Is it wrong to get into guns?

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I’ve had a lifetime of never owning a gun, and recently I’m getting into guns. I’ve watched videos on safety, doing research on what kind to get, proper handling, etc. I’m soon going to buy two guns - one for each of me and my wife. I do plan on getting more training and practice time in. I met a new friend who owns guns and he allowed me to try out some of his weapons (reimbursing him for ammo) - and it was fun to shoot the 22LR’s but the higher ones were too powerful for me to handle (so I’m looking for a 22LR at this point, maybe later on graduating to a 9mm)

Currently I’m living in a relatively safe neighborhood, but there are some people in the apartment building who have done things like stealing bikes, and other minor crimes.

I’m not a violent person, but when I tell my non-gun-owner family and friends about this, they’re acting like I’m going to buy a nuclear bomb or doing something bad. I got the sense that they think I’m some violent guy because I will own guns.

My prime motivation is to protect my family at home. Concealed Carry is illegal in Illinois but that may change. I do not think I will concealed carry, and not sure about my wife, but we are open to it. I am not a violent guy, I don’t go out and get into fistfights or other scuffles like that.

So, my question is: Is it wrong to get into guns? Am I some violent guy who is horrible?
 
No, it isn’t wrong to get into guns. As you’ve already learned, its fun.

Your family has every right to judge you and you have every right to ignore them. 🙂
 
BobCatholic said:
I’ve had a lifetime of never owning a gun, and recently I’m getting into guns. I’ve watched videos on safety, doing research on what kind to get, proper handling, etc. I’m soon going to buy two guns - one for each of me and my wife. I do plan on getting more training and practice time in. I met a new friend who owns guns and he allowed me to try out some of his weapons (reimbursing him for ammo) - and it was fun to shoot the 22LR’s but the higher ones were too powerful for me to handle (so I’m looking for a 22LR at this point, maybe later on graduating to a 9mm)

Currently I’m living in a relatively safe neighborhood, but there are some people in the apartment building who have done things like stealing bikes, and other minor crimes.

I’m not a violent person, but when I tell my non-gun-owner family and friends about this, they’re acting like I’m going to buy a nuclear bomb or doing something bad. I got the sense that they think I’m some violent guy because I will own guns.

My prime motivation is to protect my family at home. Concealed Carry is illegal in Illinois but that may change. I do not think I will concealed carry, and not sure about my wife, but we are open to it. I am not a violent guy, I don’t go out and get into fistfights or other scuffles like that.

So, my question is: Is it wrong to get into guns? Am I some violent guy who is horrible?
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Nah, there’s nothing wrong with an interest in firearms at all. Fr. Mitch Pacwa from EWTN enjoys hunting! And that’s someone I respect very much. I’ve owned them most of my life. So no, I wouldn’t worry over it. 🙂

Peace, Mark
 
Of course you aren’t violent and horrible just because you’ve become interested in guns. Lots of men (and some women) are interested in weapons of various kinds. My father has always enjoyed collecting antique guns, and he doesn’t even know how to shoot. I’ve also known people who really enjoyed looking at and collecting knives and swords because they find them interesting and beautiful.

There is also nothing at all wrong with wanting to be able to protect yourself and your family in a licit way. There are people who get very extreme about this, as you surely know, but you don’t have to go overboard.
 
Over the past several years I became interested myself after years of being anti-gun. My husband grew up with guns in his house and eventually they became ours. A year ago we decided to get our CCL as it was an opportunity to get serious instruction on the law and the safe handling of guns. I probably will never carry but sometimes my husband does. In January I purchased my first gun and use it for target shooting. I have also had some anti-gun attitude around me but to be honest I just ignore them. We are responsible people who have no plans of ever shooting anyone but we will also not sit by and let some morally depraved individual harm us without a fight. The disagreement is no different than any difference of opinion, there are two sides and I respectfully understand those who disagree and expect the same back from them
 
There is nothing wrong with owning guns to protect yourself as long as you and your wife are both stable people who don’t have mental illness or anger issues. Make sure you get enough training in how to use them accurately and safely.
 
There is nothing wrong with owning guns, either for protection or sport. I used to shoot quite a lot a few years ago and let me tell you, the crowd you run into at competition is one of the most gentlemanly, polite groups of people you’ll ever see. It’s a good thing to have, so long as you don’t get it for sinful purposes or illegally.
 
There is nothing wrong with it. My husband and I have gone to gun shows and the shooting range together. Being an enthusiast does not mean that one will be a violent person. Many gun shows and ranges are very family-friendly and safety is a top priority. Marksmanship is a sport that is can take a lifetime to master and it can be done safely.

If someone thinks that you are destined for violence just because you are interested in guns they are wrong.
 
BobCatholic said:
I’ve had a lifetime of never owning a gun, and recently I’m getting into guns. I’ve watched videos on safety, doing research on what kind to get, proper handling, etc. I’m soon going to buy two guns - one for each of me and my wife. I do plan on getting more training and practice time in. I met a new friend who owns guns and he allowed me to try out some of his weapons (reimbursing him for ammo) - and it was fun to shoot the 22LR’s but the higher ones were too powerful for me to handle (so I’m looking for a 22LR at this point, maybe later on graduating to a 9mm)

Currently I’m living in a relatively safe neighborhood, but there are some people in the apartment building who have done things like stealing bikes, and other minor crimes.

I’m not a violent person, but when I tell my non-gun-owner family and friends about this, they’re acting like I’m going to buy a nuclear bomb or doing something bad. I got the sense that they think I’m some violent guy because I will own guns.

My prime motivation is to protect my family at home. Concealed Carry is illegal in Illinois but that may change. I do not think I will concealed carry, and not sure about my wife, but we are open to it. I am not a violent guy, I don’t go out and get into fistfights or other scuffles like that.

So, my question is: Is it wrong to get into guns? Am I some violent guy who is horrible?
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Why would it be wrong for someone to buy a gun to protect themselves and their family? I am in favor of gun and ammo restrictions, closing loopholes in gun-show purchases in certain states, gun registration, and not lending one’s guns to people who may be criminals or dangerously ill; but other than that, there is no reason why a person should not be permitted to buy a handgun for protection or a gun appropriate for sport. I am a little more open to concealed-carry weapons than I was before, but still think it is a bad idea on college campuses.
 
BobCatholic said:
I’ve had a lifetime of never owning a gun, and recently I’m getting into guns. I’ve watched videos on safety, doing research on what kind to get, proper handling, etc. I’m soon going to buy two guns - one for each of me and my wife. I do plan on getting more training and practice time in. I met a new friend who owns guns and he allowed me to try out some of his weapons (reimbursing him for ammo) - and it was fun to shoot the 22LR’s but the higher ones were too powerful for me to handle (so I’m looking for a 22LR at this point, maybe later on graduating to a 9mm)

Currently I’m living in a relatively safe neighborhood, but there are some people in the apartment building who have done things like stealing bikes, and other minor crimes.

I’m not a violent person, but when I tell my non-gun-owner family and friends about this, they’re acting like I’m going to buy a nuclear bomb or doing something bad. I got the sense that they think I’m some violent guy because I will own guns.

My prime motivation is to protect my family at home. Concealed Carry is illegal in Illinois but that may change. I do not think I will concealed carry, and not sure about my wife, but we are open to it. I am not a violent guy, I don’t go out and get into fistfights or other scuffles like that.

So, my question is: Is it wrong to get into guns? Am I some violent guy who is horrible?
Click to expand...
The judgmental thing is purely cultural and can be safely ignored. My parents (ok, my dad) in TN has over the years amassed quiet a collection of guns - about 12 I believe (we demonstrated gun safety as part of Boy Scouts, based on the idea that if someone runs into a situation involving guns, they should at least know how not to shoot themselves in the foot). Although it is amazingly entertaining to shoot cans of shaving cream and/or bottles of diet coke that have carefully had mentos inserted and the cap screwed back on, none of us has so far had the inclination to murder anyone yet. Most people near where I grew up also think shooting is great fun, and many have a few guns themselves, and will go out with us to massacre some bottles on a Saturday afternoon.

Whereas I am now in Connecticut, and the mere fact that I’ve touched a gun freaks some of the yankees up here out. (My apologies to any yankees that I am freaking out more.) Somehow this came up with one of my students, from one of the indistinguishable large cities around here, and the expression on his face when he found out that I’ve so much as held a gun in my hands was pretty hilarious. “Who is this monster who is teaching me calculus?”

It’s just a matter of what people are used to.

As a side note, in case you aren’t aware: 22’s are great for practice and general plinking, but you probably want something bigger for defense. Not that a 22 isn’t dangerous or won’t seriously hurt or even kill someone, but it may not stop someone quickly enough to stop them from hurting you.
 
I personally despise those responses wherein people think you’re insane for having a firearm - luckily I have received none of those directly… yet. I plan on buying guns in the future when I can afford them, but for now I just have a bunch of airsoft guns and a BB-gun (which I was actually shooting with not 20 minutes ago).

There’s nothing wrong with having firearms - those who say otherwise are generally afraid of and/or incapable of using them responsibly themselves.
 
Get subscriptions to some of the really outstanding gun publications.

Women & Guns

www.saf.org

Also womenandguns.com

thegunmag.com

keepandbeararms.com

Shotgun News

America’s First Freedom … from NRA

And join the NRA … outstanding bunch of people … millions of members already.

Very important to get fully educated on this issue.

johnrlott.blogspot.com/

YouTube has an outstanding collection of relevant videos.

Here is the best one I have seen and along the edge of the screen are many more:

youtube.com/watch?v=B5ELyG9V1SY
 
Iron_Donkey said:
As a side note, in case you aren’t aware: 22’s are great for practice and general plinking, but you probably want something bigger for defense. Not that a 22 isn’t dangerous or won’t seriously hurt or even kill someone, but it may not stop someone quickly enough to stop them from hurting you.
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Not to mention they ricochet worse than a cartoon rabbit.👍
 
My first gun exposure was with the Boy Scouts, sponsored by my parish in Baltimore City. I hunt, I teach/taught firearms safety and marksmanship in the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army and still do, as well as compete and coach youth and Olympic style shooters. I don’t think guns are inherently evil and feel people have the right to own and use guns for sport and self-defense. And I do believe things like background checks and restrictions are called for, for certain people, under certain conditions, mental or abusive related factors, do factor in. I do believe that protecting the innocent through the use of guns would be or should be sanctioned by the Church, here and in missionary lands but that’s a personal opinion. I had no compunctions about protecting Catholic or Buddhist villages from Viet Cong attacks during my tours of duty in Nam. It was simply the right thing for a Marine to do. Catholic or not, these questions have to be asked of any Marine, military person or law enforcement professional, "can I, should I, will I, shoot or kill if necessary?
Consider that before you purchase a firearm or it may be taken from you and used against you or others. You don’t want that on your conscience. It’s your responsibility to keep your firearms away from those not qualified or restricted from their possession/use.

The same applies to self-defense/home-defense. Even if your shooting choice is simply target shooting, like tin cans on a fence, keeping your firearms from criminals may bring up the issue. While you contemplate that issue, please Google up: “Saint Gerard Possenti” or “Weapons of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard”. Firearms do save lives. Realize that we don’t live in a perfect world, Good people are forced to counter evil ones on a daily basis with whatever means are available and functional. Guns and more, defended the globe from Nazism/Facism/Communism a number of times where freedom of choice would have been denied the masses. Remember that also every time you thank a veteran for their service. You must also respect their use of firearms to guarantee your freedoms.
 
Is it wrong to get into guns?
I could never fit my carcass into anything but a major Naval artillery piece and even there it would likely be claustrophobic.
(I know, I know, don’t quit your day job!)
You had to have one smart aleck answer so I figured why not, get it out of the way.
Seriously:
I’ve been a shooter all my life, I’ve had an absolute barrel of fun, and so far nothing I’ve owned has sprouted legs, walked up and bit anyone on the shin bone. Matter of fact I kept myself alive three times in my days as a lawman – off duty, carrying concealed in civilian attire, never while carrying openly in uniform.
But that’s a separate matter.
Enjoy yourself, be safe … and if you are so inclined … take a look at Cowboy Action Shooting.
It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
 
I own several guns. Not so much for home defense and not at all for hunting. I hope to God I never have to use them to defend myself. I enjoy shooting. It’s a lot of fun, imo. I like to go to the range and shoot holes in paper. It’s got nothing to do with violence, it’s just fun. Go for it!
 
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the comments.

I guess I got the wrong message from family and friends (they are anti-gun for stupid reasons)
 
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