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[bananafactory]

Only if you don't know what you're doing.

Not really. There's just not any good reason to own one unless you are hunting.

 

[Hip Hop]

Yeah, for sure. Even more so that I live in Arizona.

Would probably get a handgun of some sort, a shotgun for the home.

Some kind of rifle for shooting at the range would be cool too.

 

[Valnen]

Again, semantics.



Well that's just great.

I can understand why someone might want a sidearm for home defence or a shotgun for hunting. I fail to understand, however, why someone needs to possess an assault class rifle, semi-automatic or otherwise. Just "because I can" is, frankly, setting a worrying precedent.

Why? They're not any more dangerous than a hand gun. The only reason I don't own a gun is because they're expensive.

 

[Deadbeat]

You can- and I can think that its really dumb and foolhardy to place a destructive tool in your life for no reason.

Well now that you mention it my shotgun has been looking at me funny.

 

[SillyEskimo]

Sure. I'm responsible enough. It's the other guy I don't trust.

 

[m_shortpants]

Not really. There's just not any good reason to own one unless you are hunting.

Self defense? If you live in a remote area or an unsafe crime ridden neighborhood?

 

[PBY]

Why? They're not any more dangerous than a hand gun.

I mean- how can you say that?

 

[Mammoth Jones]

You can set bear traps throughout your house too. Question is why would you want to?

Owning guns for the fuck of it just needlessly endangers you and everyone in your house.

While I agree every person should really think long and hard about whether to own a gun or not at the end of the day it's that persons choice regardless. As long as they're being safe with it (literally, get a safe) then the reason is largely irrelevant at that point.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

I don't think I'd own anything that was designed for "self defense" or whatever. I'd love to own a long rifle like a mosin or a springfield 1903, to take to a range or something.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

You can set bear traps throughout your house too. Question is why would you want to?

Owning guns for the fuck of it just needlessly endangers you and everyone in your house.

owning a swimming pool increases your chance of drowning as well

but hey you get to swim, and I get to go to the range and fire off a few rounds

Spoiler

once I ever buy a gun that is

 

[Eyeron]

I own a couple and will probably buy one or two more. At a relatively young age, I learned how to safely handle them and it's something that I take very seriously. I've always enjoyed target shooting. Plinking cans with my bb gun got me hooked. That said, I cannot stand gun nuts like those confrontational open carry dipshits. I would never consider joining the NRA.

Sadly, I'll be inheriting some guns, among other things, much sooner than I'd like. Some will inevitably be sold through a licensed dealer.

 

[LT Snoshado]

Not really. There's just not any good reason to own one unless you are hunting.

Why do you have this opinion (I'm genuinely curious)?

Are you saying I should only own a car if I use it strictly for transportation? What if I want to have fun and drive it at a racetrack alongside other cars? Maybe I shouldn't because I might crash and kill other people, right?

I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, just arguing for the sake of conversation

 

[SliceSabre]

One day I do planned to own a gun. I'm black and cops in America are way out of control and I need to protect myself.

 

[CrimzonSamurai]

I don't understand this. There is no shortage of any kind of food, especially in the US which has ridiculously high meat consumption rates. Why do you feel the need to blow the brains out of a deer, venison, Buffalo, whatever to get food, when it'll be easier and cheaper to go to your local supermarket and butcher and get whatever cut of meat you want?

You would be killing a wild animal that is part of the local ecosystem and is probably responsible for a pack or family. Whereas the cow that was slaughtered for your steak, was domestic livestock, bred and raised for the sole purpose of meat consumption. They are not part of the natural ecosystem of prey/predator etc.

Don't get me wrong, I know how brutal the meat industry is, and just what kind of conditions they live in. But you going and hunting a caribou to eat won't change anything except for the fact you just personally took out a caribou from the wild.

Edit: OP, where I live, we're starting to get a lot of shootings. Guns are being smuggled in from the US. I wouldn't want a gun, because there is no reason to own one. I don't want American gun culture taking hold here, which is what your post reads like. You dont need a gun but want one to display or so that it looks cool etc. I love the fact I can go into malls, theaters, schools, walk down the street comfortable in the knowledge that the other people around me aren't carrying guns either.

For the record we (USA) kind of killed off all of our major land predators across the majority of the country and now recreational hunting is the only way to keep deer populations in check. In Pennsylvania the situation is really terrible. Deer populations are so big that they eat everything within their reach and leave a visible gap in forest vegetation from the ground to 6 feet up. My EcoScience professor called it a "browse line." They also favor eating some species of plants while they won't touch others, and that's reducing biodiversity across the whole ecosystem. Their populations create starvation conditions for themselves without proper management. And, at least in PA, deer are in the top 5 causes of fatal car accidents.

So, in short, hunting is for more than just fun or food. In parts of the US it's actually good environmental stewardship.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I can understand why someone might want a sidearm for home defence or a shotgun for hunting. I fail to understand, however, why someone needs to possess an assault class rifle, semi-automatic or otherwise. Just "because I can" is, frankly, setting a worrying precedent.

What you think of as an "assault rifle" is functionally no different than a hunting rifle and in fact every person I know personally that has an "assault rifle" uses it primarily to hunt with.

 

[notsol337]

I don't understand this. There is no shortage of any kind of food, especially in the US which has ridiculously high meat consumption rates. Why do you feel the need to blow the brains out of a deer, venison, Buffalo, whatever to get food, when it'll be easier and cheaper to go to your local supermarket and butcher and get whatever cut of meat you want?

You would be killing a wild animal that is part of the local ecosystem and is probably responsible for a pack or family. Whereas the cow that was slaughtered for your steak, was domestic livestock, bred and raised for the sole purpose of meat consumption. They are not part of the natural ecosystem of prey/predator etc.

Don't get me wrong, I know how brutal the meat industry is, and just what kind of conditions they live in. But you going and hunting a caribou to eat won't change anything except for the fact you just personally took out a caribou from the wild.

Edit: OP, where I live, we're starting to get a lot of shootings. Guns are being smuggled in from the US. I wouldn't want a gun, because there is no reason to own one. I don't want American gun culture taking hold here, which is what your post reads like. You dont need a gun but want one to display or so that it looks cool etc. I love the fact I can go into malls, theaters, schools, walk down the street comfortable in the knowledge that the other people around me aren't carrying guns either.

I am part of the predator/prey ecosystem that the deer is in. At least, in the area I live in. I live in a city in Ohio with white-tailed deer being spotted downtown, and downtown has high-rise buildings.

I don't hunt myself (unless sporting clays count as birds) but I have no issue with someone that does enjoy hunting. I wouldn't mind the deer population dropping here, because shooting amd eating them now sounds better than deer wrecking farms or going through a mass starvation event.

 

[Deadbeat]

Hell no. Why would I want to own something that should be outlawed for the general population and for police? Of course it's too late for that now. When we have reached the point that children can be shot and killed without any change, then we've clearly passed the point of no return. We are already fucked, but I'm still not going to contribute to it.

I wouldnt want you to own a gun either. People that cant handle the responsibility of a firearm should never be allowed to own one.

 

[ScatheZombie]

We can. It requires particular licenses that are difficult and often expensive to acquire. It may also be restricted to those born before a certain year I can't remember.

Firearms owned before 1986 do not apply (since that's when the NFA went into effect). After that, you need to be SOT Class III, which is very difficult to acquire, expensive to process, and costs $1,000+ a year to maintain.

 

[benjipwns]

owning a swimming pool increases your chance of drowning as well

Ten people a day die from drowning. And yet every house has at least three potential reservoirs of water.

Thankfully one of them has had its flow regulated.

 

[DoktorEvil]

I do have two. I like having them. It's just a sort of feeling of safety. When I didn't have one, it was just an unsettling feeling. A feeling of "what if something happened, and I wasn't prepared". I would rather be the guy with the gun, than not. Even if it's paranoia, if a black out happens, or some natural disaster that sparks off a bunch of crime. I want to have protection.

This is a reason not to own a gun.

Hell no. Why would I want to own something that should be outlawed for the general population and for police? Of course it's too late for that now. When we have reached the point that children can be shot and killed without any change, then we've clearly passed the point of no return. We are already fucked, but I'm still not going to contribute to it.

This is another reason.

 

[IsntChrisL]

Yes, definitely. I'm set to inherit several but I will buy my own once I am in a better position to do so.

 

[Ronin Ray]

I own a handgun and have only been to the firing range once in the years I have owned it. I never even mess with it. I hope I never have to use it.

 

[DrGonzo615]

I mean- how can you say that?

A bullet from a handgun will kill just as easily as a round from an AR-15.

 

[mackattk]

I can't say never, but at this point in my life, I don't own a gun, nor do I foresee any reason to own one in the near future.

 

[Deadbeat]

You should be!

You mean it should be illegal to own guns, or that I should be breaking the law?

 

[soulassssns]

I never mentioned self-defence, do you own a gun? if so, why?

No you didnt but the way you worded your post seemed to point towards non civilised societies would need guns for defence.

No I do not currently but like I have mentioned in a post or two in here that I have spent the last 18 years of my life working on small arms/crew served weapons.

 

[brotherbean]

I've got a leg on both sides of this fence so I'm not looking to start anything here, but I've always been curious how a certain segment of the anti-gun population generally feels about things like sports cars, personal watercraft and other unnecessarily dangerous things that people own.

 

[LT Snoshado]

This is a reason not to own a gun.

How?

I've got a leg on both sides of this fence so I'm not looking to start anything here, but I've always been curious how a certain segment of the anti-gun population generally feels about things like sports cars, personal watercraft and other unnecessarily dangerous things that people own.

I'm curious to know this too. Why don't we all own only what's necessary? I could easily get in my car and accidentally cause a crash because I have way more power than I need. I feel like guns are way more regulated than cars - maybe that's why people think they're so dangerous?

 

[cackhyena]

This is a reason not to own a gun.



This is another reason.

Concerns for your safety is a reason to not own a gun?

 

[Siegcram]

While I agree every person should really think long and hard about whether to own a gun or not at the end of the day it's that persons choice regardless. As long as they're being safe with it (literally, get a safe) then the reason is largely irrelevant at that point.

If you just lock it away without practice and/or regular use, it accomplishes literally nothing. Besides increasing the chance to be used against you or enabling your child to blow off their friend's head while playing with it.

owning a swimming pool increases your chance of drowning as well

but hey you get to swim, and I get to go to the range and fire off a few rounds

Spoiler

once I ever buy a gun that is

I'd say the percentage of people who can swim is higher than the one of people that can handle a firearm.

 

[DoktorEvil]

How?

Because a person that cannot be sane and rational without a gun only endangers themselves and the people around them much more when they do have one.

Concerns for your safety is a reason to not own a gun?

It's one of the cheaper home defense alternative, sure. So is a baseball bat.

I find myself more comfortable with the baseball bat than with the gun.

 

[Deadbeat]

Concerns for your safety is a reason to not own a gun?

Some people cant handle the responsibility of a firearm.

I'd say the percentage of people who can swim is higher than the one of people that can handle a firearm.

Thats pretty obvious looking at gun crime in America.

 

[iMax]

So why cant I own a gun I dont need? Im not breaking the law.

So the only reason you own a gun is because you can? To 'stick it' to the police? You don't see how that's irresponsible?

Why do people need sports cars? Hummers? Designer clothes? Why do I need a 1440p monitor and 2 GTX 980s instead of a 1080p monitor and one video card?

Graphics cards don't kill people.

71% of gun homicides in America are done with a handgun. The fear of rifles is misplaced.

Why? They're not any more dangerous than a hand gun. The only reason I don't own a gun is because they're expensive.

How many school shootings were done with a handgun? Of course they're more dangerous. They kill more people at a faster rate. That's literally their selling point.

 

[ByronicBluez]

Before being in the military no. Changed my mind after going through two different shooting schools. Definitely want a Glock 19 and an AR 15 sometime in the near future.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Because a person that cannot be sane and rational without a gun only endangers themselves and the people around them much more when they do have one.

Lol, where did I say that I would lose my sanity if something happened? I merely was saying that I would like to be prepared.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I've got a leg on both sides of this fence so I'm not looking to start anything here, but I've always been curious how a certain segment of the anti-gun population generally feels about things like sports cars, personal watercraft and other unnecessarily dangerous things that people own.

I asked my anti-gun buddies how they felt about sport scars since they too are more dangerous and unnecessary. The most common answer was "cars weren't made to kill".

 

[m_shortpants]

So the only reason you own a gun is because you can? To 'stick it' to the police? You don't see how that's irresponsible?



Graphics cards don't kill people.





How many school shootings were done with a handgun? Of course they're more dangerous. They kill more people at a faster rate. That's literally their selling point.

Uh, no, those rifles are all semi automatic.

 

[highrider]

No. I enjoyed target shooting and the range in the military but I didn't enjoy the cleaning and I'm fanatical about that kind of thing. It would be nice to have one in case of some societal calamity but that's not something I feel is necessary at the moment.

And no disrespect to gun owners, but in my personal experience they tend to attract a personality type that shouldn't own weapons of any kind. Same types that gravitate to police work.

 

[Parakeetman]

For the record we (USA) kind of killed off all of our major land predators across the majority of the country and now recreational hunting is the only way to keep deer populations in check. In Pennsylvania the situation is really terrible. Deer populations are so big that they eat everything within their reach and leave a visible gap in forest vegetation from the ground to 6 feet up. My EcoScience professor called it a "browse line." They also favor eating some species of plants while they won't touch others, and that's reducing biodiversity across the whole ecosystem. Their populations create starvation conditions for themselves without proper management. And, at least in PA, deer are in the top 5 causes of fatal car accidents.

So, in short, hunting is for more than just fun or food. In parts of the US it's actually good environmental stewardship.

What you discuss here is an actual issue in Japan that is hurting vegetation / landscape around the fuji area I do believe was a report done. The issue here though is with how difficult and expensive it is to get a hunting license on top of a firearm for hunting with compounded by expensive upkeep fees hunters have been on the decline, which means the deer population is not kept in check.

This is not me first off, but here is the link to that writeup. Figured you would find it interesting seeing how you are familiar with a similar issue.

http://yabanjinlifestyle.blogspot.jp/2012/07/the-imperfect-storm.html

 

[enewtabie]

I own a few(2 ARs, AK,Saiga Shotgun). Just for target shooting. The glock is my concealed carry. Where I live guns are everywhere and most people own at least one.

 

[Valnen]

Uh, no, those rifles are all semi automatic.

So are most decent hand guns.

 

[CrimzonSamurai]

If you just lock it away without practice and/or regular use, it accomplishes literally nothing. Besides increasing the chance to be used against you or enabling your child to blow off their friend's head while playing with it.

If it's properly locked away (read: in a coded gun safe) then an adversary or child couldn't get to it.

A lot of people don't take that extra step, but that's what a truly responsible gun owner practices.

 

[DoktorEvil]

Can you explain why that's a good reason not to own a gun? I don't understand your logic, obviously, since I posted that as a reason to own a gun.

Because a person that cannot be sane and rational without a gun only endangers themselves and the people around them much more when they do have one.

.

Lol, where did I say that I would lose my sanity if something happened? I merely was saying that I would like to be prepared.

Prepared for what?

 

[cackhyena]

Some people cant handle the responsibility of a firearm.

Thats pretty obvious looking at gun crime in America.

Right, but who judges that? What he posted wasn't anything out of he ordinary. Could especially depend on where he lives.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

I wish we were back in the sword days before guns. I wonder how many people refused to have swords back in the day for fear of tripping and falling on them.

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

Yes, I own one, but only because it's my grandfather's hunting rifle. Every year or so I'll take it to a range, shoot a few rounds, clean it up and put it back in storage. Just seems like the right thing to do.

Otherwise I couldn't care less about having a gun.

 

[m_shortpants]

So are most decent hand guns.

Yes, that was my point. I think the poster thinks the ARs and such are fully automatic weapons or something.

 

[Secks4Food]

Nah, they're expensive and I'm too pacifistic to ever use one.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

How many school shootings were done with a handgun? Of course they're more dangerous. They kill more people at a faster rate. That's literally their selling point.

Your ignorance on guns is showing. The point of rifles is to shoot more accurately at longer distances, not to kill at a faster rate. Handguns are to be a sidearm or to be concealed. Handguns lead to more deaths than rifles.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I don't think I'd own anything that was designed for "self defense" or whatever. I'd love to own a long rifle like a mosin or a springfield 1903, to take to a range or something.

I'll tell you what, you take one of those and put a bayonette on it you won't even have to keep it loaded to scare away any intruder. Good thing too because those bullets would go through like 500 drywalls before stopping hahaha.