What do you tell people that ask the same tired question?

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mizzlep

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Hello, was wondering what other gun owners tell people when they ask them why they own a gun.

Personally, I tell them I own guns so I can kill other people. Usually people laugh, because they think I'm joking, but I assure them that is in fact the reason I own guns.

Then, there's usually a follow up question: "Why do you want to kill other people?" I then politely explain that I don't want to kill other people. I have no desire to kill other people. However, the world is a dangerous place, and I want the ability to kill others if I have to.

Personally, I think that telling people guns are only for hunting, sporting, and 'self defense' purposes undermines the foundation of our rights. The modern American has become so pathetically domesticated that they cannot possibly conceive any form of political or social unrest.

So anyway, what do you all tell people, and why?
 
If they ask me that question, I ask them "When did you stop beating your wife?"

They're both equally stupid questions based on an unfounded assumption.
 
Neverwinter said:
If they ask me that question, I ask them "When did you stop beating your wife?"

They're both equally stupid questions based on an unfounded assumption.
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I know exactly what you mean.
Sometimes I play dumb and say something like "What do you mean?" Usually they just end up confused, and I explain the whole 'kill people' thing anyway, but challenging the premise of the question is also important.
 
There are many reasons and they vary per individual and weapon.

If I'm at the range with one of my old surplus rifles, my answer may drift off into historical value and appreciation of a permanence and craftsmanship of days gone by.

My pocket rocket is for keeping my wife and myself safe from close range attack. My 870 is for eradicating flying disks of clay. My Mini-14 EBR with folding stock is for reasons I learned about after 7 years in the US Army infantry.

While "killing people" may be the ultimate outcome in some of these situations, there are certainly more diplomatic ways of explaining the reason to others. Remember that we are all stewards of the reputation of our "gun" culture. "Shooting bad guys", while still a bit shocking to others, is a step up from "killing people". "Defending liberty", a step further.

Consider going above and beyond when interacting with people who are interested enough to ask, but uneducated enough to ask...

I own a weapon or two that are clearly not hunting, recreational or self defense items based on my understanding of the world. I know the price paid for our freedoms and lifestyle in the US and I am grateful and conscientious enough to be willing to participate should our freedoms require additional defense and maintenance.
 
I suppose it depends on your intentions. My intentions are usually that of an advocate - I want shooting and gun ownership to be viewed in a positive light and something that is beneficial. If I responded, "To kill people...", especially to a non-gun owner, it isn't likely that they'll get anything at all positive out of the exchange.

This is partly due to my avocation as a Boy Scout leader. I regularly teach BB-rifle to Cub Scouts, rifle shooting to Boy Scouts, and pistol shooting to Venturing Scouts. When dealing with youth, every question is old, but I would be remiss in my calling if I didn't treat these questions with the utmost care and respect. A flippant remark, even in jest, can do much harm that can be very, very difficult to undo.
 
@jaytex

I see what you mean, but I mostly say 'killing people' because of the directness and shock-value of it. It serves a few purposes. Firstly, it ends any kind of 'guns are dangerous' type of conversation that the person may want to force me to hear. Secondly, it jumps straight to the real point of guns. I don't like to sugarcoat things for other people's sensitivities. People need to hear the real raw truth, whether they are comfortable with it or not.
 
TMA-1 said:
I suppose it depends on your intentions. My intentions are usually that of an advocate - I want shooting and gun ownership to be viewed in a positive light and something that is beneficial. If I responded, "To kill people...", especially to a non-gun owner, it isn't likely that they'll get anything at all positive out of the exchange.

This is partly due to my avocation as a Boy Scout leader. I regularly teach BB-rifle to Cub Scouts, rifle shooting to Boy Scouts, and pistol shooting to Venturing Scouts. When dealing with youth, every question is old, but I would be remiss in my calling if I didn't treat these questions with the utmost care and respect. A flippant remark, even in jest, can do much harm that can be very, very difficult to undo.
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I don't really say it to be funny. I think if a young boy is old enough to shoot a gun, he's old enough to understand it's intended purpose.

When dealing with children, I think it would very important to elaborate the subject much more clearly of course, but I think they should hear it none the less.
 
I don't like to sugarcoat things for other people's sensitivities. People need to hear the real raw truth, whether they are comfortable with it or not.
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Let us hope your wife never asks you if her outfit makes her look fat. :)
 
My answer is usually something like "because I love shooting them."

To me the primary purpose of my guns is to plink and improve my skills at a challenging activity. Which just happens to work great as a self defense tool. Kinda like boxing.

The sheepdog and commando rhetoric I find is rarely conducive to being a patron or ambassador to our freedoms and our sports, as well as our duties and rights. You don't see our ambassadors walking in and saying give us 30% of your net product in cheap labor and your oil. Why should we, then?
 
Nushif said:
The sheepdog and commando rhetoric I find is rarely conducive to being a patron or ambassador to our freedoms and our sports, as well as our duties and rights. You don't see our ambassadors walking in and saying give us 30% of your net product in cheap labor and your oil. Why should we, then?
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I don't have any ambassadors. I think by taking the middle ground on an issue, you've already given up half the battle.

I don't really see being direct with people as the same as exploiting other countries :-/
 
Why do I own guns? To try and prevent / stop someone from killing me, my wife or kids.
 
I don't think since 1968 or so, when I first owned a gun, anyone has ever asked me WHY I have whatever guns I have had over the years! Never!

I think people just assume if I have guns, then I must enjoy what people who have guns typically do with them, that is, shoot targets, try to get accurate, shoot nuisance animals, shoot game animals to eat, shoot old dishwashers, carburetors, car engines, lawn mower engines, you name it!

The most fun place to go plinking is in a junk yard. However, it has been years since I have shot things up in a junk yard! I am interested in how certain guns perform, terminal-ballistic wise, when you shoot at different parts of an old car. If you have never done that before, it's amazing to actually see just what some guns will shoot through!
 
Hello, was wondering what other gun owners tell people when they ask them why they own a gun.
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My standard response (once given at Christmas dinner in Chicago):
  • Police have no legal duty to protect individuals.
  • Police have no legal liability when they fail to protect individuals.
  • Police have virtually no physical ability to protect individuals.
Protect YOURSELF or just don't get protected AT ALL.

Anybody who tells you different is a liar.
 
How about a dignified "for protection" or "for sport" instead?

"To kill people" makes you sound like an murderous idiot and in no possible way can reflect positively on the firearms community.
 
No one should ever tell anyone else that they carry so they can kill someone. That could land them in federal prison if they ever did need to shoot in self-defense or defense of others. It should only be said that it's for self-protection in the very unlikely event it should be needed and every attempt will be made to avoid its use. Never "expect" the law or those who impose their interpretation of it to have any common sense or give a rats a$$ about you.
 
The police will get there just in time to collect evidence and clean up the crime scene.
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The police draw chalk outlines around bodies. Who's body is largely a function of whether you're willing and able to defend YOURSELF before they get there.
 
I don't think I've ever been asked "why" I own guns by a US citizen. Why I carry one is much more common and I have varying answers to that based on who it is/how familiar I am with them, how much time I have to answer etc. My base answer, if it's someone I don't know and I don't have the time to get into the right and responsibility issue is it's like a seatbelt. You don't need it often, but when you do need it, you REALLY need it. Several people from other countries have asked why I own guns and then, if I have time I get into the facts and my beliefs about the issue.
 
mizzlep writes (when mentioning "to kill people"):
he's old enough to understand it's intended purpose.
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The anti-gunners could not have said it better.
Me? Not sure I've ever been asked, but my answer would be either (or both) for sport/fun, or "in case I need it."
 
In the small town where I work, we recently had a gunshot victim walk up to someones house and ask for help. They attempted to help him and immediately called 911. It took law enforcement 20 minutes to get there (this place isn't that far from downtown). The EMT's got there first, but said they weren't allowed to go on the premises until law enforcement arrived. This type of thing is why I don't rely on law enforcement for personal protection.
 
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