# Why do gunowners own guns only because "they have the right to"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825 "2012-02-24T11:04:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Craz3d117](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@Craz3d117](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craz3d117)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/241 "2012-02-27T09:08:16Z")
I think the ol saying “Ask a stupid question and you get a stupid answer” really applies here. More often than not the question of "Why do you own a gun? is indeed a dishonest question, just as the reply “Because I have the right to” is most likely dishonest. I don’t think either one is usually saying what they mean, but resort to rhetorical offense/defense. I think we can agree that the asker is usually not really interested in the exact reason one chooses to own a gun, just as the responder probably doesn’t own a gun for the sole reason he or she has the right to. So I’d say the answer to the question of “Why do gunowners own guns only because 'they have the right to?” is that they _don’t._ ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/242 "2012-02-27T17:33:58Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Gunowners are at best infantry. Realistically, they won’t stand a chance against a serious army, or so the arguments goes. It doesn’t take defeat of it’s army in the field in set-piece battle to bring down a government. It only takes making the place ungovernable, eliminating said government’s ability to accomplish anything. This is quite possible to do via personal firearms and guerilla warfare. The “Can’t defeat a real army” argument is specious. Also, it assumes the army is willing to go along with enforcing tyranny. A highly dubious proposition. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/243 "2012-02-27T17:39:33Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > It doesn’t take defeat of it’s army in the field in set-piece battle to bring down a government. It only takes making the place ungovernable, eliminating said government’s ability to accomplish anything. This is quite possible to do via personal firearms and guerilla warfare. The “Can’t defeat a real army” argument is specious. Also, it assumes the army is willing to go along with enforcing tyranny. A highly dubious proposition. But doesn’t this line of thought depend on all the different private militias, individual gun owners _and_ the military agreeing on where the tipping point is when it comes to their personal definition of tyranny? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/244 "2012-02-27T19:15:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > But doesn’t this line of thought depend on all the different private militias, individual gun owners _and_ the military agreeing on where the tipping point is when it comes to their personal definition of tyranny? It hasn’t in any other revolt (successful or not) any other time in history. Why would it apply to any hypothetical future US revolt against tyranny? The original US revolution didn’t have majority support when it started, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/245 "2012-02-27T19:26:17Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > It hasn’t in any other revolt (successful or not) any other time in history. Why would it apply to any hypothetical future US revolt against tyranny? The original US revolution didn’t have majority support when it started, for example. True that, but what is the usual result when the military rises up against its own government? Doesn’t yet another tyranny arise? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/246 "2012-02-27T22:41:09Z")
We’ve had multiple GD threads covering this very issue. It’s not a slam dunk in favor of the 2nd amendment. I purposely made a narrow point. Besides, why should we believe that Hoss and Ben will be on the side opposing tyranny anyway? The historical example of reconstruction shows armed men determined to take away the voting rights of others, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/247 "2012-02-28T06:39:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > True that, but what is the usual result when the military rises up against its own government? Doesn’t yet another tyranny arise? Sure. That happens sometimes. But not always, and it turns out better often enough for many people to think it to be worth a try. I know I’d rather take the chance than live under a guaranteed, already demonstrated tyranny. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/248 "2012-02-28T06:49:46Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Sure. That happens sometimes. But not always, and it turns out better often enough for many people to think it to be worth a try. Often enough? Examples, please? ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/249 "2012-02-28T17:00:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Often enough? Examples, please? And you wonder why others are suspicious of the innocence of your questions? It’s the pit, the OP has nothing to do with tyranny or the viability of militia led revolt. Go open a GD thread or something and have an honest argument. Turning a pit thread into a debate is disingenuous. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/250 "2012-02-28T18:20:59Z")
[Devious “anti” who can’t be trusted asks a very rude question which is none of his business.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=643279) My last word in this thread is this: Why don’t y’all take a look-see at who has responded to this underhanded trap/attack on the right of Americans to own guns-the disconnect between the two threads is simply amazing, ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/251 "2012-02-28T23:30:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Devious “anti” who can’t be trusted asks a very rude question which is none of his business.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=643279) My last word in this thread is this: Why don’t y’all take a look-see at who has responded to this underhanded trap/attack on the right of Americans to own guns-the disconnect between the two threads is simply amazing, I responded because I decided to take you at your word. You trapped yourself when you gave it so it seemed safe enough, and you did ask nicely rather than insultingly. Keep doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/252 "2012-02-28T23:55:12Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Turning a pit thread into a debate is disingenuous. Ha ha ha ha! Turning something into a debate is never disingenuous, my friend. It’s the stifling of debate that’s dangerous. My god. Stamping out debate so blatantly? That’s brave! ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/253 "2012-02-29T04:30:49Z")
My boss’s brother bought a Barrett .50 BMG semi auto. When he brought it out to the office, I asked him all sorts of questions. What did it cost? What did the ammo cost? Was the scope specially hardened to deal with the recoil? How bad was the recoil? Could I shoot it? It never dawned on me to ask him why he needed it. He wanted it, he bought it. He needed no permission, approval, or validation from me. But I can think of few more polarizing firearms to argue in favor of. It fails every “why do you need it” test. Hunting? Nope. Home defense? Nope. Collectible? Nope. It seems that sometimes the reason is “because I wanted it”. I’ll try to remember to ask him if anybody has ever asked him why he needed it. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/254 "2012-02-29T04:43:02Z")
Late to the thread, but I am a gun owner. I like guns. I like shooting them and I’m proud of myself when I get a really nice grouping. I have some guns that I don’t shoot, I like them because they are cool for reasons that only matter to me. I have a friend who collects coins. He just paid $1200 for a 1902 penny. I never considered asking him why he needed that penny, I asked if it filled the collection, about the condition and what his next purchase will be. None of my friends have every asked me why I need a gun, but I have had strangers ask me why I’m carrying open. I don’t think that I need to justify myself to strangers, so my answer is usually “because I can”. That’s my polite way of telling them to fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/255 "2012-02-29T12:43:01Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Actually, I believe that’s the answer to “why do dogs lick their own balls?” > > Most of us aren’t so lucky, so the 2nd Amendment guarantees us the next best thing. Because we have fingers that can pull a trigger. Chew on THAT, Rover. I had heard that dogs lick their balls because they can’t make a fist, a rationale that might have relevance to some gun owners. 😃 Like others here, I grew up around guns although this was due the fact that we lived on military bases and the people that had guns were responsible individuals so I did not worry at all. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/256 "2012-02-29T15:13:38Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Ha ha ha ha! > > Turning something into a debate is never disingenuous, my friend. It’s the stifling of debate that’s dangerous. > > My god. Stamping out debate so blatantly? That’s brave! I don’t know who the fuck you are so I sure as shit ain’t yer friend. Let me help you wit yer comprehension problem. The reason I think turning a fucking pit thread into a debate is a douche loser move for fucking imbeciles is precisely for the feelings your are experiencing now my incompetent besty. 😃 The rules are lax here and it just isn’t the right place to try and have civilized discourse. I’m in favor of vigorous debate on almost any subject. I’ve learned more about gun control, nuclear energy, and a host of other subjects by reading GD threads than I thought I would ever care to know. So no, the intent wasn’t to stifle debate, simply to direct it over to the proper forum. **Czarcasm** did one better and posted his question in IMHO. (egg on my face for not having noticed). :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825/257 "2012-03-23T03:58:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Am I given to understand that, for at least some of you, the only reason you collect guns is to broaden the right, and that if this right didn’t need defending you wouldn’t go near the things? I collect them for the same reason other guys collect model trains, or cars (if they’re rich). Elegantly-made machines that are functional are cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gunowners-own-guns-only-because-they-have-the-right-to/613825.md?page=12)