I am genuinely curious about this. I have an open mind on this issue.

Firearms. Aside from the culture surrounding them in the US as a "god given right", what is the benefit to you as an individual citizen of owning a rifle?

Is it for hunting or the shooting range or do you feel you need that level of firepower for protection?

To give some background on where I'm coming from: I'm a Brit, so no guns here unless you're a farmer or a criminal who can get them anyway, but I'm also in favour of individual freedom and could see the benefit of a handgun for protection.

While rifles undoubtedly look cool, I can't see what practical benefits they offer the individual especially wrt personal protection, so I'm honestly curious to hear views on this - from Americans and other widely armed countries like Switzerland etc.