Not that odd, but historical: Martini Enfield identified my SMLE as one produced during the height of the Battle of Britain.
Originally I owned firearms purely for target shooting. I hunted a couple of times, but hated it and swore off ever hunting again. I was amazingly adept at getting animals with a .410, however. I now am deeply ashamed I ever shot an animal. Yes I am being serious.
Over time my reasons changed. I have been the victim of violent crime three times, one of which was really horrible. In each of the cases if I had been allowed to exercise my right to effective self-defense by having a firearm with me, no crime would have been committed on me. Now I engage in target shooting much, much less, and only shoot to practice with my CCW, which I carry for self-defense.
The small and weak, the different - those who don’t fit in, they are the ones who have a right to effective self defense. So long as people do evil towards others.
Protection (mostly wildlife, former Alaskan here). I don’t own one now, but want to get another one.
Because I can.
Unless someone is holding a gun to your head(strained-couldn’t help myself-sorry) that usually goes without saying, doesn’t it?
I know people who have purchased guns during the past 5 to 10 years, fearing due to the political climate their second amendment rights might change. Just sayin.
And as with every other thread on this message board, if one doesn’t wish to participate in a particular conversation, on doesn’t have to. I am truly not interested in wresting answers from the reluctant.
I have no dog in this fight.
I answered previously why I own guns. However, I think “because I can” may be an honest answer if someone fears their ability to purchase is threatened and they buy gun(s) due to that fear.
You’re just precious, aren’t you?
Perhaps. I think that I am of the mind that that level of (perhaps justified) paranoia would cause one not to participate in such a public conversation at all.
Just my humble opinion…but I could be wrong.
Not here, please.
Cool. I’d amend my comment to include: Just my humble opinion…but I could be wrong.
That is why we call them “opinions”, right? 
My dad got me a .22 semi auto rifle with scope for my 15th birthday (30+ years ago). I went out with him (along with my brother and uncle) target shooting once. I haven’t shot it since. At the time, it was a “neato” thing to have. (My dad & uncle were raised by an avid hunting fan.)
I joined the Navy and left it behind. I have since told my brother he can have it.
If ever I decide to own another gun, I forsee it will be for personal protection.
Indeed!
However, as all who have seen my responses in various threads will verify, it’s hard for my opinions to consider themselves ‘humble’ :rolleyes:
As a child getting regularly beaten-up by an older brother, I desperately wanted to own a gun. My brother found an ancient rusty Daisy Red Ryder BB gun (think A Christmas Story) in a storage room and started using it. I was playing with it one afternoon when he was away. I shot a Western Goldfinch in a tree and it froze in place on the branch. I knew then I couldn’t kill something that wasn’t attacking me. I also knew I couldn’t kill my brother, with or without a weapon.
Years later I got involved in martial arts and learned to enjoy accuracy with weapons as part of the package – sticks, blades, chains, etcetera – and learning archery and target shooting was just another tool for training the body. Plus the Zen of accuracy practice is astoundingly appealing.
I’ve posted in other threads how I tested every pistol I could rent and settled on an EAA Witness .45 (Imported from Tanfoglio of Italy; it’s copied from the CZ but in a larger calibre). It’s been a long time since I’ve taken it to the range. When I was active I could plink nickel-sized stickers at 25 yards; last time I shot it I could only draw smilies on the silhouette face (think Lethal Weapon I) at 10 yards.
As for home/personal defense, I suppose I’d be more prone to relying on my martial arts and non-firearms in a dangerous confrontation, but I don’t know how far that would get me. Instead, I’ve avoided living in a place requiring such considerations and don’t tend to visit such areas. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6? Better still to think farther ahead about where you live, work, and play – and how you interact with people.
==>*G!
Bushi no mei 'o irimas!