Hobby or Lifestyle?

[DTHN2LGS]

I voted number 4. Firearms have been a big part of my entire life from childhood to the present. I was in the Army in the 80's. At one point, I worked as a Gunsmith. Adherence of the Gov't. to the Second Amendment has formed my political views. If I were physically able and had the coin, I would attend as many Handgun/Carbine classes as possible.

[glocktogo]

Larger lifestyle. Started with air guns and hunting by the time I was 6. Then into the Corps at 18 and started my own collection. Moved from there to security and LE, CCW along the way. I usually handle an empty weapon at some point on most days merely as a familiarity exercise. My wife hates that I dry fire and practice reloads in the evening, even if it's just a few minutes.

With the exception of a budding WWII collection, my firearms are mainly serious use. Most of the hunting guns have given way to tactical stuff, some of which could still be used for hunting if need be.

To me a hobbyist would be someone whose range trips center around pleasure. Most of my trips center around training and competition. I actually find it difficult to get "just for fun" range time. Not that all shooting exercise isn't enjoyable, but sometimes I get to the point where I find myself making excuses to not go. That's when I have to go and relax and just have some fun with guns. Otherwise, it gets to become a chore and you won't go as often as you should.

I'd be interested to know how many people haven't been to the range in the last 2-3 months, and why.

[ZDL]

*******

[rubberneck]

Both. They aren't mutually exclusive. My hobbies are a part of my lifestyle and my lifestyle is my hobby.

[Pathfinder Ops]

Larger lifestyle because of what they represent not just locally or nationally but globally.

They embody one of the few things that uniquely states I am an American. they say:

I'm different. My nation was built after yours on certain precepts. Individual ownership of a firearm being one of them and a distinct message that says we will remain independent of the "global governance" and take solid pride in what our Founding Father's wanted. That we are free men.

In contrast to those out of control (nation) states where firearms ownership (AKA possession) is a matter of survival; I see it here in America as a greater lifestyle choice that keeps/ has kept our country from devolving into one of the weakened and out of control nations.

Firearms are one of the fibers with which our freedoms is woven. many in our nation have forgotten that. And they would be the ones who want to let the UN be a "stabilizing world force" and marginalize our independence by joining the "new world order."

Whoops....sorry I didn't mean for that to become a rant.

[JSantoro]

Larger lifestyle, in regard to profession. What I am is what I do, and vice versa.

I'm one-dimensional and boring, in other words.

[Oscar 319]

This.

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both.”
James A. Michener

Thanks for posting, Todd.

[6933]

Larger lifestyle. Being proficient with a handgun and rifle, for me, go hand in hand with knowing unarmed combat skills, staying in shape, reading, and monetary discipline. I want to do all I can to handle whatever may be thrown my way. Keeps me young and gives me options.

[jeremy45]

I chose option #4 but I would say they are part of a lifestyle and part of a hobby.

My carry gear and serious range time are dedicated to a lifestyle with the purpose of protecting myself and those that I love. The guns are part of this lifestyle.

On the other hand, I have guns I don't carry. I do not own them for defense. I hunt with them, shoot competitions with them and tinker with them. These guns are part of a Hobby that I have had since I was younger. This fascination and love of guns has carried over into my lifestyle but I still do some things just for the sake of having a hobby.

In conclusion, I would say guns are my hobby and a defensive mindset is my lifestyle.

Jeremy45

[LOKNLOD]

I chose #4.

I love guns, I really do, but collecting them is for rich folks. If I were a rich man, I'd have a wide variety of cool modern stuff and older weapons with historical significance, but I am not, so I've got small modest selection of stuff I've deemed useful. I shoot some more than others, but they're all functional. And as much as it makes people cringe, I'm not afraid to admit that I have guns for shooting people, should the need arise. I don't even hunt, though I have no real qualms against it other than a general dislike for boredom.

If left at that, I'd say #3 probably fits as well, but truthfully I do consider them to be part of a bigger picture than just me liking to shoot them or even wanting to be able to defend my family. It's a lifestyle/mindset issue -- part of being free, as free as one can be in today's world at least, is to be armed. No matter your views or the political climate, a man can't say he's free if he's powerless to resist the control of others --don't misunderstand, I've got no disillusions of one-man Rambo badassery in the face of tyranny, but you can't even draw a line in the sand, when your stick has been confiscated.