Why is there such an obsession with guns?

[Onlooker]

http://money.cnn.com/2012/12/31/news/companies/assault-rifles-gun-sales/index.html

"... Online retailers are running out of semiautomatic rifles -- known variously as assault weapons, tactical rifles or modern sporting rifles -- and magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds. Brick-and-mortar gun shops are also working furiously to meet demand. Semiautomatic rifles, which fire one round for every pull of the trigger, and high-capacity magazines are flying off the shelves."

I can accept that there are people who enjoy collecting guns, shooting guns, and even people who live in rural areas and feel that guns provide a degree of safety for their family against animals, including human ones. But, why do so many people seem to want so many guns, and guns that seem to be better suited to doing harm than to protecting? I'm hoping there are some gun owners in DU who can explain what is going on.

I think the odd thing is that cities are disproportionately liberal, tend to have higher crime and compared to rural and suburban areas are vastly more multi-cultural, yet I'm pretty certain most people in cities do not have guns. I have lived in cities virtually all my life, including at times in some "bad" areas, yet it's never crossed my mind to buy a gun, and I think I am pretty typical or people who live in cities. Do you think people really feel more vulnerable if they live in areas with people like themselves? Could it be that in rural and suburban areas the thought that your neighbors have guns make you want to get guns? Do you think maybe white straight Christian men are really more terrified of other white straight Christian men than they are of anyone else? Of do they really think a Muslim terrorist or a gay pervert or a gangbanger is out there stalking their neighborhood? Or is it just that a lot of guys (and women, I suppose) think guns are fun to collect and have around, sort like Hummels or baseball cards?

And, don't get me wrong, I'm not vehemently against guns (as long as the background checks and training are good), since obviously most gun owners are not out shooting people, but I would like to understand the mentality that is causing people to rush out and buy assault weapons and stock up on guns.

[aikoaiko]

1. Its easy to explain.

There is talk of banning the most popular rifles, handguns, and shotguns in their popular configurations.

They are popular because they are really useful for sport, recreation, competition, and self-defense.

People are buying things so that they can have them for themselves and children.

Even I bought 10 26-round mags for my converted 22 lr ARs so that my son and I can plink with AR for decades to come.

I live in a medium city, vote Democratic ticket, work at a university and I like shooting my ARs for fun and proficiency.

[Onlooker]

14. That's a good answer

I've never used a gun, and only even held one once (an old heavy hand gun that some guy I used to lawn work for as a boy handed to me before he climbed up a ladder to his attic where he thought there was a raccoon). I think liberals mostly object to guns because the collectors and hobbyists aren't the ones speaking up; instead, the people who are really speaking up seem to be the paranoids and bigots, who evoke images of Trayvon Martin, Newtown, and the like.

[MightyMopar]

2. Whackjobs with nothing better to do with their lives

[green for victory]

8. How wonderful to see that you have met the New Year with a newfound interest in respectful debate

[IMG][/IMG]

[Jenoch]

3. Without a link,

I'm a bit skeptical about your claim that few city dwellers own guns. I suppose if you mean people living in Manhatten, I suppose you might be correct. As to why there are brisk sales of guns and ammo, it is all the talk about restricting access to those legal products that drives up demand.

FYI, there are no "on-line" retailers of guns. On-line retailing usually means shipping a product to your home. It is not legal to do so with guns. They must be shipped to a licensed gun dealer with all of the paperwork and background checks.

[Duckhunter935]

6. correct on the online purchase

I purchased my pistol online and had to pick it up and do the background check at my local FFL. I also purchased my Colt AR-15 from Walmart as I see those may be hard to get and that is one I have wanted for target shooting since I retired from the military. I live in a small town. Have some extra 20 round magazines on order as this is the standard magazine and I can see those being banned. Have a couple of 30's but rather would have the 20 rounders.

[pipoman]

4. Good investments

with interest rates in the sub 5% area, people are speculating dramatic price increases if laws are changed again....personally, I don't see anything too dramatic coming. I don't currently own one, I have thought of buying an AR10 for fun shooting and it can be used for deer hunting too...AR15 is really only good for smaller game which I don't hunt...I have a .17HMR for the occasional coyote who comes too close to my farmstead.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

5. The "obsession," in part, is caused by a desire by some to repeat the 1994 election in which

the Republican Party took control of Congress after the Democratic Party had controlled Congress for 50 continuous years.

Some statistics indicate that about 40% of Democratic households own firearms. Not all Democrats (and certainly not all Independents) are in favor of re-adopting the now expired "assault weapons" ban. However, there are Donald-Segretti and Karl- Rove types who believe that the Republican Party can peel away votes by raising the issue of adopting another AWB. Whether another ban is adopted or not, the raising of the issue may be sufficient.

This is a reason why some posters seem to have an endless amount of energy to posting "gun control" posts and insulting DUers who own firearms for any reason as "gun nuts." There are people trying to create conflict and stifle bona fide discussions. They can keep this up for as long as they want.

[pipoman]

7. Don't forget referring to people who own guns as "obsessed"..

[AnotherMcIntosh]

10. Yes, that too.

[tabasco]

9. Because people are cowards. n/t

[99Forever]

11. 'Cuz, dey gots to..

... to keep dat evil gub'mint from taken 'way their freedumbs.

[Robb]

12. I can tell you, modern firearms appealed to my own fetish for finely tooled/engineered devices.

I call it a fetish, and it probably is just that. I've always been drawn to little fiddly things with spectacularly small gears or levers, preferably immeasurably small movements made with machined parts.

When I was young, a friend of mine owned a knife sharpener, you'd set the blade into the device, which had a long steel rod running parallel to the knife that held the sharpening stone. Turning a large screw would move the blade an impossibly small distance closer to the stone, which you would then zip smoothly along the rod, once out, then back. Then turn the screw again, and repeat until the kitchen knife can painlessly remove the hair on your arm. Loved it.

It was the most finely machined device I'd ever operated, until I first picked up a modern German-made semiautomatic pistol. Holy crap, but those things are well built. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad my firearm-owning days are behind me. But you asked.

[cbrer]

13. Only part of the group of "Gun Owners"

can be truly termed obsessive.

If you're interested in seeking solutions for the obvious mental health problems that manifest themselves in these horrors of violence, then you're going to find a HUGE group of gun owners ready, willing, and able to help with those solutions.

If emotional outbursts and kneejerk reactions take the place of analysis, thoughful detailed study, and rededication to solving these issues, it's going to be a long hard road.

Many cities ban private handgun ownership, so quantities will be limited in those areas (at least by law abiding citizens). Your assumptions about your being "typical", feelings of vulnerability, or representation of the "lunatic fringe", could easily be off base, and inaccurate.

I'm up for real solutions, as I assume most gun owners are. But going after law abiding, responsible gun owners is going to be a partial solution at best. It could easily backfire. Additional laws placing limitations on law abiding citizens could force some people to maintain their level of protection by breaking those new laws.

The old "10 seconds of firepower vs. 10 minutes waiting for 9-1-1" argument. I'm not trying to push an agenda here. Discussion and respect are important.