[StanJ]

I am a gun owner, but I do agree that owning a firearm is not for everyone. Fear of (as opposed to respect for) anything with the potential to harm almost always makes it impossible to use that thing safely and responsibly; one needs to look no further than his or her garage or driveway for examples (lawnmower, car, etc.), and the fact of the matter is that some folks will simply never be able to get past their fear of guns no matter how many firearm safety courses they take or how many trips they make to the target range.

I own two handguns, a Glock .45 ACP and a Desert Eagle chambered for .50 AE. I don't hunt; the only reason I have them is to protect myself and my family. I take the responsibilities of gun ownership VERY seriously -- everything from security, maintenance, and safe handling procedures, yes…but also competence (I practice at least once per week, and the day I can no longer consistently shoot 4" groups at 25 yards will be the day I personally destroy my guns) and forethought about how I will respond to a situation that might call for me to use these weapons in the defense of my own life or that of a family member.

My preference for large-calibers is pragmatic and based on two simple truths: intimidation alone can sometimes be enough to end a threat (and the sight of the "business end"…particularly the D-E's…will definitely get your attention)…but in the unfortunate event that it is not, then statistically a claim of "self defense" rings true far more often when an assailant has a single very large hole in them rather than several smaller ones.

This brings me to my last point: responsible gun ownership also requires that you know yourself; i.e. have a clear set of moral parameters in place for that gun's use. Would you use deadly force to protect property? For me, the answer to that question is no; property can be replaced. But what about family? Personally, I abhor any loss of life and would look for any reasonable opportunity to avoid it, but I would not allow someone I love to be harmed by my inaction if they were in danger. I personally believe that once someone commits to a criminal physical attack on another person (rape, assault, attempted murder), the attacker's civil/human rights are forfeit until the threat of that attack is over. For some people though, the issue is not so clear-cut, and if you have any doubt about whether or not you could -- under any circumstances -- aim a firearm at another living human being and squeeze the trigger, then you should not put yourself in the position of ever having to make that decision.