Family gun problem

[Brianbasic]

That's not what my family does. I wanted to gift my brother a Hi Pointe pistol and carbine in 40S&W, a few magazines, and some ammo. I just want him to have something and I don't make very much money. When I first told my mom she was like "ah hell no, he don't want no gun". She right about how he feels about it. Despite this I feel it is better to have and need than need and not have. Hell, he can put in a closet and even look at it for all I care(partly because I'm going to sight them in before I give them to him). I just want to know he has the option. Now I'm torn on what to do. What would you guys do?

 

[Kodiakco]

Since it's a gift, get him a gift card instead. Don't force something he doesn't want onto him. With the necessary responsibility that goes with owning a firearm, I wouldn't give one to someone that doesn't want one.

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[wingriderz]

With Kodiakco

 

[Arik]

If he doesn't want why get it. If it's going to sit out of sight out of mind it will remain there when actually needed

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[amcline82]

One of two things I would save for a while and get yourself a nice gun or save for a while and get him just one gun and defenatly not a high point.

Friends don't let friends buy Taurus.

 

[Alpo]

I didn't see this as, "it's a gift-giving occasion, so I decided to give him a gun", so I see no need for a gift card.

Instead this seemed to me to be, "I love my brother and worry about him, so want to give him a gun, just in case".

Oh well, you tried.

It's like he's a smoker, or a druggie, or a drunk. You know this is bad for him. You want him to stop, because you love him and you worry. But no matter how much you talk to him, he continues to smoke, get drunk, or do drugs.

Oh well. You tried. He won't stop until he wants to stop.

And getting a gun is the same way. No matter how YOU feel, until HE wants a gun, he won't have a gun.

 

[JSR III]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Instead, take your brother to the range and let him shoot something. I usually suggest something mild to start like a .22 not a .458 Weatherby Magnum Nitro Express.

When I used to help out when local Boy Scout troops would use our gun club for a weekend retreat, we always included a session on the outdoor rifle range and then the trap field.

On the range we would set up the tiny steel silhouettes and the kids would shoot them with .22 rifles. Many times a mother or father would be present as a helper and you could always tell the ones that were fearful of guns. After the scout shot his quota (with much cheering and atta boys from us and huge smiles from them) we would offer the parent an opportunity. Many were reluctant at first but once they got into it and realized that firearms could be fun and especially once they hit something, many hearts and minds were won over.

I merely offer the story above as an illustration that sometimes if you start out slow and easy, even the most skeptical person can be brought over from the dark side.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Maybe he just didn't want a Hi-Point? Try a Glock or an M&P . . .

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

A lot of folks are better off without having their hands on a firearm. That a person knows this about him/her self is a good thing.

 

[Kanewpadle]

My grandfather brought an M1 carbine back from Korea. Years later he passed it to my dad who years later passed it to me. I thought I would share and passed it to my little brother a few years later. The little **** sold it.

 

[billwill]

Give him an NRA. Membership ...after a few months of reading the American Rifleman he should be ready to go shooting and be a convert.

 

[Iggy]

If he doesn't want a gun, it would probably not be properly stored or secured and may lead to tragedy in later years.

 

[kwselke]

Iggy beat me to it. Owning a gun is a responsibility. He may not want the responsibility to learn to use it safely and properly, and to make certain it is secured properly when not in use. Unless he has expressed a desire to own a gun I would not gift him a gun.

 

[pharmer]

With the necessary responsibility that goes with owning a firearm, I wouldn't give one to someone that doesn't want one.

That.........................................Joe

 

[JohnSW]

Hell, he can put in a closet and even look at it for all I care...

What if you give him a gun that he doesn't want, and someday somebody uses it to commit suicide? (Most gun deaths are suicides.)

 

[Brianbasic]

To address some of the posts. The occasion is his 21st birthday. Hi point was chosen for its good reliability, relatively low maintenance(for example zamac doesn't rust),it is relatively common, and most important and a requirement(requirements were set by me) interchangeable magazines(I would have chose 9mm if it this requirement). As for the safety aspect, my brother and I grew up in a house with a Coast to Coast 12GA pump in a Allen camo soft side case in my Mom closet. There were no shells in the house, but that's not my point. While I was growing up(and to this day for that matter) I was really the only person who touched it(sometimes without permission although that was due to being a gut nut(First time I shot was 13, I was a gun nut by 16)and it being my late father's.). I know he'll keep it unloaded and the ammo separate. He is far from stupid(attending college on scholarship(also was offered a full ride at SIU Carbondale which he declined, because he did not want to move away from home)). lastly I have made him aware of the plan a couple of times in the past. I made aware of the plan in hoping he would aid in financing it. If I could/can get him to throw something in the pool(I asked for preferably $200, Then told even $100 would be a big help, hell I would take a use whatever amount he would give me) I would get him a police trade in Glock, M&P, or 92s and a carbine that used their respective magazines. That's what plan originally consisted of, but when I did some looking around. I was disappointed, frustrated, and saddened when I found that I could not fund the project without making MAJOR sacrifices to my own systems(mostly ammo and lack of mag/speedloader pouches, but more importantly first aid kits) and collection. Well, that's all I can think of off hand, hope it answers some of your questions.

 

[Kodiakco]

You asked an opinion and were given such. It appears not to be the answer you wanted to hear. You don't have to justify your decision to anyone. Based on the info you gave IMO it's the wrong decision. Ultimately it's your decision to make and live with. Good luck to you.

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[i1afli]

It was your Mom's opinion that he didn't want a gun...what's his opinion? Does he like to shoot? If he's responsible and seems to want it then i see no reason not to give it to him.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Your hearts in the right place....Take him shooting and see if he warms to the idea.......

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that he's "stupid". Many intelligent folks are not well suited or otherwise interested in possessing firearms at a particular time in their life for a variety of reasons or circumstances that might not be apparent to others, even a brother.

It's been my observation in life that far too many think they know what's best for the other guy, and far too few know what they're talking about.