Why own a gun?

[cantdrv55]

Other than hunting animals for food, why would you own a gun? I guess a better question might be, why would you own a handgun? I'm not against owning firearms but I am curious as to why one would want to own one or feel the need for one?

[VaSteve]

I don't own a gun, but Im sure the day will come when I run out of other fun things to buy. My food comes from the Safeway.

[928ram]

Well, there's job requirement - law enforcement, security, military.

Home defense/security

Hunting of course

Vermin control (farmers)

Dozens of different types of short shooting (can't kill them clay pigeons with a stick or bow and arrow)

General plinking just for the fun of it.

That help?

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Other than hunting animals for food, why would you own a gun? I guess a better question might be, why would you own a handgun? I'm not against owning firearms but I am curious as to why one would want to own one or feel the need for one?

So I can pop the poor critter from a safe distance with my .22 target pistol. You see, not long ago, the raccoon causing problems here turned out to be a skunk caught in our "humane" live trap. There is also a 9mm in my possession. A Browning Hi-Power to be exact...tuned a bit by a local gunsmith. You see, I'm radical. I'd like to see all rapists, carjackers, child molesters, etc. DEAD! Save us the cost of a trial, court appointed attorneys, etc. Just get a concealed carry permit, and if attacked? KILL the vermin...(edit) All that said, I feel kind of guilty about popping the skunk. It was only being a skunk. Human vermin? Don't think I'd feel as guilty...

[WOODPIE]

I have never owned a gun of any type. I have handled some, and shot a couple of them. I have never really liked the feel of holding a tool of such destructive potential.

Lately, I have given some thought to purchasing a handgun, to keep in the house. My neighborhood is only about one half mile from a level five state penitentiary, and the good folks that run it are planning to shut down about one-third of the manned and armed guard towers in favor of some new-fangled electronic security system. Supposed to save money. You know how expensive those ten-buck-an-hour guards can be....

Anyway, on the chance that one of the inmates picks my house as a good prospect for a meal and a change of clothes, and to ward off the ever growing population of phedrine phreaks around here, that is why I'm considering buying a gun.

Don't know yet if I will, or not.

Ed

[jyl]

Guns are cool, in an intricate crafted mechanical way. Target shooting is fun, plinking on old cans is even more fun. I think hunting would be fun too, tho' I've never had the chance. Nice to have the capability of self-defense, although I'd be surprised if you could find anyone on this board who's actually aimed or fired his gun in self-defense (any civilian, that is).

[dd74]

Why own one? Because it's our constitutional right. Because there's more bad guys than good guys. I used to have a strong opinion against gun ownership. But I've also been witness to the utter fact that only you can protect yourself, and that it's foolish to rely on anyone else for that protection.

[350HP930]

Target shooting and self defense are the reasons I own firearms.

If you are ever unfortunate to have someone try to kill or seriously harm you the need for one might become a bit more obvious.

Having a serial killer murder and mutililate a few people in my neighborhood and a few friends being robbed and shot was enough to convince me of the need to carry a weapon.

There is an old saying that its better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have one.

[Shuie]

Why justify owning a gun?

Dont like them? Fine. Dont ask me about them.

[kumma]

I guess I have a different view of the as the question to me is "Why would any one not own a gun?"

Its interesting that my non gun owning friends are the type of people who dont do for themselves, they eat out, hire lawn services, pay for repairs on cars homes etc.. My gun owning freinds are the hands on fix it themselves, belt and suspenders type of people self reliance is key for them. I always thought that was interesting.

[911boost]

Why own two 911s?

That is about as stupid of a question in my mind. Are you attempting to stir the pot, or is it an honest question?

Why own a hammer?

Why own a screw driver?

Why own a wrench?

All of them are tools, completely useless without a human being using it to pound in a nail, tighten a screw, or remove a bolt. A gun is no different, it is a tool just like a hammer, a screw driver or a wrench.

Also just like the above mentioned tools, if you don't know how to use it, it can be less than affective. If you do own a gun, know how to use it.

Bill

[Jims5543]

I do not own a gun but have been pondering it lately. What stops me is the fact that I have a 11 year old and 1.5 year old in the house. One mistake could break my heart. If I buy a gun for home security and keep it under lock and key what good is it doing?? May as well not have one.

I watched Bowling for Columbine, while not a big fan of Moores he made good points. Why do any of us feel the need to have a gun. Are we that unsafe in our homes? If you watch the news every night you might feel unsafe. I avoid all forms of news and television in general (except for Autocracing)

I have found myself to be a lot less anxiety ridden since avoiding the news especially. I talk with neighbors and keep an eye out in the neighborhood, along with all my neighbors.

One of my buddies / co workers is a gun collector. I am fascinated by guns. My grandfather collected guns while involved in WWII touring Germany behind the US forces. He accumulated quite an impressive array of guns from Germany anf Italy, the former owners... well..didn't need them anymore.

He ended up trading them for medals and currency after hearing a rumor that they would be confiscated upon arrival back to the USA. Unfortunatly that was a lie.

My buddy is helping me pick a good beginner gun and taking me to the range and teaching me how to use it right.

[cegerer]

Why own a handgun? Because my shotguns don't fit in the nightstand drawer.

[CarreraCab]

cantdrv55, I find it odd that you would ask that question, having lived in the Bay Area for 22 years, you surely must read the papers, there are a lot of criminal types doing what they do best, lots of junkies looking for a cheap fence for a fix. I liked the fact that my family was safe, as well as my property, think about it, Doug

[coloradoporsche]

The idea behind the second amendment is that the PEOPLE can be armed. This was a revolutionary concept when our constitution was written because most countries only alowed the government to have weapons....which lead to massive abuses of power.

The difference between genocide and civil war is just a few AK-47s.

And they're pretty fun to shoot. But I have to admit the Porshce is much more fun

[Victor]

Originally posted by kumma
I guess I have a different view of the as the question to me is "Why would any one not own a gun?"

Its interesting that my non gun owning friends are the type of people who dont do for themselves, they eat out, hire lawn services, pay for repairs on cars homes etc.. My gun owning freinds are the hands on fix it themselves, belt and suspenders type of people self reliance is key for them. I always thought that was interesting.

Statistically the first group has a higher IQ than the second.......

[dd74]

Originally posted by Victor
Statistically the first group has a higher IQ than the second.......

I don't think that's a fair assessment. What do you base that on? I know PhD, tenured professors who own guns. Lawyers, doctors, film makers, hell, even the most brilliant of the brilliant - poets!

It isn't the person as much as the scenario in which the person lives that necessitates gun ownership.

[Victor]

Originally posted by coloradoporsche


The difference between genocide and civil war is just a few AK-47s.

Astonishing. You think the Bush administration would round you up and shove you in an oven if you didn't have your AK47?

You need to pray for a new president.

[Victor]

Originally posted by dd74
I don't think that's a fair assessment. What do you base that on? I know PhD, tenured professors who own guns. Lawyers, doctors, film makers, hell, even the most brilliant of the brilliant - poets!

It isn't the person as much as the scenario in which the person lives that necessitates gun ownership.

Your professor is a "belt and suspenders" type person?

[911boost]

Well Victor, they can use their higher IQ's to have an intellectual conversation with the terrorists, I'd much rather be surrounded by the second group.