Very important to have for multiple reasons but above all you're own safety.

I saw a great bumper sticker this morning: "Guns kill people the same way spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat!"

Always remember this: an unloaded gun is a useless gun!

I like to be prepared for anything and I kinda like guns. 

UPDATE: Its useful to know about guns so you don't ventilate yourself, too.

Assuming I own a gun, I'd make sure I knew my firearm safety and such for sure.

I am glad my Father taught me how to handle firearms. Education is everything. If more people understood guns and how to treat them with respect, then there would be fewer accidental shootings. If everyone owned a gun then the criminals wouldn't find them so useful would they!

I have never and will never have a gun in my home. I have Onstar in my vehicles, and ADT in my house.....besides... I live in a very safe town, I only get robbed by Albany, and no weapon made by man can beat them. (Except Golisano hopefully) But honestly, to those who believe they are advocates of the 2nd amendment. I'm sure that you know what that was really created for. It was put in there to keep militia armed, inc the event that military ever turned on the country.

It isn't likely that this skill will be necessary for many of us. But, if it IS necessary, it's REALLY necessary. I shoot occasionally with my brother, at our Elks Lodge. He's a good shot. My target would have to be pretty close to be in any real danger, unless he resembled the trunk of a tree. At 20 paces, I'd either blow off his ankle or the top of his head, on alternate shots, as long as he was taller than 5 feet. I am of the opinion there would be fewer home invasions if more law-abiding citizens had guns.

Not really necessary in today's world but there is great satisfaction in being able to shoot straight. The discipline is also worthwhile, especially for children.

A good skill to have - you never know when it could be useful. Taught my wife and kids to shoot - they at least know how, even not all of them have pursued it very much (a couple have).

Although they would be absolutely necessary in a combat situation, I am not trained myself. Guns unnerve me a little and I don't own one. I live adjacent to a police station so they're basically stationed at my house, but I still feel a little insecure so I keep a metal baseball bat under my bed. If I did ever need to use a gun, I'd probably get by. I've seen them elsewhere since then but my dad tought me these rules for using guns when I was 12: 1. All guns are always loaded. No exceptions. 2. Never point a gun at anything you wouldn't mind shooting. 3. Keep the gun at the lowest necessary level of readiness (this includes keeping your finger off the trigger) 4. Know your target.

My friend collects pistols and convinces me to try it out (target shooting) once a year. . .I think it's a little overrated.