New neigbor Is anti gun
- Thread starter coldmold
- Start date
BuckeyeChuck
Member
My parents were a bit of a contradiction. They raised us to believe in personal freedom and the rule of law, but we weren't even allowed to play with toy guns, let alone shoot real guns. (Squirt guns were as close as we got, except when we were at friends' homes. Did we play with their toy guns? Oh yes. Did we enjoy it? Oh yes. Yes we did.)
I got into the gun game much later in life than most of you, but I have become the evangelist for the family and coworkers. I have taken three of my coworkers shooting. One of them -- a Bulgarian -- always supported the right bear arms and loves to shoot. A second -- an American -- said one of his pre-teen daughter was upset when she saw him ogling guns in a sporting goods shop, but he is likely going to join the gun owner ranks in the next few months. A third -- an Indian (dot, not feather) -- had never really considered gun ownership or use. When I asked him if he would like to shoot, I could see the wheels turning in his head, but he readily agreed. He had a great time (so did I!) and I think he'd like to go again.
This past weekend, we had our annual birthday party for our three sons. All four of my siblings were there with their children. I ended up showing them my Liberty safe, my M&P9, and my Remington 870 Express. They *asked* to see them because they never have. My sister-in-law's eyes got wide when I produced a loaded M&P9 from my bedside lockbox, and then walked her through the process to unload it and verify that it was unloaded so we could safely handle it. I need to take her shooting. I think thereafter she and my brother will become gun owners, and that's good, in my opinion. The old evangelical mantra of "each one reach one" is the best way to ensure this cornerstone right is preserved. When you convert parents, you do more than reach one because you also reach their children.
Those of you who were raised around guns by responsible adults may lack a certain perspective: those of us who handled, shot, and owned our first guns well into our adult lives were nervous the first time we were even around a loaded gun. Why? A loaded gun is a deadly weapon and is inherently dangerous. It's a big deal, but by holding somebody's hand as they see, handle, and shoot a gun for the first time you attach responsible humanity to the object. You demonstrate that the inherent danger of a gun only becomes manifest danger when a person is involved, and also that said inherent danger is managed properly by responsible people.
Besides, shooting is fun!
I got into the gun game much later in life than most of you, but I have become the evangelist for the family and coworkers. I have taken three of my coworkers shooting. One of them -- a Bulgarian -- always supported the right bear arms and loves to shoot. A second -- an American -- said one of his pre-teen daughter was upset when she saw him ogling guns in a sporting goods shop, but he is likely going to join the gun owner ranks in the next few months. A third -- an Indian (dot, not feather) -- had never really considered gun ownership or use. When I asked him if he would like to shoot, I could see the wheels turning in his head, but he readily agreed. He had a great time (so did I!) and I think he'd like to go again.
This past weekend, we had our annual birthday party for our three sons. All four of my siblings were there with their children. I ended up showing them my Liberty safe, my M&P9, and my Remington 870 Express. They *asked* to see them because they never have. My sister-in-law's eyes got wide when I produced a loaded M&P9 from my bedside lockbox, and then walked her through the process to unload it and verify that it was unloaded so we could safely handle it. I need to take her shooting. I think thereafter she and my brother will become gun owners, and that's good, in my opinion. The old evangelical mantra of "each one reach one" is the best way to ensure this cornerstone right is preserved. When you convert parents, you do more than reach one because you also reach their children.
Those of you who were raised around guns by responsible adults may lack a certain perspective: those of us who handled, shot, and owned our first guns well into our adult lives were nervous the first time we were even around a loaded gun. Why? A loaded gun is a deadly weapon and is inherently dangerous. It's a big deal, but by holding somebody's hand as they see, handle, and shoot a gun for the first time you attach responsible humanity to the object. You demonstrate that the inherent danger of a gun only becomes manifest danger when a person is involved, and also that said inherent danger is managed properly by responsible people.
Besides, shooting is fun!
snowman
Member
Sir,
That is one of the most valuable posts I've seen on this forum in a long time. Let's hope your words fall into "good soil" here and bring forth much fruit. Thank you.
Andy
justsumstuff
Member
As I recall, this thread is specifically about 13year old girls. And IMHO, I interpret it as these people don't seem to be as anti-gun as uneducated about guns and gun safety, but more interested in "daughter safety". I believe that the father coming over to talk & agreeing to go shooting speaks to that!
The medicine cabinet that you refer to is applicable if there are the popular party drugs around (vicoden, hydrocodone, percocet, darvocet, etc you get the idea). I have injuries so I have these drugs in my medicine cabinet. These drugs are stored in my gun safe. I keep a few pills out for my consumption. When my kids teenage friends are around, "Out of sight, out of mind, No temptation!" is my motto. And part of "the danger" is what gets in the grape vine at school. Blank's mom takes thus & so. This information gets around & school & next thing ya know is some school kid is breaking into the house to steal the drugs.
This young lady might have gone home & said "Girl's grandad has guns!" She might have never mentioned they are stored in a safe, thus the parents jumped to an erroneous conclusion. Remember the telephone game from our childhood: The cow has brown spots goes through the classroom (20 kids) & ends up totally different, sometimes it's not even a cow.
The parents have also read in the media about the kids finding the guns in the "bedside table", when the bedroom was out of bounds. The parents need to be assured that you don't have that "loose cannon" in the house also.
Lots of good information and suggestions here. I too agree, start small and work up to the 500 magnum. A lot of fun can be had with a .22 and no one will be scared or intimidated.
My club has a chicken barbeque in September every year and the outdoor range is set up with .22 rifles for all to try. It's mostly for the kids and many are first time shooters. We use small .22 metal silouettes as there is nothing like the look in a kid's eyes when something goes "twang" and falls down. Punching paper is fun but kids like to see things fall down. Many of the first time adults get that same gleam in their eye when they knock something over. Lots of praise (that they never got as a kid) for hitting the target goes along well also.
Great story and we are all looking forward to the post range report.
My club has a chicken barbeque in September every year and the outdoor range is set up with .22 rifles for all to try. It's mostly for the kids and many are first time shooters. We use small .22 metal silouettes as there is nothing like the look in a kid's eyes when something goes "twang" and falls down. Punching paper is fun but kids like to see things fall down. Many of the first time adults get that same gleam in their eye when they knock something over. Lots of praise (that they never got as a kid) for hitting the target goes along well also.
Great story and we are all looking forward to the post range report.
justsumstuff
Member
Bad joke "gentlemen".
Good way to handle a anti gun neighbor. I commend you.
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