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

[Panzercat]

Personally, I think you're antagonizing the issue by telling them "so that you can kill people, ha ha."

You're all but begging to be asked the followup question, which is only going to lead to more annoyance. Sure its tiring, but you invited them to go there to begin with. IMO, I would just tell them "Same reason you have insurance". Of course they'll respond "I don't expect to get robbed." and you say "I bet you don't expect to get in a car accident either."

End of conversation. I mean, they can push it if they want but further arguments only get easier to dismantle. "But that's what the police are for." Reply: "Police are fine, but how long is it going to take them to get there? Seen the news lately?"

I guess I'm just saying don't make your life any harder. Responding "To kill people" only opens up cans of worms, not closes them.

 

[Baba Louie]

As to the Sniper class issue... long range precision shooting is probably one of, if not the penultimate shooting endeavor (sporting clays right up there as well) to master (or attempt to at any rate). While I'm pretty sure I'll never need that skill it would be nice to know that if need be I could reach out and make an accurate hunting shot at an unheard distance... tho truth be told, my Dad (if he were still alive) would skin me if I ever did that. Get closer. Be quiet. Use the wind and terrain, etc are what he taught in that regard. Closer. Quietly. For hunting.

For good camraderie with other shooting buddies, sure, compete at longer ranges and see whose grouping is smallest for braggin' rights.

When we hunt, we might get lucky enough to make a "kill". I laugh (inside) at a friend who "harvests" his deer. By his own words, he is not a killer, but a hunter. Most here probaby are hunters of one sort or another. Animals, good deals, companions, position in life/work, personal achievements... men and women who work mastering a skill set.

These are goals we set out for ourselves to study and to better our skills... so maybe "sKILL" is a good reason and answer to your question as it does contain the "K" word within it, does it not?

Why do you own a gun? "Skill." Let them figure it out... or not.

 

[rugerman]

"why do you carry a gun? Because cops are too damn heavy, & I'm too crippled to outrun or fight them but I'm still mean enough to protect myself and anyone in my care from some jackass who would do me harm"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Old krow]

what is your response to sniper and other tactical shooting courses?

I don't know of any "sniper" courses that are open to civilians. There's a difference between precision rifle and snipers training. That course/class may indeed exist, but I've never seen it.

If someone asks about a tactical shooting course, I tell them exactly why. The follow up questions are generally "does it help?", or "how much did it cost?" I don't take them to "kill someone", I take them so that I am a better shot, or function better in a condition where I may need to take a shot.

If you want to shun an answer that says anything BUT "to kill someone" that's great. However, that doesn't mean that other answers are PC by default. There isn't a place that says that we have that right specifically to kill someone. There are plenty of cases that support my right to defend myself.

the followup question would be, how many people have you killed? If none, when are you planning on using your guns for your stated purposes?

or, "who do you plan on killing?"
Nobody yet.
"so you don't who you want to kill, you just want to kill someone?"

IMHO you couldn't open up a bigger can of worms unless you bought worm canning plant and specially designed your own can.

 

[SFsc616171]

member known as "Monkey King": Since your post of, and I quote, "Now, that's funny.", appears directly after my posting, to which one are you referring as , "funny"?

 

[YumaKid]

I skipped to the end of this thread without reading it all; so if this response was already posted.... oops!

My mother-in-law of two weeks, who went from Clays trophies in college to rabid gun control, asked me the very question posited in the first post of this thread. My response: "Because I would lay down my life to protect Sue and our future children from harm.... but I'd really rather lay down the life of the jacka** threatening her or any future kids." Now, closer to 50 than 40 (or even 49); I still feel the same way, only stronger. The fact that our firstborn - an Army Sgt (86T - Veterinary Tech) and her husband (former SSGT Abn Cav Scout Section Leader) feel the same way about each other and my Grandson only strengthens that resolve.

Her next question: "Why do you make her carry that gun?" Me: "MAKE HER??? Hang on a minute! That S&W .357 used to belong to me! But she took it over and told me to find myself another pistol!" (True Story)

OBTW and Off-Topic: The eldest daughter mentioned above is really irritated if she doesn't score Marksman with the M16A2 on her quarterly quals. Ditto for not scoring at least High Expert on the SAW; which is "optional- not recommended" for her MOS. She's happy with Expert on the M9; anything less than that only intimates to her (and her father) that Beretta doesn't make a semi that works well for lefties.

(Sorry, that last was a very "un-PC" statement; but it's spoken from the heart. Both of us lefties score exponentially better with Ol' Slabsides or any S&W revolver. Or a well-tuned SIG.)

 

[MikeNice]

Yuma at least you didn't have to hear what my mom said today.

"If you didn't have that gun you would never have need for a gun." Yes, that actually came out of the mouth of a humanbeing.

I just simply asked, "does that mean if you never own a hammer you'll never need to hang a picture? How about getting rid your broom? Will that mean dirt magically stays away from your floors? What if I go out and buy you a wet saw? Does that mean you'll suddenly have a tile floor to put in?"

I blame her reaction on my aunt. My mom gets like that after they spend some time together.

My aunt doesn't even like people to mention guns around her. She had a very close relative try to commit suicide with her in the next room. So it is obviously the guns fault. It has nothing to do with the fact that the person was an abusive drunk with mental issues.

My aunt once asked me if I was buying a gun because I planned on killing myself.

"Nope, but when all else fails you may have to take, or give, the last full measure. I want to be ready if that is ever necessary to protect my family. I don't want to die and I don't want anyone else to die. I just want to be left in peace, but sometimes this world ain't a peacefull place."

 

[1911Tuner]

I've adopted a strategy for people like that.

I answer:

"I like guns. How often do you and your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend have sex?"

"Well! That's really none of you business! Jerk!"

"Yeah. Okay. Well...I figured that as long as you were asking personal questions, we may as well make it bilateral."

It generally ends the conversation.

 

[Deus Machina]

^ I'm going to keep that one in mind.

My usual explanation is that I'm a fan of mechanical objects, and an engineering in training. Try finding something else that will take 60,000 PSI pressures without batting an eye, and putting two holes in paper on top of each other a hundred yards away--and still be able to do it again fifty years from now. If they ask about that, I go into more detail about the enjoyment of target shooting.

When people ask me "why do you carry a gun/own a shotgun if you don't hunt?", I've told them "Some things are worth fighting or dying for. I want to keep both to a minimum." or, "Someone can have the TV and stereo, but my family's safety is worth dying for. I just don't want to be the one doing it."

Or the ever-popular "because I can't carry a cop."

Previous actual answers:
"Why do you carry a gun?"
"Because the Sheriff's office took my fingerprints, did a background check, opened a file on me, and gave me a card that says they trust me to, as opposed to the random guy that takes one into the 7/11."

"Aren't you worried someone would take it and use it on you?"
"It's concealed carry. How would he know I have it?"
"...He could just feel it under your shirt!"
"Would you stand in place and let someone grab around your hips and lift up your shirt?"

"If someone pulled a knife, why wouldn't you just pull your pocket knife?"
"Because then I'd have to get close enough to theirs."

"Don't you think that thing could be dangerous?"
"I wouldn't carry it if it couldn't be!"

"Why would you own guns?"
"Five minutes ago, your were promoting gay marriage. I agree with you there; I'm just for all personal rights."

That speech in Public Speaking 101 was a fun one.

 

[jad0110]

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.

This is basically my line of response is well. I've been asked a few times, and have even been challenged on the above line of reasoning more than once and had to take it a step further:

"What do you mean the police aren't here to protect us, that's why we pay taxes! Of course they have to protect us, that is there job."

You know, the usual "I've subcontracted out my protection and expect to be served" mentality that many have without even thinking about it.

My reply usually goes something like "Then why do hollywood and sports stars and wealthy executives often hire their own bodyguard(s)? Also, if the police really do protect everyone, why DO we have crime at all?"

"Until the teleporter is invented, cops will still take precious minutes to arrive ... when seconds count, the police are only minutes away."

At that point, I may not have completely changed anyones minds, but I could tell that a seed had been planted. I can only hope.

 

[woad_yurt]

I just tell them that I think it unnatural to give up one's self-determination without a fight.

 

[Nushif]

"I like guns. How often do you and your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend have sex?"

"Well! That's really none of you business! Jerk!"

"Yeah. Okay. Well...I figured that as long as you were asking personal questions, we may as well make it bilateral."

Ok. That one is pretty darned funny.