All the Reaons for Owning a Firearm

[Ed Ames]

So yes, in a way there is an unwillingness to commit to a hypothetical future fight, but it's not stemmed so much from it being an alien concept as it is from the idea that we wouldn't stand a chance, so why bother?

I think they both exist. I mentioned the defeatist "citizens with guns couldn't win" point of view under what I called "Defense of/from the state." I think the other is part of what I meant by self sufficiency.

In a way, it makes sense. Our founding fathers fought back with ALL the same arms and battery available to them. Further, they more or less broke the mold and fought guerilla style against an army that had never dealt with that kind of enemy before. Our armies today aren't standing in a field expecting to fight another army standing in a field, where structure and order will determine the victor. Our armies receive real training in how to actually FIGHT, both with and without weapons, that the average American will never be able to compete against. Even the average gun owner, or gun aficionado, won't ever be able to compete with it. Fitness is a huge factor and the public doesn't have it. Skill in the operation of a firearm. Unarmed combat. Battlefield medicine.

It's a stacked deck. I think any honest person would admit that.

So then how do we rebut the argument that we could ever stand a real chance fighting back? And if we can't, then what purpose does the second amendment really serve in its original context?

Just a bit of devil's advocate to chew on.

I think it is a mistake to assume that rebels will obey NFA '34 and similar laws. I remember watching a documentary about the Yugoslav wars and specifically a bunch of guys in a shot up building standing around a computer with a CAD program displaying the design of a RPG they were designing. They buily weapons when they couldn't buy them.

Will rebels have nuke submarines? Probably not. Will they have 1,000,000 quadrotor drones with the best self-navigation and targeting tech that employees of places like Google, Microsoft, and Apple can design? Each one capable of swarming a jet and allowing itself and its payload of tungsten ball bearings to be ingested into the engines? Could be. Heck, that wouldn't even take a carefully worded Kickstarter campaign...a single billionaire could fund it several times over.

Irregular doesn't sit still for a textbook.

 

[David Blane]

My reasons?

1) The Bill of RIGHTS confirms my Constitutional Right to carry and own weapons.

2) No other explanation needed.

(See, it's called the Bill of Rights, NOT the Bill of NEEDS!)

 

[David Blane]

People will always find a way to kill other people... Doesn't matter if the weapon is bought or made, they all kill..

How does your government stop this kind of threat?!



Even armored vehicles can be produced at home..


If they take the guns... We make new ones. Fact, so what's the solution?

 

[David Blane]

You can produce a variety of "arms"...
Close quarters arms like these, made by people all around the world.

And this little gem...


Now, by no means am I advocating violence against ANYONE. I'm only pointing out the ingenuity of the determined.

 

[hso]

When people bring up "the 2nd is outdated" it is useful to remind them of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan irregular forces and that the lack of commitment of National Guard and regular military forces (if not outright mutiny) all combine to make the principals behind the 2nd still relevant. Consider further the number of veterans that still have their training fresh in their minds.

 

[ATLDave]

Whenever someone suggests that we could do a better job of prohibiting guns than we have, say, recreational drugs, I just have to laugh. And then I usually share a link such as this one: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/01/22/common-illicitly-homemade-submachine-guns-brazil/

I think a good argument can be made that the relatively high availability of semi-automatic pistols and revolvers has actually PREVENTED the development of a large black market in manufactured full-auto weapons. But if possession of both a revolver and a submachine gun are illegal, and you are a criminal who desires a firearm, you may as well go for the subgun. If we somehow managed to make every current, factory made firearm vanish from every criminal's possession, there's a high likelihood that most of them would soon be replaced by full auto open bolt guns.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Why do we need guns? I personally would never gratify that question with an answer because whoever asked it obviously does not have a grasp on natural rights or basic survival. But that's pretty common place nowadays.

We are lucky in the fact that we have a constitution that allows us the right, "governmentally" speaking, but going further, natural given rights to anyone on this planet IMHO allow one to defend themselves, universally. The next logical argument would be hunting in order to be self sufficient, which SHOULD be a basic skill. You'll find in most cases though that both defense and self sufficiency will fall on deaf ears in this weak knee'd society that we currently live in.

Thus, in most cases debate on the subject is a lost cause. There's more than likely many better ways you can spend your time, like reloading or at the range.

 

[Manny]

I love shooting, the challange of aquiring and improving skills, the pride in being able to fend for myself and contribute to the common defense, the pure fun of the sport both in formal disciplines and informal shooting. But why I especially own guns is because the historical precedent repeated time and again where men and governments of ill will and evil intent disarm a populace and enslave them, often to the point of genocide. The "it can't happen here" crowd needs to learn some ugly history.

 

[Ed Ames]

Folks...a whole bunch of you are changing the question. Nobody asked "why do you need...", They asked what the uses are.

For example, one use of guns is as paperweights. Do we need guns as paperweights? That wasn't the question. If you use a gun as a paperweight then that's one of your uses whether it is a need, want, or bitter fact of life.

 

[David Blane]

Well then. Let me clarify...

"All the Reasons for Owning a Gun"..

Because I can...

 

[Ed Ames]

They didn't ask that either.

They asked for what you use them for. For example, a member here has a video of using tanerite and a rifle to clear trees on his property. So he is using his guns for land management. That doesn't mean the reason he owns guns is land management.

 

[TikkaShooter]

I have auto, health, life and home owner's insurance and I hope I never get to use them. I also own firearms which are an insurance also. Even better, the only insurance I can have fun using.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Ask him what his reasons are for voting. Demand that he justify it.

Then explain when you have a RIGHT to do something, you don't have to justify it.

 

[dragon813gt]

Well then. Let me clarify...

"All the Reasons for Owning a Gun"..

Because I can...

I would add "and I want to" to the end of that statement

 

[jamesjames]

Another reason to own a gun.

Because the founding fathers wanted every able bodied, adult, free man to own a gun. It is the instrument of freedom. Women and/or small framed people should own an AR, because they are light weight, light recoiling, and easy to operate.

 

[David Blane]

They didn't ask that either.

They asked for what you use them for. For example, a member here has a video of using tanerite and a rifle to clear trees on his property. So he is using his guns for land management. That doesn't mean the reason he owns guns is land management.

Actually, the thread is titled "All the reasons for owning a firearm".
The answer from me, "Because I can" most definitely answers the titles question...

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Folks...a whole bunch of you are changing the question. Nobody asked "why do you need...", They asked what the uses are.

For example, one use of guns is as paperweights. Do we need guns as paperweights? That wasn't the question. If you use a gun as a paperweight then that's one of your uses whether it is a need, want, or bitter fact of life.

The question is "What are all the reasons for owning guns"?

The problem is that generally the folks asking for reasons are not reasonable.

Therefore if you're so inclined to get into a debate of the sort, it's more proactive to "flip the script" if you will, and tell them why you (we) NEED guns.


And I clearly backed that up in post #32.

 

[OH_Spartan]

It would be interesting to hear his response to...

"what are all of the reasons why you don't own a gun?"
or better yet...

"what are all of the reasons you don't think I should own a gun?"

 

[Ed Ames]

Actually, the thread is titled "All the reasons for owning a firearm".
The answer from me, "Because I can" most definitely answers the titles question...

You are right.

He made a list of uses, but then he turned around and asked for reasons instead of uses. I fell into the spirit of his uses list but technically he wasn't answering his own question. Sigh.

My reasons answer is easy: same reason i want a pen, a car, or any other tool: to extend my capabilities.

 

[David Blane]

It can go that way sometimes.. No sweat my friend.

 

[Taurus 66]

Post was deleted for fear it may not be welcomed amongst the more emotionally sensitive within the community.

 

[MedWheeler]

David Blane writes:

My reasons?

1) The Bill of RIGHTS confirms my Constitutional Right to carry and own weapons.

2) No other explanation needed.

(See, it's called the Bill of Rights, NOT the Bill of NEEDS!)

This is a weak, if not irrelevant, argument. After all, the question is why you own firearms, not why you believe you are permitted to. One does not necessarily desire to do everything that has been ruled as a right. I have the right to go out slathered in swastika-bearing garb, or dress as a female (I'm not one), but have not chosen to, or desired to, exercise that right.

It's called the Bill of Rights, not the Bill of Musts.

Actually, the thread is titled "All the reasons for owning a firearm".
The answer from me, "Because I can" most definitely answers the titles question...

Now seriously, do you really do everything you can (are permitted to?) There are a lot of people who have the right to keep and bear arms, but have not chosen to do so (and I'm glad they have the freedom to make that choice.)

 

[j1]

To be able to practice for Olympic competition.

 

[Reloadron]

I was on You Tube recently and had a lengthy debate with a member there. He didn't agree with the 2nd Amendment and my right to RKBA. Then he asked me what were my reasons for wanting to own guns. This is what I told him: "#1. I use a firearm as a means of defending myself and my family should a situation ever present itself when and where it's needed. #2. It's a good way to spend quality time with family and friends doing something fun like target and trap shooting. #3. I like to hunt and prefer the taste of fresh game over store meats contaminated with antibiotics, hormones, and God knows what else. #4. Guns can be used for pest control."

He's is from a country which undoubtedly banned and conditioned their servile citizens to accept it many generations ago. Now he's the new clueless generation trying to force his beliefs upon a citizen who still enjoys more freedom than him.

My question is this. Are there any other reasons for wanting to own guns than the ones I already listed?

My love affair with the gun began long before all of the new anti-gun culture was popular. I was given a .22 rifle in 1958 which I still have today. Before I retired my co-workers for the most part enjoyed golf. Many would travel to play on known courses. Me? Never got into golf but can appreciate the game for the skill and practice required to become proficient at the game. They awake on summer mornings early and load their clubs into their cars. I awake and load my rifles into my truck. I simply love the shooting sports as much as they love golf. I guess it is a pursuit of happiness thing. I should not need to explain my love of the shooting sports anymore than a golfer explain his love of his game. “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” I won't argue my rights which I have enjoyed a good number of years. I do not need to provide reasons why I enjoy shooting and have not hunted in years.

Ron

 

[David Blane]

This is a weak, if not irrelevant, argument. After all, the question is why you own firearms, not why you believe you are permitted to. One does not necessarily desire to do everything that has been ruled as a right. I have the right to go out slathered in swastika-bearing garb, or dress as a female (I'm not one), but have not chosen to, or desired to, exercise that right.

It's called the Bill of Rights, not the Bill of Musts.



Now seriously, do you really do everything you can (are permitted to?) There are a lot of people who have the right to keep and bear arms, but have not chosen to do so (and I'm glad they have the freedom to make that choice.)

Actually, the thread is titled.....

"All the reasons for owning a firearm". I have answered that question as posted...
"Because I can".

Now if that is not sufficient enough for you, well I can't help you then..