Beemermark
Veteran
You really think so? The world was a deadly place before the invention of guns. People manage to kill people with what ever tool is handy at the time.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
So true. Human beings have been killing and hurting each other throughout history. Like it or not, that's just part of who we are.
ronnies
Well-known
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
I'm not sure this forum would exist if what you say is true.
I rarely meet a photographer who doesn't exhibit many of the same characteristics as my gun enthusiast friends - when it comes to the equipment.
Photo forums like this one are full of threads dedicated to things like build quality. Hell, that's one of the top selling points for Leica gear.
Some people simply love well-made stuff. Whether it's cameras, fountain pens, fly rods, furniture, firearms, etc.
There are gun collectors who will buy a gun and never shoot it. Sort of like some camera collectors I've run across.
I'm truly scared of guns (and especially fools with guns). However, I did go to a shooting range and it was one of the funnest things I've done in a long time. Very cool in a controlled environment.
Kiev Ilegalac
Established
Fascination with well made items I can understand, but I still think that people with gun-fetish have certain problems. well made gun is well made for killing, that is what distinguishes it from other well built things someone can be interested in. If you choose guns you choose them because they kill, not because they are beautiful. I assume it's not the beauty that matters, because there are lot of things that come in mind before the guns when we think of beauty
Kiev Ilegalac
Established
I should have used quality instead of beauty. well made would mean that thing is in line with it's function, it's intrensic quality, in case of guns that would be killing
While I think it's healthy to always be aware of what a gun is capable of (yes, killing), you cannot lump everyone who likes guns into one category. People choose to use / own guns for things other than killing... competition / target shooting, collecting, fascination with history, etc.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
A person could choose to see it that way.
But there are many games and sporting activities (none of them involving killing) that have developed around firearms.
Here are a few of them:
* Sporting Clays, Trap, Skeet - Shotguns used to shoot clay pigeons on the move. Obviously it's based on concept of hunting birds or other small game. But there are many shooters of this sport (myself included) who never hunt.
* Bullseye: These are shooters who play games of incredible accuracy. It's all about putting the bullet exactly where you intend it to be.
* Action Pistol (IDPA, IPSC, USPSA). These are games where shooters compete against each other shooting a course of fire that includes moving targets, partially hidden targets, etc. Shooters' scores are based both on their accuracy and the time it takes to complete the course of fire. These are my games.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
One of the biggest mistakes we make is assuming that our view of life is the only view that's correct.
You see no beauty in guns. You see them as evil. I get that.
But many of use do believe firearms are beautiful in their own way.
There is a gun store near my house with a high-end room containing a lot of antiques and English shotguns. Many of them are simply gorgeous examples of wood and metal craftsmanship. While I'd never spend $20,000-$30,000 on a single gun, I do see the appeal.
Thankfully, there is no universal definition of beauty.
Brad Bireley
Well-known
PhotoMat
Well-known
Yep. If we all beat our swords into plowshares, eventually some dude will come along and smack you with a plowshare.
redisburning
Well-known
ok look, people will always be out to kill each other due to genetics but you have to admit less people died in the crossfire when people had to carve each other up with swords.
ok, back to the topic.
I guess I like guns. I don't care for rifles or shotguns but I would be lying if I said I didn't like handguns. they ARE mechanical wonders. let's forget the appreciation of fine objects or anything like that because that's not me, but anything that works through pure brilliance of design gets me.
a handgun is as much at the height of mechanical design as a camera, at least IMO.
and I do not hunt. I go to the grocery store. if I could not, I would hunt. I would never consider killing an animal for entertainment sport.
ok, back to the topic.
I guess I like guns. I don't care for rifles or shotguns but I would be lying if I said I didn't like handguns. they ARE mechanical wonders. let's forget the appreciation of fine objects or anything like that because that's not me, but anything that works through pure brilliance of design gets me.
a handgun is as much at the height of mechanical design as a camera, at least IMO.
and I do not hunt. I go to the grocery store. if I could not, I would hunt. I would never consider killing an animal for entertainment sport.
micromontenegro
Well-known
paulfish4570
Veteran
long-time shooter and hunter. bought my first shotgun when i was 11, with lawn-mowing money. health stopped me from deer hunting 3 years ago, but health has much improved, and i will take up deer-hunting again this coming season. used to handload for my bolt-action rifles. down to a single-shot .30-'06 now. oh, but i do love a '96 swedish mauser. taught all three of my children to shoot pistols when they turned 6. both my boys got .22 rifles at that age, but they never got to shoot them unsupervised until they were young adults. one of the best times i ever had with my daughter was a long weekend deerhunt together. the boys have maintained an interest in firearms; the daughter has not but she does much appreciate wild game. only the daughter has an interest in photography. my bride enjoys shooting handguns, and using our .22 rifle to plink squirrels.
oh, by the way, none of us has killed anyone ...
oh, by the way, none of us has killed anyone ...
Oldskewl808
Established
Exactly! Sometimes I find myself wanting to work on the trigger after firing off a frame.
ronnies
Well-known
My rifles have never killed nor were they designed to kill. They are for target shooting only. Designed that way too. A bit like the way a golf club is related to a prehistoric club.
Ronnie
Kiev Ilegalac
Established
Completly agree. Mistake I often make.
thegman
Veteran
That is true, but I think reduction of any sort of weapons is probably going to be a positive thing. Maybe I should have said "I hope" more than "I think". Also, I think that so many deaths were caused prior to the gun due to religious/political extremism, and apart from the USA and the Middle East that would seem to be on the decline overall.
thegman
Veteran
It can't be illegal to own a gun in the UK since I own two rifles.
Ronnie
You're right, I guess I meant "readily available".