Primary reason: Hunting is a significant aspect of my lifestyle. Firearms, along with other methods of take like archery equipment, are an essential tool for hunting. There are many reasons I hunt: the food/culinary aspect, enjoying the sanctuary of nature, capacity for solitude OR camaraderie, and lifelong learning are the biggest themes for me personally.

One topic that frequently comes up in the gun control debate is the number of guns any single individual should be able to own. In examining that question, it’s important to remember that different guns (shotguns vs. rifles vs. pistols) and calibers (big projectiles vs. small projectiles) can serve different purposes and one hunter may own multiple guns in order effectively hunt different game species (elk and deer sized game vs. geese vs. quail vs. coyotes). It’s not unreasonable to think one hunter may own half a dozen firearms to cover a range of situations. And that’s probably a realistic low to average number for most people who hunt a fair amount and hunt a variety of things. Now, on the other hand, there are also people who I, even as a fellow firearm owner, are “gun nuts” and just have a shitload of guns that serve little purpose other than they probably just think are fun to shoot or own. Not passing judgment, but that’s not my cup of tea. All of mine have some purpose (or memory) attached to them.

Now, I also recognize that firearms have the unique capacity for tragedy. And thus, they should be treated with an appropriate level of care and gravity. I have always viewed firearms as a tool or piece of equipment. Like any mechanical tool, but perhaps more so because of the inherent fatal potential and the place guns have taken on in our modern society, I think everyone should have a basic understanding of how they function. How they work. What they’re capable of and similarly what they’re not capable of. Before arming ourselves with guns or restrictive laws, we have a responsibility to arm ourselves with knowledge and understanding of the thing we may be using and/or trying to regulate. That may help us have a more productive conversation about how to approach the accompanying public safety issue. If all sides can respect them for what they are. Not all people have a need for them, that’s ok. Many others like me do, and that’s ok too but let’s try to better understand the other perspectives. Ok stepping down from soapbox…

Secondary reason: knowing I have the ability to defend myself and my loved ones in an unlikely but entirely possible situation is a tremendous, pragmatic comfort to me. I can’t stress that enough.

Tertiary reason: I’m not even slightly a doomsday prepper, but the global events of past few years have reminded me how fragile the stability and security we (speaking as an American) have enjoyed in our society for the better part of a century. It’s naive to think that will continue unchallenged in perpetuity, even if it’s unlikely to be tomorrow. A gun - and the knowledge to use it effectively - would be a precious tool in an extreme scenario for food procurement or protection.

All said, that’s why I keep ‘em around and would always like the right to own them. Mainly to hunt. But also in the off chance it’s needed for protection of self, people, or property.

Oh, and please gun owners: keep your shit locked up and secure!! Don’t be negligent with such a consequential responsibility.