This may seem like an unusual entry, but weapons can be very technical in nature, and they’ve been in the news a lot lately.  Please remember, weapons, for today’s purposes, firearms available for sale to the general public, are tools.  They don’t have a life of their own.  The do not act on their own.  They are not inherently good or evil.  They are tools and are subject to being misused just like anything else.

Having recently completed my concealed carry licensing renewal, I’m reminded what a responsibility choosing to carry a weapon can be if you ever find yourself in a position to use it. Choosing to draw a weapon is likely to change your life forever, and not likely in a good way.  That’s why you would only choose to do so if your life were definitely in danger (or, possibly, the life of someone near you).  That said, assuming you survive, even if you didn’t have to fire a shot, you can expect law enforcement to thoroughly investigate, and, depending upon what they find, you may be charged with a crime.  Also, the person you felt the need to draw your weapon to defend yourself from (or their family) is likely to file a civil lawsuit.  If you actually have to fire the weapon and you kill or injure someone, you have to deal with the emotional as well as the legal aspects of that.  It’s not a choice to be taken lightly, and, frankly, it’s not a choice everyone should make.

I understand this and support people’s right to choose not to have a weapon or be around them.  I believe education is very important, and, unfortunately, too many people possess a weapon who have received no education at all about how to use it safely.  I’m thankful I took the NRA course for hunters when I was ten.  Thankfully, my school offered it during our activity period.  I think that was very important.  We didn’t fire any guns for the course, but we learned safe handling and proper respect for the weapon.

Weapons can be fairly simple or fairly complex.  Better quality weapons are more precision engineered, but that may not make them more desirable.  The AK-47 is widely considered to be a poorly machined and sloppy weapon; however, those same features make it valuable — they’re cheap to buy in countries where people need them and don’t have a lot of money.  Their ammunition is widely available, and the less precise engineering allows more tolerance for variation.  They give up a little in accuracy to gain a lot of utility.  On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find precision sniper weapons, which are very expensive, but finely engineered for long-range precision.  The level of technology one looks for depends largely upon one’s needs.

A collector may value the full spectrum or specialize in certain areas.  There’s a wide range of enthusiasm for weapons.  Some people collect.  Some people target shoot.  Some people hunt. Some people enjoy reloading ammunition.  Some people are interested in personal protection.  Some people engage in all of the above. And, yes, there are some people who choose to use a weapon in a way that endangers and even kills others.  The challenge is to find ways to stop the people who will use weapons for bad purposes without infringing on the rights of the many who use them for productive purposes.