The "I need a gun for protection" argument goes out the window when you have assault rifles and an arsenal.

And the guy that says "good guys should have guns, I agree that bad guys shouldn't" is an idiot. Potentially EVERYONE is a bad guy. How many times do we read "he was such a nice guy, he must have just snapped". It's bulls**t.

99% of those people will never ever need the protection, though I'd bet 70% wish they could use it on an intruder. Statistically (actual occurrence vs. population) you would never need a gun. It's the lamest argument ever.

Yeah I read the one comment about the girl who grew up in maine "I don't promote the fact that I have a gun, but I grew up in Maine" It's true that we pretty much all have guns up here, I personally own five high powered rifles.

I've never fired them...

Nice to see them showing that all gun owners aren't the stereotypical redneck nut with an itchy trigger finger.

I have a gun because... Oh wait, I don't have a gun. I have a katana, though. I figure that would be way more intimidating for someone who breaks into my house, to have some big white guy with a civil-war mustache weilding a samurai sword.

I keep it sharp, too.

I have a pistol because I can. Living in Florida almost anyone can have a gun yet their are many less murders here than in my old hometown in New York state (which by the way has very tight gun controls)
A few years ago when the hurricane left many of us withou power for up to a month, things get a little spooky. A girl needs a little protection.

Guns are cool.

I own them and respect them. I know how to use one should ever the need arise.

It's fun to go to the range and shoot stuff.

If some dumb ass wants to break into my house, I would be more than happy to introduce him to Mrs. 9mm.

If that never happens, so what.

When the revolution begins, i'll have my guns and my life. what will you have?

What exactly is wrong with owning a gun?

Nothing, as long as you aren't stupid.

Some of those people were collectors dolly. The guy with all the rifles clearly didn't have a self defense motive or justification.

"When they kick out your front door; how you gonna come
With your hands on your head; or your finger on your gun".

The Clash

I used to work with a guy who is Swiss, and he and I once got into a conversation about Switzerland's compulsory military service. Apparently at the end of your service when you are discharged, the government gives you a gun. And since *everybody* goes through the compulsory service, *everybody* owns a gun. It was his theory that the reason crime was so low in Switzerland was because the criminals knew that everybody had a gun, and they all knew how to use them.

Well said.

Why is it that anyone who owns a gun is automatically put into the "militia nut-bag" category? I sleep better at night knowing my doors are locked, some sleep better at night knowing they have a gun "just in case," is that so wrong? Horrible people do horrible things, so why do those who are upstanding citizens have to be ridiculed for their interests? These are rhetorical questions- like religion, the fire arm issue is one that has very diametric opinions. I don't believe a common ground is likely to be found.

I assume you have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark...

But seriously, WHY do you NEED an "argument" for owning one? It is a right given a citizen who is not a felon. Why does someone have to give you a reason to own one?

Obviously you have to exercise extreme care and know how to operate it. But face it...the old saw IS actually correct:

Guns don't kill people - people kill people.

People have been killing people for a long long time. They don't need guns to do it. That is no reason to say I cannot own one.

So what if 99% of the people who own one won't ever need it for protection? So what if 70% of them wish they could get a chance to use it for such? As long as they RESPECT the responsibility to that comes with gun ownership, what is the issue with them doing so?

Who took this picture, and why do they want us thinking gun owners belong to the Jamaican mafia

I used to be pretty anti-gun, but I have to admit that I am converting.

Put me in any nut job category you'd like but I like guns and im keeping mine.

The army with their tanks.

Not sure where you got your information but it's incorrect. Here's an interactive map, click on a state.

I wanted to use the FBI stats, but apparently Florida couldn't follow the rules so their stats weren't included.
I wanted good info on Florida though so I've been googling. It's very difficult to find stats, apparently they don't like to report them. I finally found a report generator on the Florida DoH website, but when trying to actually generate a report, it conveniently times out.

If you have some reliable (i.e. non-biased) stats, I'd be interested.