Ask Lemmy

For self-defence against the swarms of bloodthirdty hounds, baying at the gates of western civilization.

Edit: I mean the rightoids.

"Because of the implications".

I don't have, but have been considering getting. I hear there's masked bands of kidnappers breaking into homes, so maybe it's time?

I feel that the majority of the world doesn't get a voice in this, and it indirectly justifies having a gun.

Most of us do neither want, need or have a gun

I own a few shotguns and a couple rifles. I used to go hunting, and guns are pretty cool. Now they just collect dust in my dad's safe since I don't have one. If I wanted to shoot again, I'd need to retake the safety course

I don't have my firearms license yet, but I'm planning to get it soon. As for why I want guns (and why my dad, and my fiance and her family own guns), they're for hunting, pest control (mostly rabbits and possums), and target shooting.

Don't need, don't own, kinda want (because I like shooting), but I can't be arsed. Besides, I really should not pick up another expensive hobby. Plus I take firearm safety very seriously, and I don't have a practical way of keeping it safe and secure.

I want to hunt. Also kind of worried about being invaded by Americans. Rather die with a gun in my hand fighting back than go to some American POW camp where I spend the rest of my life upholstering benches for McDonald’s or some equally stupid American bullshit.

im trans and my boyfriend's not white. We're not surviving if they come for us, so may as well take some pigs with us

i just want one because it seems like a fun thing to learn.

I am pro gun control, but if I was in the USA, I'd have a gun. No sense being caught without one when the bad guy appears with one.

Need no? Want? Only flint lock and before that for decoration because pretty. So they also wouldnt be able to shoot

I lived in an unsafe neighborhood, lots of drug deals, pit bulls running loose, etc. That was when I bought my first gun.

After my grandfather and father passed away, I ended up inheriting their guns.

Then you start looking at it in terms of a tool chest, all these guns, anything missing?

Somehow my dad and grand-dad never owned a shotgun, so I picked up a 12 gauge.

Dad left me this little derringer, which is adorable but functionally useless:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Standard_Derringer

But I liked the idea of it so I bought a Bond Arms Ranger II:

https://www.bondarms.com/bond-arms-handguns/ranger-ii/

So I went from being a knife guy, to buying a gun, to owning something like 14 guns now? 🤔

because they're pretty and make boom

I don't have nor do I need one but I'd still get one if I could. I simply think guns are cool - there's not much more to it.

Admittedly though I would worry a bit about having one in the house. There are few such tools that are very easy and quick to do something with that you'll deeply regret later.

Mostly just target shooting. But I too live in the middle of nowhere and have them to protect my family, pets, and livestock should any of the local wildlife get too aggressive.

I grew up in a family of overly-armed suburban conservatives, so inheriting a significant number of guns was always a given. A few pieces have sentimental value tied to the relatives who originally owned them. I don't use any of them, though. Hunting never interested me. Target shooting is fun once in a while, particularly trap and skeet, but I have too many other priorities vying for my time and money. If I were to get back into target shooting I would switch to archery.

Don't have any because I don't go hunting and don't live in a rural setting.

If I lived in a remote a remote area, it depends on whether I pick up hunting deer or just need something to drive away wild animals or hunt small game. Moat likely I would have a .22 rifle or lower powered shotgun for small game/vermin or driving off smaller predators. Plus guns are fun to shoot and that ammo is more affordable than higher caliber stuff. Higher caliber would require actual deer or large game hunting.

I also think guns are really neat from an engineering perspective, similar to an engine. Using explosions in a very controlled way to get a result is awesome. Definitely not worth having around without a purpose though.