What do you say when...

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DevLcL

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What do you say when someone asks you "Why do you own guns?" I suppose this is a PRK kind of question, but maybe some of you know what I mean. Sometimes I'll have company over and most of the time they are not gun owners or familiar with guns at all. It's mostly the girls who ask the dumb questions and the most popular is "Why do you own guns?" I always tell them the same thing. "I shoot innocent babies in their sleep."

-Dev
 
I've gone hungry (not that you could tell by looking at me now...) and, to quote one of the most famous movies in history: "As God as my witness, I shall never go hungry again." And neither shall my children.

And a modification of the adage: "Give a man a fish..."

I forgot that I've also used the "terrorist" angle. I have heard the "Yeah... right..." reply, I just tell them "That's what I thought all day September 10th."
 
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DevLcL said:
What do you say when someone asks you "Why do you own guns?" I suppose this is a PRK kind of question, but maybe some of you know what I mean. Sometimes I'll have company over and most of the time they are not gun owners or familiar with guns at all. It's mostly the girls who ask the dumb questions and the most popular is "Why do you own guns?" I always tell them the same thing. "I shoot innocent babies in their sleep."

-Dev
Click to expand...

"Why do you own guns?"

I haven't been asked this question by any company thus far, but if it should happen, I would just put them back on the answering end of their own question (the defensive) with a simple reply like, "Why are you asking?" and take it from there using the psychology of questioning every question they ask, for as long as it takes, until they are burned out.

Nobody has to needlessly justify their reasons to anyone else why they have sharp edged silverware in the kitchen drawer, a pencil on a desk, a hammer in the tool box, or an axe in the shed. Why then a gun in the house??

"I shoot innocent babies in their sleep." is a poor answer.
 
I was hospitalized last year and my wife brought my gun mags (the reading kind) to the hospital. One nurse tried to confiscate them, then tried to get security to confiscate them (they refused) and after she realized she'd lost the argument she said "why do you want to have guns, you seem like a really nice guy."

After I started explaining that I like to target shoot, and the historical aspect of gun collecting she sat down and we had a nice conversation. We flipped through the pages of the mags and after I showed her how the only real difference between an "evil" AR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14 "hunting rifle" was cosmetic she seemed to start coming around a bit. Then I showed her a picture of an S&W 617 (.22LR) with a 10-round cylinder and a Ruger Mark II .22LR with a 10-round mag and explained that I could shoot either as fast as I could pull the trigger, and explained that some people thought the Ruger was more dangerous because it was a "semi-auto." I also named some of the doctors that I knew were shooters, and some of the celebrities. By the time we were done she had a whole new perspective on guns and shooting.
 
DevLcL said:
What do you say when someone asks you "Why do you own guns?" -Dev
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I used to have a bunch of replies ranging from smart-aleck to earnest explanations. Now all I say is: Come with me to the range and I'll show you.
 
LadySmith said:
I used to have a bunch of replies ranging from smart-aleck to earnest explanations. Now all I say is: Come with me to the range and I'll show you.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that one is definitely going on the list.

The couple times I've been asked, my response has been some variation of "It's a proactive supplement to my life insurance policy."
 
For several years after we'd really been getting into shooting, Hubby and I would reply, "For the same reason we own a fire extinguisher: to deal with trouble when it happens."

...Then we realized we didn't own a fire extinguisher. :eek: Bought one that same day. Duh!

Any more, I think that, "Come to the range with me and I'll show why!" is a better response. (And that's one of the reasons I try to always bring a .22 pistol along; that, and for loaning to new shooters struggling with more gun that they are comfortable with).

--Herself
 
ingram said:
"To keep them out of the hands of violent offenders, you should be thanking, not questioning, my efforts."
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Thats a good one
 
As gun owners, we're representatives of a subgroup of the culture we live in. If we're truly interested in promoting the right to keep and bear arms, it behooves us to cut the confrontational crap.

If someone asks you why you own guns, answer them. If they don't like your answer shrug and say 'You asked' and drop it. But being belligerent is going to reinforce the stereotype of gun owners as aggressive, bullying, unsocial sociopaths.

Besides, you might just intrigue them enough to want to learn more and that's how minds are changed. :)
 
The only time I was ever asked this question, complete with the implied "you otherwise seem like a nice person", I replied that I had guns for a number of reasons, including the fact that I instruct others in their safe care and use. The first lesson, I said, is always free, and when could I expect her? ;)

(Incidentally, I have -yet- to -actually- charge anyone for instruction, but I leave it implied that I do. People don't value what they get for free)
 
Falconeer makes a very good point. If someone asks you why you own guns, they're giving you an opportunity to "evangelize." If we shuck off that chance with some snide remark, we've only helped reinforce their anti-gun opinions. Instead, we should take the opportunity to respectfully and truthfully answer their question.
As for me, I own some because I inherited them from my father... they're family heirlooms. Some I own as historical collector's pieces. A couple I own to keep my family safe in the admittedly unlikely event of a home invasion. (I'd go nuts if it happened, and all I could do is allow them to victimize me...) Others I own because it's just so fun to go out to the range and see how close together I can put the little holes... and most of those are semiautomatic handguns. (!) The offer to take them to the range is an excellent idea!
They've given you a PULPIT. Take what may appear to be a self-righteous, accusatory question, and in a freindly manner, spread the gospel!
Marty
 
My signature is my standard answer:

"Why do I own guns? Well, you just never know when you're gonna need to shoot something."
 
There are a lot of great responses here

The short answer is . . .
. . . "because I choose to be part of the answer rather than part of the problem."
Click to expand...

I will sometimes respond with "More importantly, why DON'T You?"

I also like to explain, if given the opportunity, that it is both my right and my responsibility!

Bryan
 
My reply to a sarcastic type of question is, "It keeps everyone polite." If they ask an honest question and have a couple of minutes then I explain the reasons why I CCW and my civil responsibility to watch over the public. The next question I get asked is, "Are you a cop?" I ask them, "Do you need to be a cop to protect the public?" That usually gets them. People are so set in their ways of thinking that they assume that you are a cop if you carry a gun. A few explanations usually clear that up.
 
I read somewhere else that even anti-gun people have a smile on their face after then finish firing a magazine at the range. A reasoned, respectful response, with follow-up questions answered, and an offer to take them to the range, is a great way to go.

I actually like the implication that I'm "otherwise a nice guy". It means they know me, understand something about me, and so will be able to change their attitudes and feel comfortable with their own gun ownership should they decide to switch sides.

We have to understand that we are on the leading edge of this debate, and we know how the MSM, the Brady Bunch and others are manipulating most people, BUT the people being manipulated don't know that. They think their question is perfectly reasonable, and to respond with acrimony or sarcasm only reinforces the negative stereotype the MSM is creating. If every gun owner a person meets is opposite of what they see on TV, they'll soon start learning that they are being manipulated, and when that happens, we have a new member in the club.
 
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