The "wouldn't have prevented" gambit on gun-safety laws

[spin]

20. Actually, I think that your concept is wrong. ...

Most of the people I have introduced to the sport shoot handguns at far longer ranges than would be common for self defense and often they use handguns more appropriate for target shooting than for stopping an attacker.

Self defense shootings almost always occur within 21 feet and the majority within 5 feet. If all a shooter is interested in is developing enough skill to kill another person there is no reason to put a target at 45 or 75 feet.

You must feel that most shooters fantasize about shooting another person when shooting at a bullseye or silhouette target but we are hoping for a high score. I dream of the perfect target, ten rounds out of ten in the x-ring of a bullseye target at 25 yards offhand.

I do own a couple of target grade pellet pistols which while very expensive are extremely accurate. Practicing with these pistols helps to improve my accuracy at the range.

It's common for a shooter who looks at another shooter's target to say, "Nice group." I can't remember one who said, "Boy, you would have blown that fool away."

It's definitely a good thing that we are not a bloodthirsty as you suggest.

But to be entirely fair, I will admit that I am talking about target shooters who shoot on a regular basis. These are the people I know best. Many gun owners rarely go to the range but own extremely powerful firearms. It is possible that some of these gun owners are more interested in using their weapons to kill rather than to target shoot.