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Thus have I heard and found to be true:

There is not much that one cannot justify if one puts one’s mind to it. If one enjoys doing something and is told that it is unethical, one will look for ways to make it seem more ethical, to give oneself, or those who share the same unethical practice, peace of mind.

So it is with those who own guns, for they tell themselves it is for sport, for safety, or for freedom, while overlooking that the weapon they cherish was made for the taking of sentient life. Then they start to say, but a knife kills, and so the justification continues, forgetting that knives were made to carve and create, while guns were made to destroy.

Then some might say, who am I to judge another who chooses to own a gun, all the while continuing to justify something unethical. Some people justify killing, but if those carrying out the killing are not liked by them, then that is a different story.

This no doubt will make some uncomfortable, but Buddhism and Dharma practice can make one feel uncomfortable when facing one’s own shortcomings, reminding us that the hardest truth to face is often the one about ourselves. And I’ve been there and done that on more than one occasion.

This is why I can't stomach AI. Much of the time, it's wrong with its answers. (It's still a work-in-progress as an online resource. Still in the design phase.) Other times, all it can do is pull up random relevant info, without doing any thinking or analysis to go with it. Of course it doesn't analyze; it's not human!

Anyway, whether or not a Buddhist "should" own a gun depends on what the Buddhist would want to use it for. I've always enjoyed target practice, with a bow and arrow, or a gun. It's a harmless hobby or pastime. AI, however, can only envision anyone owning one for the purpose of killing. I find that ridiculous.

Sorry, AI: YOU'RE FIRED!

It is not true that guns have no purpose other than killing. Nonetheless, that's certainly why they were invented, and arguably remains their primary use. To not own weapons would seem to be a logical sub-precept, and was probably considered as such by Gautama, since his people, the Sakyas, followed his teachings and owned no weapons.

Shunryu Suzuki has said that we follow the precepts but are not bound by them. I would interpret this to mean that the precepts do not unburden us from the responsibility of making our own decisions. Life is complex, no generalization can be valid in every set of circumstances. But yes, I will concede that Buddhists should not own guns - that seems just as valid as any other generalization. Perhaps we shouldn't own fly swatters either.

Jane Goodall’s last recorded interview, she passed away on 1 October, 2025. What an inspiring and wonderful human being!

While I know that a lot of Buddhists are vegetarian or vegan, I would recommend that anyone interested in the topic read books like "The Light Eaters" by Zoe Schlanger and tell me afterwards that plants aren't sentient - that is - being aware that they are alive and participating in life in ways we didn't previously comprehend. I see and experience it when spending time with plants and trees as well.

The newer science around plants has led me to believe that we can only be mindful and reverent about how, when, and why we take life to support our own. We can no longer defend being vegetarian/vegan as being less harmful because solely because they are lower on the sentient chain than we believe animals to be. That means that for any of us to survive, we are taking life. There is no way to avoid that.

I grew up hunting and fishing. As I mentioned before it supplements our family's food and kept us off welfare. As an animal lover from the time I was a small child, it wasn't the easiest part of life for me. But I would rather own my own karma, if needed, for taking the lives I take to sustain my own than to pass it off to someone else and pretend like it's not happening. I know so many people who are anti-hunting but who buy factory-farmed meat from the store. The disconnection is incredible to me. At least if I hunt or fish, I am owning that. And the animal lived a free life up to that point. I am not passing the buck onto the rancher or the butcher for my own survival.

Currently, we buy most of our meat locally from sustainable small, family-owned farms that we've visited. I just don't have it in me to hunt. But I think it's still, in a way, a "cowardly" way out of being accountable for my meat eating. Sometimes I would rather hunt and fish. I just don't have time. If I am going to eat meat, I'd rather be responsible for taking it and for the responsibility, reverence, and humility in doing so. I will never be a vegetarian. I do eat a lot of plants, and grow many fruits, veggies, and herbs. But I respect them no less. It's not really any easier for me to weed the garden than to kill a bug, knowing what I do now about plants.

I know this seems off topic 😂 but as a sometimes practicing Buddhist, I'd rather own the gun (or the garden shears) and own the responsibility to the lives I take to sustain myself than to pass it onto someone else. Animals or plants.

@Jeroen said:
If you want to be competent in self defence, why not go and learn martial arts?

I would argue that martial arts isn't going to be much help for a middle aged man trying to defend his family in a home break in against several young men. Or a woman for that matter. To be able to successfully defend yourself or others against several people you'd have to be incredibly good at martial arts.

@Kotishka said:
[Source: Vinland Saga. Dialogue between Thors, a former warrior, and his son]

Thors: Do you want a sword Thorfinn? A sword is a tool to kill. Why do you need it? Whose life do you intend to take?

Thorfinn: Enemies...

Thors: Your enemies? Who are they?

Thors: Well, bad guys like Hafden..

Thors: Listen to me, my son: you don't have enemies. The truth is that nobody has them. Nobody in this entire world deserves to get hurt."

I don't want to try to say that owning a gun is justified as a Buddhist. I just feel like people are generally uncomfortable with guns and imagine that when people have one they go into some sort of Rambo fantasy or blood lust.

Buddhism doesn't justify media consumption, meat eating, driving through insects and a bunch of other things many Buddhist do all the time.

A while ago during a large family gathering my cousin who has been a hunter his whole life was showing people a modern musket loading gun he had. While he was doing it I felt totally comfortable. Later a cousin in law, who hadn't grown up with guns and I'm guessing got one to try to fit in with his married into family, did some target shooting with a handgun. While he was doing it I felt nervous. People who've owned guns their whole lives, know guns, how to use them safely and properly don't think about them like someone who has no familiarity.

I had a bad accident with a knife when I was younger. For a good time after knives, or just the thought of knives gave me anxiety and I'd imagine violent scenarios. Over time with use and Buddhist and psychological techniques I was able to overcome my inner defilements around knives. A Buddhist gun owner ought to be able to control their impulses better than the average human being.

@Lionduck said:
The question, "Should Buddhists own Guns?"
The question should rather be,"What attitude or mind set should Buddhists who own weapons have regarding their ownership and use of said weapons?"

I see it as, a gun has no purpose besides killing. Is it justified in Buddhist thought to possess one? If you want to be competent in self defence, why not go and learn martial arts?

...and the rest

Yes time to rest... Sorry could not resist. Shoot me!

The question, "Should Buddhists own Guns?"
The question should rather be,"What attitude or mind set should Buddhists who own weapons have regarding their ownership and use of said weapons?"