Something I don't understand about multiple-gun owners
I'm not a gun person. I was in the Army and shot several weapons and got my marksmanship badge and all, but otherwise I have no interest in them. Which brings up a question.
I have an old-time friend who's been into guns and target-shooting (and hunting, many years ago) for well over forty years. Now he has a collection of rifles and handguns stored in a safe. Let's just say he is with the camp that believes Uncle Sam may come over someday to take his weapons and wants to be ready to defend himself. Thus the weapons and lots of ammo.
But he lives in a free-standing, two-story house with windows on three sides. Even if his wife were to get in on the action, which is doubtful, they could only defend one or two positions at a time. So what, I've asked myself several times, is he thinking? I avoid talking with him about politics to avoid a shouting match, but one of these days I would really like to figure out how that computes.
= new reply since forum marked as read
but I'm at a loss trying to figure out the mindset of such people.
that appeared to cost much more than the beat-up pickup truck he carried himself and the gun in.
"the evil government is going to send combat troops against them someday, and they want to be all Ramboed up"
They just want to defend their families. 
Oh FFS...
From the Government.
The Federal Government.
47 year old out of shape, doughy, body by Budweiser, former offensive tackle in high school, weekend warrior target practice and Call of Duty champion with a bad back and trick knee is going to hold of the United States Army with his AR-15.
Uh-huh.
Drones. In this fantasy hypothetical where some guy from St. Charles, MO, or Ft. Dodge IA, or Waynesville, NC really is such a threat the US government has to take him out, the military would have a drone up that guy's ass before he had time to piss his pants. Too much Rambo, Red Dawn, Hollywood bullshit.
Of course, if it's not The Govmint coming after them, it's the roving hoards of marauding thugs and caravans of MS-13 gang bangers who are coming to break in to their homes and hold their families hostage.
Uh-huh.
Economic and political refugees from Guatemala want YOUR house in Bristol, Tenneginia and everything in it, because that's the American Ideal they won't work for but want to take? Or you there in Wawatosa, WI, the Norteños y Sureños are taking over your house and neighborhood, and once your soccer mom wife and bratty kids are no longer a threat to el jefe, they can finally have their criminal empire? You? They're all coming after you, because you have it all, and they covet the things you have?
Uh-huh.
Makes perfect sense now. You should have more guns, clearly.
Grew up in Southeast LA, lil white neighborhood nestled among Lynwood and Compton, and South Central and the East LA Barrio. Not a gun person. My dad took my brothers and me to the Jaycees for some sort of BB gun training when I was maybe 7. Never had a gun. Never wanted one. Never felt the need to keep one handy "just in case." Never once, in any of the running around there or later in the Bay Area, did I find myself in a sketchy situation and think to myself, "Dag! If I only had a Glock!" My students who faced very real gang pressures in Monterey and Santa Clara Co. told me "no one's going after white people like you, Miz O. YOu're not a banger." Street gangs war with other street gangs over territory and the cycle of vengeance, not random people minding their own business.
Defense against mythical urban legends? Inflated self importance? Inability to distinguish fantasy from reality? Burning desire to be able to shoot someone? All of the above?
Apropos of home defense, if I had to have a firearm to protect my castle, then I think I'd have a shot gun. Don't have to be accurate. Again, the odds of an armed delinquent with malicious intent bypassing a dozen homes on the street leading into my development, with just the one way in and out, passing up the first two streets to come up the hill to the end of my cul de sac to burgle is fairly small.
I'll take my chances with a 9 iron.
They are terrified of everything, and most afraid of change. They opt for guns to feel brave and powerful while they shop at Target and buy things they're afraid people will steal and pretend they aren't pissing in their pants at every shift in the wind.
Not going to read about innovation and change. I'll just shoot it.
40 fishing rods and 687 lures, I'd be called a hoarder, not a collector. Just sayin' 
were the combination sets advertised on the inner back cover of True Detective or some such magazine my dad had.
I got the three rods, a baitcast reel, a state of the art spinning reel, and a closed face spinning reel, along with a tackle box full of tackle and black nylon line for $12.95. Man, those were the days.
I ordered a VibraBat lure collection from the same pages and I got three different sizes. I tied the largest one on the baitcaster, threw it out on a lake as far as I could and began cranking. I got the biggest hit on it. It even broke the 15lb test nylon line and took my VibraBat.
Never got another hit on the other two.
For years I did remodeling on mobile homes in floriduh. I'd see the tackle boxes left in a widows shed and tell her I'd give her a discount for the rods, reels, tackle boxes, and all the paraphenalia. Usually they'd just say, "get it out of my way, I'm tired of tripping over it".
My wife gets to repeat that when I go. 
