Why are you a gun owner?

[Sinixstar]

At the moment of this post, over 26% are saying that NONE of their guns are for self-defense or for home-defense.

That's incorrect, sorry.

This poll could be useful if people answered truthfully and while sober.

Also, some of the poll options are not answers to the original question. The question assumes you're already a gun owner. The last two options assume you're NOT a gun owner. Those options mess up the poll a bit.

Why would that be incorrect?

 

[paintballdude902]

i loves mah guns
i loves tastey aminals
i hate invaders.....and zombies

i just love my guns my freedom and dinner

 

[Paladin_Hammer]

It started with hunting, then it just sort of rolled into "oh that looks nice, how much is that". Then it became: "can it hit consistently at 100 yards?", then "will it drop a deer at 100 yards?", "Is the ammo-to-accuracy ratio worth it?", "will it blend?".

Yeah, it just started moving with me.

 

[RX-178]

I never really thought of that. And after thinking about it for a good while after seeing this thread.

I just AM. That's all I can even say about it.

 

[anymanusa]

Nice poll. I wouldn't have voted unless you made multiple selections an option. I checked about 5-6 items, and one was 'you're a dufuss'... don't be offended, I just thought a separate line item should've been issued for 'protection in an anarchy/riot/disaster situation'. I know, you already kinda have it covered in the 'self protection' column, but that's just me being technical. You really have made a good poll.

 

[jakemccoy]

Why would that be incorrect?

About what I said about the self/home defense option (or any other option)...

Again, the last two options are screwing up the poll numbers. This poll works only if the people answering are gun owners. However, the last two options assume you are NOT a gun owner or at least do NOT possess a gun. Thus, each poll percentage you see is skewed.

 

[Jim_100]

I have liked guns for as long as I can remember. Addicted the first time I actually shot one. I like to plink but they are also the best tool to defend against scum who would like to do me or my people harm.

 

[ZombieHunter]

zombies and red dawn...

WOLVERINES!

 

[Quoheleth]

Because scrapbooking is a fun, entertaining way of organizing our family memorabelia and pictures into one, comprehensive book of remembrances. And that's why I spent last month's paycheck on scissors, paper, stamps, and bric-a-brac, honey.

Oh...wait...that's what I get told about the wife's hobby.

In addition to the reasons you poll for, "It's my hobby. Everyone needs a hobby."

Q

 

[catfish101]

Geneseo1911, I picked the dufus answer

You forgot my group.

"Grew up around them and don't know what life is like without them."

 

[Geneseo1911]

At the moment of this post, over 26% are saying that NONE of their guns are for self-defense or for home-defense.

That's incorrect, sorry.

I respectfully disagree. You're right that the last two don't actually pertain to the question, but they don't take percentage from the others. The percentages are percentages of the people who voted, not of the total votes, as each person has unlimited votes.

I actually find it very interesting that ~25% did not select HD; This is actually what I was kinda looking for-how many enthusiasts do we have here who are not interested in tactics/HD, but may be collectors or purely target shooters (ever wonder if the olympic shooters have a 870 police under their bed?)

On a deeper level, we should think about how we are all connected even though our specific interests may differ. The collector is just as upset that in Illinois he can't have that M16 as the zombie killer, and the hunter is just as hurt if his autoloading Benelli 12ga gets banned.

 

[monkyboy1975]

I first became interested in guns because of the tasty critters (my dad was a hunter, so family tradition.), then I discovered shooting stuff was fun (gotta love clays),and then I became interested in the guns themselves because of historical value or the gourgeous piece of wood on it or that some are different than others. I guess I'm just a gun nut that likes tasty critters!

 

[jakemccoy]

I respectfully disagree. You're right that the last two don't actually pertain to the question, but they don't take percentage from the others. The percentages are percentages of the people who voted, not of the total votes, as each person has unlimited votes.

I actually find it very interesting that ~25% did not select HD; This is actually what I was kinda looking for-how many enthusiasts do we have here who are not interested in tactics/HD, but may be collectors or purely target shooters (ever wonder if the olympic shooters have a 870 police under their bed?)

On a deeper level, we should think about how we are all connected even though our specific interests may differ. The collector is just as upset that in Illinois he can't have that M16 as the zombie killer, and the hunter is just as hurt if his autoloading Benelli 12ga gets banned.

If we could analyze these results without the last two options, we'd probably find that at least 85% of gun owners polled have guns for self/home defense. We just need to know how many voted outside of the last two options.

The original question assumes that you can only answer if you are a gun owner. If you answer anyway (for the last two options), it would be incorrect to put you in the same pool as the gun owners. However, the computer automatically makes you a part, which is incorrect. It's the designer of the poll's fault. If just one person answers who claims not to possess a gun (last two options), the percentages are skewed and incorrect. If many such people answer, the percentages are proportionally less accurate.

 

[7.62X25mm]

Because they're shiny, precision pieces of tooling, make a lot of noise, and smell good.

 

[Big B]

My first guns were given to me by family. As I learned more about them and got more experience with firearms, I grew to appreciate the works of art some firearms can be. (Particularly older revolvers) Have added 1 defensive firearm to my small but growing collection. And of course shooting stuff is fun

 

[shooter448]

i enjoy shooting guns for recreation but i also think that owning and shooting guns is a tradition that we can't let die out.

 

[RPCVYemen]

I believe the 2nd ammendment requires me to be prepared to fight an oppresive regime

The face that over 45% of us agree with this statement tells me how whacked out THR is - and I don't mean just the irregular spelling!

My guess is that less than 1% of the general population agrees with this - so if 45% of us agree with it, we' pretty far off into the weeds.

None of this is intended as criticism - I like wackos. But THR is definitely out there.

Mike

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Don't you know guns are evil? I know they statistically reduce crime, but havn't you ever seen a Michael Moore documentary?

But seriously, I want to get in to some organized sport shooting.

 

[dbarile]

Break-Free

Break-Free, I'm addicted to the smell of Break-Free (and machine oil).

What other activity would allow me to combine Break-Free and FMJ projectiles?

I didn't see it on the poll, but that zombie thing was pretty close.

 

[Grassman]

I grew up hunting,dad was a hunter. The self defense and plinkin' parts are a bonus, when your 12 you don't really think of the second amendment until you get a little older.

 

[FlyinBryan]

none of the above really, maybe fun, so thats what i voted.

for me its tradition in my family to enjoy shooting.

when i was 5 i remember sitting on my grandpaws and grandmaws front porch with 15 or so uncles, cousins, brother, sisters, mom, dad, all pretty much just sitting back plinking.

i can remember my mom lighting ohio blue tip matches from 25ft with a high standard target pistol.

my dad shooting pecans out of the trees with a colt python.

my uncles would stand tums up in the grass and pop them with 22 rifles.

and me with my trusty marlin 39a levergun.

once saw my dad shoot the rattles off a snake at a paced off 85 yds with a 3040 krag trap door loader that was dated before the turn of the century.

the snake was allowed to slither away.

quietly.

i was as handy with that little 39a at 5 years old as i would be now.

and just as responsible thanks to my dad and his brothers, as well as my older brother.

my dad has long been gone now, as well as all my grandparents.

come to think of it, only a small handful of those folks on that porch are still here, but the tradition is still very much alive, just now im not the nephew, or grandson.

now im the uncle and the dad.

just this last thanksgiving my family must have fired a thousand rounds of pistol, rifle, and scattergun.

we shot skeet, we had a dueling tree that was loads of fun with 22 pistols.

probably 20 kinfolk.

still my family, just a lot of different trigger fingers.


sorry for the long post. i voted fun but owed my family as well as you guys a little insight.

im sure im not the only one here with the same basic story.

bryan.

 

[wyocarp]

There needs to be a way to answer with multiple answers. Until then, I picked the last option.

 

[maddog1775]

Because I want to be. That is the only explanation required.

 

[ZeBool]

Because I have a moral obligation to protect me and mine against those who would seek to do harm. Whether they be home invaders, Russians, or Zombies

 

[monkyboy1975]

I forgot to add; the smell of Hoppe's No.9