The anti gunners will try to tell you that people who carry firearms for protection are mentally imbalanced individuals who see danger lurking in every shadow and are looking for any excuse to sling lead. But the truth is, we just want to be left alone to live our lives in peace. If a criminal tries to take our lives, we are prepared to meet force with force.
The last thing in the world I want to do, is having to shoot someone. Heck, I don't even want to hurt 4 legged critters. And as long as I am left alone, the only other reason I can see for shooting someone, (or something), is saving the life of an innocent.
But let me add this to the general topic of "What kind of people are gun owners?". There are also people who just like to collect things, including guns, which can be compared to works of art, and there are some people who own guns, simply because they can...
Guns are cool machines, as well. They are artifacts that attest to man's ingenuity and engineering abilities. If you like machines such as cars or appliances, or like to understand the workings of software, guns also pique a similar engineering interest. And they go bang, which is cool.
I’m with you - hope I never have to use it other than the practice range. But let someone try to harm my kids....