Why own guns, you may ask...?

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zminer

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Anti-gun activists will often ask, "well, why do you even own a gun?" or "why do you think you need a gun?" Many gun owners think this is a nonsensical question, and treat it as such. However, I think it might be the case that a certain percentage of non-gun-owners simply don't understand the wide variety of reasons for which people own firearms. So, I made a list. The categories obviously overlap somewhat, and I don't think any one person will claim that they fall into just one or two categories, but I think it's a good starting place.

At least in this first draft, I pretty much want to make sure I am not missing any major categories. I haven't made an effort to include all possible subcategories yet - just a few examples of the kinds of things that might eventually fall under each major category. If people want to suggest additional subcategories, though, that would certainly be helpful as well. In fact, constructive criticism of all sorts would be useful.

In alphabetical order, by major category:

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* Collecting / Ownership without [significant] use as a working firearm
- Firearms as investments
- Firearms as display pieces (shotgun over the fireplace in a hunting lodge)
- Firearms as historical objects (personal or museum-related)
- Firearms as purely collectors' items (to own certain guns, to have a certain set, etc.)
- Sentimental reasons (family firearm; inherited firearm)

* Fun / Hobby / Pastime
- "Plinking" (casual shooting objects or targets largely for fun, and less for accuracy)
- Spending time with friends who also enjoy shooting
- General enjoyment / happiness
- Cowboy action shooting
- Historical reenactment

* Job-related
- Military
- Police
- Security guard or other protective occupation
- Farmer, or other profession where firearms are used for pest control
- Firearms salesperson (gun shop owner/employee)
- Firearms repair (gunsmith)
- Firearms analyst (forensics or ballistics professional)

* Political / Activism
- To exercise Constitutional or civil rights
- Firearms ownership as a patriotic ideal
- Make a political statement
- To keep a certain type of firearm in common use

* Protection
- Personal protection
- Protection of others (whether family, or unrelated individuals)
- To be ready to use firearms protectively in the case of emergency/disaster

* Self-improvement
- Personal marksmanship improvement, for its own sake
- Improving moral fiber, temperament, or other personal attributes

* Sport / Competition
- Hunting
- Target shooting
- Skeet shooting
- IDPA, USPSA, or other active shooting events
 
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I prefer to answer the idiotic "why" question by giving it right back to them. I say "why do you buy the things that you like?"
 
"* Fun / Hobby
- "Plinking" (shooting objects or targets for fun, not for accuracy)"

Please represent those who shoot targets for fun, AND for accuracy!

Bob
 
really, I dont understand people saying "what do you NEED that gun for?"
I'm like " what do you NEED that plasma TV for"?
My personal interest in firearms is collecting soviet-era guns, although when I lived in the southern section of Dallas, I did keep a .22 and a shotgun in my place for home defense. But irregardless, need or reason should not be part of a discussion of gun rights.
 
I would add Collections. I collect old revolvers like some people collect comics or cars.
 
Think of owning a FA an act of patriotism.

The Founding Fathers realized the danger of a population that might be unable to defend itself against a goverment that was just begining to evolve. The fight for freedom was a hard fought war with times that the underdog was on the brink of defeat (Valley Forge).There were certainly times when the colonists must have thoughts that their fight for freedom and independence was a lost cause.
I would think that the authors of our rights envisioned the 2nd A. not as a right guarateed by the govt to the citizen to use his FA for whatever his reason , hunt, sport, killing neighbors, whatever, as much as to guarantee the citizens ability to exercise their duty to defend the population against a tyrantical govt. They had been to the hairy edge of the unthinkable. The thought of losing a people's revolt against a dominant world power and having to consider what the consequences might have been must have been sobering thoughts for the rebels and their families.
I think it was with this very mindset, that the authors put the quill to the parchment. So that's why people should own guns in this country.
 
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the good reply is this

'its my right, its my past time, and why do you need an SUV when you cant afford to feed your own kids?"
 
I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

That, and shooting stuff is fun :D
 
I usually don't bother answering anymore and instead ask the inquiring person if they wanna go shooting some time.

personal reasons for me are all for protection, all for collecting, all for self-improvement, and all for fun/hobby
 
Thanks to everyone who suggested additions/alterations. I've made a few changes, noted below:

rogertc1 said:
Buying guns is an addiction or an obsession I have. It makes me happy.

Added: "General enjoyment/happiness" to the "Fun" category

Bob Spangler said:
Please represent those who shoot targets for fun, AND for accuracy!

When I put that section of the list together, I realized that I might be making too fine a distinction. What I wanted to distinguish was the difference between shooting at water jugs and tin cans just for fun (but also clearly because it's fun to test yourself and see if you can hit them) and a scenario where you're target shooting specifically to improve your aim or score in future target shooting matches. Anyway, I changed it to, "Plinking" (casual shooting objects or targets largely for fun, and less for accuracy)." I think that gets closer to it. Feel free to suggest further changes, though.

Liberty1776 said:
Because I want to....
I didn't make any changes because of this. It probably falls somewhere in the area of "Fun." If you have a more specific feeling about where this should fall, though, please let me know.

Ruodo said:
Collections. I collect old revolvers like some people collect comics or cars

Added "Firearms as purely collectors' items (to own certain guns, to have a certain set, etc.)" to the "Collecting" section

offthepaper said:
Think of owning a FA an act of patriotism

Added "Firearms ownership as a patriotic ideal" to the "Political / Activism" section

Bezoar said:
it's my right, it's my pastime

Added "Pastime" to the "Fun" section

Vern Humphrey said:
to exercise our civil rights

Added "civil rights" to "Constitutional rights" subcategory under "Political / Activism"
 
I've heard this question before, and my awnser is always the same.

as a responsible citizen, I have a duty to be armed for the protection of myself, my family, my fellow citizens, and my country.
 
I don't talk to activists. Logic doesn't stand a chance against dogma.

If a 'normal' person asked me, I'd tell them the truth - I like everything about them.
 
really, I dont understand people saying "what do you NEED that gun for?"
I'm like " what do you NEED that plasma TV for"?

The problem is that still wont be understood by many anti gun people. Reason being that they see firearms as things that kill, and the fact your comparing something "deadly" to their plasma tv makes them think your being even more ridiculous.
 
Because after unlike going down to atlantic city.... if you spend 1k on a rifle or a handgun... you have something to show for it.
 
The same reason I own fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors...to protect my loved ones and myself.
 
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