Happy to respond to that decent question. There are many reasons from hunting on public lands or the lands of someone from whom I have permission, when I am going sport shooting, or when I am going to the range or an open area to practice my ability to fire only at what I intend to hit with lethal precision. It is a skill I learned a long time ago which at the time was necessary to keep me alive and adding to the gene pool, much to the chagrine of others. I hope never to use a weapon for anything other than enjoying the shooting sports, but should that become necessary in the defense of my family, my safety, or whatever I have the ability to do what must be done because I leave my property to keep my competency where it should be if I am going to possess deadly weapons.

But this is not the real question. I certainly respect the fact that you hate guns. I would never bring one out around someone who was not comfortable around them. Nor do I see folks that don't like them, in fact hate them, as anything other than decent folks with an opinion. One thing I know for sure is that you will never treat a weapon in an irresponsible manner. Those are the people that I detest. Those that own guns, but are not qualified, and don't have appropriate respect for what the weapon can do. I would carry a weapon off my property for any number of legal reasons. If my work takes me to places where my safety is a question comes to mind. But the real answer is because, if it is legal, I can. It is a right, or a privilege in some jurisdictions granted by law. Before that is taken away, there should be a good reason. You're uncomfortable? Not good enough. Because children are being killed in driveby shootings? Not with the guns of law abiding gun owners. These people are criminals and if my guns are gone, theirs will not be. You would simply create a black market and make gun running a profession in the states again. Because if all the guns were gone, then we wouldn't have to worry about it? See above. Because Columbine was a tragedy as was the shooting of the little girl by the little boy? Horrid tragedies caused by irresponsible people, in one case with an illegally obtained weapon. The Uncle needs to go to jail and never come out. The Columbine shooting demonstrates the need to close certain loopholes and have 7 day waiting periods. Because some societies have no guns and their crime rates are low? There are two states where one can openly carry and they are among the lowest in violent crime. Switzerland requires every man to own a submachine gun in his home and they have one of the lowest violent crime rates. The real issue? I have seen it many times. It isn't my ability to own a weapon for WHATEVER legal reason I decide to own it. And it isn't about me taking it off my property for whatever legal activity I choose. It is about hopelessness. Gang activity, and violent crime are directly related to the lack of hope. When youth see no way out, they turn to other ways of feeling secure. When you resolve the issue of WHY people take a weapon and blow pieces off each other, the guns I own will bgecome irrelevant. Blaming the weapon for what happens when used improperly, is like blaming the car for the car accident. Or blaming the pen for the hate produced in the hands of a sick person. Or giving it credit for the love produced by another.

I carry a gun off my own property only when there is a reason to do so, and only when it is legal to do so. I have no problem with forcing people who choose to do so with demonstrating their competence and waiting a reasonable time to be properly checked out. Once I have done so, leave me alone. I am a law abiding citizen, pay my taxes, have the right, and am within my rights.

That'll teach you for asking......................LOL.

Mick