Hi there. Let's talk about some of the common reasons people buy and use firearms.
In my previous article in this Introduction series I went over the basic form and function of a firearm. You can view that post here, if you would like to:
Now that you have a basic idea of what a firearm is let's talk about some of the things you can do with them.
Just as firearms themselves have a tremendous variety, so do the interests and hobbies of their owners. Some people enjoy the thrill of competition shooting or hunting, some enjoy simply shooting targets, some are interested in defense of others, themselves, or their homes, and some people simply enjoy owning a piece of history or a stunning piece of art in the form of a firearm.
All of these interests are valid. One is not inherently better or more worthwhile than another. And each of them has an incredible amount of knowledge and history to stand on.
Before we jump in, I want to reiterate a very important point: a firearm is a tool. Its basic function is to create and control an explosion that propels a projectile. A firearm has no will of its own, no autonomy, no hopes or dreams or desires or impulses. Firearms are dangerous, and deadly, tools, but they are tools and they are subject to the choices of their users.
Collecting
Given their tremendous influence on the world for hundreds of years now, it was inevitable that a collector's market would be built around firearms. Collectors vary wildly and have nearly infinite categories to choose from when searching for collection-worthy pieces.
Firearms have gone through a truly astounding amount of innovation and development from their original invention. Over the course of several centuries history has witnessed firearms evolve from bamboo tubes filled with black powder and rocks to precisely engineered machines capable of accurately hitting targets at distances exceeding a mile.
This tremendous range of development has given us designs that have seen decades or even centuries of use, designs that have literally changed the world. The musket and subsequently the rifle, the revolver, the lever action, all are incredible innovations. There's a decent chance that you've heard the names Brown Bess, Colt Peacemaker, or Winchester Model 1873, but even if you haven't it's almost certain that you've seen one or all. Even into the 20th Century there have been significant advancements and designs such as the 1911 and the AR-15.
Alongside these pinnacles of achievement there are also numerous designs that, for various reasons, have failed miserably and utterly. Some designs simply lacked appropriate funding for marketing or manufacture, didn't appeal to consumers for whatever reason, or were just unlucky in their timing of being brought to market. Some designs, however, were just hilariously and mind-bogglingly terrible. There's a very good reason firearms such as the Chauchat and the Krummlauf aren't household names.
A vast amount of this innovation has come about during or in preparation for armed conflict. On an individual or military basis, firearms are an effective tool for violence. Significant examples can be found from nearly every country on the planet, from every conflict, and in a wide range of configurations and conditions.
The profound effect firearms have had on armed conflicts can be seen reflected in the vast amount of media that features them. Television, movies, and video games provide innumerable examples of both common historical firearms and individually significant weapons. If you've seen a Western movie then you've almost certainly seen a lever gun or a revolver. I'd bet that even if you haven't seen the films you get a pretty clear mental image if I say Rambo or Dirty Harry. The visceral experience of visual media can be a strong influence on interests and collections.
Firearms are primarily made of wood and metal, both of which are capable of being shaped into incredible and magnificent works of art. Master craftsmen have created some truly beautiful and amazing pieces throughout the years and continue to do so, often commanding equally breathtaking prices.
All of these factors have lead to a thriving and expansive collector's market that can cater to nearly any imaginable interest. Categories can be as wide as being made during a certain decade or war, for a specific country, or present in a specific genre of film. You can also find collectors focused on incredibly specific pieces such as being used by a specific country during a specific battle during a specific span of time. Some collectors prefer to collect from certain manufacturers, their entire line or prime examples, or even unique manufacturers.
I'll get into some of the unique manufacturers in a separate post, but here's a fun fact: Singer, the sewing machine company, Rockola, a jukebox manufacturer, and IBM, yes that IBM, all manufactured firearms for the Americans during World War II. There's quite a few other companies as well, but that will take up another article.
Hunting
As the military goes, so does the civilian population. Throughout history soldiers have often brought home their service rifles or collected firearms from the field, and as war turns into peace governments have tremendous stockpiles of arms that are now unnecessary or becoming obsolete. This leads to a military surplus market accessible by civilians which also inspires competition by companies looking to offer higher end or purpose-built firearms superior to military surplus. Huge numbers of firearms have been obtained through the surplus market for use in hunting and they do a serviceable job.
For much of history there was no such thing as a grocery store. Markets existed, of course, but the common person couldn't find everything they needed all in one place, let alone afford it. Hunting provided a relatively simple solution, and though stockpiling was labor intensive it was necessary to survive through winters when the harvest wasn't as bountiful as hoped or during times of unrest when common supply sources were unreliable or nonexistent. It's not unlikely that if you have elderly relatives you've heard stories about the old days. Even today in some of the more rural areas you can find individuals and families that depend on hunting for their survival.
Less common than in the colonial period, but still relevant today, was also the trade aspect provided through hunting. Skins, furs, feathers, bones, organs, all could and can be sold for an incredible range of uses and purposes.
With this long and substantial history also comes tradition. Fathers teach sons, and while life may become easier for the son the tradition remains and gets passed along to their sons. Or daughters, I don't want anyone to think hunting, or any of the shooting sports, are exclusive to men. I have nieces that are getting old enough that I can begin to pass along my own traditions.
I understand that hunting can be a controversial topic. I plan to go much more in-depth on the topic in future articles, but this is just an overview. I do want to put in your head the idea that hunting isn't just blindly firing at an animal, taking a trophy picture, and then leaving. The vast majority of hunters practice ethical hunting, guided by their state's conservation experts to ensure a healthy and controlled population. There is actually an additional 10-11% tax placed on the sale of all firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, intended for hunting or not, that funds hunter education and conservation efforts in America, called the Pittman-Robertson Act. You can read more about the specifics on the Wikipedia page:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittman–Robertson_Federal_Aid_in_Wildlife_Restoration_Act
Target and Competition Shooting
Shooting is easy. Load it, point it, shoot it, done. Shooting well is far more difficult, especially as the distance to the target increases or the size of the target decreases.
Recreational target shooting depends on the shooter and their goals. Sometimes its fun to buy a brick of ammo and go shoot soda cans or pumpkins or zombie targets. Sometimes you just want to try out a friend's gun, or a new one you just acquired. Recreational shooting for a lot of people is fun and relaxing and it's one of those things that if you haven't tried it then it can be hard to understand. And if that's true, if you haven't ever just gone to a range to shoot for a while, I strongly encourage you to do so. Find someone that's willing to teach you how to be safe, borrow a firearm, and give it a try.
Just as there's a difference between shooting and shooting well, there's a difference between hitting a target and hitting a target precisely and repeatedly. Competition shooting demands the latter and is incredible difficult, especially at the highest levels of competition. This is yet another area that has been influenced heavily by the military, an organization that, for obvious reasons, demands a great deal of precision in highly strenuous circumstances. While it is true that the targets don't shoot back, competitive shooting simulates the stressful situations to a degree and was a natural expansion of military marksmanship training.
The most common competitive shooting events involve firing from a fixed position at a fixed target at fixed distances. All three of those variables can vary, as well as the firearm used. Competitions exist for all types of firearms in a huge array of varieties. Trap, skeet, and sporting clay shooting are common shotgun pastimes that utilize clay pigeons, really just clay discs but the sport was invented by bird hunters, being launched into the air to be shot at to simulate bird hunting.
There are quite a few other kinds and types of competitive shooting, but, again, I'll go into more depth in a future article. The sports I've mentioned are common across the planet, with world class talents, and have a substantial place in the Summer Olympics. The Winter Olympics feature far fewer shooting sports, but if you're interested you can see the biathlon competitions in the very near future at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Biathlon is an event that combines a cross country ski race with target shooting and is an incredibly popular sport in European nations. In fact, biathlon is the only shooting event in the Olympics for which the United States has never earned a medal.
Home and Self Defense
I have never and will never try to downplay the fact that firearms are dangerous and deadly tools. I will always point out, however, that they are tools. Firearms can and do take lives and the idea of someone purchasing a firearm explicitly with that intention is distasteful, to put it mildly. There is, however, a very significant distinction between intending to end a life and acquiring a tool that can allow someone to defend their own or another life.
I truly believe that the vast majority of people are good, or at the very least not willfully and actively malicious. This belief applies to everyone, not just gun owners. Most gun owners that own a firearm for the purpose of defense do so while also hoping to never be in that situation to begin with. It's a last ditch insurance policy. No one keeps a fire extinguisher in their home or pays for insurance because they're hoping something terrible happens, they do so because they know that terrible things can and do happen. The same principle applies to owning a firearm for defense.
I will, you may have guessed, go into this topic further in a future post. The details and best practices of self and home defense deserve as much attention as possible.
Conclusion
I hope I've given you some things to think about and consider. The reasons for owning firearms are as diverse as the owners of those firearms and what I've covered here touches on the main categories but leaves a lot of detail to be discussed.
Thank you for reading and I look forward to expanding on everything I've discussed here. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I also welcome suggestions and requests for future articles.
Thank you. :-)