How many of you have ever fired a gun?

[haele]

194. I have. Retired Military, had to maintain marksman for supplemental duty assignments.

Shore patrol, classified space security patrol, boarding party support...Expert on the old Navy Colt .45s and the shotgun. Not so great on rifles.

Other than that, never needed a gun - even when I was living in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in a major California city - and was a minority, to boot.

I don't like the noise (even with muffs), the smell (cordite makes me sneeze) or the mess I've experienced when other people have shot a firearm in "anger" or "defense" - including the time I found myself drawn into the middle of an armed "tiff" between the housemates next-door (bullet came within 5 inches of my head in the back yard, knocking off some stucco).
Also, there's a mentally unstable family member living with us as well as children, and we've had occasion to lock up the large kitchen knives with that member in the past when she was off her meds - no reason to have.

I prefer my old 55 lb. recurve bow and a dozen and a half arrows if I feel the need to target shoot, myself. I find there's much more skill and strength required, and major zen component going on with the setting, draw, and release - and the ability to focus, to concentrate. And it's quiet, even at an archery range.

What I don't see is why people go to great lengths to pretend that a firearm that is loaded - or for that matter, any armament, including my bow and it's associated arrows - has a purpose for anything other than killing - either food or a human being and requires constant familiarization and training that is linked to the reason one would have that killing tool - including understanding what happens whenever you pull the trigger or otherwise loose the projectile.

I find it intellectually dishonest when people who don't take the time to train, who aren't actively aware of what it takes to safely handle a firearm, casually talk about the feeling of "protection" they get from having a gun around as it's a magic wand - if the bad guys will just run away and leave them alone once that magic wand is in their possession. You all know the type of firearm owner, and most responsible firearm owners will privately admit those people are threats to the general public also.
Even though criminals may be cowards, everyone that will have access to that gun not only needs to have safe handling and storage of the weapon drilled into them, they must be willing and able to pull the trigger and end a life whenever that gun is loaded and drawn.
Personally, the risk of a firearm in the house that can be stolen and used in a crime - or worse, can be misused by children or the emotionally unstable, escalate a situation and/or be used against one is the reason I wouldn't have one around my house. Balancing those risks against the risk I might need to use one for "protection" (even living in an area rife with home invasions) - well, the need for armed protection is much lighter than the risk of the firearm being mis-used.

As for target shooting - ultimately that's practice to be able to use a killing tool more efficiently by honing one's personal skills and attributes. Hopefully, when target shooting, the person also learns confidence, fearlessness and consideration of the environment that surrounds the target, because the brain is the best weapon - the best tool - in every conflict.
I understand that even when I practice my archery.

Haele
(Edit only to clarify a my droning on and on about my personal opinion on firearm use and the culture that surround it)