I can't speak for all men, but for myself I believe in self defense and shooting at a gun range is fun.

@Tejas a gun is not necessary for self defense. I believe those who think that are lazy thinkers.

@Redheadedgammy thats your opinion and thats ok

Because they have very small penises and need another reason to feel "manly"
Simple Freudian psychiatry 101

@Tejas Ditto for you as well.

@LenHazell53 I am beginning to think there is some truth in that statement, since I have heard it from many other men as well.

@Redheadedgammy People who are secure in their own sexuality and gender identity do not need symbols to compensate for what they think they lack.

@LenHazell53 say thats true, who are you to get in the way of someone wanting to feel better about themselves?

@Tejas If your feeling better about yourself means you need to feel able kill someone at a moments notice then I'm someone who thinks you seriously need help, because you are a danger to yourself and other...and possibly psychotic.

@LenHazell53 I'm someone who thinks you're speaking from a place of ignorance. Being able to defend one's self is the difference between life and death and is the most basic of instincts.

@Tejas Guess what, I've made it o my mid 50s and I have never had to kill anyone, I feel perfectly safe without a gun, I have defended myself with my fists and feet and still did not have to kill anyone, so personally I think you maybe the one speaking from a place of ignorance.
Oh by the way I was a junior marksman competitor until the age of 15 at .177 and .22 calibre, but I have not touched a gun in over 40 years and never carried one on the street, 1 because it is illegal here to do so and 2 because doing so would make me appear a pretentious Pratt.

@LenHazell53 the uks culture is very different than here in the us, our population is much higher and crime here is much higher. So what works for you is not going to be the same for everyone. Most gun owners hope to never to have to use their gun and most don't. My home has been burglarized twice in my youth, and growing up in the Houston area of Texas ive known many people who have been robbed attacked by groups of people or shot. You may be ok with being someone's victim but alot of people aren't.

@Tejas You miss my point, I am no ones victim, largely because we don't have guns so readily available.

By the way the word is burgled, not burglarized as its from the action of a Burglar
like wise if a burglar breaks in to you home by using a crowbar on your front door has crowbarred it or crowbarrized it, and when you point your gun at him has he capitulated or capitularized?

EDIT actually thinking about it probably neither, because you would probably have shot him dead.

@LenHazell53 in the us burglarized is a common term. If you want to correct grammar you've made several mistakes yourself. If someone breaks into my home I have no legal or moral obligation to know their intentions, if I heard someone breaking in id yell "i have a gun get out of here" and if they broke in after that its 100 percent on them.

@Tejas I’ve been around guns all my life. They are fun to shoot as a sport or hobby. No problem. I know people who collect them for historical and investment reasons. No problem. Many are honest, ethical hunters. No problem.

But I have never considered my guns as necessary for self defense. Never keep loaded weapons in the house for safety sake. People that walk around armed to the hilt are delusional. Watched too many Rambo movies. Or they really should move to another neighborhood.

@Tejas weeeeelll, @Tejas...do you keep your gun loaded right out on the nightstand, or locked in a gun safe or use a lock?
Because unless it is loaded & ready to use, by the time you get it out the bad guys will have 37 tie-wraps on you.
And why Not leave it out loaded?
Maybe the same reason that NRA conference didn't allow them in the hall?

@AnneWimsey i leave a loaded handgun on my nightstand. For a rifle and shotgun they are locked in a gun cabinet.

@TCorCM Are you a hated minority? If so, I am sorry you are dealing with that. I also note that guns and the people who use them are especially good at either one or both people in the Vicinity of the gun being killed more often than not.

@TCorCM it reminds me of thoughts I had when I earned my black belt. When discussing what that means with others who just earned theirs, we all agreed, that now if there was a confrontation, someone was going to the hospital! I thought about it then had had to say, yes, but it doesn’t guarantee WHO is going to the hospital.....

@TCorCM What do you mean kinda? Are there people trying to hurt you? I know threats can be unnerving.

Machine guns ARE available and can be legally licensed to an individual

I'm not sure why an AR-15 would make a mess. It is a small caliber weapon, much smaller than a 30-06 bullet which is a hunting favorite. However I agree the AR-15 is not a good hunting weapon.

@Alienbeing Because the round tumbled, ripping through everything