Help! I'm a disgruntled gun owner/outdoorsman...

12AX7

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12AX7
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I'm not sure where to post this; I figure since the meat of the matter in firearm related, along with the political backlashes, it would go here. Mods feel free to move it if needed.

So, I'm a gunowner, supporter of the Second Amendment, and bowhunter. Over the last few years my enjoyment of shooting and hunting has diminished considerably. Every firearm forum I visit, every gun store, outdoors store or archery pro shop I go into is populated with the same kinds of individual. The anti-Obama, born-in-Kenya, U.N./government-coming-to-get-our-guns paranoid Christian conservative that thinks Waco and Ruby Ridge were outrages (maybe so) and that Koresh and Weaver were heroes (not idiots and felons). They feel that any anti-gun news story is an immediate overreach by the Feds, a conspiracy, etc.

Obviously not all of them are like this, but the vast majority are. I have become ashamed of my fellow gun enthusiasts and outdoorsmen. They wallow in demagoguery fed to them by the NRA, paranoia sites such as PrisonPlanet, WND, etc. So disgruntled have I become that the hobbies I used to enjoy are being soured by the rhetoric. Almost all are conservative republicans, so any independant (or democrat/liberal) is instantly vilified.

Am I the only one? I come to this forum for the intelligent, rational conversation and insight.

What say you all?
 
I am a reluctant member of the NRA because to shoot in Bullseye you typically need to be a member. 3 months into a year long membership and you start getting dire email about how your membership is about to expire, and that you must renew now. Lies - it is all they seem to know.
 
You are definitely not the only one. Sane enthusiasts are out there...

I spent the last weekend teaching a marksmanship and heritage class with a nonprofit group (see previous thread) and there wasn't a word about conspiracies or paranoia, and the words "Democrat" or "Republican" weren't even mentioned -- out of scope for the class. I had 20 students in all, fathers bringing their sons and daughters, several different ethnicities, some active service members and some old-school hippies, age ranges from 14 to 60-something. We had a great weekend.

The reason I work with this group and not with others is because of the frustration you describe -- some "gun people" focus on the negative, and are ultimately part of the problem. But there is a big positive side as well if you take the care to find it, as it sounds you have.
 
Elypsis44 said:
What say you all?
Click to expand...

I'm anti-gun, but accept the fact that as an American I have to put up with a few things I don't agree with ... like guns.

It's nice to hear that there are some rational enthusiasts out there. I know that there must be a good number like you.

It's just too bad you're usually drowned out by the Ted Nugent nutcases.

Part of the reason that I'm anti-gun isn't because of the gun itself, but because of the mentality of the owners. Guns seem to have a way of lowering people's IQs.
 
Elypsis44 said:
Am I the only one? I come to this forum for the intelligent, rational conversation and insight.

What say you all?
Click to expand...


My experience is similar. I lean to the liberal side on most issues, and I own guns and enjoy shooting. I belong to a very large regional gun club, mostly because of the range privileges. I used to enjoy dropping in on a couple of local gun stores to see what's new, but for the past few years it has become a much less pleasant experience. The gun store owners tack offensive political cartoons, bumper stickers, and such on their bulletin boards. Much of it seems driven by anger, and some is downright racist. And the good old boys who hang out at these stores talk like paranoid conspiracy theorists.

Now I buy most of my ammo at WalMart. And for guns, parts, and accessories, I do all my pre-shopping online. Then I drop in the gun store, make my purchase, and move along.
 
I've been very clear for a long time that I see most of the anti-gun invective as based on racist policies going back to the old Jim Crow 'may issue' laws, and beyond.

And it is a sad bit of reality that the same Court rulings that prevented Chicago and DC from keeping guns out of the hands of the largely black populace, also opened the floodgates to arm the moronic part of it.
 
citizenzen said:
I'm anti-gun, but accept the fact that as an American I have to put up with a few things I don't agree with ... like guns.

It's nice to hear that there are some rational enthusiasts out there. I know that there must be a good number like you.

It's just too bad you're usually drowned out by the Ted Nugent nutcases.

Part of the reason that I'm anti-gun isn't because of the gun itself, but because of the mentality of the owners. Guns seem to have a way of lowering people's IQs.
Click to expand...

I despise Ted Nugent.

I'm glad you see we aren't all like the stereotypes.

:D
 
crimresearch said:
I've been very clear for a long time that I see most of the anti-gun invective as based on racist policies going back to the old Jim Crow 'may issue' laws, and beyond.
Click to expand...


:confused:

You don't need to look back that far to see the toll guns take on people.

The reason for my anti-gun feelings breaks down to a simple ratio of harm:utility.
 
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GeeMack said:
My experience is similar. I lean to the liberal side on most issues, and I own guns and enjoy shooting. I belong to a very large regional gun club, mostly because of the range privileges. I used to enjoy dropping in on a couple of local gun stores to see what's new, but for the past few years it has become a much less pleasant experience. The gun store owners tack offensive political cartoons, bumper stickers, and such on their bulletin boards. Much of it seems driven by anger, and some is downright racist. And the good old boys who hang out at these stores talk like paranoid conspiracy theorists.

Now I buy most of my ammo at WalMart. And for guns, parts, and accessories, I do all my pre-shopping online. Then I drop in the gun store, make my purchase, and move along.
Click to expand...


My experience as well.

And now it seems we're going into the 'gun and ammo hoarding phase' again, driven by idiots and their paranoia.


To top off my angst, I'm a moderator at a rather large firearm forum (member for 10 years, mod for the last 6). The idiocy is getting to me bad.
 
I can't help but wonder how much of the present paranoid, idiot, "Obama is after our guns" silliness is fueled by the firearms industry. Woodward and Bernstein told us to "follow the money", and the manufacturers have been grinning all the way to the bank for some time now between firearms sales and ammunition sales.
If you look at the various industry-oriented firearms blogs and publications, it's obvious there's a steady stream of new products, models, and accessories flowing into the marketplace.....How much is fueled by the "I gotta get my new gun now, before they outlaw them!"
My somewhat-loony ex-brother-in-law's response to the "assault weapons ban" was to rush out and buy three AKs....
 
Elypsis44 said:
I'm not sure where to post this; I figure since the meat of the matter in firearm related, along with the political backlashes, it would go here. Mods feel free to move it if needed.

So, I'm a gunowner, supporter of the Second Amendment, and bowhunter. Over the last few years my enjoyment of shooting and hunting has diminished considerably. Every firearm forum I visit, every gun store, outdoors store or archery pro shop I go into is populated with the same kinds of individual. The anti-Obama, born-in-Kenya, U.N./government-coming-to-get-our-guns paranoid Christian conservative that thinks Waco and Ruby Ridge were outrages (maybe so) and that Koresh and Weaver were heroes (not idiots and felons). They feel that any anti-gun news story is an immediate overreach by the Feds, a conspiracy, etc.

Obviously not all of them are like this, but the vast majority are. I have become ashamed of my fellow gun enthusiasts and outdoorsmen. They wallow in demagoguery fed to them by the NRA, paranoia sites such as PrisonPlanet, WND, etc. So disgruntled have I become that the hobbies I used to enjoy are being soured by the rhetoric. Almost all are conservative republicans, so any independant (or democrat/liberal) is instantly vilified.

Am I the only one? I come to this forum for the intelligent, rational conversation and insight.

What say you all?
Click to expand...

www.calguns.net

You might find many more like minded folks there.

Kes runs a tight ship - over-the-top nonsense as you describe doesn't last long.
 
Elypsis44 said:
My experience as well.

And now it seems we're going into the 'gun and ammo hoarding phase' again, driven by idiots and their paranoia.


To top off my angst, I'm a moderator at a rather large firearm forum (member for 10 years, mod for the last 6). The idiocy is getting to me bad.
Click to expand...

Here's the problem I have with these hoarders; They are buying far more than they will ever use and are doing things like burying it.

Some day, after many of them die without remembering to tell anybody where that ammo is, a kid will dig it up, or some luckless backhoe operator, and there will be a fatality. And in aid of what? Their baseless paranoia?
 
Elypsis44 said:
I despise Ted Nugent.

I'm glad you see we aren't all like the stereotypes.

:D
Click to expand...

I really hate the fact that so many hunters embrace that stupid, whinny ass poacher.

But yes, fairly liberal here and a gun enthusiast. A poor one, but still. Luckily the places around here seem to be pretty much free of political talk. That might be because the gun culture in this area cuts across so much of the population.
 
Elypsis44 said:
Obviously not all of them are like this, but the vast majority are. I have become ashamed of my fellow gun enthusiasts and outdoorsmen. They wallow in demagoguery fed to them by the NRA, paranoia sites such as PrisonPlanet, WND, etc. So disgruntled have I become that the hobbies I used to enjoy are being soured by the rhetoric. Almost all are conservative republicans, so any independant (or democrat/liberal) is instantly vilified.

Am I the only one? I come to this forum for the intelligent, rational conversation and insight.

What say you all?
Click to expand...

I would suggest you dis-associate yourself with these sites. Clearly you are dealing with a noisy minority who are eroding your enjoyment of your sport and hobby.

You have made an informed decision about gun politics in America, you should not feel you have to defend that opinion to enjoy your recreation.
 
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