WHY do you own a gun, two years later...

This is a question primarily for the "veteran" handgun owners, who have owned a handgun (or guns) for at LEAST two to three years.

The newbies can answer the first part of the question, and then revisit the ranking in two years time. But it will be interesting to the newbies to see the "veteran" responses... and changes of priority over time.

Please rank (most important to least important) YOUR PERSONAL PRIORITIES for handgun ownership from the following 4 choices.

A) When you first bought a handgun...

B) Your priorities TODAY...


The choices:

- Self/Family Defense
- Competition/Hunting/Sport
- Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby
- Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms



MY ANSWERS:

A) When I first bought a gun:
1 - Self/Family Defense
2 - Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby
3 - Competition/Hunting/Sport
4 - Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms

B) My Priorities TODAY:
1 - Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms
2 - Competition/Hunting/Sport
3 - Self/Family Defense
4 - Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby


What are YOUR priorities of gun ownership? Then, and now?

JeffWard

Good post I always wanted to ask a similar question. My answers would be ever though im a newb

Family/self defense
right to bear arms
hobby
competition

Strongly doubt thats goin to change family will always be number one reason for gun.

1. 1967 Ruger Black Hawk 44 Magnum. Defense against Bear while hiking back country Alaska.

2. 1968 to 2005. Miscellaneous revolvers. Plinking Hunting and half hearted home defense. 12 Guage was primary HD. Training tools for my children and grand children

3. 2005 to present. Bottom feeders for personal and home defense. The world has become a nastier place through the years and my ability to beat the crap out of BG's is somewhat diminished lately. :numbchuck:

A&B
Protect the Family

I bought my 1st handgun at age 21 in 1993... A Glock 17. Moved to Texas in 1996 and got my CHL the same year (1st year they were out here).

Back then...

- Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby
- Self/Family Defense


I was a kid then, and just wanted a handgun after waiting all those years to get one. Just thought it was cool, ya know. Collection changed over the years, many times. As did the # of total guns I had.

Now, I still love getting new guns. I guess I am addicted to getting "the next one." However, now my interests are:

- Self/Family Defense
- Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby
- Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms

I do not compete. But, I do try to get better everytime I go out to the range.

I have had various jobs in the criminal justice field since I was 19 (been a probation officer the past 8 years). I'll be 37 soon. I've gotten a few death threats over the years. And as such, I am a bit paranoid. So, self defense is still my #1 concern.

I bought my first handgun for home defense.and because it's a lot harder to shoot without one.

Why I buy them today...Several reasons I guess.
some for collectability, I have a fascination with military rifles. If it's been issued to a soldier I want to see it. If I like it I want to own one.

I like shooting different types of weapons. If home/family defense was the only reason to have them I'd not own so many. In reality a good pistol and a and a couple rifles that I could hunt with and a shotgun would be all I had. A 30 30 lever rifle, a shotgun, and a 22, and a 9mm auto or 38/357 wheel gun is all you really need if they are to be looked at as tools.

Thing is, a gun is more than a tool for me. I like seeing how different designs work. The history behind the "tool". What was the reason to create different features? a well built gun is like art that has a practical function.

I still own pistols and shotguns to protect my home and family. But I have several other guns that I have because I like to shoot. Guns are a big part of our American history. And as with the rest of our rights the ability to have them needs exorcised just like the rest of our rights. If not used they are more easily taken away.

I think I bought my first handgun in 1973 for target shooting and a backup while hunting. No need for home defense back then as no one ever had to lock there doors. Now for family defense, target shooting or I just want a new gun.

In this order;
A: 1 & 2
B: 3,4 & 1

:watching:

Is now and will always be: Self defense/family and home protection and the right to bear arms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by buck32

In this order;
A: 1 & 2
B: 3,4 & 1

:watching:

---

+1...same here...:smt023

Self defense/family and home protection, hobby for target range fun, and the right to bear arms.
first one bought at age 21, still have 7 guns

Back in 1989 it was (a) 3,2,1,4 in that order of purchases

now? umm 1 then 2-3-4 together

I am 27...and have been shooting/owning firearms for the better part of 20 years.

So here are the priorities right now>

1.Self defense/family defense......because
2.I have the right to bear arms...and I support the right
3.Sport/hunting/competition...which is why I started when I was young, and a big part of why I still shoot
4.Hobby/relaxation

A) When you first bought a handgun... Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms



B) Your priorities TODAY... Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby AND Self/Family Defense

Then Self defense hobby right to bear arms

Now Same reasons


Self Defense has always been the priority.

Rough world out there.

I'm nearing my 22nd birthday and my one year anniversary of owning handguns, and it's interesting to me that already my reasons have changed slightly. I started out caring primarily about (at least for handguns):
- Self/Family Defense
- Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms
- Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby (slightly)

Already, my priorities have changed to:
- Self/Family Defense
- Recreation/Relaxation/Hobby
- Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms

However, "Support of the INDIVIDUAL Right to Keep and Bear Arms" is only lowered in practicality. In principle, I still hold this nearly as high as mine and my loved ones' safety.