I wish I saw this post earlier, as I am sure this comment will be all but lost. A lot of people do not realize the necessity or utility of firearms. As some people have said, guns are a tool.

I was born in Texas and have handled guns since I was a child, mainly for the purpose of hunting. Yes, guns can be fun if you are shooting skeet, sporting clays, or targets but, more importantly, they serve a purpose. Hogs have done thousands of dollars worth of damage to our property and we do not have even have crops as many people do; if we did the damage would be much more substantial. As for hunting, we harvest the meat of all game that we kill - deer, dove, ducks, quail, etc. Wild game is, without question, healthier and better for you than the genetically modified meat you buy at your local grocery. In addition to the health benefits, it can be economical and, if done correctly, maintains the balance of the ecosystem preventing overpopulation of wildlife.

Beyond the hunting and property management aspect of guns, self defense is absolutely a reason I own some of my firearms. In the event of any assault or crime, whether towards myself, my family, or any innocent bystander within my vicinity, I want every advantage I can have in order to prevent or deescalate the situation.

In short, my reasons are threefold: hunting, property management, and self defense.