People are more interested in guns

[oldman45]

This week, I had three people that asked about my gun, what gun I would suggest for them and what they needed to do in order to get a permit.

The first was an orthopedic surgeon examining a family member. He is a great guy and truly wanting to learn about guns. After he examined the family member, he had me go into his private office so he could discuss what gun would be best for his needs, caliber choice and such. He then asked if I would take him with me to the range and let him shoot some guns. The man is 62 yrs of age. This took place on Tuesday.

The next was a female in her 40's and she was cutting the hair of a person in a barber chair next to me. The shooting in the CA beauty shop got her to thinking of all the shootings that have taken place in shops like hers. She talked me at length about guns, the legal process for permits and such. She also kept me there over an hour talking after my hair cut was finished. The next day, she called me from her shop to say she had gotten her parish permit thanks to me and was on her way to buy a handgun. This was on Thursday and she got her permit on Fri and possibly a gun as well.

The last was a Plastic Surgeon that was examining a family member. He wanted to know everything about handguns and I mean everything. He talked more to me about what he needed and his intended use for a handgun than he did with the family member about her condition. He is 55 yrs of age and went to his first gun show two weeks earlier. We now have an appointment for next Wed to go shooting and he wants me to bring a couple of different guns that he can try. The unusual thing about this man is he was on the rifle shooting team in high school and never fired a gun since then and never shot a handgun. This took place yesterday.

That is three new gun owners that vote in one week. I have had maybe two or three people ask me about guns in a year but never this many in a week and asking for my help in their decisions. And NEVER would I have thought that two doctors would ask for my help in selecting a gun for their needs.

People are interested in guns now moreso than ever before.

 

[longhair]

That's great. Congrats, and keep up the good work.

 

[snowman]

That's real encouraging. I hope that it's true in less gun-friendly states than yours also.

Andy

 

[hannstv]

I think there is a growing feeling by a large part of our population that one need to take more responsibility for our own welfare. We are beginning to have less faith in governments ability to be and do all things. This statement was not meant to be political.

 

[TACC1]

It's good to see that some people are stepping up to the plate in matters of taking charge of their own safety. I'm glad you're there
to help out. Good job! TACC1

 

[Trooperdan]

OldMan45, are they asking you because they have seen you carrying or do they know you well enough to know your interests? Either way, Well Done!

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Regarding guns, the majority of our population has been ambivalent to them for years. That's changing as people realize that gun laws only keep guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens but nothing to keep them out of the hands of criminals. More and more people are coming to the same conclusion, hence the interest in guns.

 

[wheelman44]

Surprising to me now there are 3 gun shows on discovery channel the Top shot, Sons of guns & American guns must be paying off to the network.

 

[oldman45]

OldMan45, are they asking you because they have seen you carrying or do they know you well enough to know your interests? Either way, Well Done!

Well, good question. I do carry openly but usually not to a drs office. The plastic surgeon saw my empty holster and that began the discussion. I see him twice a month as he keeps trying to decide how to cover my wife's massive wound. We are generally there for about a hour as his staff attempts to bandage the wound.

The beautician saw my gun and badge (it was actually my first time in that shop) and began a discussion on crime and that led to gun talk.

The ortho and I have often talked about world problems and other things. I have to be in his office about three hours each Monday as his staff works on the wife trying to cover her wound. This has been going on for five months and will last about two more years. As the staff works, he and I talk. We have a lot of common friends and he is a trap shooter. He is also a friend with a District Judge that I shoot with. The Judge only owns one handgun and the dr knows I collect guns.

 

[oldman45]

Surprising to me now there are 3 gun shows on discovery channel the Top shot, Sons of guns & American guns must be paying off to the network.

Ten years ago, you would not see the number of gun shows that we have now.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Oldman45;

You are a good example of how each of us can promote responsible gun ownership. We receive several calls every week from new CCW permit holders, from all walks of life, all professions, all segments of society, from all over the country. So many states now have "shall issue" passed into law, that previously had none. That alone accounts for a significant increase of law abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons. I think in many states, before "shall issue" laws were passed, many people who wanted a firearm for protection were discouraged by the bureaucratic process in place to get a permit, if one even existed at the time. Keep up the good work.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[oldman45]

Oldman45;

You are a good example of how each of us can promote responsible gun ownership. We receive several calls every week from new CCW permit holders, from all walks of life, all professions, all segments of society, from all over the country. So many states now have "shall issue" passed into law, that previously had none. That alone accounts for a significant increase of law abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons. I think in many states, before "shall issue" laws were passed, many people who wanted a firearm for protection were discouraged by the bureaucratic process in place to get a permit, if one even existed at the time. Keep up the good work.

Cheers;
Lefty

Lefty, you make a good point. Given a legal right, the honest, law abiding citizens will be more willing to take advantage of the law for the betterment of all.

Yet we, as gun owners, have an obligation to inform the less informed as to what they can do legally. The tough part is in trying to tell these people that with guns, one size does not fit all. The gun that is ideal for one may be totally incorrect for another. All I know best to do is give them advice and expose them to a variety of types and calibers so they can decide for themselves which suits them.

If each active shooter would get one person per yr involved in shooting, then our numbers will double annually. The politicians are now unable to ignore gun owners based on our numbers. If we doubled that amount, we can get more laws in our favor.

 

[papajohn428]

I think it's a matter of people realizing that more and more, we're on our own against the criminal miscreants around us. There is a lot of frustration over judges turning the same violent offenders back onto the streets because of overcrowding and budget cuts and reduced jail staff.

The old saying that "when seconds count the police are only minutes away" has gotten a lot of attention as people come to realize that they have a duty to their loved ones to be more vigilant, to take their personal safety into their own hands. Recently-enacted Castle Laws have also helped, removing the requirement to flee.