Why did you decide to own a gun?

[MicroBalrog]

The recurring "why guns" question got me thinking. Here's my train of thought.

Guns are controversial.

Therefore, for most people, the choice to be armed is conscious (as opposed to "My Dad had a gun and everybody in my 'hood, too, so I kinda grew up a gun person.").

Now, why did YOU make that choice?

 

[El Tejon]

I did not choose; the decision was made for me.

I seek knowledge as to the handling of firearms as I understood very early that possession is not competence and the usual 4E reasons.

 

[MicroBalrog]

I did not choose; the decision was made for me.

If one may ask, by whom?

 

[kalibear45]

Coz its my right

 

[cslinger]

I grew up with a family member who gave me access to many very very nice firearms including full auto. Love to shoot just for fun.

I also believe everybody should own at least a .22 pistol or rifle just like they should have a first aid kit, fire extinquisher, knife, jumper cables etc. You will probably never have to but who knows you might have to pop a squirrel or something for food one day.

It is the Boy Scout in me. Be prepared. I like having firearms for defense of my home. I sleep better. I also happen to get an immense amount of entertainment from them.

 

[jsalcedo]

I used to like listening to my dad's war stories.

Then I moved to solider of fortune magazine.

From there I discovered gun magazines.

I then started buying guns for target shooting and home defense.

When I turned 18 I began collecting old military rifles.

Being armed was a gradual decision based more on a love of

firearms as objects of metal and wood than the power they give.

Now that I have a family of my own, me being armed is important to the safety of my wife, children and the property we have worked hard to attain.

 

[keyhole]

Because I enjoy shooting, and trading them. Also, it's part of my job, since I carry one at work, and have several in the car.
The more, the merrier!

 

[HBK]

Although I shot a rifle in Boy Scouts and my dad took me bird hunting with him, I didn't do anything with a handgun until I was about 26. I was living in a house near my parents that was across the street from a bar and doing some private detective work for my best friend. He brought it up that my baseball bat was ineffective and took me to buy a handgun. Funny how guns are like tattoos, when you get one, you want more, so that started me on an endless cycle of buying, selling and trading.

 

[Seminole]

After my first child was born, the knowlege that his protection was my responsibility was the final impetus in the decision to purchase my first firearm.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Initially, I needed a new hobby.

 

[Hemicuda]

I Grew up with them around, and enjoyed shooting them... SO, when it came time to part ways with my father (move outta his house, and into my own, NOT disown one-another) i needed a few of my own, simce he thought he wanted ta keep most of his... (I still got a couple of the old mans guns at my place!)

it was only natural that I would own them, given my upbringing...

 

[4v50 Gary]

Photos of soldiers wielding Broomhandle Mausers made me, as a child, want one.

BTW, instead of going to my Jr. High graduation, my uncle took us to a gunstore (and why not, they gave me the diploma the day before so why go to a ceremony?). While he didn't buy any of us any guns, it was the first of many trips to that gun store.

Childhood memories, aren't they wonderful?

 

[meathammer]

I also grew up with firearms. Hunting and target shooting. I started acquiring firearms for hunting purposes, once I was out on my own. Then I caught "the bug" and the rest is history. I was very relieved to find some friends with firearm interests when I moved into the city.

 

[davidtdm]

It's all Cslingers fault

Seriously, growing up my dad didn't have guns around. My grandfathers did. I'd remember being in my grandads living room and he'd break out the cool stuff. ( I now have some of the cool stuff ) He'd fire blanks, show us how to clean them. He taught me to shoot on a pellet gun. etc. etc.

Once I left home to finish school I never realy thought about guns. Then I started working and met Cslinger and Sheslinger. He bought a Ruger P97 and I liked it but thought it was a bit much in the recoil dept. So I bought a P95, MKII (everyone needs a.22) Glock 27, Kimber ProCarry HD, and the latest the Beneli Nova (and I have done the 3 1/2 " mag- Not recoil shy no more)

I love to shoot now. It is a great stress releiver for me. Having the peice of mind and security in knowing I have other options when "push comes to shove" (heaven forbid I should need to excercise that right) Is icing on the cake.

 

[Mannlicher]

I have carried something that goes bang, since I was 14. Why? Because I wanted to.

My family has been around guns and weapons as far back as the 1100's. Guess you could say its a family tradition.

 

[pytron]

I started by reading about the RKBA and TheFiringLine. One day I decided that I would learn how to hunt. Since I figured I'd need a rifle, I got my CHL since it exempted you from the background check (I don't think it does anymore). Since I figured I'd be out in the woods with a bunch of wild animals, I thought it'd be nice to have a handgun to protect myself (and it'd be nice to have at home too). So I bought one.

Come fall, I went hunting with a borrowed rifle and got a deer.

I just bought another pistol and will soon be getting a 22 rifle from my grandfather.

I still don't have that hunting rifle...

-Pytron

 

[lee n. field]

I bought my first because of personal security concerns. We lived in a less than great neighborhood (slummy trailer park).

I bought what I could afford, a Charter Arms AR-7. Not sure what I would have done with it if anything needed doing, but that's where I started.

Call the authorities? Sure, and we did. But long and bitter experience of being the geeky kid getting the s*** beat out me in high school left me with a gut feeling that authorities really can't be counted on.

 

[TexasVet]

I can't remember NOT having a gun...

I have old photos from the late '40s of me at three playing with a toy pistol. I got a Daisy Red Ryder at 5 and my first .22 at seven for my birthday. I get surprised every time I realize that not everybody grew up with the things as a normal part of life.
And in all those years not one of my guns has hurt anybody. (Well, I did bounce a bb off a surplus helment liner nearly into my eye once!) In fact the only time I killed anybody was with Uncle Sam's long range toys in Viet Nam waters (and then as part of a team) .

 

[Mike Irwin]

I grew up around guns.

What I find to be interesting, though, is that my Father did NOT grow up around guns. Grandma didn't like them, and Grandpa was pretty ambivilent.

I need to ask him how he got interested.

 

[blades67]

Because I have a Right to own them. Same reason I vote, if I don't exercise my rights, they'll atrophy.

 

[Penforhire]

When I opened a mostly-cash business in a remote area. My partner and I were dead certain we would eventually be robbed. So... my dad gave me a Series 70 and it stayed cocked & locked under the counter. Never did have to use it.

Hmmm, that's the exact same time my partner and I started hanging out at the range and he bought a Sig, 226 if I recall (I was jealous).

 

[Devonai]

I got picked on in high school. Then my Sophomore year I started taking martial arts lessons and in my Junior year I joined the track team. That put an end to the harrassment, but set me on a path of self-defense training that led, naturally, to firearms. Getting a CCW at age 21 seemed like the most natural progession of five years of martial arts.

Unfortunately, I let my unarmed combat skills atrophy as I focused on my marksmanship. I still get to the dojo every now and then, but more often I'm at the range.

 

[Legionnaire]

I didn't grow up around guns. Grew up in a major metropolitan area, and my dad wasn't a shooter -- his outdoor activity has always been sailing. I shot a couple of .22s in grade school, but didn't really develop an interest until my junior year in college when I joined the rifle team (indoor, small bore), sort of as a lark. I did pretty well, tieing the individual record one night (the same night the team captain broke it), helping to push the team record way up there.

After college, interest sort of went dormant as I pursued grad school, early career, and marriage.

Ah, but that last one! I married the eldest daughter of an outdoorsman with no sons. He and she conspired to give me my first firearm -- a Mossberg 500 combo. It's been downhill ever since! Wasn't long before I bought my first rifle ... then wanted a handgun to hunt in areas of NY where rifles are not allowed. The process of getting my pistol permit got me reading big time into 2nd Amendment writings ...

... and lo and behold, I'm now an avid shooter. I've become a certified Hunter Safety Instructor, and like nothing better than taking a bunch of kids afield to learn safety, and then marksmanship. My own kids will be able to say "I grew up with guns, and shot with my dad as early as I can remember."

I'm a shooter, rather than a collector. Everything I have gets shot, or I don't keep it. I've taken courses at LFI, InSights, and Storm Mountain, and am looking to take more. When time permits, I plan to get pursue NRA Instructor certification.

So why did I choose? Early on (college), to see what I could do. Later, to build a relationship with my father-in-law (we still hunt together every year). And now, because it is my civic duty!

 

[jacketch]

Because the ammo wouldn't work without one

Seriously, I had firearms around all my life but made the decision while in the service to get involved in target shooting and it went from there.

 

[Atticus]

Like a few others here, I grew up at a time (and in a place) when gun ownership was NORMAL and EXPECTED. I can't remember not being around them. I had lever action toy rifles, toy revolvers, grenades, a johnny seven- multi function assault rifle, etc. Moved up to Daisy BB guns, then Crossman pellet guns, then my first real shotgun (16 gauge Revelation). When I was 13-16 years old, I didn't think twice about riding my bike over to a friend's place with a .22 rifle across the handlebars and a pistol with ammo in a paper bag. Cops didn't worry much about it then either. About 30 years later...here I am.