Nothing strange about it, it's something else to spend money on...some people spend more than others.
If gun laws here in the UK allowed it, I'd have some. I did have some hand guns and rifles back in the '80's for club shooting along with reloading gear etc. Laws have tightened since then, I'm not sure if you can legally own full bore handguns for leisure shooting anymore. I guess most of us know and hear of the shootings in the US, some involving children but personally, if I lived over there I'd want the option to legally own and carry a side arm. JMO
I think it’s just that the rest of the civilised world don’t feel the need to carry a gun around that makes it seem a bit strange.
Not as many people carry a gun as the "outside" world thinks. In my state (Virginia) with 8.8+ million people, if I had to guess less than 200k carry…if I’m not mistaken, the population of the US is close to 336 million, out of that number roughly 16 million have a permit and maybe 10% do not carry for whatever reason, so not as many as people think.
Yet still you do seem to shoot and kill more children in schools than just about everywhere else added together. I’ll stick with our gun laws thank you. We have had terrible events re guns but the difference is we outlawed the general ownership of most guns.
One more gun thing before we get this derailed train back on track. P.S. My hubby and I own guns but they are in our gun safe most of the time. The gun violence in the U.S. turns my stomach. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/gun-ownership-rates-by-state/13/ @Ge-Minigun - Virginia Sandi T - Arizona
The last motorcycle-related thing I bought was new (and improved) EarPeace earplugs. Two pair actually...one for myself and another pair for hubby's Christmas stocking.
So, do you wear them on every ride Sandi? I never wear earplugs when on the Triumph or the Husaberg. With the ZZR though I nearly always wear them. Even though the Z is comparatively well silenced, wind noise at the speeds I tend to ride it is the problem and easily high enough to cause hearing damage, especially on long runs, even with helmets that score well in noise tests such as Scuberth and Shoei. Both the Triumph and Husaberg are "noisier" bikes but speed related wind noise isn't a problem. Besides, the Triumph sounds nice!
Can’t speak for Sandi, however I always wear plugs when riding, heck I wear them when cutting grass, wood working and even when driving with the windows down.
I do wear them on every ride, @Pegscraper! The only time I don't is if I forget to put them in which is hardly ever because I so prefer using them. When I first started riding about 12 years ago, I rarely wore ear plugs and most often wore an open face helmet. Now I wish I'd started right off with ear plugs and a full face helmet. Live and learn. Yes, it's the wind noise that's the problem. That's clear if I do forget my ear plugs and am wearing my Shoei. What really made me realize how bothersome the wind noise is if I don't have my ear plugs in and want to listen to music through my Sena, I can barely make out what song is even playing! When I wear them, I can hear the music very well and I can also hear (though muted) the sound of my motorcycle engine and exhaust. But that dang wind noise is all but gone. So these days I'm sold on my ear plugs. I will note that I have some of those ear plugs where they put the substance in your ear and mold the plugs to your ears. But those pretty much block out everything whereas the EarPeace allow in the noises I want (and need) to hear but block what I don't. I haven't yet tried my updated EarPeace ear plugs but imagine they'll be even a bit better. I also bought the EarPeace ear plugs for music and bring them to rallies where there will be bands. They work great, too.
A wise man! I've no idea how old you are, @Ge-Minigun, but your hearing will thank you for those ear plugs when you get old (or older).
Congrats, @Roddster! That puts my recent ear plugs purchase to shame. Have a great time with that new Bonnie and please share some photos with us!