How many kinds of gun owners are there?

[hedgehog]

I agree with Obama that something has to be done to stop all the gun murders in the cities, but I think he oversimplifies the situation by dividing gun owners into hunters and gang bangers. I count at least 4 kinds of gun owners:

Hunters

People who keep a fire arm around to take out varmints

People who keep a fire arm around to protect themselves, their families and their possessions.

Criminals

A gun owner could belong to any or all of these groups; for example someone who lives in a rural area who deals meth, keeps cattle and likes to go deer hunting!

I think that one of the problems with discussing gun control is that some people perceive the world as decent and civilized. These people trust the police for protection. Other people perceive the world as full of threats to their personal safety, and feel a need and a duty to carry a gun for self protection. For someone belonging to the first group, gun control means greater safety for everyone. For someone belonging to the second group, gun control means that they will be left to the mercy of criminals.


Edit: I am reminded to add two more categories:

Gun collectors. I would call this a group of people who own working fire arms who never foresee having a deire or need to fire them

Target shooters

[anonymous171]

1. Gun control, in general, is bad. nt

[DS1]

2. Target shooters/competitors

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. There are gun collectors.

And people who enjoy the sport of target shooting.

[slackmaster]

4. You left out collectors

:hi:

Some of us own firearms for the same reasons people collect other inanimate objects: Financial investment, historical interest, something to keep them occupied in retirement, conversation starters, etc.

[EstimatedProphet]

10. which one does your cat shoot?

BTW is that an Enfield in the front row?

[slackmaster]

17. That's a Mosin-Nagant, and Samantha doesn't require firearms

She has claws and teeth, and lets out a spine-chilling growl when any unknown life form approaches the perimeter of the property.

[Optical.Catalyst]

24. OH LOOK! It is a thrity - ought - cat

[Statistical]

26. You owe me a new monitor.... soda all over it. Not sure why I found that so funny (n/t)

[ThomWV]

5. collectors, repairmen, woodworkers, engravers, and what about nail guns?

[Ghost in the Machine]

6. There's only TWO kinds of gun owners -

Those who use their guns for legal, lawful purposes.. and those who don't.

:hi:

[hedgehog]

8. That's one way to describe them, but I think that by recognizing ALL

the different reasons why people might own fire arms we will be better able to keep them out of the hands of people who would misuse them.

[flvegan]

7. Those that hope they never need to use it for its intended purpose.

But have one/them for just such a case.

[Ghost in the Machine]

20. Some guns are used for their intended purpose every day, and never kill anyone..

Anschutz Target Rifles - 2007 Target Rifle Special

This high quality Anschutz "Special" target rifle was developed according to the technological concept of the model 2013 "Super Match"
Barreled action: Compact connection between barreled action and stock, heavy rectangular receiver attached with 4 action screws. Top results are achieved due to the accuracy of the barreled action, the extremely short locktime and the perfect balance.

Trigger: Adjustable match two-stage trigger with safety. The trigger blade is adjustable in length and can be tilted up to 15 degrees. The use in all disciplines is guaranteed by the various adjusting possibilities, especially the wide range of adjusting the weight and trigger pull. The trigger can be adjusted as two-stage or single stage trigger.

Stock: The anatomically perfect stock is dark stained and lacquered. The cheek piece which is vertically and horizontally adjustable can be adjusted individual requirements by spacers. The vertically adjustable butt plate can be adjusted by interchangeable spacers and can be equipped with a hook butt plate or aluminum but plate if desired.

Delivered with: Hand stop 4751, cleaning device 4422/1, screw driver, instruction leaflet, with test target.
http://www.championshooters.com/2007big.htm

Many more here: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGQD_enUS264US264&q=competition+target+rifles

[flvegan]

21. Agreed.

I was simply referring to myself. I go to the range a couple times a year to stay in practice, but I don't shoot targets.

I didn't mean in any way to imply that a guns only purpose is to kill someone.

[Ioo]

9. Me - I have a few

[hedgehog]

11. Love your sticker!

[The Straight Story]

12. Target shooters

People who just shoot for the hell of it and for sport.

[hedgehog]

13. I think one aspect of guns that a lot of people don't understand

is that it can be a hell of a lot of fun to fire a gun.

[The Straight Story]

14. Yeah. there was a 2 hour special on sharp shooting last night

History channel. Was pretty sweet what some of those guys could do.

[slackmaster]

18. Stutter-punch

:nuke:

[slackmaster]

19. The quick-draw people with their single-action pistols always amaze me

I have a replica of a Colt and enjoy shooting it, but I'd be scared shitless to try to draw, cock and fire it that quickly.

[EstimatedProphet]

22. Which is what I do anymore

I used to hunt, but I haven't for several years. I just don't care for getting up at 2 am and freezing my ass off in the dark.

[pecwae]

15. I own.

Keep in practice because I enjoy target shooting. I hope I'm never put into the position of having to defend myself or family.

[-..__...]

16. Two...

Gun owners = are familiar with and observe gun safety laws, have a working knowledge of state and federal gun laws, have a better than basic knowledge of firearms nomenclature/disassembly/assembly/maintenance, will practice at least 6-12 time (or more), etc.

People that own guns = The person who keeps a $75.00 pawn shop acquisition in the sock drawer, has never been to a range, the loose ammo rolling around in said sock drawer is green from corrosion, never cleans the firearm because the cleaning kit that they received as a gift was used to clean the rims and detail the interior of their car, etc.

[hedgehog]

23. Sounds like my definitions of hunters and shooters:

A hunter is a guy like my neighbor who is in my woods year round watching the animals and who may go through an entire deer season without firing his gun because he can't get a clean shot.

A shooter just goes into the woods and bangs away. Beer cans and cigarettes optional.

[Statistical]

27. Well I hunt beer cans .... sometimes they get away

[sutz12]

25. There are two kinds of people in the world...

Those who separate people into two categories, and those who don't.

:)

I'm in the "Let's properly enforce the laws we currently have on the books consistently before we enact any more" camp.

I have no wish to force legal gun owners to surrender their legal property. But I think there are too many guns in our country, more than one gun per person average, IIRC. Having an overabundance available makes it almost inevitable that some will drbble out to the illegal gun possessors. While I'm not big on prohibition, I do think it should be harder to buy a gun than a six pack of beer.

[hedgehog]

28. Well, I'm not really trying to divide people into groups so much as to

recognize all the interests in this debate. Until we understand where everyone is coming from, we'll just keep talking past (screaming past?) each other!

[jmg257]

29. ...those with loaded guns and those who dig...you dig." Eastwood - The Good the Bad, and the Ugly.

[NightWatcher]

30. Professionals who use them as tools

I'm a PI who has used them to protect people over the years. I have worked numerous personal protection cases where the police were not available. I've used them on boats travelling the Gulf, Carib and Bahamas.

The "gun issue" is a very complicated one with too many scenarios to list. Control needs to be used to an extent, but I dont see anything proposed that would solve all or most of the problem.