Do You own weapons to exercise your 2A rights?

[nogods]

I bought my first firearm (a shotgun) for hunting. I bought my first handgun after becoming interested in target competition at my rod and gun club. I now sometimes carry for self protection and keep weapons in my home for self protection in addition to hunting and participation in shooting sports.

But I never purchased or carried a gun just to exercise my 2A rights. Yes, I appreciate and participate in actions to protect our 2A rights, but I don't own or carry guns just to exercise my 2A rights.

So while I was pleased to see that legal gun sales are ever increasing (Following Record 2011, Gun Sales Looking Good for 2012) I was perplexed when the head of the

National Shooting Sports Foundation claimed that the increased was attributable to people "choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights...."

Do people really buy firearms "to exercise their Second Amendment rights?" Have you ever said to your self "I think I'll buy another gun today because I want to exercise my 2A rights."

Do you buy a car to exercise your right to travel? Have sex to exercise your right to privacy? Pray to exercise your right to freedom of religion?

It just seems like an odd way of depicting behavior.

[cgiven1]

I think you may be reading to much into that. You can buy a gun to excercise your rights becuase you want to hunt or for personal protection. The underlying reason for wanting to excercise your right is what is most important.

[tuts40]

May I? Traveling is not a right, as far as I know, but I am no Constitutional scholar. Having said that, your point is taken and no, I've never purchased or carried with the sole purpose of exercising my 2A rights. I've purchased memberships in organizations that promote the 2nd or educate regarding our Bill of Rights such as the SAF, GOA, JPFO and Heritage foundation. Also, the MRC and the Alliance Defense Fund both do good work and am happy to send a buck or three now and again.

So, the long and short of it and to answer your question with a single word: no.

[Phillip Gain]

I bought my first firearm (a shotgun) for hunting. I bought my first handgun after becoming interested in target competition at my rod and gun club. I now sometimes carry for self protection and keep weapons in my home for self protection in addition to hunting and participation in shooting sports.

But I never purchased or carried a gun just to exercise my 2A rights. Yes, I appreciate and participate in actions to protect our 2A rights, but I don't own or carry guns just to exercise my 2A rights.

So while I was pleased to see that legal gun sales are ever increasing (Following Record 2011, Gun Sales Looking Good for 2012) I was perplexed when the head of the

National Shooting Sports Foundation claimed that the increased was attributable to people "choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights...."

Do people really buy firearms "to exercise their Second Amendment rights?" Have you ever said to your self "I think I'll buy another gun today because I want to exercise my 2A rights."

Do you buy a car to exercise your right to travel? Have sex to exercise your right to privacy? Pray to exercise your right to freedom of religion?

It just seems like an odd way of depicting behavior.

When you hunt with a shotgun, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

When you compete in a target competition with your pistol, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

When you carry a gun for self-protection, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

When you buy a $4000 collector gun to hang in a display case over your mantle, or a $100 cheapo to keep "just in case I ever need it" - you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

[Keykutter]

I agree with cgiven1. Exercising your second amendment rights is owning a gun. Whether that is you motive, even regardless of what your thoughts are of the second amendment, just by owning a gun, you are excercising your rights.

Me, myself, I own guns because I love the mechanical aspect of the guns I buy. I don't hunt anymore, well, not very much, but my guns are part of my personality.

I also own some guns strictly to keep myself safe in the possible scenario of having to use one to keep me alive. I am ALWAYS aware there is one on my side but I don't dwell on having to use it. I practice almost weekly, even if it's only a couple of mags full at the local range. It still keeps me knowing I can hit something if I try.

KK

[nogods]

When you hunt with a shotgun, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

When you compete in a target competition with your pistol, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

When you carry a gun for self-protection, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

When you buy a $4000 collector gun to hang in a display case over your mantle, or a $100 cheapo to keep "just in case I ever need it" - you are exercising your Second Amendment rights.

To some extent that may be true....but if you are carrying a weapon under circumstances allowed by the State beyond the rights provided by the 2nd amendment (such as everyone in NH who carries without a permit) then you are exercising the State's 10th Amendment Rights.

It would seem odd for someone to claim that gun sales are increasing ion NH due to people exercising the State's 10th Amendment rights, even though technically that is what they are doing.

[CapGun]

I never had the desire to blow Bambi's brains out. Deer are all around me and I would take up hunting if and when I can't get my meat all nicely wrapped at the store. I never had the idea of owning a gun. This may be because of where I was brought up.. NY, and not in the city, and owning a gun was something that was not easy to do or encouraged. I was a victim of the liberals surrounding me I guess. Not referring to my immediate family who were not liberals.
Anyway when I moved to where I live now I just thought that if I wanted or needed to own a gun I would just go out and buy one. Then came the Clintons. The attacks on our rights became obvious to anyone that cared to have their eyes open. I don't like being told I can't do something, especially if it is legal and I could do it now but not tomorrow. I went right out and bought a Glock 17. That was one of the guns that was #1 on the Clinton administration hit list. I shot it for about a month and then put it back in the box in a paper bag and put it under my wife's dresser.
Then when it looked like Obama was going to be the Dem's choice to save us all I decided to get it out. Educate myself and take classes. Let's say I got "into it'. I decided to buy some more toy's. Among other prerequisites was the fact that the toys were most likely to be on the Obama hit list. When I went to buy a safe they were in short supply. People buying guns and gold need safes also.
I laughed when someone told me to make sure the safe I get is big enough. C'mon how big a safe do you really need? Now that I have said that anyone want to contribute $$$ so I can buy another bigger safe?
When I carry it is of course for protection. I don't live in a high crime area and I do avoid places like that when I can.
I have to be honest that along for protection I always think I do it because I can!
Also, every time I go shooting or buy another gun or carry I am always thankful and mindful of the 2A.
I see no reason to compare "exercising" your 2A rights with anything else.
If people carry to exercise their Second Amendment Rights that's good enough for me. After all "use it or lose it"! Exercising is supposed to be good for you and maybe you just might have encouraged someone else to do the same. The more that do this "exercise" the less people there will be ignorant of what the 2A actually means to all our freedom!

[B2Tall]

By default, anyone in this country who owns a firearm is excercising their 2A right. That being said, it's not why I own guns. If it were, my guns would do nothing but collect dust. I own firearms because I enjoy shooting first and foremost. I also own them for purposes of self defense but even if I lived in a crime-free world I'd still be shooting for the fun of it.

[Elspeth]

Although I realize when I do carry that I am exercising my 2A rights...that's not why I own guns. If that were the case I could get by with one. I own them because once I got over the ignorance-induced fear, I really like guns! I like shooting them, cleaning them...I enjoy handloading...

My safe is getting a little crowded

[6shootercarry]

Each individual person makes a choice. No matter what the reason, they have made a choice. They choose to do "it" or anything else, for their own reasons. Why do we need to compartmentalize and label the decision making process? Does it ultimately matter why? The only thing that should matter is the ability of each person to make the decision... Shall we allow that individual right to decision making to be "interpreted" out of existence?

I'm pro minding your own 4King business... Meddlesome species we have become...