The gun debate is a complex one that tends to inspire a lot of passion on both sides, but when emotion is taken out of the equation, there are a lot of practical reasons why a person might want to own a firearm.
A Gallup poll found that three out of every 10 Americans own a gun personally, while four out of every 10 have one in their home. The most popular reason for owning a gun is for protection, which was cited by 67 percent of gun owners as their primary motivation. The right to defend yourself is laid out in the second amendment of the Constitution and without it, there is no telling what individual freedoms and civil liberties the government could try to take away.
Here is a look at five of the more practical reasons it is a good idea to have at least one firearm, inspired by Ready Nutrition.
Protection
At the top of any list of good reasons to own a firearm is defending yourself and your home. If an intruder tries to inflict harm on you or your family, it can prove useful. Of course, you’ll have to follow your local gun ownership laws, which vary wildly from state to state.
Every year, American citizens draw a gun more than 2.5 million times in a scenario of personal defense. Often just the presence of a gun is enough to deter a would-be criminal. For example, in nearly 90 percent of the violent crimes that are directed against women, the offenders do not have a gun, which means having one could put the victim at a serious advantage.
Hunting
Firearms make the task of hunting for food a lot easier. Like most people, you probably appreciate the convenience of buying meat at the store, or perhaps you choose not to eat meat at all. However, this might not be an option in a survival scenario, so it’s a good idea to at least be familiar with the basics of hunting should you need to feed your family in an emergency situation one day.
Sport
A lot of people enjoy shooting for sport. You can head to the range and develop marksmanship skills using paper targets, which can be very enjoyable and rewarding. If you find that you have a knack for it, you could even enter competitions. Much like archery, it’s a great way to have fun and engage your competitive streak while developing a useful skill at the same time. It builds physical and mental discipline alike, and it can also boost confidence.
SHTF Scenario
If the economy collapses or an EMP event occurs, there is no telling what might happen. Having a gun could well mean the difference between life and death in such a scenario, and even if you never need to draw it personally, it could help you in bartering situations. For example, if you’ve got firearm repairing skills, this is something you could trade for a good or service you need and can’t obtain otherwise.
Family legacy
By teaching your family how to use a firearm safely, you are giving them a skill that can be useful to them for the rest of their lives and could even save their lives one day. Many Americans recall being taught the basics of handling and caring for firearms by their parents when they were young, and it’s practically a rite of passage in some parts of the country.
Of course, before you ever even considering buying your first gun, it is vital to learn gun safety and proper procedures. Also, you should always be aware of local gun laws for your area. Take the time to be trained by a professional in firearm use, and stay on top of practicing and maintenance so your firearm and your skills won’t let you down if the time ever comes to use it. Always treat a gun like it is loaded, and keep all your firearms out of reach of children, except when you are teaching them firearm safety with unloaded guns.
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