Anyone shoot purely for recreation, with no thought of self defense use?

[pak29]

Greetings all. I have a .22 rifle and a new Buckmark pistol that I enjoy shooting tremendously. I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a larger handgun, but again, purely for recreational purposes. This has gotten me thinking a lot about gun ownership, especially those of you who decide to take your ownership to the level of carrying a weapon at all times.

I like shooting. I like guns. But I see no need for a defensive weapon.

I live in Burlington, Vermont, in a neighborhood where people know oneother's names and don't lock their doors. In my daily life, I experience virtually no fear of being a victim of crime of any sort. There was a highly-publicised abduction/murder of a college student a couple years ago, and a fair bit of street-drug use in parts of town, but the crime rate here is relatively low. I appreciate how rare it is to be able to carry without a permit or license, but can't envision myself ever doing so. If I lived in a major city, or area where violent crime was the norm, I imagine that might change, and I know that many of you live in areas quite unlike where I live.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Anyone decide to arm themselves anyway, purely out of a "better to have it and not need it..." or "I will because I can" or "I can, therefore I have an ethical duty to do so" mindset?

 

[maskedman504]

I live in Burilngton, Vermont, in a neighborhood where people know eachother's names and don't lock their doors. In my daily life, I experience virtually no fear of being a victim of crime of any sort. There was a highly-publicised abduction/murder here a couple years ago, and a fair bit of street-drug use in parts of town, but the crime rate here is relatively low.

In short, no.

I don't/can't subscribe to the "it won't happen to me" attitude.

"better to have it and not need it..."

I think most people will fit in here.


It is not about going about your daily life in fear; on the contrary, it is about being confident and equiped to handle any situation

 

[dom1104]

I am sure peoples reasons for being armed in any capacity are varied.

I wont go into the multiple reasons for being armed, but if you truly think that just because you see no need for a defensive weapon right now, then you wont ever need one ever......

I dunno dont get that thinking.

Its like saying, I dont see a need for a fire extiguisher right now, so I will just pass on that. After all, I have never burnt a house down before.

Does Not Compute.

Also, its my RESPONSIBILITY to protect my family, not the governments, mine. I am not a huge guy, or adept with a frying pan. So I have a gun.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, when I am shooting my .308 single shot or .40-65 BPCR or bolt action .22 or 12 ga O/U; I am not much thinking about self defense. But even though I go into pistol shooting (IDPA) in a spirit of competition and recreation there is always the thought that the skills will be of use in self defense. I don't live in such a peaceful area, a burglary this summer with a bunch of stuff stolen, all recovered but one .357 Magnum... and a burglar alarm installation.

 

[oneounceload]

Agree with Jim - I have many, in fact, MOST of my guns are for recreational/fun/hunting use - NOT SD. I have 3 for that - about 30 others for the rest.....guess it is where your priorities and crime scenarios leave you

 

[sniper5]

Sort of.

I enjoy shooting bolt military rifles and precision pistol, but every so often will throw up a silhouette and go through some combat drills. Sometimes for fun I'll have wifey hit the return and see how tight a pattern I can shoot before the target makes it to the shooting position. Then for fun, head shots, same game. And magazine and speed loader drills. Unfortunately, can't make the target go sideways where I shoot. And some practice with shotgun, both trap and skeet and also some work with drawing from sling and rapid target aquisition. They know me at the local range and will also sometimes let me leave the lights off if I'm alone so I can do some flashlight practice. But those things are secondary. My firearms are recreational tools I can use for defense. Others can view it as they wish.

 

[wally]

I shoot purely for recreation, but the idea of practice should I ever be in a self-defense situation sure helps justify the expense!

I have a CHL and carry for the same reason I have half a dozen smoke detectors and fire extinguishers located about the house and garage, I don't expect a fire, but its very bad news if unprepared.

--wally.

 

[Tim the student]

MOST of my guns are for recreational/fun/hunting use

Me too. I think it can happen for me, but the majority of my shooting is for fun or to better myself, which in turn also happens to help out with my SD skills. I also do specific SD stuff, but not as much as I shoot for fun.

 

[MMCSRET]

I shoot all my firearms for recreational purposes. If I need to defend myself I will use which ever one I have closest to hand. I do have several that are excellent CCW pieces but I sometimes am armed only with a single shot, black powder cartridge rifle, one of which is 52" long(not CCW) and I would use that if its closest. Anything can be used for defense, doesn't have to be a CCW firearm, and they are all fun.

 

[ming]

Nothing wrong with recreational shooting, but why not keep one handy for self defense purposes? Personally, I would feel terrible if someone in my family was injured in an incident I could have prevented.

 

[hushnel]

Most of mine are for recreational shooting, some hunting and self defence. I work in Miami's huge county hospital in Overtown. I've never had a problem in the 27 years I've worked there, actually I never had a problem when I lived in Brooklyn, or Washington D.C., Pittsburgh or any other place I've lived.

I don't worry about it but I do carry everyday, my only fear is that I may find myself in the position of instant responder with out the means to protect myself, family or other innocent victims.

 

[buck460XVR]

I shoot all my firearms for recreational purposes. If I need to defend myself I will use which ever one I have closest to hand.

Me too. I have been shooting guns for half a century and have yet to purchase one solely for the purpose of SD/HD, altho like the previous poster, I have several that fill the bill. Having a situation similar to the OP, living in a sleepy small rural town, I feel sorry for those that feel the need to be armed even when mowing the lawn........but that does not mean I'm not prepared.

....that said, just owning/carrying a gun does not automatically make one prepared either. Many times folks become victims not because they didn't have a gun, but because they allowed themselves to become victims.

 

[Dominus]

I have one of those finely restricted permits in NY. :banghead:
I can only shoot for recreation.
It would be nice to have the option to say the least.

I'm open to ideas about having the permit amended, please PM any ideas THANKS!

 

[gyvel]

I live in Burlington, Vermont, in a neighborhood where people know oneother's names and don't lock their doors. In my daily life, I experience virtually no fear of being a victim of crime of any sort.

Of course not; It can't happen to you.

 

[eye5600]

pak29, keep in mind who you are asking. The people who read and post on THR are the people who are most interested in guns, and on any forum, some particular line of thinking tends to dominate. People who think otherwise find some other web forum that's more compatible.

So, I'm sure there are lots of guys who hunt but don't carry or think about HD from month to month. Likewise for target shooters, and every other niche in the quite diverse world of guns. But they don't dominate the conversation on THR.

When I read all the 'yes, it can happen to you' comments, mostly I'm sorry that all these people experience the world as such a scary place. Now, it's true that it can happen to you. No doubt about it. But it probably won't. If you live in a place where you feel safe (and the statistics support it), and you don't engage in risky activities like crime and drugs, the odds of encountering a situation where a gun would make things better is not much different from all sorts of other disasters that we risk every day where a gun is no use, like drunk drivers, or lightning strikes, or falling trees, or gas explosions.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

How about anyone in the middle?

I own guns of all sorts of calibers for recreational shooting. I also own guns for home defense and I carry a gun at work. If NJ allowed, I'd probably CCW. But I'd say I'm in the middle on this because I also find it to simply be too much, or too paranoid, to carry a backup gun, or stash guns all over the house, or carry while I'm home, etc.

- I think it's a sad way to live when you are defenseless in your own home.

- I think it's a good way to live to have a gun in the house for defense and/or CCW/OC one.

- I think it's a sad way to live when you're too afraid to use the john in your own home without a .44 magnum on your hip.

 

[huntsman]

Anyone else in a similar situation? Anyone decide to arm themselves anyway, purely out of a "better to have it and not need it..." or "I will because I can" or "I can, therefore I have an ethical duty to do so" mindset?

Yes I live in the country and have always been a hunter gun owner plinker now I have handguns and my CCW, but to be truthful I don't go anywhere so carrying is not the big deal for me.

 

[InkEd]

I Shoot some of my guns purely for fun but I others for defense as well. I don' fear the world but do sleep better at night knowing IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT somebody should break in or try to attAck me on the street I have protection. In a real life scenario I pick the guy with the BLACK rifle over the guy with the BLACK belt for defense. Shooting is fun if you just want to do it for sport more power to you.

 

[PA Dave]

I've not been shooting long, and I shoot purely for recreation and hunting at this point, for only two reasons; I've not yet acquired a handgun and I've not had any training with one. I plan to purchase one soon and learn to use it, because no one should assume that they are safe from crime. I've known too many people who have been murdered to think that anyone is that safe. Not one of those people lived in a dangerous urban setting; they lived in the suburbs, in neighborhoods where people don't feel the need to lock their doors because they are safe. All of them killed with knives. I think you should really consider the possibilities.

I don't plan to have an accident, but I have auto insurance. I don't plan to have a flat tire, but I have a spare tire. I don't plan to have my home burn, but I make plans for the family to escape if it does. I don't plan to have a madman invade my home, but I'm working on a plan if one does. Those plans include a handgun once I feel confident in it's use. Until then, the 12 gauge will be the primary defensive firearm.

 

[pak29]

Thanks to all for your feedback. I did not, and would not, say that I could never be the victim of crime; only that it strikes me as highly unlikely.

 

[DammitBoy]

I like driving. I've been driving for over 40 years. But I've never had a flat tire, at night, on the side of the interstate.

So I see no need to carry a spare tire, a flashlight, a jack, or road flares...

 

[2TransAms]

I shoot for fun. I mean, I just really enjoy shooting any gun I can get my hands on. It really is just very enjoyable to go to the range and shoot.

But a very strong secondary reason is HD. While that's not the main reason I shoot, I'm always aware that it is a possibility. Just as it's a possibility that a lot of other bad things could happen. Not likely, but possible...so it's best to be prepared.

I don't think it's unreasonable to have a plan for defending your home, for the same reason you keep a fire extinguisher and smoke alarms in your house. You mentioned "ethical duty". It's my duty to take care of my family. If we have a fire and get burned alive because I didn't think we needed smoke alarms, or if we die in our sleep because I don't have CO detectors, then I have failed as a father and husband. If somebody breaks in with murderous intent and I have chosen beforehand to be defenseless and at their mercy, I have failed as a father and husband.

 

[chevyforlife21]

i use guns for every reason they were invented for. the main one is plinking,targets, i also hunt, and i also have a gun for protection and i also fire that gun for fun too.

 

[franconialocal]

Let me be one of the first to cure that "small town" attitude that you talk about. My patrol is a town of about 1,000 people/ 100 sq/mi. In May of 2007 my FTO and friend was shot and killed in the line of duty on a very rural, sparsely populated road in a very very quiet little town. Yes....a job in law enforcement may be like putting our own heads on the chopping block, but this incident was a big wake up call for EVERYONE in this area that had the "it can't happen here" attitude. Boston? NYC? Even Manchester NH, etc. SURE!!! But not here!!! This place is too small, too idyllic, too "postcard" perfect!! Lesson learned.....people are people everywhere, even in Burlington VT (which I'm familiar with). Something to consider when you are just depending on peoples good graces or "location" that you will be living in.

 

[chibiker]

Don't know how to classify my shooting.... have several really nice rifles, couple three shotguns and more handguns than long guns. Haven't shot any of the long guns in hmm, at least three years. Handguns I try to rotate them and go to the range twice a month. When shooting I concentrate on getting the tightest groups I can from distances of seven to twenty five yards. Self defense never really enters my mind... see here in Chicago that is pretty much illegal. My guns don't get to come home with me, instead they live in a very beautiful safe at a family members home several miles away. Wait, I think I just answered my query.... yup. Purely recreational.



If it makes any of you feel better, cuz I know you are all concerned with my welfare. At home I have a very ugly Winchester 12 guage pump filled with buckshot. Have the priviledge of paying the Royal family once a year for it's "license". As long as the bad guys come after me only while I am home.......