I think that the collection of firearms is as noble a hobby as that of
collecting cars. As with firearms it is the user that can cause harm,
not the product. I was stationed in Britain for three years and found
numerous individuals possessed a keen interest in both cars and
firearms. In fact, a lot of the times it was the same person who
enjoyed both. I was there when a man went on a shooting rampage in
Hungerford and observed the reaction of the national population to
firearms. The observation was made that had there been armed police
in the area, the death toll would have been much less, to include
three brave constables who tried to arrest the armed man.
Anyway, I am getting away from your original premise. I too have a
hard time finding a correlation between guns and cars in the sense
that they could be combined as one item, except to sell to those that
may not otherwise be able to have or wish to have an actual gun. Just
as they say "sex sells", I would venture that this combination is also
a marketing tool. In many ways cars and guns appeal to the same
individuals and for similar reasons. I have a real hard time
envisioning a shotgun and my MGs, but can make the leap with ease to
Jeep or Range Rover. Both automobiles and guns have been important
factors in shaping our world history and society, not just in the US.
I can firmly say that America is not an armed camp. I can quantify
this view, I am currently a law enforcement official and deal with the
public daily and see very few weapons. But lots of great looking
cars!
Mike R
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