Why Do People Own Guns

PROTECTION

Every day, new crimes surface throughout the U.S.

Whether crime itself has spiked is debatable. What isn’t is how technology highlights previously unseen acts of violence.

Peruse any number of social media platforms and you’re bound to come across videos where violence is on display. Many of these vignettes are brutal and downright unwatchable.

The pandemic was tough on many. Now that it is over, we are beginning to see the damage it incurred. Individuals are volatile, their behaviors unhinged. A walk to the grocery store is no longer simple.

It’s a powderkeg out there.

Unpredictable times lead to dangerous behavior. Better to err on the side of caution and carry a firearm.

Only yesterday, I saw a video in which a man attacked a defenceless woman at a New York City subway station. He beat her within inches of death. In a city close to twenty million, not one person came to her aid.

The immutable takeaway is that on any given day, one can be a victim of crime. Like it or not, threats are omnipresent. By owning a gun, the chances of victimization greatly reduce.

Countless situations that would otherwise be dire can end differently if an individual conceals and carries. In simple terms, it is better to have a gun and not need one, than to need a gun and not have one. 

RECREATION

Hunting is a popular recreational activity throughout the United States. Though technology continues to evolve, millions of Americans still engage in outdoor recreational activities. 

In 2020, fifteen million Americans engaged in the time-honoured tradition. 

Rugged outdoorsmen spend countless hours outside, and for many, it is a rite of passage from generation to generation.

In recent years, hunting has seen a resurgence as many Americans are seeking a simpler lifestyle due to the increasing stressors of a technologically driven existence.

As long as hunting remains a mainstay in the U.S., so too will gun ownership. 

STATUS SYMBOL

The variety of guns available on the market is astounding. Gun culture is a thing. In no other country is it as unflinchingly noticeable.

One who ascribes to the gun subculture is undeniably passionate about guns.

Individuals seek validation and oftentimes, this is achieved by purchasing the latest guns on the market.

Gun companies are privy to this and do their best to keep up with the growing demands of consumers. Much like one collects valuable sports memorabilia, many gun owners are best described as gun collectors.

Think of any hobbies or a subculture you have belonged to.

Was validation and acceptance by peers within the subculture paramount? If you are being honest with yourself, this phenomenon was probably at play.

Possessing an arsenal of firearms is often touted as a sign of status within gun culture. It is no different than say those who collect luxury cars, sports memorabilia, and criterion films; the list is endless.

So why the bad rap? Political posturing by left-leaning Dems would be one guess.

PROTECTION

Spend enough time with members of law enforcement and you will quickly discern their general lack of faith in human beings.

They see the worst in humans daily, contributing to a skewed paradigm where evil permeates. Personally, I have had the honor of spending time with my local police department.

I am a documentarian and for much of 2020, I rode along with a few officers from my community. It didn’t take long for me to understand that the bubble most of us live in is exactly that; a bubble.

Threats lurk on nearly every street corner. Drop your guard, and rest assured you will invite trouble.

What many fail to realize is that victimization can often be avoidable. Detach for a moment, remove political agendas from the equation, and it becomes irrefutable that owning a firearm is the one failsafe when facing a violent threat.

Most of the cops I was with championed gun ownership. They view responsible gun ownership as an undeniably effective way to protect both oneself and their community. 

They deal with criminals daily and cite most crimes as opportunistic in nature. A criminal will look for any edge they can get. 

Should one approach with the intent of inflicting harm, unholster, unload, and unarm them. Otherwise, you run the risk of being that helpless woman in the NYC subway station. There are victims in this world, and there are survivors.

By being a licensed gun owner, you are far more likely to be the latter.

WRAP-UP

Individuals choose to own guns for a bevy of reasons. Statistically speaking, 7 out of 10 Americans cited protection as the driving force behind their gun ownership.

The American way of life has and will always revolve around guns in some capacity. Furthermore, with the volatile nature of the world, gun sales have actually spiked since the outset of the novel Coronavirus.

Many suffered mentally due to the pandemic and currently wade through life looking for conflict. It seems like confrontation lurks at nearly every street corner.

Perhaps now is as good a time as any to purchase a firearm and hone up on your marksmanship. For if and when a violent threat presents itself, you will be prepared to do whatever it takes to protect yourself.

Remember; most victims of crime could prevent evil-doers with a two-prong approach; situational awareness and conceal and carry. No contingency is foolproof, but I like my chances infinitely more when armed and ready.