Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Gun Enthusiasts Pack (gun) Shows To Buy Assault Weapons [View all]4saken
(152 posts)First you have people who are afraid, fending off some of that fear by having a gun in their closet. But the extent of that fear tends to be based on induction from individual stories that they hear about. You're more likely to have someone in the house get shot by a gun that to have an intruder and then fend them off with it. You also have the fear of the government, and many still believe guns will allow for a militia to overthrow it. But that is a fantasy given armored tanks and bombers. Additionally you have the racism and bigotry, causing people to disassociate with many other cultures and sub-cultures, often dehumanizing them. A fear of the "other" also promotes a desire for guns.
Secondly you have the perception of power and control that many people ultimately desire in a world of millions, and unguided natural phenomena, where little control can be attained by the individual. The previously mentioned fears add to this sense of lacking control, with violence being an easy way to get it.
Thirdly you have the adrenaline and other chemicals that rush through the body when firing a gun. It can create an addiction. But there are various other ways to get those feelings, competition and video games are good examples.