Why is it that so many gun owners dream about an excuse to use their guns?

[marions ghost]

70. I'm all for self defense

though I favor defense against guns rather than carrying them. I think it's pretty effing sad that we live in a society where people (other than soldiers or cops) feel the need to carry guns for self defense.

What I meant was that guns have historically been the domain of men and when women get into them today, I think a lot of time it's to have that "power" that men have--instant respect, y'know?

Don't take me literally about penis--I was responding to the previous post referring to "penis envy." Just making the point that literally speaking, women do not envy the appendage (as Freud imagined)--but symbolically they do, in that they envy the social privilege and power that being male automatically confers in our culture. When it comes to guns, some women DO get off on the fact that it's "an equalizer." The things that women traditionally do, are good at, and represent are not nearly as valued. Not even today. Men still do have more power and privilege IMO. Fine if you disagree but maybe this helps clarify.