Well in accordance to the original thread title. I love to go shooting.
I have 3 AR15s, one AR10 (in the works), a Mini Uzi, two handguns (one Glock, one Kel-Tec), and my CCW license. I'm also contemplating buying a Romanian AK-47 kit for only 150 USD. I keep looking at the site every day, and everyday I get more convinced that I could build it. None are fully automatic.
I see nothing wrong with having them. I'm an honest law abiding citizen, and never carry my weapons unless I know I'm going into not so nice neighborhoods. Otherwise, I leave them at home. I also believe in educating children on the proper usage, and the safety considerations of having them. Preventitive measure for the children, and something for then to have a realistic gauge in life about respect for life itself.
I do go to the range, almost three time a week, before I go to the gym. I consider it to be part of my training. I'm currently military, and plan on going for a SWAT position in a major city when I get done with my military service.
For the thread jackers:
I don't care what you think of my owning them. you can argue with about "your" morals all you want. I know what they are for, I will never argue that. It's my legal right to own them, and since it's legal, there's not a damn thing anyone can do about them. I will always own them. I never plan on selling them. I plan on buying more, mainly some longer rifles, and older Henry repeaters I have seen going for a healthy investment.
I've heard the argument for using non-lethal methods for self-defense, but in real situations when you would actually need to pull a gun, like intruders in your house, I'd rather not risk shooting myself in the face with a can of mace, which BTW mace is illegal in the US.
You can only buy it if you are a Police officer, or a Postal Employee. Otherwise all you can get is pepper spray, and that shit is worthless on some people.
Tasers have also been shown to kill some people. I'd rather trust my own aim to injure them, than their heart condition from killing them outright.