Firearm related shows and their impact.

[duppie]

I have, as I'm sure have you also,taken notice of the sudden proliferation of "reality" gun related shows on basic cable. Sadly they seem to be of the same ilk.....Broad personalities,maudlin dialog,predictable and simplistic plots,contrived personal conflicts,docile and seemingly ignorant customers, and a preference for ugly,expensive,and redundant firearms that the average firearm enthusiast would not touch much less purchase.
I find myself somewhat insulted to think that the average viewer would believe me so uninformed and shallow as to patronize such establishments.

Your Thoughts?

[retarmyaviator]

They have no impact at my house, I do not watch those or any other reality type show.

[Badkarma 1]

I have watched a few of them, "hokie" is the word I'd use to describe most of the usual "builds".
It's when they bring back a old piece from WW2 or such that I take notice. But what 'Son of Guns" like Jesse James do to a BAR was downright sacrilege!
For the most part it's pure entertainment, grandstanding, and ego driven gobblygook. Dale

[kraigwy]

I like MidwayUSA shows on the Outdoor channel. The rest? Not for me.

[nipster]

They make me hate gun store owners even more

[steamloco76]

The masses of gun ignorant people viewing the shows are lead to believe any gun can make things blow-up with spectacular explosions and fireballs. I hate the staged Hollywood pyrotechnics. Mythbusters treats guns and their enthusiasts much better than any of the Gun/Reality genre shows.

[Rule3]

I don't like any of them. I think the Sons Of Guns actually does a dis- service to gun owners.

[therevjay]

I love 'em! What! Whadda you mean BS? Are you telling me that I can't really get a full auto revolving Bbl. 12GA w/silencer & 50 RD drum mag, that folds up to pocket size?

Geeez, next thing you'll be saying WWE is fake!

[duppie]

Originally Posted by therevjay

I love 'em! What! Whadda you mean BS? Are you telling me that I can't really get a full auto revolving Bbl. 12GA w/silencer & 50 RD drum mag, that folds up to pocket size?

Geeez, next thing you'll be saying WWE is fake!

I lost all hope with the viewing of the first PINK gun.....I know of no woman that would allow herself to be patronized as to consider or own a pink firearm......

[J Rich]

Here's my 2 pennies.


I like the gun tv shows even the scripted ones. Seeing as I am NOT a master gun smith or master gun historian I tend to learn something from time to time. That doesn't say that I like everything about those shows. I'm there for the knowledge not the drama.

If you don't like or despise those shows the best thing is to change the channel. By not changing the channel you promote those shows.


My wife does coupons at the grocery store. Yes she is one of those that get a buggy load for $20. We do it only in the interest of saving money, as I don't make 100K per year. Those "extreme coupon" shows have killed the coupon game. Stores have changed policies on coupons and you got people buying 5 sunday papers making me drive farther to get just 1 paper if I wake up late sunday morning. So we don't watch those shows as 90% of it is "fluff" anyway.


Others I don't and will not watch. Only because I believe they are mindless idiots and do not condone the attitude or behavior. The Jersey Shore, Kardashians, any thing on "E", any dating shows, are just a few examples.

Bottom line "if you don't like the show change the channel". You can write all the hate mail you want to them. As long as ratings are up the show will stay or until some other mindless retards show up.

[Photog]

I like the ones by Midway, and USA Shooting, but the one that scares the heck out of me is American Guns. The gunsmiths on that show act like you only need to screw a barrel into a receiver and then go shooting. Headspace was checked by their Head Gunsmith by using tape. I would think that he would know what a headspace gauge is.

[RightArm]

Here's and idea for a reality/ gun show. Arm the people on Survivor, or Big Brother, or even Hell's Kitchen. I get so tired of seeing the comercials now, but can you imagine those stupid annoying people with guns.

[DWalt]

The National Geographic Channel premiered another gun show this week, Family Guns, or something like that. Plot is about the goings-on at International Military Antiques (IMA) in New Jersey. I expected more from National Geographic, but the plot line was lifted straight from Pawn Stars, except it was all gun-related stuff. In fact, I think Pawn Stars is more interesting, other than for the gun content.

[keith44spl]

Television's broke...Don't sound like I'm missing anythng.






Su Amigo,
Dave

[Fishslayer]

Originally Posted by keith44spl

Television's broke...Don't sound like I'm missing anythng.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Well... if ya ever get around to gettin' a new one, they have them that actually show color now!

[Combat]

The only good I can see out of these type of shows is they might get a young person into wanting to have a gun and learning how to use it. This would lead to them hunting/collecting and other shooting sports. Let's face it, "guns" are becoming something old men like. We need fresh blood to keep it going.

[Texas Star]

I'm not real wild about Sons of Guns. The crew looks too scruffy and redneck and they do mainly full auto work, leading many viewers to think that anyone can own such items.

American Guns has a couple of similar people, but I like the family closeness between Rich and Renee and the kids. Paige is genuinely thrilled when she does something that pleases her dad, and the sibling rivalry betwen her and Kurt is funny at times.

But I'd never buy a gun at their inflated prices and the deals they hoke up are ridiculous. I'm afraid of their gunsmithing. And Rich Wyatt can't even pronounce, "Schofield" correctly.

All of those shows on Discovery that feature redneck gold miners, survivalists, auctioneers, alligator catchers, etc. make me wonder who they think their audience is. The gun shows aren't much better than the others.

But I like Shark Week.

[keith44spl]

Originally Posted by keith44spl
Television's broke...Don't sound like I'm missing anything.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Originally Posted by Fishslayer

Well... if ya ever get around to gettin' a new one, they have them that actually show color now!

I don't know bout that...I saw em land on the moon one time.
It didn't have no color!

Heard they's colorized the Wizard of Oz, how'd that good witch look?

Don't think I care to watch fake reality shows...Real life's hard enough too watch.

Su Amigo,
Dave

[Moonman]

Many bigger problems in the world, like Bloombergs WAR ON LARGE SODAS in NYC.

[jaykellogg]

Originally Posted by duppie

I lost all hope with the viewing of the first PINK gun.....I know of no woman that would allow herself to be patronized as to consider or own a pink firearm......

I pretty much see pink guns in every GS I go into. I would say they're primarily aimed at women, very few men I know would carry a revolver with pink grips.

Regarding young people shooting, I see then all the time in gun stores and small CCW weapons are the best selling guns. In fact, there is probably more interest today among young women in arming themselves than ever before. Several ranges around here offer women only shooter training. It seems women have discover the old addage "GOD created all men (and women), but Sam Colt made them equal."

If people outside of the shooting community watch these shows they would likely conclude that we all shoot at exploding targets with machine guns and have huge amounts of disposable income. I don't know any gun store owners that fly their own helicopters. I watch some of these shows, but if I was in the area, I would probably not bother going there. It seems I have seen a picture of Gold and Silver Pawn in Las Vegas (Pawn Stars) with a very long waiting line to get in the place

[Cyrano]

Heard they's colorized the Wizard of Oz, how'd that good witch look?

I think The Wizard of OZ was in color to begin with. I remember seeing it when I was about 8; the beginning and end were in B&W but when she started down the yellow brick road, it all changed to color.

[Sebago Son]

Originally Posted by keith44spl

Television's broke...Don't sound like I'm missing anythng. Su Amigo, Dave

I killed mine in 1997 and ain't gonna get another.

Television is to the mind what road salt is to car bodies....

[keith44spl]

Originally Posted by Cyrano

Heard they's colorized the Wizard of Oz, how'd that good witch look?

I think The Wizard of OZ was in color to begin with. I remember seeing it when I was about 8; the beginning and end were in B&W
but when she started down the yellow brick road, it all changed to color.

Well I'll be darn...Couldn't tell all that on a black & white 1953 zenith television set.



Jest wonder what these new gun shows would look like in color?



Su Amigo,
Dave

[Foodfuzz]

Originally Posted by DWalt

The National Geographic Channel premiered another gun show this week, Family Guns, or something like that. Plot is about the goings-on at International Military Antiques (IMA) in New Jersey. I expected more from National Geographic, but the plot line was lifted straight from Pawn Stars, except it was all gun-related stuff. In fact, I think Pawn Stars is more interesting, other than for the gun content.

I started to watch that one too with higher expectations from NG. I changed the channel when "dad" was looking at a Dutch flintlock pistol from the 1600's for only $300,000.00 and "son" flipped out and yada-yada-yada! Same old stuff.

[snubbyfan]

That's the thing about these "reality" shows. If they showed how things really are in real life it wouldn't be considered "good tv," so they artificially create conflict and ridiculous situations so there'd be more drama.

[Engineer1911]

Paige is real and I like her breathing technique.

[The Last Standing Knight]

...then try going to a gunshow and listen to all the dreck you hear at them! It makes you feel like a mushroom...if you get my drift!

[Foodfuzz]

Originally Posted by The Last Standing Knight

...then try going to a gunshow and listen to all the dreck you hear at them! It makes you feel like a mushroom...if you get my drift!

You mean like, "Kept in Total Darkness and Fed Only Horse****

[bobs330]

Originally Posted by Combat

The only good I can see out of these type of shows is they might get a young person into wanting to have a gun and learning how to use it. This would lead to them hunting/collecting and other shooting sports. Let's face it, "guns" are becoming something old men like. We need fresh blood to keep it going.

Where i live nearly everyone has a gun whether its a 22 or an 870 express shotgun. I am 25 and bought my first gun at 18 or 19. Sold it for a rifle, then traded rifle for a pistol. Finally bought a glock and never looked back. Firearms are a very fun hobby when things are done right, and safety is always a priority. I enjoy shooting, always have. Look forward to a s&w to shoot as well.

[gregintenn]

Originally Posted by Sebago Son

Television is to the mind what road salt is to car bodies....

A most quoteable quote indeed!

[silentflyer]

I don't watch "reality' TV period, end of story...

[2152hq]

I can't handle any of the gun related shows for more than few minutes.
The drama, the noise, the idiot people w/attitudes & those running around throwing hissy fits over everthing that happens.
Kind of like a GunShow.
I've seen and heard enough of that already..
No wonder I work by myself.

[bluegrassarms]

Originally Posted by DWalt

The National Geographic Channel premiered another gun show this week, Family Guns, or something like that. Plot is about the goings-on at International Military Antiques (IMA) in New Jersey. I expected more from National Geographic, but the plot line was lifted straight from Pawn Stars, except it was all gun-related stuff. In fact, I think Pawn Stars is more interesting, other than for the gun content.

I randomly caught that one a night or two ago.

I agree it's very contrived, like most of them. I do like they cover weapons that are interesting, but they're pretty light on that part and long on the father/son dance. they said dad spent $5 mil accumulating all this stuff then they argue over an $8,000 gun to pay the mortgage? with 3 warehouses packed to the gills (supposedly) with military guns and they have to have one of his prized flintlocks to sell? Come on. Shouldn't they be the largest military weapons parts dealer on Earth? Maybe they are, I'm not a military collector.

A 2nd for Mythbusters, which really tests firearms legitimately (at least Adam and Jamie, the build crew is a bit cavalier at times). I really want to re-test the shooting of locks though, the only one I think needs some methodology adjustments.

I think the good of them is if it gets people to a range where they can then hopefully learn responsibility and get them into shooting sports or carry or defense.

The bad is that some of them like Sons of Guns are pretty fast and loose and give the wrong impression, and that the shows have become so contrived with personal friction fiction they're hard to watch.

I just about can't watch American Guns, it's SO contrived. FWIW Red Jacket lost their Mfg license some time ago when ATF did an audit and receivers came up missing. They said they were destroyed when damaged in manufacturing, which is likely, but they didn't keep their records accurately. ATF hates that. So their fast and loose attitude cost them their license. Apparently for the show they use the Red Jacket name but the licenses are held by another company and Red Jacket is a bit of a front for the real owners.

[bluegrassarms]

PS - a great solution to get the 10% of useful info is to Tivo them and just fast forward until it looks like they're discussing the actual guns and/or if a cute girl shows up in a scene. I can watch American Guns in about 7 minutes max and 4 of that is b/c of the cute girl rule. lol.

[sps282]

I have only seen a few "TV gun shows" and most seem to make gun owners look like a bunch of nut cases.

[duppie]

......and there we have it gentlemen, we are pretty much in agreement with my OP. In this period of increased gun sales and awareness, I would like to see a program that deals intellengently with the responsibilities,fun and skill sets that comes with owning and shooting a firearm without the insulting and mindless set ups, things that go Boom and pandering dialog.
Perhaps with a particular focus on new,older and women shooters which seem to be the fastest growing groups of gun owners.
Thank you all for your input.

[arjay]

I've seen a bit of two of these shows.Damn painful to watch.Who is the target audience?