For The Love Of... Guns? Why are they so loved?

[DefunctTheory]

Non gun owner and never intend to travel to the US exactly because of "mah guns!" attitudes, ultimately people with guns make me feel unsafe because I don't trust these mofos, it makes me feel like I need a gun in return to even the odds, or at least carry a knife or something. I mean if everyone else is armed, I don't want to be the one idiot who isn't. Anyways random thoughts:

One of the odd (Probably random) things about gun ownership is that the places people outside of the country may want to visit have the lowest gun ownership rates - New York, Florida, and California, for example, are pretty low on the gun ownership list. A lot (Not all) of gun owners are also concentrated in rural areas, so realistically, if you come here to visit, you're not really dealing with 'US' levels of guns at the places you're likely to go.

-The hunting and rural community argument where everyone lives an hour away. All right this makes some sense, but honest question, how many folks here are hunters or live in such areas? Most people in the western world are city dwellers last I checked and what are you going to be hunting in the cities, pidgeons? So this argument gets a big meh from me.

I would fall into the 'lives in the woods' category, with around 19-20% of the United States population. About 12.7 million US citizens are hunters (About 4% of the US Population).

EDIT: Southern Pennsylvania, to be specific.

-US peeps don't trust their cops. Look at some of the comments in this thread, "a cop is just a dude with a badge" or just a general feeling you can't trust cops to help you out (in the case of rural communities where nearest cop is an hour away..that seems more understandable), so a lot of people don't seem to trust the law will be there for them if they need it and seem to want to feel in control thanks to a gun, so that "if" something happens, then they will be ready to act. I find this a somewhat sad state of affairs though and just cements my decision never to live in the US, I like feeling like I can trust and count on my local cops.

This is a seriously over played card, both inside and outside of the US. For the most part, people trust the police to get the bad guy - There's just a general feeling that a small percentage of police will also 'get' a good guy or two. Generally, if you find someone whos excuse for firearm ownership is 'you can't trust the police,' that person is, at most, two steps away from the militia movement, and those people make up a very, very small portion of the US population.

-However find the argument of "gun collecting is just like any other hobby! Like euh..collecting cars, magazines or model soldiers! EXACTLY THE SAME THING" to be pants on absolutely retarded though and whenever someone says that, I have the mental image of the person shooting themselves in the foot because this just makes whatever actual good arguments they had seem super silly and you have to go through incredible mental leaps to put a gun, a tool dedicated to killing with no other practical purpose, on the same level as transportation people need to get on with their every day lives or common tools like knives you need every day.

The point is that when you start collecting things, their primary purpose becomes meaningless no matter what. A collected car is no more useful for transportation then a collected gun is for killing people.

I'm personally not a fan of comparing cars and guns, however, since the amount of risk posed, and the amount of utility given by each, is so wildly different that comparison is meaningless. But collecting either one is also a poor subject of argument, as neither has any strong arguments for legalization/criminalization.

All that being said, I'd just like to add that 'collected' firearms are usually some of the safest firearms. When it comes to how dangerous a particular branch of guns are, it basically goes: Cheap Pistols, Hunting Firearms, Expensive Pistols, and then way down on the list is 'collectables' like old firearms, extremely expensive modern firearms, and legal machine/automatic firearms.

Ok then...If we really want to play it like that....
I happen to enjoy collecting Nuclear weapons, Chemical weapons, bombs of all kind and military hardware.
What? Oh cmon don't be lame, I'm just COLLECTING them, why you so scared of that? They are works of art! The inside pieces of them is just fascinating! And have you seen a man die in horrible pain to white phosphorous? It is truly breath taking as the person agonizes whilst their skin is horribly burnt... Oh don't worry guys, I only have it for self defence and for when I feel like kicking back with the boyz on the weekend, it's a fun social activity, especially with a few beers! Seriously dudes? You can do just about fucking anything and make it fun thanks to being with buddies and a few beers so don't use that as a justification.

I swear this has potential to become the new "it's just a prank bro! it's just a prank!" only applied to firearms.
"It's ok bro! I'm just collecting bro! It's a collection! Why you scared of my collection? They just like any other hobby out there bro!".

This kind of hyperbole only serves to belittle your own position, and to poison the thread as a whole, as Legendary is either soon going to, or has already while I was typing this response, swoop in and defend civilian chemical warfare, while everyone else is just going to roll their eye's and sigh.

NBC weaponry (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) are, and should remain, illegal because there is absolutely zero ways to use any of those in a safe way. Hand guns, rifles, shotguns, and cannons can all be used safely. Even bombs can be. None of the big three can even be used safely by large standing Armys and countries, let alone the individual.

Also, there are a few people who do collect NBC stuff. It's all been deactivated of course, but since you couldn't use it in the first place, it doesn't really matter.

 

[PapaGreg096]

It can, but it shouldn't, really.

But sadly, from the same people we're talking about, it is.

The vast majority of them aren't. If there are beautifully carved guns out there, they could be pieces of art, but they need not also be functional weapons.

There is beauty in function, my friend.

This [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-simple-truth-about-gun-control] fella seems to know what he's talking about.

No, he doesn't. Even his opening paragraph point to that.

You may not have seen any reasonable arguments because you don't consider them reasonable, not because they are not reasonable.

No, I haven't seen any reasonable arguments because they really have no idea what they're talking about.
I barely even bother anymore because they have no one that can step up to the plate on at least basic terminology. It's all buzzwords or things they learned from movies. Or, you know, hypocrites.

It doesn't matter what a hobby in question does. They are both interests and they both have their own audiences. If I got rich and took up collecting cars I'd doubt anyone would question that, even though cars weren't really meant for collecting and don't contain any "ideas and stories", plus they often DO cause harm.

Which is a fun thing when cars get pulled into the argument. They undergo insane amounts of licensing and registration and require a course to drive on public roads, and people using them kill faaaaaaarrrrrrrr more people per year than any amount of mass shooters could in a century. People don't even think twice about it.
And gun control is supposed to work in a country with one for every person and land-borders two other countries, one of those being entirely run by a criminal government? That is a sick joke if I've ever heard one.

Next time someone attacks Trump for The Wall, ask them if they are in favor of Gun Control and how they plan to deal with Mexico.

You just saw the worst arguements for gun control and just say "Yep thats people who are for gun control" and what do you mean deal with Mexico I didn't know Mexico was waging war with us

 

[Leg End]

You just saw the worst arguements for gun control and just say "Yep thats people who are for gun control"

Because when it comes to politicians, that's usually the uniform amount of knowledge. Unless you mean Silvanus.

and what do you mean deal with Mexico I didn't know Mexico was waging war with us

The cartels are. And they are essentially the real government of the country.

And also happen to be a shining example of a gun control utopia! One gun store in the entire country, run by the military with extreme purchase limits and a specific amount of ammunition allotted per year!

Totally free of firearms flooding the streets and terrible murders. Yesiree.

 

[irish286]

The United States loves guns so much because we understand their significance. To a good person they are a sign of responsibility, protection, and power over evil.(bad guys, not the guns like you anti-gun nuts seem to think) We understand that bad people have guns already and that making things more difficult for the law abiding will do nothing but help criminals. The Key difference is that we've resisted having it pounded into our heads that guns are ambiently dangerous. We don't fear them in and of themselves the way Europeans do. To us, a gun is a tool. It's about as dangerous to us as a sword until some one picks it up. In the hands of bad guys and the ignorant it's a threat. In the hands of a good guy it removes threats. We agree you should only be allowed to carry the guns around with you in public when you've been certified. But every normal citizen should at least be allowed to own and use them in private.

 

[Frankster]

snippy

Apologies for not replying point by point like you did but in a more jumbled format.

-That's..somewhat reassuring I guess. Dunno if it'll change my position regarding my willingness to visit but I have always wanted to check out New York..

-Fair enough, so if you did own a gun I would consider you part of those who are somewhat justified.

-Ah so it's just a BS excuse that I've heard so often I've come to accept as truth? Fair enough, wouldn't be first time something like this happens xP Anyways good to hear your cops ain't as horribad and useless as some make them out to be, thank goodness for that'+ increases chances I might visit after all.

-That still makes no sense to me. If the act of collecting is what makes one a gun lover, then what is it then makes them want to start collecting guns to begin with? You can't put the cart before the horse.
The joy of collecting comes when you're already well engaged into the hobby, you can't use that as the justification for why you started said hobby.

-And how is that any more poisonous then putting guns on the exact same level as a musician and their instrument or friggin sports equipment? Ultimately there's a common theme in a fair amount of progun responses of putting a device whose only function is to kill, on the same level as tools and devices we used in an every day context and which we accept might be dangerous but we also can't be without them (knives, cars) and to sidestep the large holes in the comparison.
I just ran with this and took it to the extreme, if people here are putting guns next to a tennis racket or the cello as a tool with 0 irony I feel like I'm in good company, with the caveat being I'm at least very well aware this "example" is utterly retarded and makes no sense. Still I'll refrain from mentioning it again as I don't want to sour your thread if that is what I'm accomplishing.

 

[PapaGreg096]

You just saw the worst arguements for gun control and just say "Yep thats people who are for gun control"

Because when it comes to politicians, that's usually the uniform amount of knowledge. Unless you mean Silvanus.

and what do you mean deal with Mexico I didn't know Mexico was waging war with us

The cartels are. And they are essentially the real government of the country.

And also happen to be a shining example of a gun control utopia! One gun store in the entire country, run by the military with extreme purchase limits and a specific amount of ammunition allotted per year!

Totally free of firearms flooding the streets and terrible murders. Yesiree.

Why the fuck would the cartels wage war with America that kinda depend on us for money it doesn't really make any since to attack a country where you depend on it to make money. Also Mexico isn't really a shining utopia for gun control look at Japan or Canada hell even France with the attack last month is still safer than the U.S.A

 

[Leg End]

Why the fuck would the cartels wage war with America that kinda depend on us for money it doesn't really make any since to attack a country where you depend on it to make money.

They flood us with firearms and drugs and have influence in border cities. They have interest in keeping drugs and making guns illegal.

Also Mexico isn't really a shining utopia for gun control look at Japan

An island with no large history of firearms in the country. See a pattern here?

or Canada

Lesser still but still has shootings with their government banning things with no rhyme or reason.

hell even France with the attack last month is still safer than the U.S.A

Bit cultural but not hard to get a gun in France. The attack and Hebdo incident were examples of people who wanted guns, getting them, legal or not. Then again, we're talking in general about incidents that are in of themselves, anomalies.
As for being SAFER, not really, no.

Australia and the UK took a hard stance on firearms after anomaly incidents and they are touted as examples of Gun Control working, when they never really HAD an issue of mass shootings to begin with. And even then, further anomalies occurred, but no one takes that into consideration.

One of these days I'd like to go to Australia with a metal detector and see how many guns I can find buried in the middle of nowhere.

EDIT: Also, in regards to Mexico I was meaning that the country with the cartels running it are on our border. Japan, the UK nor Australia have this issue.

 

[PapaGreg096]

Why the fuck would the cartels wage war with America that kinda depend on us for money it doesn't really make any since to attack a country where you depend on it to make money.

They flood us with firearms and drugs and have influence in border cities. They have interest in keeping drugs and making guns illegal.

Also Mexico isn't really a shining utopia for gun control look at Japan

An island with no large history of firearms in the country. See a pattern here?

or Canada

Lesser still but still has shootings with their government banning things with no rhyme or reason.

hell even France with the attack last month is still safer than the U.S.A

Bit cultural but not hard to get a gun in France. The attack and Hebdo incident were examples of people who wanted guns, getting them, legal or not. Then again, we're talking in general about incidents that are in of themselves, anomalies.
As for being SAFER, not really, no.

Australia and the UK took a hard stance on firearms after anomaly incidents and they are touted as examples of Gun Control working, when they never really HAD an issue of mass shootings to begin with. And even then, further anomalies occurred, but no one takes that into consideration.

One of these days I'd like to go to Australia with a metal detector and see how many guns I can find buried in the middle of nowhere.

EDIT: Also, in regards to Mexico I was meaning that the country with the cartels running it are on our border. Japan, the UK nor Australia have this issue.

How the fuck would the Cartels make guns illegal in the the States

I don't see how Japan being an Island has to do with anything

As for Canada its homicide rate is still lower the U.S

You do know the UK and Austriala has different definitions of violent crime compared to the US right so its not like they are the same thing.

Okay the cartels are running Mexico I don't see how it effects the U.S I don't see cartel members blowing up monuments or taking over America

 

[Leg End]

How the fuck would the Cartels make guns illegal in the the States

Same way anyone else does. You use money.

I don't see how Japan being an Island has to do with anything

Controlling what goes in and out from an Island is much easier than controlling what goes in and out across a massive amount of land.

As for Canada its homicide rate is still lower the U.S

That adjusted per capita? Also are we including our cities where gun control is very much a thing? They have lots of murders, funny enough.

You do know the UK and Austriala has different definitions of violent crime compared to the US right so its not like they are the same thing.

Which complicates the matter even further.

Okay the cartels are running Mexico I don't see how it effects the U.S I don't see cartel members blowing up monuments or taking over America

Take a look for yourself.

 

[PapaGreg096]

How the fuck would the Cartels make guns illegal in the the States

Same way anyone else does. You use money.

I don't see how Japan being an Island has to do with anything

Controlling what goes in and out from an Island is much easier than controlling what goes in and out across a massive amount of land.

As for Canada its homicide rate is still lower the U.S

That adjusted per capita? Also are we including our cities where gun control is very much a thing? They have lots of murders, funny enough.

You do know the UK and Austriala has different definitions of violent crime compared to the US right so its not like they are the same thing.

Which complicates the matter even further.

Okay the cartels are running Mexico I don't see how it effects the U.S I don't see cartel members blowing up monuments or taking over America

Take a look for yourself.

Per Captia Canada is still doing better and what the hell do you mean complicates matter even further.

As for the Cartel thing I still don't see them blowing up any momunements or killing people because of a religon they mostly sell drugs and newsflash Americans in general already do that. Building a wall or giving people guns isn't going to stop the Cartel but legalizing all drugs will

Also the Cartel has been in Major cities for decades this isn't really a new thing.

 

[Leg End]

Per Captia Canada is still doing better and what the hell do you mean complicates matter even further.

It'd be nice to have a nice agreement on what a violent crime actually is.

As for the Cartel thing I still don't see them blowing up any momunements or killing people because of a religon

They don't blow up things because it draws a different kind of attention, and the Cartels do selective hits on people as warning messages.

they mostly sell drugs and newsflash Americans in general already do that.

Sales that fund their enterprise.

Building a wall

It's an insane idea but it certainly makes things a bit harder. It's still a bit of a stupid idea.

or giving people guns isn't going to stop the Cartel

Men with guns stop other men with guns. The Cartel has a lot of guns. Guns being made illegal will open a new source of money for them as they smuggle more guns into the US wholesale.

but legalizing all drugs will

They have a large interest in making that not happen. They already hit people on their side of the border for acting against them, it wouldn't be long before they get a bit ballsier while being careful not to make it a matter of getting the US military involved.
Yet making drugs legal and guns illegal somehow solves the problem. That makes no sense whatsoever.

Then again, our government gives them guns already so, to hell with it.

 

[PapaGreg096]

Per Captia Canada is still doing better and what the hell do you mean complicates matter even further.

It'd be nice to have a nice agreement on what a violent crime actually is.

As for the Cartel thing I still don't see them blowing up any momunements or killing people because of a religon

They don't blow up things because it draws a different kind of attention, and the Cartels do selective hits on people as warning messages.

they mostly sell drugs and newsflash Americans in general already do that.

Sales that fund their enterprise.

Building a wall

It's an insane idea but it certainly makes things a bit harder. It's still a bit of a stupid idea.

or giving people guns isn't going to stop the Cartel

Men with guns stop other men with guns. The Cartel has a lot of guns. Guns being made illegal will open a new source of money for them as they smuggle more guns into the US wholesale.

but legalizing all drugs will

They have a large interest in making that not happen. They already hit people on their side of the border for acting against them, it wouldn't be long before they get a bit ballsier while being careful not to make it a matter of getting the US military involved.
Yet making drugs legal and guns illegal somehow solves the problem. That makes no sense whatsoever.

Then again, our government gives them guns already so, to hell with it.

1. The cartel are selling a product and people are buying a product I don't see how a man with a gun is gonna stop that and as for the wall the cartel can find other ways to get around it I wall isn't going to do shit. Also are you honestly comparing the Mexican government to the U.S government the cartel could never control the U.S government like they control the Mexican government also I never said we should ban guns just regulate them.

 

[Leg End]

1. The cartel are selling a product and people are buying a product I don't see how a man with a gun is gonna stop that

They are armed and smuggle drugs across our border. They are savages.

and as for the wall the cartel can find other ways to get around it I wall isn't going to do shit.

Which is why it's kind of a stupid idea unless it's like some kind of bubble. Kind of like what Japan, Australia and the UK have but with water.

Also are you honestly comparing the Mexican government to the U.S government

Not quite.

the cartel could never control the U.S government like they control the Mexican government

What makes that such an impossibility? It's not hard to get people in power to play your game. Recent example was Leland Yee being caught arranging a deal to smuggle weapons(including anti-tank weapons) to gangs. Or at least, who he thought were gangs.

also I never said we should ban guns just regulate them.

Take a look at the cities and states that regulate them and you'll see they are some of the worst cities in the US in terms of crime and firearms used in crimes. You can't even carry in LA unless you have the right connections(or have a CCWP from another county) yet gang shootings are very common. Hell, my own mother nearly got hit in the crossfire of one a few years back.

In those places, gun control is a sick joke.

 

[PapaGreg096]

1. The cartel are selling a product and people are buying a product I don't see how a man with a gun is gonna stop that

They are armed and smuggle drugs across our border. They are savages.

and as for the wall the cartel can find other ways to get around it I wall isn't going to do shit.

Which is why it's kind of a stupid idea unless it's like some kind of bubble. Kind of like what Japan, Australia and the UK have but with water.

Also are you honestly comparing the Mexican government to the U.S government

Not quite.

the cartel could never control the U.S government like they control the Mexican government

What makes that such an impossibility? It's not hard to get people in power to play your game. Recent example was Leland Yee being caught arranging a deal to smuggle weapons(including anti-tank weapons) to gangs. Or at least, who he thought were gangs.

also I never said we should ban guns just regulate them.

Take a look at the cities and states that regulate them and you'll see they are some of the worst cities in the US in terms of crime and firearms used in crimes. You can't even carry in LA unless you have the right connections(or have a CCWP from another county) yet gang shootings are very common. Hell, my own mother nearly got hit in the crossfire of one a few years back.

In those places, gun control is a sick joke.

Savages are not they are only in this crap for the money and killing groups of people for no reason is bad for business. There is a huge difference between a wall and huge amounts of water. Gangs having ties with politicians isn't just cartel thing, there are plenty of black gangs with ties to politicians and a Cartel running the government and corrupt politicians isn't really the same thing. As for the cities you mentioned 1 you have to understand that cities in general are more violent because they have more people and said people are close to each other and the war on drugs hits them the hardest. Gun control isn't the only factor here

 

[Leg End]

Savages are not they are only in this crap for the money and killing groups of people for no reason is bad for business.

These are the same people that hang mutilated bodies from overpasses and murder elected officials who don't play ball. Have you really never seen what these people do?

There is a huge difference between a wall and huge amounts of water.

Yes.

Gangs having ties with politicians isn't just cartel thing,

Correct.

there are plenty of black gangs with ties to politicians

For the record, I didn't bring race into it.

and a Cartel running the government and corrupt politicians isn't really the same thing.

Not much of a difference really, if politicians hold a large amount of power.

As for the cities you mentioned 1 you have to understand that cities in general are more violent because they have more people and said people are close to each other

Yes. Giant blobs of people doing terrible things. Take the gun control heavens out of the picture and our rates are insanely low. Violence involving firearms has been going down for years.

and the war on drugs hits them the hardest.

A war that should not exist, I agree.

Gun control isn't the only factor here

Guns in general are not the only factor. There are so many little things in play that anyone saying it's just guns or just one particular thing is an idiot. Humans are complex creatures and to say guns being a more common thing is an actual cause of people being shitheads is utterly insane.

 

[MysticSlayer]

Non gun owner and never intend to travel to the US exactly because of "mah guns!" attitudes, ultimately people with guns make me feel unsafe because I don't trust these mofos, it makes me feel like I need a gun in return to even the odds, or at least carry a knife or something. I mean if everyone else is armed, I don't want to be the one idiot who isn't.

I actually find this image rather humorous. I picture America as being similar to the last season finale of South Park, where everyone uses guns when trying to reason with each other.

Which of course makes me wonder: Is South Park your only reference for American society? I mean, given that you think going around unarmed is dangerous, I'm not doubting that you've never been here. So I'm wondering where in the world your reference point for that idea is, because it certainly isn't personal experience.

-The hunting and rural community argument where everyone lives an hour away. Allright this makes some sense, but honest question, how many folks here are hunters or live in such areas? Most people in the western world are city dwellers last I checked and what are you going to be hunting in the cities, pidgeons? So this argument gets a big meh from me.

Maybe Europe is too densely populated to really experience this, but the U.S. is quite sparsely populated. Sure, we have massive cities like New York and Chicago, but the vast majority of Americans don't live in densely populated urban centers. And while you may be able to argue that most also don't live in truly rural areas, it should be noted that:

1. Even in a lot of suburban housing, there can be plenty of interaction with wildlife. Most of it isn't dangerous (e.g. deer), but occasionally, you will be in an area that has to contend with animals like coyotes and alligators. Sure, neither of those pose serious threats to people so long as people leave them alone, but they do pose a threat to pets and some livestock (I've already mentioned chickens in a past post).

2. Not everyone that hunts lives in remote rural areas. I'm not sure of actual numbers, but I'd bet most come from suburban neighborhoods with plenty also coming from major cities. There is a lot of land across the country, and I'm pretty sure every state has designated hunting seasons for different animals. Sometimes these seasons are also used to keep certain populations (probably deer) under control. And while you may get more hunting opportunities in Alaska, even more populated states like Florida still have plenty of places to hunt. Furthermore, in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, hunting is quite a major part of the culture, even if not everyone does it. And no, people aren't hunting in the city. They're actually going out to the wilderness for that.

-US peeps don't trust their cops. Look at some of the comments in this thread, "a cop is just a dude with a badge" or just a general feeling you can't trust cops to help you out (in the case of rural communities where nearest cop is an hour away..that seems more understandable), so a lot of people don't seem to trust the law will be there for them if they need it and seem to want to feel in control thanks to a gun, so that "if" something happens, then they will be ready to act. I find this a somewhat sad state of affairs though and just cements my decision never to live in the US, I like feeling like I can trust and count on my local cops.

If your home has just been broken into by someone who is dangerous, it doesn't matter if the cop only takes two minutes. You probably don't want to get shot/stabbed/bludgeoned/beaten to the point of serious injury or worse. While this is a worst-case scenario and most people never have to face it, it is a concern.

And this isn't a I do/don't trust the cops scenario. Cops can't be everywhere (too much land to cover, not enough cops), and they can't predict when something may happen. There may come a case where a cop is a mere two minutes away, but that two minutes is not enough time.

Sure, all of that is very much absolutely worst case, and a vast majority of people never have to go through something like that. But despite that, and despite the fact that I dislike centering the gun debate solely around defense, it should be easy to see why some want a final line of personal defense for that worst case.

-However find the argument of "gun collecting is just like any other hobby! Like euh..collecting cars, magazines or model soldiers! EXACTLY THE SAME THING" to be pants on absolutely retarded though and whenever someone says that, I have the mental image of the person shooting themselves in the foot because this just makes whatever actual good arguments they had seem super silly and you have to go through incredible mental leaps to put a gun, a tool dedicated to killing with no other practical purpose, on the same level as transportation people need to get on with their every day lives or common tools like knives you need every day.

Do you honestly think people that collect knives or swords use them for any practical purpose? Or that people who collect action figures, stamps, rare coins, or numerous other things ever intend to use them primarily for their original purpose, if used for that purpose at all?

And as I've mentioned before, guns do find their non-killing uses in sports (not including hunting), which are relaxing and good for socializing, both of which are great things for people to do. And of all the people I know who own a gun, only the hunters ever hope (or think) of killing anything (and only animals at that). All of them love going to a shooting range with friends and spending a few hours shooting at targets and seeing who is the best shot.

Ok then...If we really want to play it like that....
snip

You do know you're going to have to clean up all the straw once you're done beating it, right? And sorry, but I'm not helping.

 

[votemarvel]

I recently fired a gun for the first time on a holiday to the USA and to be honest I can't wait to do it again. I regret not trying a larger variety of weapons when I was there.

At the same time it was exciting and terrifying. Incredibly simple but packed with things you need to remember. Easy to see why they are both loved and hated in equal measure.

 

[Tiger King]

I'm quite interested in the engineering that goes into weapons, from a machinists point of view that is.
Ultimately guns sole purpose is to make things die so that's as far as my interest goes.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

You can't talk about American history and culture without talking about the firearm. Its 100% ingrained in the nation's identity. The formation of the country? Armed revolution against a foreign body. The greatest crisis in the country's history? Armed conflict between brothers and sisters over, more or less, the country's soul. The country's finest hour? Shooting Nazis[footnote]Yes, I know, we didn't really do that much but we think we did so thats what matters.[/footnote]. The bedrock upon which the country exists today? Western expansion facilitated by frontiersman who were of course armed with rifles. A gun is a sign a self-sufficiency and responsibility. Learning to use a firearm is a ubiquitous passage into adulthood, a staple in the Boy Scouts. Like it or not guns are more loved and treasured in the United States then some of our own cultural creations like baseball and jazz.

That's kind of a load of crap though. Plenty of colonial/post colonial societies with historical widescale military involvement in world affairs. Australia is one. Has a quarter the number of murder victims by capita. I question the US love of guns at all. Prior gun laws in Australia, there were the same arguments being run with as there are now with the gun debate in the US. The difference is many politicians decided to commit political suicide to install the controversial laws.

But years afterwards, gun ownership is still high. But most people don't want anything to do with them. I for one don't care for them, but I can see why people value them. It's a compromise. There's supposedly a quarter of a billion guns in the US. But what actual percentage of gun owners?

Australia has more reasons to have more firearms than the US. For starters, instead of a Mexico we have *Indonesia*... good luck making the argument that Mexicans are somehow more dangerous than a nation of over 240 million, and a military 5 times the size of our own. A nation we've already gone to war with in fairly recent history.

(Edit) 21% of US adults have a firearm. 12% of Australian adults have a gun. Entirely different cultural perspective despite a very similar colonial history of 'pacification'. American gun culture is a manufaction of the past, not with any metaphysical exceptionalism of the past.

 

[Ender910_v1legacy]

A lot of people tend to overlook the technical and mechanical aspects that can be kind of appealing.

Firearms are machines, much like cars and computer hardware, and machines often have a lot of creative design that goes into them. And those different creative designs, in turn, lead to a fairly wide range of performance dynamics that add a kind of flavor and uniqueness, from one model to another.

I don't think this is an especially uncommon reason for an interest in firearms either, and can likely extend to how people might enjoy the different experiences they have (much like one might have with different kinds of cars and how differently they handle).

Not everything's about power and politics. Sometimes people just enjoy a hobby.