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About LinkBacksWhat compels a person to obtain, store, or carry firearms? What is the nature of a firearm? Why are firearms made, or what purpose do they serve?
August 2nd, 2012, 12:52 AM
What compels a person to obtain, store, or carry firearms? What is the nature of a firearm? Why are firearms made, or what purpose do they serve?
Their purpose? To kill. Either for food, for the sake of something other than food, just 'cause, or most disturbingly - for fun.
Why obtain them? To fullfill those purposes. Also to protect oneself, and others, I suppose.
Why do people buy them when they don't need them? Possibly because it's fun shooting them at targets or something - marksmanship is a fairly common hobby.. Maybe some people buy them because of the thrill behind firearms? The danger aspect - the idea that they own something that could easily kill in less than a second, that simply squeezing a small piece of metal is all it would take?
My thoughts at least.
I have a friend, an engineer, who has a collection of fifty or more guns, most of them of historical interest. In pride of place is a rifle which he can track thorugh records as having been used at the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Zulu wars. While he is a hunter, his interest in guns seems to arise much more from an engineers viewpoint of evolving design.
Well said Galt. Collecting, and what not, is definitely a reason too. Your friend's collection sounds astounding. My Great Uncle has a quite the collection as well, ironically, he also has a spear that was wielded in the battle of Isandlwana.Originally Posted by John Galt
To deter, defend, threaten, injure, damage, kill, or destroy perhaps?
I do not quite understand this question. If I were to ask what is the nature of a crossbow, should I take into consideration the sports-like proficiency one can possess or attain, or should I look at what a crossbow is able to do for me in a hunt?
Like any other tool humans have invented/created; to be used should the desire/need arises.
There are many reasons for a person obtaining and storing weapons, in particular firearms. From a person who collects them for historical reasons to those who collect them for purely aesthetic reasons. There are those who collect them because they are afraid of what the near future holds and those who only procure one or two for personal defense. The nature of the firearm is that it is a tool. It is designed to rapidly stop whatever it is fired at. It is the evolution of weapon technology, first the rock, then the stick, then stick with a rock attached, then the stick with the rock was launched with another stick. Then they started adding strings and... A weapon is a tool and nothing more. They have no inherent nature, no tool is evil or good, the onl;y value that can be assigned to them is how well they perform their job. Firearms perform very well.
Obesity is a major health concern in the US.
The US has a large percentage of firearms per citizen.
It all makes sense. Americans are to lazy to hit the gym so they buy weapons instead. Following this logic: Firearms are there so you dont need to keep in shape.
On a serious note the people above me got it right :P
What compels a person to obtain, store, or carry firearms? Their DNA.
To show my point,
Young animals playing, is DNA programmed behavior, its just practice for what that animal does when they grown up.
Young deer play by running, that's practice to run away from a wolf.
Young wolves play by wrestling, that practice to kill a deer.
Young humans play by swinging sticks and throwing rocks, that's practice to kill other animals with weapons.
We are animals DNA programmed to use weapons to kill.
The fire arm is just a modern day spear/rock.
To be fair, I enjoy firearms quite a bit and yet I would never use one to kill any living thing. I also enjoy bows. To me, shooting is similar to golf. I target shoot for fun and with a little friendly competition.
As for purpose, that varies based on the user. Some people hunt, some people want to be able to defend themselves, and some people are just whackos who enjoy having the power to kill someone without being forced to rely on their own personal physical strength or prowess.
I like to make loud noises and blow holes in things. Also fiream ownership helps keep our govenments honest. Armed citizens are free citizens. I believe fairly strongly that firearm ownership is a citizen's duty in a democracy. Actually to fullfill that duty you need a military level weapon. I own a chinese SKS 7.62 mm semi automatic rifle. It is Korean war vintage so not state of the art, but still very capable of "reaching out to touch someone" with fatal results.
Dear Sealeaf. Quote "" a citizens duty in a democracy... End Quote. I'm a citizen in a democracy. If the Law Enforcement in my State knew I was in possession of Fire Arms it would be several hours before they attended a Domestic"" call out at my place of residence. When they did turn up they would have the SAS, the SWATCH Squad, The Riot Squad, several Special Force Anti- Terrorist Rapid Fire Specialists, the Dog Squad, and the Coroner. I f I was brave enough to open the front door, naked, with a feather in my hand, I would be so full of lead I'd save a burial by sinking into the ground. Not to healthy to own a gun around these parts. westwind.
Is it the duty of a citizen in a communist state to not own a gun?
I think you have given evidence in support of my position.
"communist" is the opposit of "capitalist", not of democracy. It should be perfectly possible for a communist state to be democratic. It does not seem to work out that way in practice.Is it the duty of a citizen in a communist state to not own a gun?
Then accordingly it must be the duty of a citizen living under communist rule to own a firearm since the duty is not just restricted to democratic states. IOW's everybody should own a gun. Therefore gun ownership is not a privilege, nor is it for a privileged few. I'm just wondering why you think only democrats should be allowed to own guns?I believe fairly strongly that firearm ownership is a citizen's duty in a democracy.
The opposit of democratic is probably "totalitarian" or "police state". If you live in a "democrascy " that is afraid to let its citizens have guns you might want to consider questioning just how free you actually are. Bare in mind that these things are measured in shades of gray not black and white.Then accordingly it must be the duty of a citizen living under communist rule to own a firearm since the duty is not just restricted to democratic states. IOW's everybody should own a gun. Therefore gun ownership is not a privilege, nor is it for a privileged few. I'm just wondering why you think only democrats should be allowed to own guns?I believe fairly strongly that firearm ownership is a citizen's duty in a democracy.
When we speak of "Law and Order" most people do not realise that those are opposits. The greater is the rule of law, the less the order in society. Law protects the individual from the power of the state, order is what the state imposses.
Do you feel emboldened owning a gun? Does it give you the courage to walk the streets of high crime areas at night or do you own a gun just in case one of those inhabitants decides to leave their turf and pay you a visit?
To the extent that I own a Home Defense Weapon it is my 12 gauge pump shot gun with the short barrel and eight shot magazine. I do feel better hiking in deep forest with my .22 pistol in my pocket. I live in bear, mountain lion, coyote and wolf country. I would not use so light a gun to hunt these animals. I don't hunt at all. But a 400lb bear has walked through my back yard. If I were confronted by agressive wild life I would stay indoors if possible, but I were outside, a little gun is better than no gun. Just last year 2 wolves killed a jogger in an alaskan suburbe. She tried to run away, and the wolves ran her down and tore her apart. My immediate thought was "what the heck are you doing jogging in wolf country without a side arm?"Do you feel emboldened owning a gun? Does it give you the courage to walk the streets of high crime areas at night or do you own a gun just in case one of those inhabitants decides to leave their turf and pay you a visit?
I would not enter a high crime area if I could possibly help it.
On the subject of using a firearm aginst another human let me quote a police officer, "its better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6."
To the extent that I own a Home Defense Weapon it is my 12 gauge pump shot gun with the short barrel and eight shot magazine. I do feel better hiking in deep forest with my .22 pistol in my pocket. I live in bear, mountain lion, coyote and wolf country. I would not use so light a gun to hunt these animals. I don't hunt at all. But a 400lb bear has walked through my back yard. If I were confronted by agressive wild life I would stay indoors if possible, but I were outside, a little gun is better than no gun. Just last year 2 wolves killed a jogger in an alaskan suburbe. She tried to run away, and the wolves ran her down and tore her apart. My immediate thought was "what the heck are you doing jogging in wolf country without a side arm?"
I would not enter a high crime area if I could possibly help it.
On the subject of using a firearm aginst another human let me quote a police officer, "its better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.
We have dingos in Australia. ( read native dog, probably from India 25,000 years ago ). Size of a mangy small greyhound. I don't like them. They prey on kitten rabbits, small marsupials and young babies ( human ), when they can get them. I don't rely on 35% of the Human Male Specie, and I have no love for any mangy dingo. I have no gun. If I am confronted by a dangerous animal, say like a dingo, or Pit Bull Terriors that roam our suburban streets, then i should have to roll on my back and expose my throat to these terrorists. westwind.
Unless you have really tiny bears, a 0.22 isn't going to do much more than piss them off. Ironically I agree about sidearms in bear country (with at least a .44), but don't usually take the advise myself. I am however, deliberately loud if the path is tight, sometimes singing or whistling and carry a hard-crafted walking stick that's been around the world with me for the past 30 years--it would probably be my last ditch defense. I also have a good amount of woods knowledge (raised there) that might come in handy--most practical info, such as "most rushes" are fake, "bears usually retreat uphill where nothing can keep up," "mothers are often irrational" (tempted to compare with two legged mammal). A semi-auto shotgun is a lot better than even a Clint Eastwood's largest handgun. In my parts I worry about cougar a lot more than bears, they are a lot more stealthy, single minded, and meticulously wait for an opportunity to pounce when your the most vulnerable, like bending down to photograph a flower, or dropping trou.
long ago and far away
I was hiking up rib mountain when i happened to look up, and there not 20 feet (6 meters) away was a black bear.
My uncle who was farther down the trail said that the bear and I both turned and ran as fast as we could in opposite directions.
(never underestimate the power of dumb luck to see you through when planning and intellect fail)
I had a cousin who hunted bears.........he talked about getting out during false dawn just before the sun was just rising, and following the hounds.
Unless you are well trained and ready for the moment, facing danger is a crap shoot even if well armed.
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