Why do we love guns???

[crazymailman]

Well said, paul!

[PaiN]

I was the only "shooter" in my family(out side of my Dad, but only when he was in the Army)...I had my first gun, a Marlin 60, as a young teen but even then shooting was always a secondary thing.
It wasn't until my "awakening" (many years ago) of the peril our freedom is in and the conditions of this nation and the world that guns really came into my life. Once I had a few guns, I fell in love with them. I have been fascinated with their function and feel, ever since. I love the coming together of the systems; gun/ammo/shooter to put rounds on target. Mostly I love the inherent power and freedom guns afford.

[OldLincoln]

I confess I don't love guns. If we lived in a perfect world I would only have the one I inherited. I don't like carrying and I find the thought of needing to use it disturbing. But I do have guns because I refuse to allow some thug to harm my family. I appreciate the mechanical aspect and admire the inner workings of my guns when I clean them, but it is something I'd gladly give up if not needed.

[RCH jr]

I love guns because they always remind me of growing up at my grand dad's house. I would sit in his den with pine knot paneling, a great built-in gun rack and listen to him tell me hunting stories while I cleaned his Savage lever action 99e, mine now, for the 400th time. Guns bring back to me a time when a "man was a real man" and your word was your promise. I love the precision also and the ability to carry everyday. I think that the people that are on the forums and at the gun shops are generally good people also.

[knkali]

I've often thought about this question, and I have more than one reason.

Guns and my family were never a combination. It simply wasn't an issue that came up at all, one way or the other. However, if you asked them point blank, they'd be anti gun. I don't have any gun owning friends either. I was completely on my own for this.

I still remember the first time I walked into a gun store. Even though I had been reading up on gun forums and watching YouTube vids for almost two years, I was still very nervous. My knees were shaking and so was my voice! But hey, here I am today, completely comfortable. So in that sense, it was also a "personal accomplishment" thing.

Getting my CWP was also the first truly "adult" thing I did after turning 21. That was important for my own need to feel some independence.

1) I really love gadgets. That has been the situation since I was a kid. I was always a nerd. Guns are a really cool gadget in a sense. I can also appreciate the kind of engineering and workmanship (ok, well, machines in a factory) that goes into making something that can work over and over without fail. Modern guns are really a kind of modern marvel.

2) My journey into libertarian-leaning political philosophy. After a lot of thought, I came to accept some core values that I now believe extremely strongly in. One of those values is the rigid sovereignty and essential freedom of the individual. Oftentimes throughout history, we see that the slave would not be allowed the ownership of arms, while the slavemaster would have many arms - often for the purpose of keeping any rebellious slaves in line.

The concept that one man can own another is a terrible idea. Possibly one of the greatest sins we have ever committed - and it is against our own selves!

Although I don't expect to get thrown on a slaveship, the concept is what really sticks in my mind. I am a free man. The firearm serves as a powerful symbol of that.

3) I had an experience that kind of woke me up out of my personal security and general about-the-world apathy. I didn't want to have to exist at the mercy of some criminal any longer. I didn't want to be at peace only as long as some scumbag out there mercifully decided I should be able to live my life in peace.

Yes, a firearm does not at all guarantee my safety, but it does at least give me a fighting chance. There is no reason I should have to walk about my daily duties, or sleep in my home, and fear that I will be defenseless should that bad scenario actually happen.

I refuse to be a victim.

well said. thanks for sharing

[steve666]

Simple answer - Because they are AWESOME!!!

[johnh]

Bringing all aspects together.The gun,the ammunition,my marksmanship skills.to a precise ending.The placement of the projectile where I want it to be.That and a hell of a lot of noise.

This one nailed it for me. Well said Dietrich! It is an exercise in the arts martial to me. Intensely personal, unifying all of the involved components into the sum of the act of shooting well. I suppose a few hundred years ago I would be as devoted to the sword as I am to the pistol and rifle.

[yqtszhj]

Looks like most all bases are covered so far.

One thing I forgot to mention is the fact that my oldest son and daughter enjoy going the range also and that is valuable time for us. That girl of mine likes insects, knives, following dear tracks, all the outside stuff more than my sons. She can shoot a Ruger .22 pistol that I have very well. The older country guy's at the range get a kick out of it.

[jlottmc]

My daughter will be there soon. As to the question, that takes some thought and I think I finally got it. Part of what I tell my wife is that the responsibility of owning a gun, gives much more of a gift than that. It gives freedom (to not depend on anyone for defense, not to be a victim etc.), independence, and personal strength (if nothing else the decision to use it is a trial in and of itself when one was not raised with a gun). There are so many intangible benefits that a gun brings with it. Then there is the cool factor, just something about big boy toys.

[Willieboy]

Because they're so much fun to nuzzle and cuddle with.