Being from NJ where everyone seems to be anti-gun and working in a white-collar world, I have experienced many, many anti-gun people. I keep a mental notebook of the funny things they will ask.

I have found it interesting that so many anti-gun people (even before they will reveal they are anti-gun) initially will ask, "How many guns do you have?" once they learn you went shooting last weekend, for example (and from experience, this is an indicator the person I'm talking to is anti-gun, before they admit it...and many will not) Does anyone else notice this phenomenon??

There is some magical number in the anti-gunner's mind that is TOO many. If you respond with a number of 1-2, that may be realistic in their minds, but anything over 5 is proof positive that you are a crackpot that is likely to go on a shooting spree in the near future.

Anyone else experience this?

I believe the best response may be "More than I need, but less than I want." That usually is sufficiently vague to thwart their Amount of guns owned vs degree of insanity equasion. Maybe someone else will have a better response handy.

IC

The correct response to "how many guns do you have" is "how much money do you have in the bank, what's the alarm code to your front door, and how often do you and your wife have sex?"

Hopefully the questioner will get the point that "it ain't any of your flippin' business".

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I always take precautions

If they ask how many firearms do you own they are told it's none of their business

Yes, I do.

I always invite these folks to go shooting. I tell 'em, "I'm sure you want to be correct in your factual knowledge, so come on over and I'll give you an opportunity to see what we're talking about, and I'll be happy to answer all of your questions."

This doesn't always work, of course, but it puts the onus on the anti-gunner because refusing your kind offer means that he doesn't care about being "correct in his factual knowledge."

If he does take you up on your offer, you've got 'em. Said an anti-gun candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates after shooting my AR-15 (from a bench rested position), "Hey! This is fun!!"

Remember, you give up a clever put down, but he who laughs last, laughs best.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I once had an anti-gun friend spot a bullet from a speed strip peeking out of my watch pocket....he asked me what it was for and I told him it's a reload for my 38 on my ankle..then he says, well, okay, at least you don't carry it loaded..

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Brutal honesty is the best policy. So I tell them with complete truthfulness "I have no idea". Then I smile.

Its best to let them guess if I'm just stupid, drunk, or forgetful. Could be all three!

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Dick Burg

Golly! I need to get out more! I am comeing up on 70 and belive it or not I have never been asked or heard negative comments about me haveing guns! But then I cant say I even know one democrat for sure!

I rarely get asked that question, and my answer depends on my relationship with the person asking. If a close friend, I'll say something along the lines of "several". If a stranger I'll say what my Dad told me to say if anybody asked me how many guns HE owned. "Just an old shotgun he hunts with". That's what I've told my kids to say.
For me, the less information, the better.

"Not nearly as many as I'd like. If I had more money, I'd have a LOT more."

"Are you planning to shoot somebody?"
"I wasn't before this conversation started..."

If someone unfamiliar with handguns finds out I've gone shooting at the range, one of the first few questions is usually, "Can I go?" And I will usually say yes.

I get asked that a fair amount. I usually just answer truthfully, "Coupla dozen handguns and half dozen or so rifles." In my case, I never seem to get any follow up questions, unless its a fellow gun guy, and then we get to talking about our collectons and interests. Usually the conversation just stops at that point. Maybe antis see the glint in my eye at that point, and wisely back off...

I think it would be incredibly rude for an anti-gun person to start criticizing my ownership of guns... Yep. That would be bad manners indeed. I would be affronted for sure....

I have very little patience with anti gun people. Questions like "Why so many?"(usually asked for any number over one) "What are you afraid of" and statements like "I don't like guns" just plain irk me. I find it pretty easy to be rude right back which most times ends the conversation. When you're my age it's easy to be a grouchy old man about some things.
BT

Standard answer to a stranger-"Why do you want to know?"
Answer to people I know-" More than I'll ever need but not nearly as many as I want!!"

But I DO like the answer "How often do you have sex with your wife?" I'm gonna remember that one!!

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Forum consigliere

In Cali, people always ask me why I need more than 1 gun but no one ever questions my 57 cats.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

do you have a ak 47?

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

The weirdest thing I hear from anti-gun people upon learning that I shoot, hunt, etc, (and usually with a just a hint of disgust or moral superiority) is "I don't believe in guns." To which I respond, "What, you mean like the Easter Bunny?" Shuts 'em right up, every time.

I've been asked if I'm planning on going postal when a co-worker brought over several bandoleers of 5.56 I was buying from him. The guy did ask kind of sheepishly but was going to try and help me if I was having problems. We later talked for an hour or so when we got put on guard duty at the same time. He still didn't think anyone needed that much ammo but understood better when I compared it to buying case lots of food at the commissary.

A neighbor said I was to nice to own guns. She was from the inner city and thought only Police and scumbags had guns.

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Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

About the most common thing I am asked is if I am not afraid to have a gun in the house.

I reply that I would be afraid not to have a gun in the house. The more guns, the less afraid I am.

Be careful of taking anti gunners to the range. They like it and want you to take them more often so they can shoot up your ammo and use your gun. This allows them to enjoy shooting at zero cost.

Last 4th of July BBQ, one of the guys the wife and I used to work with spotted my SW40VE on my waist, asked me if I was expecting trouble. I patted him on the shoulder, told him I always expect trouble, he really needs the read that newspaper before he puts it down for the dog to pee on...

Don't forget, according to the standard, PC NJ mindset, it's not a collection, it's an arsenal.
Up here in God's country (believe it or not) people understand.

Tony (comparatively free after 46 yrs in NJ)

I have mixed feelings on that one. I generally have a strong stomach, but depending on what his wife looks like, I might not want the answer. In fact, I might not be able to handle the truth. With some people I know, if I heard the answer, I'd have to wonder "why?"

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Dick Burg

I like to respond...

"Probably more than the times that you've had sex with your wife in the last month... no, probably in the six months... no, actually more than in the last year."

"How many do you think I have?"

I stare off in space and say "You know. I really don't know, I would have to take off my shoes to be able to count that high... "

Good friends just roll eyes when I say "Guess what I bought yesterday.."

Never been asked "How many?" A woman noticed my holstered revolver and asked, "Aren't you afraid it will go off?"

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Term limits!

When an anti asks me why I have guns I usually ask them why they don't care enough for their loved ones to help keep them safe from the scum in the world. These people live under the false assumption that having a gun automatically means you'll need it. They shouldn't carry a spare tire in their car since not having it will mean you'll never need it. If I'm not in the mood for the conversation I'll just say "If you don't like our constitution and the right to survive in the world we live maybe you live in the wrong country."

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sticks-n-stones&hollowpoints

A few years ago I was with a group of friends for dinner and the conversation turned to my interest in firearms. One of the hosts asked, ".....and Frank, how many weapons do you have at home?" I replied that I didn't have any weapons but that I owned many screwdrivers, chisels, hammers, many bars of steel, files, a geologists hammer with one end ground to a nice point, three axes, knives, and a comprehensively equipped workshop in which I had the means to turn the files into something really sharp. Also, a few guns.

I of course was trying to make the point that they all could be weapons, but weren't until I chose to use them as such.

Trouble is, the people who ask those questions usually don't get it, even when you point to the knife block containing nine knives on their kitchen bench.

I don't see them much any more.

Frank S. SWCA2052.

Yup, that's the one I hear....

When asked if I own any assault weapons my standard answer
is "My guns have one sole purpose, to defend innocent life."

So, I guess my guns are 'Defense weapons'.

My modest collection is my 'steel 401K'
How has yours been doing lately??

Any sincere person is invited to classroom safe gun handling
and a trip to the range. I'll even buy the 22s' !

Happy Holidays to all.

Allen Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

"How many guns do you have"?

"Please be more specific, are you talking about semi-automatic handguns or revolvers? Sing shot, pump action or semi-auto shotguns, bolt action, lever action, or semi-automatic rifles, classic collectibles or Curios and Relics? Which could be handguns or miltary surplus rifles."

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Proverbs 14:7

"How many guns to you have?" What's the limit?

"Why do you need a gun? You need a gun to make you feel like a man?" THAT'S THE ONE THAT MAKES ME MAD! The guys who usually say stuff like that have probably never been in hand to hand combat unless it was in the 3rd grade when Wendy hit him on the back on the playground. I have personally witnessed a black belt in Tae Kwon Do get his butt beaten by some young street kid who didn't know any better.

I do not discuss my ownership and use of firearms with people who I do not know well. I am not willing to get into a useless argument at my workplace or with my colleagues in pastoral ministry. I am aware that there are many people in my local congregation who strongly support the 2nd Amendment and especially are pleased at my position on the 2nd Amendment as well as my personal use of firearms. I recognize that my immediate supervisor as well as the bishop would not well receive my advocacy of firearms as well as hunting and vintage military rifle competition. It is pointless to engage in long winded discussions with people whose mind is already fixed in concrete. JMHO. Merry Christmas!!!

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<><

Several times when people learn I own guns, they've said something like, "But surely you're not in the NRA, are you?" When I say yes and they ask me why, I say "Because I believe in civil rights. Don't you?"

I've found an answer that works for this question: Not a d@mned thing! I've got a bunch of guns and ammo.

My sister and brother in law are very anti-gun. They live out of town so I don't have to deal with them that often. Once they made a surprise visit while I was out running errands and my wife was entertaining them when I walked in the door with a new purchase (found a nice Winchester 94 in the used gun rack at the Co-Op). They about panicked, then sis asks "What are you going to do with that?" I just said "Shoot stuff" as I walked by to put it away.

They didn't stay long.

Even with a few friends, fellow workers, and family members being steaming liberals, the rare times I recall ever hearing the question was from other "gun nuts". One friend, in particular, who knows mine substantially outnumber his, always gets the standard answer..."Don't know...don't care".

I am relatively new to handgun ownership and am fortunate not to have met such rude people as have been recounted here. When the subject does come up, I am polite but firm in explaining my resolve in being able to protect myself and my loved ones as well as the fun aspect of putting ammunition to target.
I could try other tactics but I'm guessing some responses stated above are not effective icebreakers when seeking to gain a mutual understanding.

being from ma. i am sick of being criticized for what i do. it just becomes inflammatory; like this:
Q; what about that man who shot his wife in the head ?
A: well maybe she didn't listen; had to clean out that space between her ears.

when criticized by a group of animal rights activists over a lambskin jacket my retort was: " yea; i shot it with a gun, it was still quivering when skinned, then i ate the meat raw leaving the remains to rot on the side of the road". they all then converged in a corner and proceeded to talk behind my back.

i don't blame inanimate objects for others mistakes: i.e.; gambling, booze, cars, guns etc. you kill someone that is your problem.
i quote the famous si-fi writer philip k. dick: " the definition of a human being is one that automatically knows the difference between right and wrong".

Last non-gun person that I became acquainted with, is now a bonafide S&W collector/shooter.
He's like a kid in a candy store at a gun show!

Matter of fact, He recently bought a pristine 1950 K-22 Combat Masterpiece with diamond target grips.

His wife is still PO'd at Me, even though He bought it for her to shoot at the range.

Guess that I'm a BAD influence! Hehehehe.......

I left my last job about 8 mos. ago. I was there about 4 yrs. and hopefully it's the last job I will ever take (as I think I'm retired). I live in gun friendly Indiana, where there is one job for every ten people. So for a long time I've had to find work in not so gun friendly N.E. Illinois. After 4-5 mos. I confided to a co worker my interest in the "gun hobby". Soon I was known as the office gun nut. Since I was a repairman in the"field" (out of the office) most of the time I had little contact with most of the folks at the office. On some occasions we all lunched together (males, females, no dominant representative of either sex), At these lunches guns came up once in a while because of the discussion of Chicago news. As in a pack mentality the entire group was anti gun. But, in private, individual, conversation at least half of these people all approached me about owning/shooting a gun, for home defense. The more down to earth of these folks came around to the realization, all is not well in our current society.

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SOS USA

I don't discuss my gun ownership with people I don't know well. I'm always happy to discuss the 2nd amendment with them though and their own right to self protection.

I'm known at work as a gun nut although most I work with are also gun owners of one sort or another. When asked by them how many guns I own I tell them I don't know as that'd take the fun out of collecting them.
I often mention I collect older S&W revolvers and being a collection they seem to give them a pass as they think those not the evil black ones?

I've had friends tell me that when it all goes bad in this country they're coming to my place as I have all the guns. I tell them good but bring lots of food as we'll all get hungry. I get blank stares most times then.

About 20 yrs ago, I was going out with this woman, after a couples of dates, I mention to her I'm actively involved in shooting sport, as I shot high power rifle, smallbore, rifle, bullseye handgun...etc, she asked "how many gun do you have?" I replied "Not sure, I haven't counted lately" she think I'm joking, of course I'm not.

My sister in law and other non gun owners always asked "why do you need so many guns?" I answered "why do you need so many pair of shoes/handbags/dresses...etc?" they will said " different shoes/dress... for different occasions." I'll replied "same as my guns each and everyone are for different occasions and events." That usually will shut them up, on the other hand some more curious type will ask me to tell them about what kind of guns I'm using in what kind of mtaches and such, and I always offer to take them out to the range to try it for themself, even managed to make a couple of converts out of them.

My boss asked me why I feel the need to have a gun at work and I said "In case you're attacked by a competetor or an angry client and you haven't signed the paychecks yet." He liked that answer.

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sticks-n-stones&hollowpoints

How many guns do I have?

More than one, less than a thousand.

I like your answer too.

I escaped from the Peoples Republic of New Jersey way back in 1979. The idiotic gun laws were a large part of my decision to leave and move to Montana.

I did thirty two years with a badge so even in Jersey my gun ownership was allowed by the few Liberal friends I had as; "He's a cop and guns are part of his job". In Montana gun ownership is fairly universal, so they hardly raise an eyebrow here.

When I first moved to Montana I visited the local Buttrey-Osco supermarket and drug store after a midnight shift on the PD. They were closing out the gun shop in Osco and had a hell of a sale on the few remaining handguns on the shelf.

After twenty nine years in Jersey the checkout was very memorable. "Bread....dollar fifty....eggs...ninety five cents....sporting goods (S&W M-57) three hundred forty seven....Anything else sir"??

Or the time I drove my new Winchester M-70 home strapped to the back seat of my motorcycle from Helena. Easy to read "Winchester" on the box. Wouldn't have gotten 5 miles in NJ before confronted by a SWAT team and a felony stop.

The OP Inspector-Callahan has a great story about declaring his AR's at the Philly airport...enroute to my place for a gopher slaying trip. Talk about the differences between gun friendly and gun fearing!

FN in MT

Question: "Why do you own guns?"

Answer: "For protection."

Question: "What are you afraid of?"

Answer: "Absolutely nothing."

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

No, I haven't.

But then again, folks in these parts don't ask questions that are...Well, just in bad taste.

Like how many cows do you run?
How many sections or acres of land, ect.

Personal stuff, like...How many daughters or guns you got?

You know question that might get your jaws rung, ect...


Now for the story.
All of y'all knew there was a story comin'.


My Father-In-Law wasn't necessarily anit-gun.

He was more anti-Dave than anything else...
Think it may have had something to do with stealin' away his only daughter, or something like that.

Well, we're visiting with her folks one Sunday afternoon, when I got up from the kitchen table my jacket kinda gap open a bit.
Her Dad says, "You carrying a gun there???!!!"

All I could think to answer was, "I was when I left home this morning, why ya ask?"

Never been quizzed about it since.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

The one I hate is when they respond, "Oh - don't get her mad!"

I tell them that responsibly carrying a gun actually puts you in a calmer state of mind because there's no reason to throw a tantrum.

Wouldn't matter if you WERE asked. Sixty-some guns is not all that many, and certainly not enough to make a negative comment about.

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Formerly Model520Fan

Was taking my daughter and new son-in-law to dinner, one night, at Olive Garden. We had to wait for a table, so SIL suggests we wait in the bar. I tell him I can't go in the bar. Why can't you go in the bar? I can't go in the bar. What have you done that you can't go in the bar?? I can't go in the bar, okay? Then the little light bulb goes off over my daughter's head, and she grins and says, "Yeah, he can't go in the bar." Now he's getting louder and louder. WHY WON'T THEY LET YOU IN THE BAR???? Shut the hell up. You can't carry a gun in a bar in Florida. YOU'RE CARRYING A GUN?!?!?!?!? Yeah, a little louder. I don't think they heard you in the kitchen.

Not so much "anti", as "never had any experience with".

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I always take precautions