Yes, I Am A Gun Owner.

I am an Alaskan and I am a gun owner. What is your problem with that? Yes, I know a wretched, loony nutjub shot a bunch of kids at school. It breaks my heart that I am planning a birthday party for my Corvus while other parents are planning funerals, but that doesn't change a thing about my views on firearms. I have very good reasons for owning my firearms.

1. Food:

Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis (YUMMY)

Alces alces (YUMMY!)

Rangifer tarandes (YUMMY!)

2. Defense...

Ursus americanus

Ursus arctos horribilis

Canis lupus

BAD PEOPLE!!

3. FUN AND SPORTSMANSHIP!!!

Now, as for "assault rifles", well, the only problem here is the nomer, isn't it? AR-15s require more skill to operate and are less lethal than a tactical shotgun. The M1 Garand is considered an "assault rifle". It is also used for civilian marksmanship by enthusiasts everywhere. But ok, let's go with the "assault rifle" tag. You don't think I need one? You don't think anyone needs one? Well now, here are some reasons why someone might want to own an "assault rifle".

Cambodia; unarmed, unsuspecting population gets slaughtered by Khmer Rouge.

What happens when unarmed people are targeted by an evil regime?

Now, I want you to look at this man:

That is the man who raised me, my grandfather, holding my first born son. I never saw him get angry. I never heard him raise his voice at anyone. He was the most peaceful person you can possibly imagine. He had to watch his country being overrun by an evil regime. He had to watch his neighbors being carted off to death. He had to stand by while his property was taken from him. And all he had to defend himself from that was a baseball bat... that is, until he clobbered his first Nazi and took his rifle. I still have the Nazi bajonet to prove it.

(Thank you, Grampa!)

Tell me again why you want to live in a society where only the "authorities" have firearms? Tell me again why you don't think that is a bad idea, because history doesn't ever repeat itself? Tell me again why you don't think I shouldn't be able to hunt for my food or defend myself from the predators that roam here while I am outdoors? Tell me again why I shouldn't be able to defend my family from bad people, angry mobs or evil regimes? Go ahead, tell me again why that seems like a good idea from your cushy, suburban home! And you know, when you get looted, oppressed and threatened by bears or bad people, are you going to come knock on my door?