I was visited by possible new neighbors today....

[MO_mule]

USAF385:

So, are you considering changing your screen-name to "Mr. Rogers"? .... 'won't you be my neighbor?'

I agree with those who suggested bringing them into the 2A fold. Once they get settled in and recognize that you're not such a bad egg, you might have to put up a couple extra targets for the neighbs. Here's hopin'.

And, for the record, the Yaris is the official car of pirates.

Chris

 

[GregG]

Start a hog farm,that will keep the neighbors away

If there are any feral hogs there the new buyers will become shooters all on their own.

 

[n4zov]

My experience with city folks moving into the country is that pretty soon they are annoyed by real country life and want to start change it into their version of "country." Their version excluded just about anything you were doing before they arrived. Good luck.

 

[USAF385]

If they do decide to move in I'll be a good neighbor. Perhaps they have some discomfort / unfamiliarity with guns but they do seem pretty nice.

The husband seems like a guy I could get along with... hes not much older than me and showed an interest in some of the outdoors things I told him I did... hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing (although he has never kayaked or fished!). Perhaps getting him to try target shooting wouldn't be a stretch.

We'll see how this goes.

 

[Mod10]

They are planning on buying a small 10 acre parcel of land next to me.

The land must be cheap where you live; you are the first person I have ever heard that considers 10 acres a small parcel.

 

[BarbC]

I have to relate a small story:

A couple of weeks ago we went across the street to friends' who had also invited their very old friends who are NJ ultra-suburbanites. The folks were great and we had so much in common with fast cars, good beer, good music etc.

To get to the point: The friends knew that almost everyone on the block are gun people and even though my friend is not real gun fan, she is a retired NJ detective. I told them I have three carry permits, shoot cowboy action, and recently became an NRA certified instructor. So the husband made a few joking references to feeling very safe here among us! I think they were more afraid of bears than anything else back up here on the ridge.

So a little while later, I asked him if he would like to see my KelTec P3AT. I had it stashed in my purse and took it out, showed him as I dropped the magazine, ejected the chambered round, and racked the slide twice twice to show that it was completely empty. Then I handed it over to him.

Most people receive a gun into their hand and then try the grip on for size. This very nice, very suburban man picked up the butt end of the gun with the tips of his thumb and forefinger as if he was picking up a dead rat. He gingerly held it out and after a respectable length of time, handed it back. I don't think he had ever been up close to a gun in his life.

However, I really believe that having so much common ground and basework of trust between us all makes it quite likely that we have a future shooter in the making.

I think that's the key to the induction of new shooters: Trust.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Aw, Barb.... he just didn't want to get fingerprints on it, dontcha know?

 

[Forester]

The land must be cheap where you live; you are the first person I have ever heard that considers 10 acres a small parcel.

Almost too small.

 

[gunlovingirl]

Personally, I'd be thrilled to have a neighbor like you!

 

[JcMack]

Yaris is actually a pretty damn decent car.
Good MPG, dependable, not too expensive in the grand scheme of things.


Jim

I thought the Yaris was a sign of some unpretentious, down to earth types. But it's probably a rental.

 

[Joe Kent]

A fact that we all know is ,shooting is just plain fun. At the first good opportunity, invite them shooting, My advice would be to use 22lr on targets that "do something" spin, turn , break, or blow up{not explosive}. I have had the best luck with new shooters using bigger pcs. of fruit, potatoes, charcoal bricketts, clay targets or any of the various spinners or knock down targets and there is nothing wrong with plastic soda bottles filled with colored water if you want to mess with a more extensive clean-up. My point is make the targets "easy" enough to hit and have them do something. Shooting paper is boring to new shooters, they will have more fun on reactionary targets. Good luck bringing new members "into the fold". All my very best, Joe.

 

[Mule88]

Lets us know how it works out. Maybe you scared them off

 

[Chase]

Some work when the new neighbors move in can usually pay dividends down the road. Since you've indicated that they are surrounded by normal people, it shouldn't be too hard to gradually acclimate them...or they'll not fit and leave. I like the pie suggestion and it never hurts to take someone fishing. Guns in sports context are an easy sell.

 

[GUNFUNCO]

Barb C-

When he handed the gun back to you, you should have picked it back up with a handkerchief, thanked him, folded the hanky around it and then put it back in your purse. Then watch his reaction.

I've got a buddy that does that (except for the purse part) for kicks whenever he shows someone something like a knife or a gun. You should see some of the reactions he gets.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
You and your other neighbor might consider purchasing that parcel of property- you half and him half. That way no "None Shooters" will move in. I can see that couple as cronic complainers.
Jimmy

 

[jimmyj]

Hi, Again:
I have had second thoughts. Run their livestock off and burn their barn.
They are "Sheepherders"!

 

[BE Mike]

You handled the situation very well. Unfortunately it seems like more and more 20-30 something folks aren't gun folks. They seem to be into cool stuff like tattoos, drinking wine and saving the whatever. I wouldn't be surprised if they built on the property and then tried to shut down all shooting and/or hunting in the area.

 

[Frank237]

I've been where Your at. All You can do is be polite and try to teach them to accept the fact that your a shooter. Try to get them interested as well.

Unfortunately so many people move away from the city to enjoy the rural life...then try to turn it right back into the City they left.

You have the law on your side. I assume that shooting is allowed in your area, and you are on a sizeable piece of property. So safety isn't a factor.

Wish You the best of luck. The "neighbor issues" situation can be a Royal PITA. Have been there in the past. Luckily mine moved away.

FN in MT

 

[paladin42]

When I was looking for my farm, I talked to my potential neighbors about the area. One [now] neighbor's grandfather used to own my land. He still gets his water from one of my springs. When we first met, I asked him if the spring water mixed well with homemade whiskey. He smiled, stuck out his hand and said, "I like you already."

Another neighbor and I talked about which direction each of us was going to be target shooting so we didn't cross paths.

Life is good in the mountains of Tennessee.

 

[dave b]

Did you have banjo music playing in the background?