While I normally don't explain these things, Sarah Brady and her minions deserve no explaination since their view is absurd, I figured I'd explain it to the so called "hobbyist" on this board who have not yet become something more.
First the obvious.
1. I own them for the self preservation of myself and my family. This is far more encompassing than "self defense." Since I try and prepare for ANY eventuality a .38 or a good pump shotgun will not suffice. Like anyone else who prepares for "anything" I prefer the most advanced, reliable modern military type firearms that my budget and current encroachments of the Constitution permit. The military chooses specific weapons based upon self preservation for exactly the same reasons.
I prefer a wide variety of arms for a wide variety of applications. I prefer to own a greater potentional for volume of fire than a hyopothetical threat can bring to me. I feel no moral obligation to be "on par" with a univited threat to my existence. My goal is the self preservation of myself and my loved ones. The most effective means to that end available to me is the option I choose.
Owning guns does not mean I'm looking to kill someone, it means I want to live. I own several fire extinguishers and have no thoughts of burning down my house so I can try them out. I am only a threat to those who threaten me or my loved ones. Simple rule really. Leave me alone and do not violate my home and you are in NO danger.
2. I own them for hunting/survival situations. Nobody expects the order of things to go to hell. If they did they would have quiety removed their money form the bank on October 23, 1929. If ever forced to, I have the means of self suffinciency to provide food.
I don't hunt for sport or trophies. I prefer ribeye to sirloin so I can certainly detect when my Father attempts to slip a Caribou steak on me. I find most things too "gamey" to justify the hunt and kill on my part. I enjoy venison summer sausage but thats about it and doesn't justify taking the entire deer to me. I can always bum some from my Dad.
I have no moral objection to hunting (except trophy hunters) I simply don't kill it if I ain't gonna eat it. people who hunt simply to "kill sumthin'" are not hunters in my estimation but "killers." I hunt purely for groceries. Usually cost and convinience means I hunt at the local grocery store.
I would hunt wild pig if/when it proves to be more economical than buying a ham at the store. And if there was a "cattle season" I'd be out there every freaking day in cow print camo with a Moo Call. I'd also have a freezer full of high grade beef. Sure not a lot of sport, but I hunt for groceries not the challenge.
3. And finally I own them for personal enjoyment. I enjoy collecting the virtual "History of Guns" and the related human history associated with them. It helps me appreciate what man has accomplished and suffered. When I hold a M1 Garand I understand a small part of what those at Normandy June 6, 1944 experienced. I can imagine the absolute difficulty they must have felt trying to wade out of the ocean with such a heavy weapon, full gear and ammo against a heavily defended enemy position. I know what guns can do and this makes me fully appreciate the sacrifices of those who wield them and face them in times of conflict.
I enjoy the shooting/training assocated with firearms. It adds fullillment and purpose to my life. I am refining skills that hopefully will never be required except for diversion of time. I study the martial arts for the same reason and with the same attitude. These are things that are better to have and not need than need and not have. Nobody expects a fire, but most have fire insurance.
Guns bring me peace. Anyone who has studied Kyudo (the Japanese art of archery) will understand. Guns are NOT simply killing machines with the pull of the trigger. Firearms are ZEN. Like the Japanese sword and bow it is a weapon that requires a person to first master themselves before than can possibly hope to master the weapon. The Japanese have an expression "One does not learn the sword, the sword instructs them." The same is true for firearms.
Many years of training are required before one is a competent marksman. When sighting targets at 400+ meters you see your breathing in the reticle. You must control your body and regulate your breath to place your round exactly where you want it. You must know your weapon as well as your body to understand what it's limitations are. Like the sword, it becomes part of your being before it is effective. The samurai considered the sword his very soul for just this reason.
Like the samurai, my weapons are now part of my very existence. And I will give up my arms just as easily as a pound of flesh.
First the obvious.
1. I own them for the self preservation of myself and my family. This is far more encompassing than "self defense." Since I try and prepare for ANY eventuality a .38 or a good pump shotgun will not suffice. Like anyone else who prepares for "anything" I prefer the most advanced, reliable modern military type firearms that my budget and current encroachments of the Constitution permit. The military chooses specific weapons based upon self preservation for exactly the same reasons.
I prefer a wide variety of arms for a wide variety of applications. I prefer to own a greater potentional for volume of fire than a hyopothetical threat can bring to me. I feel no moral obligation to be "on par" with a univited threat to my existence. My goal is the self preservation of myself and my loved ones. The most effective means to that end available to me is the option I choose.
Owning guns does not mean I'm looking to kill someone, it means I want to live. I own several fire extinguishers and have no thoughts of burning down my house so I can try them out. I am only a threat to those who threaten me or my loved ones. Simple rule really. Leave me alone and do not violate my home and you are in NO danger.
2. I own them for hunting/survival situations. Nobody expects the order of things to go to hell. If they did they would have quiety removed their money form the bank on October 23, 1929. If ever forced to, I have the means of self suffinciency to provide food.
I don't hunt for sport or trophies. I prefer ribeye to sirloin so I can certainly detect when my Father attempts to slip a Caribou steak on me. I find most things too "gamey" to justify the hunt and kill on my part. I enjoy venison summer sausage but thats about it and doesn't justify taking the entire deer to me. I can always bum some from my Dad.
I have no moral objection to hunting (except trophy hunters) I simply don't kill it if I ain't gonna eat it. people who hunt simply to "kill sumthin'" are not hunters in my estimation but "killers." I hunt purely for groceries. Usually cost and convinience means I hunt at the local grocery store.
I would hunt wild pig if/when it proves to be more economical than buying a ham at the store. And if there was a "cattle season" I'd be out there every freaking day in cow print camo with a Moo Call. I'd also have a freezer full of high grade beef. Sure not a lot of sport, but I hunt for groceries not the challenge.
3. And finally I own them for personal enjoyment. I enjoy collecting the virtual "History of Guns" and the related human history associated with them. It helps me appreciate what man has accomplished and suffered. When I hold a M1 Garand I understand a small part of what those at Normandy June 6, 1944 experienced. I can imagine the absolute difficulty they must have felt trying to wade out of the ocean with such a heavy weapon, full gear and ammo against a heavily defended enemy position. I know what guns can do and this makes me fully appreciate the sacrifices of those who wield them and face them in times of conflict.
I enjoy the shooting/training assocated with firearms. It adds fullillment and purpose to my life. I am refining skills that hopefully will never be required except for diversion of time. I study the martial arts for the same reason and with the same attitude. These are things that are better to have and not need than need and not have. Nobody expects a fire, but most have fire insurance.
Guns bring me peace. Anyone who has studied Kyudo (the Japanese art of archery) will understand. Guns are NOT simply killing machines with the pull of the trigger. Firearms are ZEN. Like the Japanese sword and bow it is a weapon that requires a person to first master themselves before than can possibly hope to master the weapon. The Japanese have an expression "One does not learn the sword, the sword instructs them." The same is true for firearms.
Many years of training are required before one is a competent marksman. When sighting targets at 400+ meters you see your breathing in the reticle. You must control your body and regulate your breath to place your round exactly where you want it. You must know your weapon as well as your body to understand what it's limitations are. Like the sword, it becomes part of your being before it is effective. The samurai considered the sword his very soul for just this reason.
Like the samurai, my weapons are now part of my very existence. And I will give up my arms just as easily as a pound of flesh.
). They make a good teaching tool as to how different parts need to work together to achieve a desired result.
MEE-HOO-HAA-HAA! 
