[Bowlcut]

So after every firearm purchase I usualy end up showing it off to my friends I watch wrestling with on Monday night. After they all go over the new purchase they ask me why I like "playing with guns". Then it goes into carry issues.

I say that there wont be a time I wont have a firearm on me or near. I get "why?" I tell them its more the fact that its my right to do such things and I want to use that right. then I always get this....

" Well be carefull "


Ive yet to figure that one out. Is the gun susposed to like bite me in the leg while in the holster? Is the kel-tec in my pocket going to start stealing my milk money?

Oh well maybe I should just write it up to sheeple mentality. And the fact its usualy coming from the guy that has lived the total sheltered life and moved into an apartment complex thinking it was nice even tho I warned him it was in a bad area. I will never figure it out I guess

[Freedspeak]

Well a good reply would be:

1) I'll be as carefull as you are with your car!:banghead:

2) I'll be as carefull as you are with the carving knife!:banghead:

3) (For the PRK) DUH:D

:evil:

[Standing Wolf]

I've been careful with firearms for several decades now, and plan to be careful with them a good while longer—but thank you so much for reminding me!

[winstonsmith]

Well it depends on how good friends you are with them, and how immature you behave. But if it were me and my friends:

"I'll be just as careful as I am with your mom."

But realisticaly, you should be careful, however fececious the warning is. Careful, full of care. I think thats necessary when handling a deadly weapon. But them warning you to is an insult to your intelligence.

I say, for real, just give them an icy stare.:scrutiny:

[Stevie-Ray]

I never get that. All my friends know I handle firearms better than they.

[dakotasin]

when i get the 'why', my response is 'it is my duty as a citizen'.

i never get reminded to be careful, but if i did i'm sure the response would be as appropriate as the inane warning.

[Bowlcut]

Well im the most mature one of the group...thats what the scary part is. :p But the guy who as said this to me the most is the one I almost jumped down. I was showing him my new sw99. He thought it was really cool. Was looking at it, I told him it was fine to dry fire it....knowing he didnt know better I made sure it was fully unloaded before I handed it to him. He pulled the trigger a few times after getting used to the hold. Then he pointed it at me and pulled the trigger!!!! I almost jumped him.....i gave him the most evil look while slapping the gun away and holding it at the same time....telling him NEVER do that.

Guess with people like him I have reason to be carefull.

[jmbg29]

" Well be carefull "I don't have anyone that I would call a friend that says things like that, but I do have some rather unfortunate (for me at least) aquaintances that do. :rolleyes: :scrutiny: :uhoh: :barf:


:cuss:ing liberals! God how they make me want to :barf:!

[dinosaur]

The only guy I might show a new gun to is the local Chief of Police. He`s a gun nut and just drools.:neener: :D

[cool45auto]

Start telling them to be careful every time they walk toward their car. Then they'll be the ones wondering why you tell them that since they've been driving for years.:rolleyes:

[vmi93]

I think that the "be careful" response is a reaction to decades of media and social conditioning. If a person's only experience with firearms is with the media (movies, TV, news reports), they are likely to think that you use your gun as a pointer during conversation, that guns go off if dropped, that guns "just go off" if handled the wrong way and that it is possible for a non-suicidal person to shoot themselves "while cleaning their gun".

To someone who has gone their whole life without any information to counter myths like these, firearms must seem like strange and mysterious instruments of death, rather than commonplace tools that can be misused like any other tool.

[Khornet]

"How nice to get advice from someone who doesn't have the faintest idea how to be careful with a firearm."

[Beav]

I always make sure my friends know about gun safety before handing them a firearm. We aren't born with firearm knowledge. Sure most of it is common sense. Sure, everyone should know not to point a loaded gun at someone. If you knew nothing, absolutely nothing, about guns and someone handed you a weapon that he assured you was empty and you verified was empty would you really think that pointing it at someone jokingly was as serious as it really is?

Also its hard to tell what they really meant by "well be carefull". To me he could be someone that is concerned, realizing that firearms can be dangerous and that people make mistakes. Have you ever told someone to drive safely or do you take offense to that as well?

[Edward429451]

"Well, be careful", as used has the sound of a patronizing statement. vmi93 had a good handle on it. People use those kinds of statements when they are in over their head or just plain don't know what to say, and yet (hold themselves above you in their mind!) want to be helpful and say something.

Don't take offense! You had him on the run and left him speechless, such as it were. He seen your logic and also that he was treading in uncharted territory and was ripe for enlightenment, learning, exposure and expansion of the mind. You should've offered to let him accompany you to a shooting session, to 'learn from each other' thus opening the door for him while not belittling him in any way allowing him to hold his 'higher ground' long enough to expand his horizons and grow. Another one to the flock.

Does that make sense or is my coffee just too strong?:D

[Beav]

He seen your logic and also that he was treading in uncharted territory and was ripe for enlightenment, learning, exposure and expansion of the mind. You should've offered to let him accompany you to a shooting session, to 'learn from each other' thus opening the door for him while not belittling him in any way allowing him to hold his 'higher ground' long enough to expand his horizons and grow. Another one to the flock.

Great advice unlike some of the other responses. Unless I'm being verbally abused, I always take the opportunity to reason and hopefully educate someone. How does it help (us) to do otherwise?

[Horsesense]

Keep showing off your collection and someone will, un-intently, drop the wrong word in the wrong ears.
I know a guy that lost approximately 40 firearms, and nearly his life, last year. He was the kind that was known as a gun-nut and it was inedible that a BG would take advantage.

[P95Carry]

I know a guy that lost approximately 40 firearms, and nearly his life, last year. He was the kind that was known as a gun-nut and it was inedible that a BG would take advantage. Horsesense ... not sure i quite see the whole picture here ...... can you elaborate?

[jmbg29]

Great advice unlike some of the other responses. Unless I'm being verbally abused, I always take the opportunity to reason and hopefully educate someone. How does it help (us) to do otherwise?The questions asked in this thread pertained to "friends". As I grow older I become more and more particular about who has earned the appellation "friend".

My "friends" know that I am a certified firearms instructor in multiple disciplines including hunter education, home firearms safety, rifle, pistol, shotgun, personal protection, and as a range safety officer. Therefore, as stated earlier, I am doubtful that my "friends" would say anything so stupid as "well, be careful" other than in ironic jest.

OTOH, I do not find it at all unlikely (because it has happened in the past) that some of my liberal fruitcake aquaintances (armed with the same knowledge that my "friends" know, i.e. that I eat, sleep and breathe firearms, and their safe use) would say "well, be careful" without a bit of a hint of irony in their voice. Hence, my contumuley. :rolleyes:

[Edward429451]

Contumely ;

Harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt or an instance of such language or treatment...

Whoa, hadda look that one up.:scrutiny:

Pretty high up there, eh? Not tryin to pick a fight but is contumely the best approach for fence sitters who may be mixed in the bunch and may be won over with a little patience and understanding?

Good word though.;)

[dairycreek]

Been at this gun "thing" for a long, long time (over fourty years) and, when it comes to guns, I have learned to choose the friends with whom I share "gun things" and those with whom I won't. I have close friends who just don't understand my passion. I have given up trying to persuade, explain, and cajole. It just isn't worth the time and effort to try to get them to understand. On the other hand I have many close friends who are as "gunny" as I am. With them I share a lot of good times. With the others I share other kinds of good times that don't involve guns. So, choose your friends and your opportunities - carefully. Good shooting;)

[Horsesense]

"Hoarseness ... not sure I quite see the whole picture here ...... can you elaborate?"

The guy was always at the stock yard (that’s the weekly gun show) telling everyone who would listen about his collection, trading or buying, if you ever had occasion to be at his house, he would show you his guns.

Then one day, he steps out to go to the store and when he gets home there is a car backing out of his driveway. He pulls in behind the car and the guy cuts a doughnut in his yard, points one of his own guns (M-1 Garand) out the window and drives off.

The BG's got every gun that was worth anything. They walked past $100-$200 guns and got things like the 03 Springfield hidden in the back closet. The guys knew what the man had and where he kept his valuable guns. I'm only surprised that he wasn't killed, because he likely knew the GB.

[jdkelly]

If a friend or aquatience told me to "Be careful", when referring to a firearm, I think I'd smile, and answer "I will". Then, while raising my hand to give their arm a friendly pat, I'd add "You too! There are a lot of easier ways to get hurt."

After all they are wishing you well. You're just letting them know it's not the most dangerous thing to do.

Shoot Safe,

jkelly

[P95Carry]

Thx Horsesense ....... got the pic now. Guess it maybe shows that ''over advertizing'' of one's precious things is not too sensible. I certainly share my collection with very few indeed.

[jmbg29]

Pretty high up there, eh? Not tryin to pick a fight but is contumely the best approach for fence sitters who may be mixed in the bunch and may be won over with a little patience and understanding?I'm done banging my head against the patience and understanding wall. There is nary a dent in it, but if you are feeling froggy, feel free to jump in and bang away. Good luck, and God bless.

I look at the situation this way; if I just finished talking to an accountant that just spent 15-20 minutes telling me about the time and effort that s/he put into becoming a C.P.A., i.e. becoming an expert in accounting, and I said (with no humor in my voice) "duh-huh...better be careful carrying the 2! duh-huh..." I would fully expect her/him to think me a moron, and expect her/him to treat me as such. But maybe that's just me. I have never been one that subscribes to the idea of dumbing down the conversation to play to the dimmest bulb in the room.

And yeah, I do have a tendency to use five dollar words now and again, and I do so without apology. I was fortunate enough to be raised a full-blood Agro-American hillbilly with parents that cared enough about their son's education to support him completely in every endeavor to better himself. What can I say? I'm blessed beyond measure.

I can speak English, but when necessary, I can rely on my fluency in redneck to get by.

[Edward429451]

jmbg29,

Good answer. LOL.:D I hear ya.

And yeah, I do have a tendency to use five dollar words now and again, and I do so without apology

Oh, I wadn't beaten up on ya for usin it. I jus thought that if I had to look it up maybe others would be unclear also, so the definition. Not that I'm super literate, but I am fairly well read and it was a new one on me. I appreciate the oppurtunity to increase my word power. Thats whats good about this board!

(Still laughing at your answer....Touche' bro...:D )

[Hkmp5sd]

Other than the 4-5 times my parents bought me new guns when I was a teenager, I don't recall anyone telling me to "be careful." The line I hear most is, "Bought any new toys lately?".

[JPM70535]

My frends don't as me why, they know, and most like them even more than I do. Casual acquaintences are not likely to see my purchases or know anything about my carry habits. If they do become aware and ask, I simply tell them I had been using and carrying for so long during my LE years that I just wouldn't feel complete without one, just as they would without their ( insert appropriate word- shoes, socks, shirt, glasses, etc.)

[Kharn]

I've gotten that line a bunch of times. My response to 95% of them? 'Yes, Mom. :rolleyes: '

Kharn

[sm]

NO
I associate with like minded pro gun types mostly. The rest don't know and I don't tell I CCW, much less have firearms.

[45King]

Him: "Well be careful."

ME: "I carry because I'm careful."

[TechBrute]

My response to 95% of them? 'Yes, Mom.' Me too.

http://images.ar15.com/forums/smiles/anim_grenade.gif

[michiganfan]

Don't drink and carry. in Michigan a single beer would put most people over the limit for legal carry. waited too long and it means too much to me to put my carry rights at risk.