They still scare the hell out of me in a way. That's probably a good thing. It means that I'm not likely to do something stupid like pointing a gun at another person and pulling the trigger just as a laugh (Alec Baldwin).
Guns are so ingrained in modern history, and there's so much to know, and so much to master that you really can make it a hobby that you'll hold on to for your whole life.
Especially since my next movie is going to be a Western, I've spent a lot of time brushing up on my understanding of history in regard to the firearms of the 1880s.
I have to admit to having reverence for some of these machines.
Was choosing a 1911 chambered in .45 ACP over 9mm an entirely pragmatic choice? No. I do still follow the philosophy that, if I've gotta put a hole in a bad guy, it might as well be a big one; but, there are a ton of arguments for 9mm that I can't reasonably put down. The fact that .45 ACP is still "God's caliber" played a role in my decision.
My .45 Long Colt single action army revolver is a joy to shoot, and something I'll never let go. It's beautiful, my dad bought it for me, it shoots perfectly, and it's a piece of history in its own way. I know that it's not a gun that people are targeting (pun intended) to be banned any time soon; but, that's the gun that got me into shooting. It's not because it's practical, it's because it's beautiful.
All of the pragmatic reasons for the right of the people to bear arms still hold strong. You can fight me on that, and you'll lose. Still, guns are fun if you're not a dip-shit about it. You shouldn't ban fun either.