Gun ownership: Because you can? Or because you need?

originally posted by: rossacus
a reply to: nerbot

That's what I say but be prepared for the backlash and the lack of acknowledgement from where these thought processes derived.

Backlash....lol

Truth hurts eh?

I ALWAYS speak my mind (within T&Cs).

Bring it on.

a reply to: brace22

My "need" is the same as my "need for a tractor, power and hand tools etc...there is also a protective need due to my Homestead location and just 2 duty sheriff's available for the entire rural County during any shift.

I have a great pyrenees coming as well. I have livestock that I have invested everything I have in and need to protect them from predators, I prefer to hunt or free range for my families meat.

Guns are tools and so are some people, so with heroin addicts robbing people in the country all the time, with child sex slavery being a giant issue where I live and the fact I travel a ton for my other business. ...it's just prudent to own different fire arms for different purposes.

City people are indeed naive and many are ignorant as to what food production requires, especially when being as self sufficient as possible.

a reply to: brace22

First thing...You should never be afraid of voicing your opinion and asking questions.
If someone is offended that is their problem to deal with not yours.I am sick of people
being made to feel they have to bend over backwards to make sure they didn't offend
anyone.A bunch of whining, crybabies always complaining their feelings are hurt.
Second thing...It is always better to be prepared and be aware of everything.I would
never assume a city or town is safe.Most of the time it could be true but something
could always happen.
Last thing...I own guns and do carry,most of the time,because I want to and I know the
responsibility of being a gun owner.

I have two industrial quality fire extinguishers. They have sat there for years and years and never been used. I don't really need them.

originally posted by: Thecakeisalie
However I really don't see the need for weapons that have a home on the battlefield and should not be in the home.

Most personal battlefield weaponry is less powerful than an average hunting rifle. There's not a clear-cut qualitative difference between what I used to wag around and what I own. Unless you're talking squad level stuff like a SAW or a Ma Deuce.

Gun enthusiasts I can understand, but why would anyone need high else powered assault rifles for any other reason then a hobby?

In general, you can't GET a "high powered assault rifle". Let's consider that one. What do you view as an "assault rifle"? There's really no such thing. If you mean something like an M4, that round is a stock 5.56x45, and pretty much any hunting rifle I have is "higher powered" than that round. About the only thing an M4 has that my hunting rifles don't is selective fire. And frankly, I can count the number of times I had my M16 (got out prior to the M4) on fully auto on my fingers.

You can't, as Joe Citizen, just go out and buy a fully auto rifle or sidearm.

Thus the 'high power assault rifle' argument is sort of moot. Most decent hunting rounds are 'higher powered' and you can't actually purchase a fully auto weapon, without jumping through arcane and draconian hoops and plunking down a wad of money. A large wad.

I've said before why do some feel they need such an arsenal?

An arsenal is where weapons are designed. Armory is what you mean, I think. And you have to first address the question of 'what sort of weapons are actually available for you to have', because I can tell you, I can't go out and get a SAW or a SMAW at a gun show. Or a fully capable Ma Deuce. Or a Mark 19. Now, I'd really like a Mark 19, but they've got a real issue with me having one.

originally posted by: brace22

Living in a community where guns are NOT a common thing by any means, I have always found it difficult to comprehend the NEED for a gun.

I have more guns then I need so that is a want, but I have about 2.5 billion seconds to live and if I need a gun for lets say 20 of those 2.5 billion seconds in a life or death situation then I see the money well worth spent on the need for one even if those 20 seconds never happen.

Owning firearms is not always a "need" or "because I can" as has been said. Are your cameras needs or because you can?
I have about a dozen firearms. Some are legacies from relatives, some are left over from my hunting days, one is from my days as a target shooter and is also dangerous as a club.
As to use, I live in the suburbs of a medium sized city and occasionally have to go through dangerous neighborhoods at night. On those occasions, I do carry a personal weapon. Carrying a firearm is a grave responsibility and one I do not take lightly. Many things can go wrong which can put me in the jackpot or harm innocents. I have it because the bad people in the world also have guns. Mostly they are much younger and stronger than I am at this point in my life so a gun is a nice equalizer. If they rob me, I don't care about the money, but some of these thugs hurt people even after they get the money...because they can. I don't intend to go quietly. So far, I have been trouble free, mainly because I remain aware of situations and do my best to avoid them, but there is no guarantee of that. I will not be a hero in a convenience store stickup unless someone foolishly points a gun in my direction or shoots it off and scares me. I am deaf enough that firing a gun in a closed room won't make me much deafer and old enough to know what is important enough to fire it. Shoplifters at Walmart will get away clean. The police will take care of any ongoing crime if they arrive in time; I will not be "helping" them as they have a tough enough job as it is. Do I need a firearm? When I hunted [deer and pheasant or dogs and coyotes going after the sheep] it was a good tool. For self defense? So far, no, but it is a nice insurance policy.

@Bedlam: I never fired a Mk19; only an M79 Blooper. I really want a 20mm Oerlikon so I can visit the Robocallers and let them know what I really think about 2am hang-up phonecalls.

The old "if no one had them you wouldn't need one"

Well criminals will always have guns if they are banned, forbidden, or gun free zones.

When the peaceful people are unarmed, the criminals will own the day and night

originally posted by: pteridine
@Bedlam: I never fired a Mk19; only an M79 Blooper. I really want a 20mm Oerlikon so I can visit the Robocallers and let them know what I really think about 2am hang-up phonecalls.

There are few things more fun than a Mk19 and a #heap of grenades.

Broke out in maniacal laughter, I did, the first time I got to fire one.

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: pteridine
@Bedlam: I never fired a Mk19; only an M79 Blooper. I really want a 20mm Oerlikon so I can visit the Robocallers and let them know what I really think about 2am hang-up phonecalls.

There are few things more fun than a Mk19 and a #heap of grenades.

Broke out in maniacal laughter, I did, the first time I got to fire one.

Does anyone use the sights other than for a first ranging shot?

a reply to: Bedlam

I'd probably carry too if I worked in an embassy...I did see that Ben Affleck movie "Argo" after all.

I didn't use to carry a pocket knife. In fact, I never really found myself say, "dang, I wish I had a pocket knife right now!"

Then I bought a really nice one and decided it would be a waste not to carry it around.

Now? Now I find all kinds of uses for it, and use it almost on a daily basis.

I have a feeling that when you carry something around with you all the time, you'll find a way to get use out of it. The same applies with guns. If everyone -- and I mean everyone -- was armed and walking around, we'd probably see more shootings, not fewer.

a reply to: pteridine

THERE you go.
www.cannonsuperstore.com...
OH ah sorry but the rounds that explode are illegal in the US to possess and in order to actually SHOOT one you really better clear it with local LEOs first,or they might confiscate it.
Don't forget the legal paperwork or tax on it or it's 20 years.

originally posted by: pteridine

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: pteridine
@Bedlam: I never fired a Mk19; only an M79 Blooper. I really want a 20mm Oerlikon so I can visit the Robocallers and let them know what I really think about 2am hang-up phonecalls.

There are few things more fun than a Mk19 and a #heap of grenades.

Broke out in maniacal laughter, I did, the first time I got to fire one.

Does anyone use the sights other than for a first ranging shot?

Not that I know of. Start far and walk in, that's the ticket.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
I didn't use to carry a pocket knife. In fact, I never really found myself say, "dang, I wish I had a pocket knife right now!"

Then I bought a really nice one and decided it would be a waste not to carry it around.

Now? Now I find all kinds of uses for it, and use it almost on a daily basis.

I have a feeling that when you carry something around with you all the time, you'll find a way to get use out of it. The same applies with guns. If everyone -- and I mean everyone -- was armed and walking around, we'd probably see more shootings, not fewer.

I think that is the issue that those from unarmed societies struggle with.

I often have a knife in my pocket but am a hands on kind of guy, there are many situations were I can go "stand back, I'll cut that string, loosen that thing" ect.

But a hand gun only really has 2 uses(3 if you include movie style door lock shooting).

a reply to: MystikMushroom

But what an ULTRA POLITE society it would be.
Scary.

Self defense is a right given to all creatures on Earth.

What separates the US from much of the world is that the US Constitution does not presume that cutting the horns off the gazelle will make the herd safer, it will not reduce predators.

The Anti-gun crowd seems to think that predators will magically be something other than predators, as long as no one has horns, claws, or teeth that are too sharp.

Taking guns from innocent, law abiding Americans is morally wrong.

a reply to: nonspecific

Door locks ricochet pistol rounds all the time ,that's why they use a shotgun slug.
Target shooting is a better one.

a reply to: nonspecific

Yes, but if you walk around with a gun you now have another option to solve a potential problem. If you are unarmed, you probably have to run away or negotiate (use your words).

Humans have an incredible ability to justify our behavior. You might shoot someone out of anger, feeling fully justified in the moment. If someone overhears you shoot your gun, they might pull their gun out and shoot at you. Then, someone else might jump in and fire their gun.

Pretty soon we've got an all-out warzone situation where no one knows who really is the bad guy and everyone's shooting at one another.

I swear it'll happen...mark my words...

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
a reply to: Bedlam

I'd probably carry too if I worked in an embassy...I did see that Ben Affleck movie "Argo" after all.

As FSO and former Lord of the SCIF, when I'm at work and not on a customer gig for my entire life I help guard the building and grounds against unwanted types that get past the fence.

Sadly, only a few ever have, and we detained them without incident for the shady types to take away and investigate.

I have threatened a few vendors with a cavity search when they gave me a less than favorable quote. And we permabanned one vendor for taking photos of the white boards in other rooms than the one we escorted them to.

I longed for years for some errant local LEO to try to force their way in. None tried. Alas.