expanded beyond hunting at this point, but I still think of guns as tools; they are not the center of my life.

I am so encouraged to see the number of members who post their first priorities as God and family then vocation. I feel the same way.
I am also at the point in life that my career is nearly overwhelming. My guns offer temporary escape. Hunting, shooting, competition, collecting, history......in a word...RECREATION!
One funny little quirk of mine, is that i always judge my mistakes, market losses, big expenditures.......by what gun I COULD HAVE bought with the money I lost. ie: "there goes another Ljutic "

Another..... you have to get one first. Only took me 40 years.

God, guns, and guts are what built this country. I agree. Faith, family, and firearms is the way I phrase it.

For me, owning guns is a symbol of my freedom as a citizen of this Republic. I own some for protecting myself, my family and my livestock. I own others because I enjoy shooting them. I don't hunt much anymore, but some could be used again for that purpose. The beauty of the second amendment is that although it names only one of the most important reasons for gun ownership, it protects our God given right to own firearms for any lawful purpose.

Kevin5098 said:

The beauty of the second amendment is that although it names only one of the most important reasons for gun ownership, it protects our God given right to own firearms for any lawful purpose.

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The 2nd Amendment doesn't depend upon a belief in God. We'd best leave God out of this.

I like guns because well I like shooting them with my family, friends, people I meet who also like them but especially to @#$& Liberal progressive off.

AlexanderA said:

The 2nd Amendment doesn't depend upon a belief in God. We'd best leave God out of this.

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Natural rights, those universal, "inalienable," rights understood as those not dependent on laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government have often been referred to as the rights people inherently possess, granted either by God or nature, but quite frequently in the history of Western civilization referred to as "God-given rights." This is just pretty much history and common practice. I get what you're saying about the Second Amendment, but I'm sure you'll note that the Founding Fathers did on occasion acknowledge Him... Do we really need to be so PC here? Just askin'

For me personally guns , ammo, reloading are my everything. I put them above all needs in my financial and personal life. I can not tell you the number of personal engagements I have either not attended or simply showed up in my own time to because of a gun show or shooting match.

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I am - in my community - known for the motto that, "I shoot to support my reloading habit".

Still, I would never let reloading or shooting get in the way of either the physical or emotional needs of my wife, my sons, their friends, my church, or the clients of the food bank that I manage.

If shooting takes you away from your family/loved-ones then, I suggest you are missing out on something you will later miss.