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

[Demon Barber]

I've been asked a few times out of curiosity, not contempt. My usual response has been, "I like the challenge of improving my accuracy. It is no different than throwing darts or shooting hoops. I also like that guns are interesting mechanically and I like to modify or improve them as I see fit. Most of my guns are also historically representative or actually saw service".
To say that you own a gun to kill people is foolish and only serves to reinforce the anti gun types.

 

[tbutera2112]

How about a dignified "for protection" or "for sport" instead?

"To kill people" makes you sound like a murderous idiot and in no possible way can reflect positively on the firearms community.

agreed.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I play this for them on my smartphone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TC2xTCb_GU

 

[orionengnr]

In the seven-plus years I have been in TX, I've never been asked, although the subjects of shooting and gun ownership and carrying come up regularly. (I have been asked why I carry exactly once.)

 

[Old krow]

Personally, I think that telling people guns are only for hunting, sporting, and 'self defense' purposes undermines the foundation of our rights.

Where does it say that killing anyone is the reason for the 2nd Amendment? Ad Libbing the RKBA can be a dangerous proposition.

I have never been asked, but, "to kill someone" will not be my response.

 

[Archie]

Original question...

My usual answer to the clueless question of "Why do you own a gun?" is "Doesn't everyone?"

They usually say "No" in some form, followed by "I don't" in some form.

To which I ask, "Why not? Are you a felon or mentally defective?"

Essentially I turn the question around and make the owning of firearms the normal position in life. Which, by the way, it is.

I don't go out of my way to be offensive about it, I usually act puzzled that one would not own or even want to own a firearm. It's the difference between being a free man (person) and a serf or dependent.

This whole back and forth is an art form, of course, like all real conversations. Some excuses and responses include:

"My spouse doesn't like guns." Aren't they worth protecting?

"I have small children." Aren't they worth protecting?

"The police provide protection." Not based on 911 response times and the Supreme Court decisions.

"It's against my religion." This is tricky if one is not prepared, but neither Judaism nor Christianity forbid armed self-defense.

"I"m afraid of guns." Guns are steel, plastic and wood; how do you ever get near a car or refrigerator?

"I don't know anything about guns." You can certainly learn the basics. You learned to drive, right?

The list goes on. The good part is, one need make up nothing; the truth will do very nicely.

 

[Ignition Override]

Afer the well-known Tucson massacre, it might be more necessary to be diplomatic.

Many years ago, a guy in a town near San Diego told his wife that he was going "to hunt humans". He did so at a McDonalds before he was killed.

NavyLT:
Steve Lee is in one of the entertaining videos by "Hickok45".

 

[NormH3]

Perhaps I am naive, but when someone asks isn't that the perfect time to educate them on their constitutional right to bear arms? I don't think you will get many new people interested in owning firearms by telling them you own guns to kill people. I'm just saying...

 

[ZCORR Jay]

First of NavyLT that was a great song!

Why do I own a gun?
-Cause I don't want some inner city hoodlum sticking me with a knife.
-I don't want to be held at gun point by someone while his buddy has his way with my girlfriend.
-Because I enjoy shooting guns.
-Because it's our right.

 

[Sav .250]

I don`t believe anyone has ever asked me that question.

 

[CTPhil]

I say that guns are essential tools on a farm, and beyond that, I like them.

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

I recently was talking with some coworkers about the CCW bill passing here in Wisconsin. One of them asked why people would need to carry a gun on yourself, especially concealed.

I replied that when it comes to protecting my life and the life of my wife I want to have the best possible protection there is. I mentioned how police don't have a legal obligation to protect us and that I feel I am accountable to what happens to my family (to an extent, of course, I can't be with her all the time).

That doesn't mean I can just blow away anyone that walks up to us and looks menacing, but if it turns into a situation where I feel her life or my life are in danger I refuse to cower in fear.

 

[Cryogaijin]

My favorite is "Because paper is my enemy, and I feel compelled to kill as much paper as possible." but really it depends on your audience.

To some I reply with "Because I am a patriot?" To others "Because if one doesn't make use of one's rights, it is easier for an enemy of liberty to take them away." For still more it is "because I like the simplicity and precision of marksmanship practice, and I enjoy challenging myself to ever better levels of accuracy." For others "Because 27 dollars for 200lbs of prime quality meat beats $10 a lb for meat of lesser quality?" Other times it is "Because I prefer to be beholden to no one but myself for my personal safety?"

I've also gotten the smug "Firearms may be tools but they're the only tool specifically designed to kill people!" comment before, which forces me to respond with something like "Really? So the rifle I use to put .17 caliber holes into paper with is designed to kill people? Damn it really SUCKS at its designed job!" (Sarcasm) or "Really? I thought the .500 S&W Alaskan was designed for bear protection. I'll have to tell S&W to stop lying!" or "Wait wait wait. . . if it was designed to kill people, why is it called "Birdshot"?"

 

[12131]

Originally posted by NormH3:

Perhaps I am naive, but when someone asks isn't that the perfect time to educate them on their constitutional right to bear arms? I don't think you will get many new people interested in owning firearms by telling them you own guns to kill people. I'm just saying...

Good first post, sir.

 

[chhodge69]

This is my standard answer - short and sweet:
"the world is a dangerous place"

The conversation will either stop right there or carry on into more friendly territory.

 

[CajunBass]

I must run in different circles. In all my life, and I'm a pretty old man, I don't think anyone has ever asked me.

Even when I visit my wife's people in Chicago, they don't. They might ask me what kind of guns I have, but never "why."

I suppose I'd tell them "Because I want them. Got any for sale?"

 

[Creature]

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.

“A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.” -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Claude Clay]

" the world is a dangerous place. you read the papers--tell me one location outside of a politicians office ( oh, you say that in arizona.....) well, danger can come from many places and i want the ability to neutrilize it rather than the other way around. Oh, but they will suprise you and.....whoe....they may suprise you but i have trained and i pay attention to what is happening around me. while there is always the chance....it is very slim where i am conerned. perhaps you need to open your eyes occassionally, and before we are reading about you.

 

[W.E.G.]

Because its too heavy to carry a cop.

 

[rellascout]

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.

You are a wonderful ambassador for our hobby, sport and the role of self defense in this country..... :banghead:

My answer to your orginal question is because I can and I enjoy the discipline of shooting. I then ask them if they would like to go to the range sometime....

 

[littlebubba]

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.

I'd have to agree with other posters that when someone makes a statement similar to yours, which I've cited above, I cringe and add another month to my 'Full Restoration of Second Amendment Rights' calendar. An answer such as yours only serves to reenforce the sterotypes that some people have of gun owners. There is a time and place for everything and this is a time when 'shock-value' is the LAST thing that is needed. What we need instead are citizens who can put forth a well articulated argument which will inform the questioner and perhaps help them see things in a different light. I can only hope that you will sit down with pen and paper and reevaluate your standard reply. We, as defenders of the Second Amendment, will be more persuasive to those around us by holding ourselves to a higher standard and showing them that gun owners are not the wild and reckless lunatics that some would have them believe us to be.

God bless us and these United States

 

[Hammerogod]

I am getting old and contrary so when ANYONE asks me ANYTHING I tell 'em to "Google it".

If they are asking the kinds of questions you are referring to I just look at them like they were 9yrs old and smile.
My reasons for doing things the way I do are my business and I never play into someone else's issues and agendas by answering impossible questions with reasonable answers.
Let them figure it out on their own.

 

[JVaughn]

+1 Archie

If anyone asked me why I own a gun, my instinct would be to say "don't you?!"

 

[Jonah71]

I've always liked the old "Because a cop is too heavy" answer.

 

[Overkilll0084]

Why do I own guns?

For the person that doesn't seem to trying to yank my chain:
"Space. A gun collection takes up less space than a car collection and the insurance is cheaper."
For the person that does seem to be yanking my chain:
"Because it annoys whiney self-important liberals."