Three reasons:

1. It is my right as an American.

2. I feel strongly that it is my duty as an American.

3. I enjoy it.

You cant bump a remington 700 underwater.

Quoted: You cant bump a remington 700 underwater.

When asked why I *need* anything in terms of firearms, I ask "why would you need me to not have it?"

I also note that the word *assault* is added to make the gun ugly and evil.  It's lightweight, effective, and easy to use.  Why would I want to stake my life on something that is difficult to use?

1) It's my right.
2) It's my duty under USC 10, sec 311a.
3) I am a "techie" (hybrid car, ham radio, computer programmer) and AW's are an interesting technology to me.

BECAUSE I CAN!!!

Quoted: 1) It's my right. 2) It's my duty under USC 10, sec 311a. 3) I am a "techie" (hybrid car, ham radio, computer programmer) and AW's are an interesting technology to me.

I usually say that I really need 12 or 13 assault rifles. A few for me and one for each man in the community that has failed to procure his own as directed under USC 10, sec 311a.

Why do you need a car that goes over 70? why do you need more then one car? because this is the land of the free.

More importantly, it's in the hands of a law abiding citizen, which has the potential of protecting you someday.

And most importantly, it is my right, as stated in the bill of rights and is as precious as Freedom of speech, Freedom of religion, etc.......

They should be glad I have one, it's in the RIGHT hands, it is respected and this freedom helps keep other freedoms a reality.

Quoted: Here's one for the Kerry crowd which says he is not against firearms and shows him with his geese, ducks or whatever and $10,000. shotgun.   "First off, it's not an assault weapon.  But, I want to have a simple, practical weapon, not overly affected by weather.  I live in FL and prefer stainless and fiberglas to wood and "the finest blued steel."  Also,  (here it comes), the sight of Kerry out killing innocent animals horrifies and sickens me, and I wouldn't even want a hunting weapon.  So, I won't own one." Too bad someone of stature didn't come up with the hunting argument.  Kerry would have had to shut up with his "act" trying to woo gun owners.  Then the dopey hunters would not have warmed to him thinking "he's not after our guns, he's one of us."

Good one!  John Kerry "ASSAULTED" that poor goose! so that would make his expensive shotgun an "ASSAULT" shotgun.  John Kerry is a fuckhead!

I usually use because we are "FREE" and the any car over 70 MPH. Then I explain the difference between a machine gun and an assault rifle. Also the little piece of metal on the end of the barrel that makes it an assault rifle. I also point out that we could still buy them since 94 and that statistics and studies have proven what we said all along Military style weapons are not the horrible problem that these fuckheads in congress say they are. I then add that if people like Sweinstine know the statistics but ignore them then what is the REAL reason they want to ban them? It sure as hell isn't for our safety.

Quoted: I'm wondering what you guys say when someone asks you this question.

People don't ask me this question, because unless I am dealing with someone I know is a firearms enthusiast, I keep my intrest in guns to myself.

I typically spend a great deal of time describing my point of view... sometimes with great effect, but often the person doesn't even want to hear my point of view. In the case when someone is truly trying to understand... what are some good examples that you've found work in the past.

This is why I keep my interest in firearms to myself, unless I am dealing with a fellow firearms enthusiast.

Also... ever once in a while when I find a gun hating liberal... I ask them if they've even fired the gun they're trying to ban. I then spend what I call "Take a lib to the Range" day and have found its the best way to convert the "non-believers". Just wondering what  ideas the community has that also work. Thanks for the input.

I don't associate with Gun Hating Liberals any more than I have to, and I never debate the second amendment with them. It has been my experience that even though a liberal may truly enjoy a trip to the range, the experience is not a strong enough reason for them to abandon their view that guns are killing people, and detrimental to society.

So what am I doing to protect our gun rights you ask? I am a member of the NRA, and I am a life member of the GOA. I frequently communicate with my elected officials on gun controll issues, and this year I have taken 3 non-shooters shooting. One of them (my dad) is now a CCW holder, and the other just took the class to get a CCW yesterday.

In my opinion, arguing with Anti's and Libs is pointless and needlessly exposes my "contraversial" intrest in guns to people with a hostile view of firearms ownership. Doing so would expose me to bigotry and fear at work and in social circles, so I pick and choose very carefully who I discuss my interests with.

WHY DO YOU NEED AN ASSAULT RIFLE?

I need it to shoot motherfuckers that ask me stupid questions. Now shut the fuck up.

I answer:

(1) "assault" is a misnomer, the rifles I own are semiauto, not select fire, and

(2) just like spare tires, fire extinguishers, flood insurance, etc, I DON'T "need" them now, but if I ever do "need", it will be too damned late to run down to Walmart and buy them.  

That is all the explanation they get from me.

So that I can protect myself, my family, my nation and protect my rights from you liberals who would infringe upon them.



Fuck 'em. We're the ones with the guns.  

Quoted: You cant bump a remington 700 underwater.

nobody has evere aske me why i need an "assault" rifle...

I don't

Quoted: groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RAA0AykUMKv3kkTOQYghadYt0rIqS6DADMZmE8yLKNAMCl2ybrFFU1xWedldejkNshnUYB0FIlqu5a4P6QMe2ouUjKBlXEPE0U7*vYZbofg/FALdoe.JPG?dc=4675468655211253976

Whatchoo need that thar AR FAL 15 macheen gun fowr, boy? Cain't go deer huntin' wit a macheen gun! I heard Congress outlawed them guns back in nineteen hundred and ninety-four! What are ya, sum kinda drug dealer?

The more of us that own them, the less likely anyone is to 'need' them for their specific purpose as described by the Second Amendment. The fewer of us that own them, the greater the real 'need' is likely to become.

It's basic deterrence.

I hope I never 'need' my AR15. That usually indicates something really, really bad going down.

Quoted: "The voices in my head told me to get one"

Classic. The other response I use is to look them in the eye with a straight face and say
Red Dawn man, It COULD happen....
The look on their face is priceless, and they usually leave me alone the rest of the day.
Or
1. It looks cool
2. To hunt squirrels
3. See #1

The voices in my head told me to get one.

I don't "neeed" my fire extinguishers.

I don't "need" my first aid kit.

I don't "need" my wear seat belt.

However, should the time come that I suddenly do "need" them, it will be to late if they were not already where they would need to be.

Actually, I usually just tell them the voice in my head told me I did.

Quoted: The voices in my head told me to get one.

Dammit - you beat me to it while I was typing .

WHY DO YOU NEED AN ASSAULT RIFLE?

To fully exercise my 2nd Amendment rights.  

I havent needed any of them yet.  But you never know if I will someday.  That is if I can find them at the bottom of the lake dam boating accidents

I've never actually been asked that, but my answer would be that I NEED it to protect my:

- pointlessly large 4-bedroom/3bath house that I live in ALONE in (even though I could live perfectly well in a one-bedroom apartment)
- unreasonably powerful '73 mustang muscle car that gets about 6 miles to the gallon (even though a Ford Focus could probably meet all my transportation needs)
- unecessarily large television in my family room (it's much bigger than I really need)
- completely pointless miniature bonsai tree collection (I've got plenty of REAL trees, I don't really need miniature ones)
- expensive persian rugs that serve no purpose since my house has carpeting already (putting a rug on top of a carpet is insane)
- unnatural scuba equipment that allows me to breath underwater (seriously, who ever needs that?)
- fancy-schmancy italian road bike (Kmart sells bikes - who needs a fancy italian one?)
- expensive antique fine china and solid silverware (who needs that? they sell plates and flatware at WalMart)

... and it goes on and on.  Since MOST of what I own are things I WANT, not things I NEED, I NEED to protect them as best as possible.  If I just had a few things, maybe a revolver or a shotgun would be enough, but since I've got so much nice stuff, I need a lot of firepower to protect it!!  

If that doesn't work, I bring out the trump card - ALIEN INVASION !!!!  

Answer them with another question:  Why do you need to drive around that big-assed-gas-guzzling SUV?

Quoted: I've never actually been asked that, but my answer would be that I NEED it to protect my: - pointlessly large 4-bedroom/3bath house that I live in ALONE in (even though I could live perfectly well in a one-bedroom apartment) - unreasonably powerful '73 mustang muscle car that gets about 6 miles to the gallon (even though a Ford Focus could probably meet all my transportation needs) - unecessarily large television in my family room (it's much bigger than I really need) - completely pointless miniature bonsai tree collection (I've got plenty of REAL trees, I don't really need miniature ones) - expensive persian rugs that serve no purpose since my house has carpeting already (putting a rug on top of a carpet is insane) - unnatural scuba equipment that allows me to breath underwater (seriously, who ever needs that?) - fancy-schmancy italian road bike (Kmart sells bikes - who needs a fancy italian one?) - expensive antique fine china and solid silverware (who needs that? they sell plates and flatware at WalMart) ... and it goes on and on.  Since MOST of what I own are things I WANT, not things I NEED, I NEED to protect them as best as possible.  If I just had a few things, maybe a revolver or a shotgun would be enough, but since I've got so much nice stuff, I need a lot of firepower to protect it!!   If that doesn't work, I bring out the trump card - ALIEN INVASION !!!!

Damn, Dutch academics must get paid well these days!

BTW, do you mean space aliens or alien expats from socialist European countries - who even admit to coming here with MILITARY UNIFORMS.  Hmmm.... that doesn't have the same effect without the "Dr. Evil" voice and pose.

Why do you and the little woman need that big boat and all of that money in the bank?

My answer, "  You never know when a busload of perverts will breakdown in front of your house?

(Pause)

...The more guns, mags, ammo, and  ___fill in the blank____, the better!"

I ask them...

Why do YOU need Freedom of Speech?

Why do You need Freedom to Peacably Assemble?

Why do YOU need to be secure in YOUR person, property, papers, and effects against unwarranted searches and seizures?

Why do YOU need Freedom against bearing witness against YOURSELF?


I NEED MY 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO PROTECT THE REST OF MY RIGHTS.

Without the 2nd Amendment right, there would be NO OTHERS!

Quoted: BTW, do you mean space aliens or alien expats from socialist European countries - who even admit to coming here with MILITARY UNIFORMS.  Hmmm.... that doesn't have the same effect without the "Dr. Evil" voice and pose.

No no - I mean the evil green aliens in spaceships, who are her to enslave and eat us!!


Those other aliens are great!!  We need more of them

Or how about,

SOCIALIST: Why do you need that?

ME: Why do you need that?

SOCIALIST TORY: W-what?

ME: (As I lock and load) Your big fucking mouth.


Fuck 'em. We're the ones with the guns.

to protect my rights against the people who ask questions like "why do you need an assault rifle?"...

To replace the one that fell in the lake.

I don't need one...I just blow away paper...pointless...but I like the way they feel and I like the way they look, and I loike to shoot.  Thats reason enough for me.  Why do people buy artwork?

Why do I need an AR-15 Assault Rifle?

About 230 ago, some incredibly gifted, wealthy, slave-owning, white guys looked at Western Civilization and undertook what is undoubtedly the most radical, profound political revolution ever conceived. Despite what the history books say, it really wasn't about taxes, or troops in people's homes, or the price of tea or any of that crap. These men were British subjects, but taxes were lower in the colonies than in Britain at the time of the Revolution, there was unprecedented freedom, particularly on the frontier, and these guys were generally the wealthy elite who could have been colonial governors if they had chosen to. They could have afforded to drink tea until they pissed pure caffeine.

Another misconception was that it was a popular revolution. I don't remember who said it, but one of those old dead white guys said that the colonists were divided roughly into thirds, one third loyalist, one third ambivalent, and one third revolutionary (sound familiar?). It took years of coercion and propaganda to motivate the general public to take up arms against the British.

What was our Revolution all about then? These guys realized, 2000 miles from their ruling country that they had an unprecedented opportunity to revolt and form a radical new self-government, where political power was vested in the People themselves, not in a ruling class.

It was an ideological revolution that is still radical today, with the Constitution as the Blueprint for Freedom. In this system, individual liberty is the beginning and end of all government activity. That is to say, government powers are only supposed to extend so far, and only with the permission of the governed. Ideally, where my rights as a citizen begin, the powers of government come to an abrupt halt. Conversely, the primary function of government is to guarantee my liberties, hence the Bill of Rights.
So what we have is an incredibly radical new power structure, one not truly duplicated anywhere else in the world.

So how does this explain why I need an AR15 assault rifle?

What the founding fathers knew, and so many of the "People" have forgotten (or never learned), is that Power is a zero sum game. If I have it, the government doesn't, and vice versa. Even many pro-gunners miss the point and we allow ourselves to be distracted with "rights" issues, that, while they exist, aren't specifically addressed by the Constitution (right to hunt, right to self-defense, etc.)

The Constitution, the Blueprint for Freedom, and the Bill of Rights, the non-expiring guarantee of liberty, are about one thing: Power. So don't get confused by other issues here.

If this is a country where Power is truly vested in the People, and the government is
LIMITED by the Constitution, then my ownership of an AR15 is off limits to the government. The Second Amendment guarantees my Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the Constitution limits the government to very specific, narrow activities, which does not include regulating guns. So, not only is this right specifically reserved to the
People (or, even with a loose interpretation, the states), it also falls outside of the boundaries outlined in the Constitution for the Federal Govt.

Its a double whammy.

Why is it so important to us? Some people fear a tyrannical government taking over (you think they're "paranoid", despite so many historical lessons I could fill several books; but that's another thread). But most, I believe, are more like me. We still believe in the Revolution and its ideals. We ARE Revolutionaries. Power is vested in
ME, as a citizen, and not in the government. It cannot be taken without my permission, which I do not give. Remember, its a zero sum game, so if the government can infringe those liberties, they really don't exist at all, except in theory. Well, I don't want theoretical freedom. I want the real stuff.

So, some argue, we still have freedom of the press and the rest of it, why the big deal over guns? Well, the Bill of Rights is not a buffet, we don't get to pick and choose. I don't like neo-Socialist rhetoric, but I'm not calling for the abolishment of free speech, am I? Because I know that the First Amendment is also about Power - the Power of information (way deadlier than guns, in the right hands, by the way. Case in point, Hitler, whose propaganda machine convinced the Germans to commit unthinkable atrocities; I digress).

Many of us here in the U.S. see the slow, steady, reversal of our Power structure.
Our rights are becoming more "theoretical" all the time. Anyone see that Dateline NBC story on the Louisiana police who are confiscating cars and money from out of state motorists, without a trial (due process) and are not even charging them with a crime or arresting them? How about the IRS, which in case you aren't familiar, has the power to confiscate just about anything you own with the wave of a bureaucrat’s pen. Both of these are examples of activities strictly forbidden by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, yet it happens all the time and there are many more examples beyond these.

So you see, it's not just the Second Amendment where the reversal of Power is evident. Anymore, it seems that the Constitution is just a shell and government doesn't exist for the people, rather the people (taxpayers) exist for the government.

So, like the colonists at Lexington and Concord, this is the issue where we choose to make our stand. Not over taxes, which are atrocious or unreasonable search and seizure, which is rampant, or the separation of powers (who said Klinton could declare war all by himself, anyway?) or any of that other stuff, but over my AR15. Why? Because like our forefathers (80 civilians on a bridge against 1800 regular troops; how committed were they?), we realize its the foundation of Real Power. Without a weapon capable of providing adequate resistance to overthrow an unjust, un-Constitutional government, the rest of those rights truly are hollow, no longer belong to the people, and can be rescinded at any time by the government (many feel we're already past that point). And then they are not rights, they're privileges.
If the government can take my AR15, or restrict the amount of ammunition it holds, or restrict further purchases of "Assault Weapons" then the revolution is dead and so are the ideals countless thousands have died for. There's a reason for the Second
Amendment and gun ownership (ESPECIALLY assault rifles), a reason those colonists on that bridge understood; its the last of my rights to go.

THAT'S why I need an AR15 assault rifle.

- Unknown AR15.com author

Quoted: Why do I need an AR-15 Assault Rifle? About 230 ago, some incredibly gifted, wealthy, slave-owning, white guys looked at Western Civilization and undertook what is undoubtedly the most radical, profound political revolution ever conceived. Despite what the history books say, it really wasn't about taxes, or troops in people's homes, or the price of tea or any of that crap. These men were British subjects, but taxes were lower in the colonies than in Britain at the time of the Revolution, there was unprecedented freedom, particularly on the frontier, and these guys were generally the wealthy elite who could have been colonial governors if they had chosen to. They could have afforded to drink tea until they pissed pure caffeine. Another misconception was that it was a popular revolution. I don't remember who said it, but one of those old dead white guys said that the colonists were divided roughly into thirds, one third loyalist, one third ambivalent, and one third revolutionary (sound familiar?). It took years of coercion and propaganda to motivate the general public to take up arms against the British. What was our Revolution all about then? These guys realized, 2000 miles from their ruling country that they had an unprecedented opportunity to revolt and form a radical new self-government, where political power was vested in the People themselves, not in a ruling class. It was an ideological revolution that is still radical today, with the Constitution as the Blueprint for Freedom. In this system, individual liberty is the beginning and end of all government activity. That is to say, government powers are only supposed to extend so far, and only with the permission of the governed. Ideally, where my rights as a citizen begin, the powers of government come to an abrupt halt. Conversely, the primary function of government is to guarantee my liberties, hence the Bill of Rights. So what we have is an incredibly radical new power structure, one not truly duplicated anywhere else in the world. So how does this explain why I need an AR15 assault rifle? What the founding fathers knew, and so many of the "People" have forgotten (or never learned), is that Power is a zero sum game. If I have it, the government doesn't, and vice versa. Even many pro-gunners miss the point and we allow ourselves to be distracted with "rights" issues, that, while they exist, aren't specifically addressed by the Constitution (right to hunt, right to self-defense, etc.) The Constitution, the Blueprint for Freedom, and the Bill of Rights, the non-expiring guarantee of liberty, are about one thing: Power. So don't get confused by other issues here. If this is a country where Power is truly vested in the People, and the government is LIMITED by the Constitution, then my ownership of an AR15 is off limits to the government. The Second Amendment guarantees my Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the Constitution limits the government to very specific, narrow activities, which does not include regulating guns. So, not only is this right specifically reserved to the People (or, even with a loose interpretation, the states), it also falls outside of the boundaries outlined in the Constitution for the Federal Govt. Its a double whammy. Why is it so important to us? Some people fear a tyrannical government taking over (you think they're "paranoid", despite so many historical lessons I could fill several books; but that's another thread). But most, I believe, are more like me. We still believe in the Revolution and its ideals. We ARE Revolutionaries. Power is vested in ME, as a citizen, and not in the government. It cannot be taken without my permission, which I do not give. Remember, its a zero sum game, so if the government can infringe those liberties, they really don't exist at all, except in theory. Well, I don't want theoretical freedom. I want the real stuff. So, some argue, we still have freedom of the press and the rest of it, why the big deal over guns? Well, the Bill of Rights is not a buffet, we don't get to pick and choose. I don't like neo-Socialist rhetoric, but I'm not calling for the abolishment of free speech, am I? Because I know that the First Amendment is also about Power - the Power of information (way deadlier than guns, in the right hands, by the way. Case in point, Hitler, whose propaganda machine convinced the Germans to commit unthinkable atrocities; I digress). Many of us here in the U.S. see the slow, steady, reversal of our Power structure. Our rights are becoming more "theoretical" all the time. Anyone see that Dateline NBC story on the Louisiana police who are confiscating cars and money from out of state motorists, without a trial (due process) and are not even charging them with a crime or arresting them? How about the IRS, which in case you aren't familiar, has the power to confiscate just about anything you own with the wave of a bureaucrat’s pen. Both of these are examples of activities strictly forbidden by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, yet it happens all the time and there are many more examples beyond these. So you see, it's not just the Second Amendment where the reversal of Power is evident. Anymore, it seems that the Constitution is just a shell and government doesn't exist for the people, rather the people (taxpayers) exist for the government. So, like the colonists at Lexington and Concord, this is the issue where we choose to make our stand. Not over taxes, which are atrocious or unreasonable search and seizure, which is rampant, or the separation of powers (who said Klinton could declare war all by himself, anyway?) or any of that other stuff, but over my AR15. Why? Because like our forefathers (80 civilians on a bridge against 1800 regular troops; how committed were they?), we realize its the foundation of Real Power. Without a weapon capable of providing adequate resistance to overthrow an unjust, un-Constitutional government, the rest of those rights truly are hollow, no longer belong to the people, and can be rescinded at any time by the government (many feel we're already past that point). And then they are not rights, they're privileges. If the government can take my AR15, or restrict the amount of ammunition it holds, or restrict further purchases of "Assault Weapons" then the revolution is dead and so are the ideals countless thousands have died for. There's a reason for the Second Amendment and gun ownership (ESPECIALLY assault rifles), a reason those colonists on that bridge understood; its the last of my rights to go. THAT'S why I need an AR15 assault rifle. - Unknown AR15.com author

That is an awesome read.