Not around here.

Sometimes when people ask why I own a gun, I ask them if they have any fire extinguishers in their house. More often than not they don't... But the point that I make is that I keep a fire extinguisher in the garage, kitchen and master bedroom in case of emergencies and in the expectation that the fire department will take 8-10 minutes to respond. And I own a firearm for the similar reason of self dependence.

Guns are tools. I am not a carpenter, but I own a pretty good selection of hammers. Perhaps I'm a nut because I have more than one hammer. Kind of the same logic. I've learned that liberals do not use logic. They operate on feelings and kneejerk reactions.

I spent most of my life in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area so I know the meaning of anti-gun. When I retired to Florida, I noticed a significant change in the overall attitude of my retired friends who are mostly retired FBI, police and military. Many of my freinds carry a concealed weapon and most of them practice at the range at least once a month.

Recently I had an oppurturnity to be in the company of my new Canadian neighbor. He is a large game hunter so I felt comfortable disussing hand guns. Needless to say I was surprized when both he and his wife seemed taken back when I mentioned that I own more then one hand gun and I have a concealed carry permit. They seemed shocked when they asked why I felt that I needed to own a hand gun. (The number of guns did not seem to be an issue) I responded by saying I felt it was better to have a gun and not need it, then to need a gun and not have one. Their unexpected response was that hand guns are alien to Canadians and they would never own a hand gun, let alone carry one.

I would be surprised if they were speaking for all Canadians but based upon their extreme over-reaction, they seem to be making the case that anti-handgun is a national attitude in Canada.

If their only source of information was the Canadian mainstream new media and misguided politicians, they fall into the same category as those that listen only to our mainstream news media and our misguided politicians in the US of A.

It's our solemn duty to re-educate them.

Good Luck,
John

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

I used to hear that it wasn't a good idea to travel to Canada with an NRA sticker on your car. You were going to get searched. I can't remember anyone asking me questions like these, I guess because my friends all know how I am, and none that I am aware of, have any problems with it. At least a few own handguns because of my influence. I think a verbal confrontation from a rabid left-winger would really get my juices flowing, since debate and argueing just to argue(in a friendly way), are kind of up my alley. After all, if my intellect fails me, I can always just point my index finger at his nose and say "Bang. You lose."

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

My wife has been asked by a co-workers if I hunt cause I have gun. Which the answer is "no," then she was asked why I have them? Which she says "home protection." Gets' the usual response that I'm paranoid. My town doesn't have a local police department, the nearest Police Dept. is at least 20 minutes away, and I live out in the country about 4 miles from in town. So, yeah I am a little paranoid, as my house seems ripe for the picking with few neighbors, and no local law enforcement.

I also think a lot of anti-gun owners, can't understand a firearm can be used for more than killing stuff. Especially mine which put more holes in paper, and my wallet then anything else.

When people ask me what I'm afraid of, I tell them the truth: spiders.


Okie John

Im glad I live in a backwoods hick county on the border of kentucky and virginia. all we have is lots of turkeys, a few deer, lots of guns, coal, and people willing to shoot those turkeys. I dont know any anti-gun people at all.

I was at a cocktail party a while back (that's one of those things where the wife makes you put on a coat and tie and polish your scoes and ten stand around drinking and talking to people you don't want to talk to) and was telling someone about a revolver. Some woman wrinkled her nose and said to Me "A HANDGUN? Why those are good for nothing but killing people." I looked her straight in the eye and replied "well DUHHHHHHHHH"
One of the reasons why my wife doesn't like to take me to cocktail parties-the other reason is what happens when I scarf down half a dozed deviled eggs while drinking scotch

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Forum consigliere

I JUST LOVE West Tennessee for all of the reasons that I have seen in this thread. I have been trying to think of someone, I know, in my county, Crockett County, that does not have a gun. Most of the people in our church hunt, our pastor owns guns. I can think of at least 4couples that hunt together. The guys I work with all talk about their guns and shooting. When my father in law passed away in St. Louis, Mo. my mother in law gave me his hand guns, rifles and her rifle. My 22 year old granddaughter sends me pictures of the deer she kills. She graduates from college in May, in Virginia, and many of her friends are pro-gun. My wifes niece in St. Louis and her husband have questioned me about carrying and when we discuss it they think I'm over reacting, and her dad is a retired St. Louis police officer and she has been around guns all of her life??? So I don't know about some people these days. All of the folks that don't like guns need to tell the police to leave their guns at the office when they call for help. As for me and my house we will praise the Lord, and own guns and carry guns....

Always fun to talk guns with non gunnies. I have found that once people get over the initial shock that you can usually get through to them. Mis information is our biggest threat. Taking new shooters to the range will change 90% of antis minds about guns because most antis are just that because no one has ever shown them what gun ownership is all about. Everyone that has actually shot a gun enjoys it to some degree.

LOL! I actually used that line at work last night, when a co-worker asked me how many guns I own. My concern was more security-oriented, though...I am not about to tell strangers what valuable property is in my home!

Just a side-note guys;

I live in the Netherlands and we do not have a right to bear arms. For us it is a privilege and for sportshooting only...
so you would think that if someone would find out that I own guns they would be realy apprehensive/negative/afraid? as it is so uncommon (we have, I believe about 40.000 - 50.000 sport shooters in the Netherlands not counting hunters and we have about 16 million people living here)
I have never had a negative word from anyone. Also people who aren't in the least bit interested in firearms still remain positive and at the very least restrain themselves from making negative comments.
Maybe it is because we don't own guns to protect ourselves and our loved ones... but just for sports...
J
ust wanted to share...

One of my Daughters friends once ask me "your a fireman I can't believe you have guns,your supposed to help people".I told her that was my intention to help my family if the need arose,and to help the dirtbag off this big spinning rock we are perched on.She called me a cowboy,I thanked her,years later she came around and wanted to learn to shoot. I called her a cowgirl.

I've used a really old story for my response.

Q- "You have a gun there? Are you expecting trouble?"

A- "No. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought a shotgun!"

Usually, the questioner will then stand there and open and close his/her mouth like a guppy. It is worth being pestered just to witness the response.

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... a little behind in my work

The other side of this coin is the positive reaction I've received
on more than a few occasions when people have found out
I collect guns.They've ranged from "I love guns I grew up
shooting with my dad" to "My father brought back a gun
after WW II & I don't know anything about it." I agree that
just about anyone would enjoy shooting-I took a bunch
of my son's high school friends shooting some years ago
& they all loved it,rifles & handguns,they remind me of it
every time I see them. Every encounter is an opportunity
for education.I'm not a gun nut-I'm not any kind of nut-
& I've had the opportunity to change some minds about
gun ownership.There are always those
who will respond
with contempt prior to investigation but there is nothing
I can do for those who refuse to keep an open mind .
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA 1426

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turnerriver

A great thread with great responses

At Christmas dinner outside of Chicago, my second cousin asked ME about Illinois gun laws. He thought he didn't need an FOID to buy a shotgun. I told him that in fact he did need one. I told him that if he wanted to get a shotgun, to get a Mossberg or Maverick at Walmart and to call me if he had any questions.

I showed my holster samples around to a few relatives, and got a very positive reaction.

I don't know anyone who is anti-gun. However, LOTS of people I find are completely afraid of guns.

Caj, I think you and I are kindred souls. You echo my attitude and I'd probably have said the same thing, or maybe "Damn betcha." Way to go, bro.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Maybe one day she'll stop taking you to the parties...... Mission accomplished

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Proverbs 14:7

You know, I've seen those kind on TV, and I'm the kind of person who might say something just to get a reaction. I'd like to raise an eyebrow to one of them and say, "You know there's a whole lotta people in this world that need killing, and I'm just trying to figure out if you're one of them." Of course, I'm much too polite and cultured to do such a thing. I think.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Not in East Tennessee...

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I hope I copied that right

Here in the heartland of Georgia, I don't know anyone who is anti-gun. I'm sure there must be a few nuts amongst us who are, but they keep a low profile!

It is a great place to live.

My wife and I married late in life. Her Mom wasn't anti gun, but wasn't pro gun either. Her Mom and family are from a Eastern anti gun state. I gave my wife her first CCW training. She took to CCW and shooting handguns like a duck to water. We have guns hid in several convenient places of our house "just in case". Her Mom came to live with us. We took her to the range on one of our practice days. Later while visiting back East my last profession (LEO) and the fact that my wife 'carries' came up in a discussion with relatives. My Mom-in-Law was asked, "aren't you afraid in that house with all those guns?" My MIL replied, "After seeing (my wife) and my Son-In-Law (me) shoot, I feel safer in that house than any I have ever lived,.....in fact I sleep like a log and I have never done that before in my life." ....... I love my MIL. She won't put up with any family criticism of me or my wife for packing CCW or being prepared to defend ourselves and her. ..... Big Cholla

It's best to keep it short and simple and it's never hard to mention how in the end you only need one.

I live in France, and the same applies, except that we have about 1 million "chasseurs" or hunters.

With a hunting permit I can buy as many hunting rifles and shotguns as I want - handguns are a different matter - special authorisation is needed -not allowed to carry and a maximum of 12.

One thing that bugs me. If you have the freedom to own guns, surely you also have the freedom not to own. So why criticize "non-believers". They are exercising freedom of choice. It's like freedom of speech or freedom of religeous belief. And if any one of you doesn't know at least one liberal or Democrat who owns a gun, I'll eat my hat. If they give silly reasons, that is a different thing. But if they simply don't like guns and don't want to own them, let them be. And as several guys have said, they have successfully converted anti-gun people. But to make irrational comments about intelligence and/or political beliefs does your cause no good.

My answer to the question "How many...?" is "As many as I can afford at the moment."

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Kill it, cook it, eat it.

Now there's something you don't hear everyday!

I had one young lady ask me if I had suffered a traumatic childhood.

I told her, "No," and added that I don't plan to allow some thug to subject me to a traumatic adulthood.

If they make a derogatory comment to me. I am not going to "let them be" I am going to defend my position and beliefs!

Greetings, All,

This has been a great and informative thread, not to mention very entertaining!! Two short stories from my experiences along these lines:

Years ago, a good friend and his wife, who actually is also a good friend, visited our home, and I showed her husband a new firearm I'd purchased. She asked me, "How many guns to you own"? I replied, "I really don't know, as I've never counted them". She immediately fired back, "Why do you need any more than ONE gun"?!!! Knowing that her husband collected motorcycles, I very calmly and quietly replied, "Why does your husband need more than ONE motorcycle"? She was, quite literally, stunned by that answer, and she has never asked me about owning guns since then. She "understood" about motorcycle collecting, and just had never thought about the fact that guns could also be "collected", very legitimately!

Years later, my wife and I were having breakfast with an Editor for a magazine, known to have a very liberal and leftest audience, much of the time. She asked me, "So, I hear that you are into guns. Do you hunt"? I said, "Yes, I have hunted in the past, but not recently. I'm thinking about buying a new license next year, and getting back into hunting again. Have you ever tasted game meat"? She shocked the living heck out of me by saying, "OH YES!! My Dad used to hunt all the time, and I love venison, if it's been properly harvested and prepared"!! She further went on to tell me that her Dad taught her how to clean his rifles, shotguns and pistols, and that she loved the smell of Hoppe's #9!! Overjoyed at this completely unexpected turn of events, from such a person whom I'd assumed would be a blatant anti-gun liberal, we went on to discuss how Hoppe's #9 smells absolutely the best, when used on old steel rifle barrels!!! Just goes to show you, you can't always judge a book, or in the case a magazine Editor, by it's (her) cover!!!!

By the way, as a last comment, I've found that I catch a lot more flies (liberal anti-gun folks) with honey, than with vinegar, for what it's worth! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

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Honor God, above all.

I'd be VERY happy to let them be. The only problem is that most liberal anti-gunners also want to impose their viewpoint via restrictive laws on the rest of the country, i.e. "I don't like guns (or am afraid of guns) and think they are evil, therefore, no one should be allowed to own any."

I like, enjoy and see the practical utility of guns. By the same token, I don't try to convince everyone in the country to own a gun. We all have certain rights. Here in America that includes free speech and the individual right to keep and bear arms. As a law-abiding citizen (not "subject") I want to be left the hell alone about my views and the exercise of my God-given rights, and I am more than happy to respect others' views and the exercise of their rights. My opinion is that if you don't want to own a gun, you are free to not buy one. But don't try to restrict MY right to own one or more if I want to. I will be on your case like a duck on a June bug, and that's a promise.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

OK, yeah, what he said too!!!!

+1
We don't have a problem with them choosing not to own a gun. We have a problem with them trying to force their way on us and the remarks on their intelligence is based soley on the non-factual garb they try to pass off as reasoning for their argument which IMHO pretty much sums up where they're coming from.

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sticks-n-stones&hollowpoints

I can only remember being asked once how many guns I had.
I asked "Rifles, shotguns, or handguns?"
They were interested in handguns.
"Five", I said, "but I'd have another half dozen if I could afford 'em."
Which promptly caused the conversation to move into "what gun should I buy for home defense when my wife doesn't like guns?"

Luckily, I live in Texas and if someone asks me if I own or carry gun and I answer yes..... we usually end up comparing notes and showing each other our guns. God bless Texas!

1. Caj - deviled eggs and Scotch? You should be ashamed! Funny as hell but still be ashamed.

My stock answer is "several" and will not go into specifics despite additional requests.

To the question "Why do you have more than one?"

"Because I can."

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Actually, you DO have a right to bear arms. You are, however, in a situation where your government does not recognize your God-given right to self-defense. Best wishes for improvement of your situation.

A feller asked me one time if I carried a gun. I asked him if his wife wore boxers or briefs? Short conversation....

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Eccentric old coot

A while back I was at a table with about 5 other folks and where talking about guns when one of the group was a bit surprised to learn that every other of us at the table were all gun owners and even more surprised that I had a photo of one of the other guy's rifles on my phone. She had no issue with any of us being gun owners, including the couple from New Jersey, and in fact was interested in gong to the range.
As for cost of taking antis to the range, provide they are not moochers, in the long run it sounds like a good investment to me. Have them use yours the first time, the rent something (if that is an option) the second time, then take them to a gun store or show.

That's a great answer. I've kinda lost track myself.

Sometimes I smile and just say "enough to arm a small army"! Then they don't think I'm being serious at all so it usually ends the conversation.

Later, they probably wonder if I was telling them the truth.

Last time I was asked how many guns I owned was by a self proclaimed anti-gun liberal Democrat, my response was " none of your business, if you want to know come to my house... uninvited"

"Only 117 that the Government knows about..."

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Isaiah 41:10

When a friend or family member learns I carry they have asked "expecting trouble?"
I normally answer "ask anybody who has been robbed, raped or murdered if they were expecting trouble".

I do not get asked this by strangers because I do not talk to strangers or give up to much personal info with coworkers I am not familiar with.

My family members or friends that do not understand guns are not mind numb liberals, its just that were never exposed to them growing up.

Question: How many guns do you own.
Answer: Not enough. Why? Do you have some for sale?

Since this thread is from 2010, I guess one way or another the situation has changed.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Very few people know I own guns. That is just fine with me.

If somebody were to ask me if I do or how many, I would just look at them coldly (which I do very well) and ask, "Now why would you ask a question like that?" And change the subject.

This thread opened in 2010. Seems to have staying power.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I've never really had any negative feedback about my ownership of guns, except from my grandmother. There's been a few Sunday visits I have missed on the account I was out shooting and I guess my dad let that slip.

Those that choose not to own are certainly welcome to their convictions and should not be hounded. Good people who use common sense and/or logic understand this. While not wanting to label people as liberal, democrat, etc., it is typically these groups that want guns banned. Why? Simply because they do like them. It is a double standard. More often than not if people on the left do not like something then that something should be taken away from everybody.
Now besides guns what else kills people? Steak knives, hammers, cars and swimming pools. Nobody is stating these implements of destruction should be banned because those people enjoy eating, building birdhouses, driving to a protest or taking a dip on a hot summer evening.

The reason some posters here are "pushing back" is because it is a freedom to tell an opposing viewpoint (for the time being) and since liberals are known for their bullying tactics the best weapon to use on a bully is to stand up to them. I'm sure several will agree with me on this. Bullies are cowards and stood up to with good info they typically run with tails tucked.