Stupid Questions People Ask Gun Owners

Everyone has heard the saying, ‘There’s no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.’ But, as gun owners, we run into people who are otherwise pretty smart, some are even our friends, who ask really stupid questions about gun ownership. Some of these questions are politically motivated and are generally confrontational in nature, while others are harmless but dumb. Most of us can come up with answers on our own, but I thought sharing them would be worthwhile, if for no other reason than we can all be annoyed at them together. And yes, I have been asked some of these questions myself.

Are you afraid someone is going to murder you?

This is one I was asked by a person I had known and worked with for quite a while, and had even gone to the range with. He asked because I told him I carry a gun daily. I was especially surprised because we were conducting safety and security training for clients working in high-risk environments together. Aside from the sheer stupidity of the question itself, I had to grin. My immediate answer was “Not when I’m carrying my gun.” The underlying point is that so many people live in a bubble where they think none of the things they read about in the news can happen to them.

You do know guns are the reason for all the violence, right?

I never used social media at all until my book was published, and I decided it might be a good way to help promote it, so I created an X account. It hasn’t been all that useful for promoting the book, but it did expose me to some of the more bizarre opinions of the anti-2A crowd. It seems to be a common belief among them that all violence would simply cease to exist if no one had a gun. Modern sporting rifles and calls for an “assault rifle” ban are a good example. They ignore the fact that in 2023, 406 people were killed by rifles of all types in the United States, while 600 people were killed by “personal weapons” such as hands, fists, and feet. There will always be violence.

Aren’t you worried about an accident?

Questions like this come from people who know nothing about guns and have no experience handling them. Yes, accidents do happen, but not with the frequency some groups would have us believe. Of the 48,222 firearm-related deaths in 2022, 673, or 1%, were due to accidents. Although not relevant to this question, it is also interesting to note that 26,993, or 56%, were suicides. I don’t think I would be going out on a limb to say that 99% of accidental shootings are due to the carelessness of the individual responsible for the gun, not the innate nature of the gun itself.

Are you obsessed with guns?

Well, uh…Yeah, I kind of am since I collect and write about them. But, for the average gun owner, using the word “obsessed” is a misrepresentation. The number one reason people give for buying a gun is for protection from the criminals and crazies that the legal system allows to walk the streets, most of whom cannot even legally own a gun. That’s not obsession, it’s practicality.

Don’t you worry about your kids getting hurt?

Every parent worries about their kids getting hurt. That’s why they make them wear bicycle helmets, seat belts, and water wings in the pool when they’re little. Personally, I find that question offensive since the asker is implying that I am careless with my guns and don’t keep them safely stored. But it is also a teaching opportunity to explain how to properly handle and store guns in a family environment. 

Do you even know how to use that thing?

Questions like this are rude and condescending, and the temptation is to just say, “Yup,” if you answer at all. But it is helpful to understand that someone asking a question like this is essentially telling you that they know nothing about handling guns, so they are assuming you don’t either. This is another teaching opportunity because it’s a great lead-in to asking if they would like to go shooting with you and learn for themselves.

Don’t you care about all the shootings?

People who legally carry guns care more about crime and shootings than people who do not carry guns, because we have elected to do something about it, at least in how it affects our own lives. People who just run around complaining about it are the ones who show they don’t really care. To me, it is honorable and patriotic to carry a gun and be ready to use it to protect yourself. There is nothing honorable about being a victim.

What are you so afraid of?

There are a couple of different aspects to a question like this. The most basic response is, “You don’t read the news, do you?” But, in reality, carrying a gun has nothing to do with fear; it has to do with being prepared and self-reliant. It takes courage to be willing to fight rather than be a helpless victim. I always laugh at journalists who think they know war because they tagged along with a military unit and had to duck once or twice from incoming fire. They may be good at telling the story, but they don’t know the courage it takes to carry a gun in one.

Do you love violence?

This one ranks near the top for stupid questions. Only maladjusted sociopaths love violence. For soldiers, police, and armed citizens, developing the technical skills to be good at something we choose to do is appealing, but it is never about violence; it is about responsibility. 

Why do you think guns belong in modern society?

My first inclination is to come back with “Why do you think they don’t?” The human race certainly has not shown itself to be civilized to the point where everyone is kind and respectful to each other. But it goes beyond that. Guns are deeply ingrained in American culture. Unlike Europeans, Americans have never lived in a culture where they were oppressed and powerless in the face of governments that controlled their every action. This is why Europe is even now facing a situation where people are jailed for speaking their minds or posting a meme that their government does not like. To us, owning a gun and being able to protect ourselves from predators is another expression of the freedom we cherish as Americans.

Isn’t owning a gun just overcompensating?

Responsible gun owners who go to the trouble to train and become not only safe, but proficient with their guns, are not compensating for anything. Legally owning and carrying a gun does not mean you are insecure; it means you are determined, independent, and courageous enough to take responsibility for your own safety and that of others. Those are not the acts of someone who is insecure.