General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What is the function of a gun? [View all]Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)I'm a competitive shooter (long range rifle competitions). My competition guns are big, heavy rifles with large scopes...completely unsuitable for street criminals (can't be concealed) and without the rate of fire to make them attractive to spree killers. While they could be used to harm a person - they are functionally equivalent to "sniper rifles - the chances of that ever happening are extremely remote. Thus, they're nobody's business but my own.
I do have two handguns for personal security. One can make a slightly better case for the potential to cause harm for those...but not much better. Like the vast majority of US gun owners, I have zero interest in shooting anyone who isn't trying to hurt me (and even then, it's nothing I'd be happy about having to do). I properly secure my firearms in a safe. I practice regularly with them to ensure I handle them safely and hit what I aim at. Again, my guns represent a microscopically small threat to anyone.