Firearms are just tools, and as a result, its hard for them to be anything by themselves. By their very nature as inanimate objects, they must be a part of something greater. With the exception of extremely dedicated bench rest shooters that try to eliminate the human from the shooting process as much as possible, I'd say that all shooters have guns as part of something else. It's up to each person whether that something is a hobby or a lifestyle.
For me, I think it's a lifestyle, and at this point, guns are a pretty small part of it. A love of freedom, an awareness of politics, an emphasis on fitness, education, frugality, self sufficiency, and a strong mindset that a person ought to be able and willing to defend themselves and their rights are much, much greater aspects of that lifestyle, IMHO. To that lifestyle, guns are only one ingredient.
To someone else, guns might just be a hobby at the range, and that's fine too. But to me, guns are part of a way of life, one that embraces common sense and the idea of rugged individualism. It seems quintessentially American that men ought to be armed. After all, a man who is armed is able to face the world on his own, by defending himself, hunting for food, and protecting his family. Without guns, the individual ideal falls apart under a veil of perceived security provided by the government. For that reason alone, I think its hard to say that guns are just a hobby. Yeah, you might only use yours for hobby shooting, but just the ownership of them keeps a certain American lifestyle alive.
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Originally Posted by ToddG
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