As a gun owner, I'll weigh in on this topic.
First, I'm a frothing liberal. I'm not registered as a Democrat because the DemocratIC party isn't nearly liberal enough for me. So I am not your typical gun owner. I detest the NRA and all they are doing to goose unreasonable fear into a populace that is too eager to buy into their bullshit about vigilante justice against home invasions, school shootings, etc.
That said, there are good and reasonable reasons to own guns. I, too, was raised in a family where guns were just... part of life. My Dad's dad was a government hunter and trapper. Hunting, trapping and foraging was a way of life. I first shot a .22 rifle when I was 9 years old. (I still have that .22, too, along with a newer 10/.22, and I'll pick up a .22 over almost any other gun anytime.)
If you live rural like I do, you need to know how to handle a gun. I have had to kill suffering livestock as well as varmints that were menacing my livestock. It is part of responsible stewardship in farming. I carry a 9 mm when I'm hiking alone up in the forestry. I'm not too worried about running into anything, but I'd rather have the gun and not need it than need it and not have it. And by that I mean surprising a momma bear or a cougar. Not too worried about 2-legged animals.
I don't hunt personally, but I know many who do and the meat contributes enormously to their food supplies. I'm continually astonished at what some people eat: Bear, squirrel, possum, even beaver (no cracks, please!), along with the more traditional elk, venison and moose. If the kill is clean and merciful, no parts wasted, I have no problem with that and would do it myself without hesitation if necessary. Hunting is a way of life for many.
RESPONSIBLE gun ownership is the key. I agree with those who have said guns should be safely stored if there are small children in the house. By age 7-8, it's time to start teaching them how to handle guns RESPONSIBLY. Guns should be put away when not in use and children should always be supervised when they are learning to shoot. Education, education, education. And far more restrictive, stringent CCW regulations. I swear, anyone with enough box tops can get a CCW permit. It's outrageous. Comprehensive, thorough background checks for ALL guns sold should be a no-brainer. And personally, I have no problem with limiting magazine capacity or eliminating all fully automatic weapons. No responsible gun owner or hunter needs that stuff. If I can't hit it with 10 rounds, I've got no business anywhere near a gun in the first place.
Conversely, I'd like to see non-gun people learn more about the subject before trying to talk about it. I find it annoying when people use the word, "clip," when what they mean is a "magazine." Similarly, educate yourself as to what a semi-automatic gun is v. a fully automatic weapon. Gun owners lose patience with trying to talk to hysterical people who don't even understand the terminology.
A final point: Most of the so-called "gun control" efforts in this country are laughable. They keep trying to go after long guns -- when most of the gun violence perpetrated in the USA is from hand guns. Did you ever hear any discussion about eliminating THOSE? I didn't.
First, I'm a frothing liberal. I'm not registered as a Democrat because the DemocratIC party isn't nearly liberal enough for me. So I am not your typical gun owner. I detest the NRA and all they are doing to goose unreasonable fear into a populace that is too eager to buy into their bullshit about vigilante justice against home invasions, school shootings, etc.
That said, there are good and reasonable reasons to own guns. I, too, was raised in a family where guns were just... part of life. My Dad's dad was a government hunter and trapper. Hunting, trapping and foraging was a way of life. I first shot a .22 rifle when I was 9 years old. (I still have that .22, too, along with a newer 10/.22, and I'll pick up a .22 over almost any other gun anytime.)
If you live rural like I do, you need to know how to handle a gun. I have had to kill suffering livestock as well as varmints that were menacing my livestock. It is part of responsible stewardship in farming. I carry a 9 mm when I'm hiking alone up in the forestry. I'm not too worried about running into anything, but I'd rather have the gun and not need it than need it and not have it. And by that I mean surprising a momma bear or a cougar. Not too worried about 2-legged animals.
I don't hunt personally, but I know many who do and the meat contributes enormously to their food supplies. I'm continually astonished at what some people eat: Bear, squirrel, possum, even beaver (no cracks, please!), along with the more traditional elk, venison and moose. If the kill is clean and merciful, no parts wasted, I have no problem with that and would do it myself without hesitation if necessary. Hunting is a way of life for many.
RESPONSIBLE gun ownership is the key. I agree with those who have said guns should be safely stored if there are small children in the house. By age 7-8, it's time to start teaching them how to handle guns RESPONSIBLY. Guns should be put away when not in use and children should always be supervised when they are learning to shoot. Education, education, education. And far more restrictive, stringent CCW regulations. I swear, anyone with enough box tops can get a CCW permit. It's outrageous. Comprehensive, thorough background checks for ALL guns sold should be a no-brainer. And personally, I have no problem with limiting magazine capacity or eliminating all fully automatic weapons. No responsible gun owner or hunter needs that stuff. If I can't hit it with 10 rounds, I've got no business anywhere near a gun in the first place.
Conversely, I'd like to see non-gun people learn more about the subject before trying to talk about it. I find it annoying when people use the word, "clip," when what they mean is a "magazine." Similarly, educate yourself as to what a semi-automatic gun is v. a fully automatic weapon. Gun owners lose patience with trying to talk to hysterical people who don't even understand the terminology.
A final point: Most of the so-called "gun control" efforts in this country are laughable. They keep trying to go after long guns -- when most of the gun violence perpetrated in the USA is from hand guns. Did you ever hear any discussion about eliminating THOSE? I didn't.
