When I was growing up, few people had guns that I was aware of. Nobody went out shooting anywhere (almost) and I seriously doubt many had more than two. But you never knew. After all, one of my neighbors was a gunsmith.
I have a few photos of my father with a gun. One when he was young, holding some sort of .22 rifle and standing with his sister. Another when in the army armed with a .45 revolver in a reverse draw holster and yet another with a shotgun. But we had no gun in the house when I lived there. Later, when he lived in the country, he evidently considered a gun necessary and acquired an eight shot H&R revolver.
Now there is me. I have had two or three dozen guns. Everything from a .25 Colt auto to a .303 Lee-Enfield sniper rifle complete with case. I have learned something from every one of them, almost, had fun with most, haven't hurt anything but one rabbit, one squirrel and one rat (killed with a BSA Martini .22 short). My wish list is still as long as my arm and ranges from a .303 Martini-Enfield to a 9.3x62 rifle, with a few others in between.
Yet I do not carry a gun (whether I ever feel the need is beside the point) and I do not hunt. My father, by the way, hunted all the time when he was young but never did hunt deer. I don't think there were any!
So, what do you think? Am I justified in owning any weapon--meaning guns, in this context. At the moment I only own three handguns and five rifles. I don't remember the last time I shot one either. There has always been the economic factor to consider.
To broaden the question, is anyone justified, or to put it another way, is it a good idea, for someone who does not hunt or keep a loaded gun for protection, to even have a gun?
This might be a loaded question, to be sure, (keep answers pointed in a safe direction) and you never know where the thread will lead.
I have a few photos of my father with a gun. One when he was young, holding some sort of .22 rifle and standing with his sister. Another when in the army armed with a .45 revolver in a reverse draw holster and yet another with a shotgun. But we had no gun in the house when I lived there. Later, when he lived in the country, he evidently considered a gun necessary and acquired an eight shot H&R revolver.
Now there is me. I have had two or three dozen guns. Everything from a .25 Colt auto to a .303 Lee-Enfield sniper rifle complete with case. I have learned something from every one of them, almost, had fun with most, haven't hurt anything but one rabbit, one squirrel and one rat (killed with a BSA Martini .22 short). My wish list is still as long as my arm and ranges from a .303 Martini-Enfield to a 9.3x62 rifle, with a few others in between.
Yet I do not carry a gun (whether I ever feel the need is beside the point) and I do not hunt. My father, by the way, hunted all the time when he was young but never did hunt deer. I don't think there were any!
So, what do you think? Am I justified in owning any weapon--meaning guns, in this context. At the moment I only own three handguns and five rifles. I don't remember the last time I shot one either. There has always been the economic factor to consider.
To broaden the question, is anyone justified, or to put it another way, is it a good idea, for someone who does not hunt or keep a loaded gun for protection, to even have a gun?
This might be a loaded question, to be sure, (keep answers pointed in a safe direction) and you never know where the thread will lead.
Non-hunters absolutely have the right to own and occasionaly use a gun of their choosing.As long as they are trained in its use and are aware of proper maintenance techniques,theres no issue.