[RockyMtnTactical]

I hear and know of anti gunners who have turned pro gun, several. However, I don't know anyone who was a rabid pro gun rights person who has turned anti gun.

Has anyone else noticed this? I suspect it has to do with education and knowledge about guns. The more you know, the more pro gun you tend to be.

Thoughts?

[cbrgator]

The more you know, the more pro gun you tend to be.

I agree. Someone who understands guns and their usage feels radically different than those who fear them at a distance. Just one range trip can change a person's perspective at least to some degree. Plus, once you realize your inherent right to self-defense and protection against tyranny, it's hard to say, "You know what, I don't want those rights, I think I'll give them up."

[TAB]

there are 3 types of people that are against guns.

1 those that no exp with them, education is best.

2. those that just plan hate them and think they are evil, your not going to change them, trying to just makes it worse.

3. those tha have had a bad exp with guns, you can't argue with emotion( talking about both side of the argument)

[BCCL]

Short of a devastating head injury, how would someone lose the IQ points it would take to go from Pro to Anti?

[Foofles]

I've known quite a few people who went from pro to anti... I remember one person in particular who said he was rather pro until he talked to a politician who persuaded him that being pro gun is "just relying on questionable use of subjective statistics and defies all logic." ... Meh.

In general though I'd also agree that usually when people are confronted with more and more facts they will at least grow to be tolerant of the RKBA. There are some people though that will never change their minds.

[Frog48]

Cant say that I do.

[Crow1108]

One of my coworker's dads was a very active hunter. He had an experience where he was almost shot by another hunter (these were the days before the orange suits). After that, he sold all his guns, and his son (my coworker) is one of the most anti people I personally know. He often knocked another one of my coworkers for mentioning that he had a CHP and for his involvement with firearms.

[bigione]

Never. It would seem from some of the posts that certain antis fit the
"ingorance is bliss" catagory.

[jfh]

If you want to, I think you can find conversion statements--testaments, as it were--on the antigun sites.

Since I don't go to those places, I'll let someone else dig them out.

Jim H.

[Nate1778]

Yep, my Brother, he went socialist this last election, made me throw up in my mouth. He has been on a government knows best kick which I hope is only temporary. Makes for some interesting conversations at the family dinner night, although we have all come to except that we have a better time when we don't talk about it. Still he believes you take guns from people, there would be no crime. Guess its what comes from living in England for a couple years.

[wvshooter]

I've never know a pro go anti. However my wife was anti and went pro pretty much on her own. I bought my first handgun a couple years ago and the first time she shot it she was hooked. It was a 40 caliber BTW. Now we have 10 handguns and enjoy shooting together. I can't imagine a pro going anti. Seems illogical.

[hemiram]

A friend of mine's wife went from being pro to anti after her brother killed himself with his recently putchased WWII era 1911. He had a couple of .22's and a 12 guage, so it wasn't like he didn't have a way of doing it before he bought it.


That's the only one I can think of, it usually goes the other way.

[devildog32713]

yup, gotta good freind, who has this neighbor, and he was in the war, and after the war, he just turned agaist guns. and now he loves Clinton, and is anti-gun, he wasnt for a long time

[w_houle]

I am not sure how this fits ino your question, but if it weren't for the fact that he owns guns; you would swear that my dad was an anti.
I keep having to remind him that some of the guns he owns (Maadi AK, EAA Windicator) are illegal in some states.:banghead:

[Kwanger]

I don't know any. I could however potentially foresee it happening to someone in, say, the event of a tragic accident involving kids or other traumatic experience. But even then it would depend on the individuals outlook. and subsequent frame of mind.

Anti to pro, however - I can think of quite a few.

[countertop]

Well, Tennessee Governor Phil Bresden was pretty pro gun. Then he set his sites on something else (we don't know yet) and he's turned pretty anti gun the last couple of weeks.

NY Senator Kristin Gillibrand has also gone from pro gun to anti gun.

[Resto Guy]

My brother, same as Nate above. He grew up in Va. and N.C. and shot our father's guns every summer.
Now, after 20 years in L.A., he sees no need for people to own guns. (He voted accordingly.)
Knowing that, I offered to take him and his teenaged son to a gun show when they visited last Jan. His son was all for it, but he declined.
He was shocked when I told him I got a concealed carry permit 3 yrs. ago.

[jpwilly]

Seems like most of the people I meet and have worked with here in AZ are pretty pro gun. I've only meet a few anti's most of witch are also socialists ahem I mean BO lovers.

[Dr. Fresh]

I've never heard of anyone who was solidly pro-gun and turned anti.

I'm not talking about a hunter who had an accident, or someone who was neutral on the issue and owned guns for fun. I'm talking about someone who believes in the 2nd Amendment. I've NEVER heard of such a person switching sides.

[Big_E]

Well, one of my older friends, who was in Vietnam, basically said he never wants to pick up a gun again even though I think he owns one he just will refuse to use it unless it is necessary.

I found this out when mentioning to my other friend (neighbor), that we should go to the range. Not that my older friend is against firearms, he is pro, but because of the atrocities he faced he never wants to have to pick up another firearm. Though, one of his buddies (also in 'Nam) was one of those "sole survivors" and I think he likes to shoot still.

[Deckard]

Still he believes you take guns from people, there would be no crime. Guess its what comes from living in England for a couple years.If he lived in England then the message he should have taken away from it is: take guns away from people and criminals just start using knives.

[jak67429]

My Bro after he moved to Komiefornia turned socialist. He is funny keeps saying don't know why anyone would want any of those evil AWBs of handguns. But the first thing he says when He comes home is can we go to the range, and what does he want to shoot first my M1A then the ar15 and my 1911.

[mcdonl]

Short of a devastating head injury, how would someone lose the IQ points it would take to go from Pro to Anti?

Perhaps by losing a child to a ND of a handgun while playing with dads gun. I know one person who is as intelligent as anyone on this forum, but because of his experience and circumstances he is now very anti.

[sarge83]

"My Bro after he moved to Komiefornia turned socialist. He is funny keeps saying don't know why anyone would want any of those evil AWBs of handguns. But the first thing he says when He comes home is can we go to the range, and what does he want to shoot first my M1A then the ar15 and my 1911."

I would decline to take him to the range and remind him those guns are evil to him and you wouldn't want him to have any moral conflict about shooting them. And then ask what his friends in La-La Land would say if they knew he was touching and EBR, worse still actually firing one.

[Prod]

Perhaps by losing a child to a ND of a handgun while playing with dads gun. I know one person who is as intelligent as anyone on this forum, but because of his experience and circumstances he is now very anti.

This is why you keep guns locked up or on your person if you have kids in your house.

[jakemccoy]

I define "pro-gun person" as the following: a person who (1) believes the Second Amendment applies to individuals and (2) fully understands the major anti-gun arguments and why these arguments are incorrect.

I don't know a true pro-gun person who has become anti-gun.

Many people think being a hunter or gun owner automatically means you're pro-gun. Well, there are gun owners who believe that most other people should not be allowed to own guns. Such gun owners are actually anti-gun for practical purposes of the Second Amendment. Further, such an anti-gun person can be far more damaging to gun rights than an anti-gun person who doesn't own guns. The worst are anti-gun gun owners who have been gun owners all their lives. You can't tell them a thing.

[theotherwaldo]

I know several people that are against other folks having guns.

Of course, they're not willing to give up their own guns - they're wise enough to control those things.

It's the ignorant rabble that should be disarmed - for their own good.

[kludge]

3. those tha have had a bad exp with guns, you can't argue with emotion( talking about both side of the argument)

That was my wife.

In the beginning it was trust and tolerance.

Now she is pro-2A, has a handgun license - mostly just as formaility and just in case, but still not a shooter.

As she found her political center, pro-2A was logical part of it.

[TheFallGuy]

I know a few...

My mother grew up shooting and living on a farm in rural Wisconsin. After high school she moved to the twin cities and never touched a firearm again. She doesn't allow it in her house. My dad was allowed to retain his meager collection if and only if they stayed in his friend's safe. My dad started a huge fight with her when he gave me his old BB gun and taught me to shoot and took me hunting. My parents are divorced now.

My grandfather was an avid hunter before being drafted to fight in the Korean conflict. Apparently service in the conflict change his opinion for the worse.

My ex-girlfriend went from indifferent to pro to anti. She could care less about them but fell in love with my Marlin Model 60 on a range date. She shot trap multiple times over the year or so we dated. She even went deer hunting once (too chilly for her so she quit). Then after being indoctrinated by a 4 year university she changed her tune and instructed me do so as well. I promptly purchased a stripped AR lower and have spent $1200 building a rifle I don't need with the money I saved by being single.

[RockyMtnTactical]

I define "pro-gun person" as the following: a person who (1) believes the Second Amendment applies to individuals and (2) fully understands the major anti-gun arguments and why these arguments are incorrect.

I don't know a true pro-gun person who has become anti-gun.

Good point, maybe I should have made that more clear. I am not talking about people who were neutral or who owned a couple guns at one point in their lives. I am talking about passionate 2nd amendment advocates.

Heck, Zumbo is a gunowner, but he is hardly what I would consider a "pro-gun" advocate.

[middleground]

I agree with the poster who stated that anti-gun gun owners can be a real challange.

I work with a guy who seems to be pretty anti-gun, and doesn't understand why anyone "would need" a rifle with a 30 round magazine etc etc etc.

If the future of our countries right to bear arms where in his hands, i would be very nervous.

When I remind him that he is a gun owner, be brushes me off because "he only owns a .22 bolt action, and thats not the same."

go figure.

[mjb]

former vice president Al Gore. He voted coservative whe he was a Senator, then changed when he became vice president.

[DEANBILT]

The dad of one of the Columbine killers is now anti-gun.

[B yond]

Still he believes you take guns from people, there would be no crime. Guess its what comes from living in England for a couple years.

You say that like there's less crim in England, which there most certainly is not.

[DammitBoy]

Take an anti shooting and you are very likely to make a convert...

[thebadguy2k6]

I'll speak of four different cases.

1) I held my first AR when I went joined the Army, up to that point, you could say I was a neutral, but I was also 17, so I had lno ife experience to go on. As my military career went on, I began to see the need for weapons and my appreciation for them was cemented in Iraq in 2005. Not because they saved my life, but because local national contractors (Iraq civilians) would come on post to do the work that the rest of us didn't want to do. One day, I went into one of the contractor representatives' offices (the head iraq contractor guy). I hung out there for a while (since it was the last of the air conditioning for me for the day). I noticed the guy had an authentic Russian AK-47 with sawed off but stock sitting in the corner buy his desk. First I asked if I could check it out (my first AK, I was curious). Then I asked him why he was carrying it as it was illegal for Iraq's to have weapons on post. Apparently, the Army trusts this guy, so they let him keep it with him. Anyway, he was telling ,me that a few weeks prior, a group of insurgents had entered his neighbors house and killed the mans family and took him prisoner. Now, this guy doesn't live out in no-mans land. He lives in a neighbor hood that is constantly patrolled buy U.S. and Iraq forces. Yet, this incident still happened. The guy told me he hates guns, but that he couldn't take the chance and needed a defensive option to protect his family. That was the day I became not just pro-gun, but Pro 2A. I was 22 years old.

2) My Brazilian girlfriend, a brand new American (microbiologist too) was not anti-gun, but rather quietly against guns......A few weeks with me and now she see's the light. Especially after the Mexican drug cartel crisis. She said, I thought guns were illegal in Mexico? Why do the have so many gun problems? She knew the answer, same as I did....but at least she said it. I love her a lot more now.

3) My mom was as anti-gun as you can be with out attending the daily protests and playing dead in the streets with the rest of the crazies......I started her off on an airsoft pistol that resembles a 1911A1. I worked her up to a 22LR but she still needs more coaching.....doubt she'll ever be pro 2A, but I least I can get her to see the practical side of the arguement. A little education goes a long way.

4) My Grandfather used to pro gun, but in his old age, he has started questioning the need for them. That was, until I popped onto the scene after Iraq. My grandfather has quite a collection of older WWII type rifles to include an authentic British Enfield .303cal. He prefers the older rifles, but also took an appreciation to my Mk-14. I think he is stuck in neutral territory right now. Even us pro 2A guys know that not everyone should have gun , same as not every one should drive a car or be allowed to reproduce....but who are we to judge?

I think exposure is the greatest key to defeating the anti's. I've known some pro gunners to be turned off by guns, but never went full anti on them. It is againt the laws of physics for a pro 2A to go full anti. If that is the case, then the pro 2A was never a pro 2A to begin with. That would be the same as unlearning what you have learned.....This is because pro 2A guys know that sometimes, the bad guys and ill intentions will win. But that doesn't mean that you should throw in the towel and give in. Rather, you should learn and become aware.....like I did.

I have no problem with those that choose to refuse the gun ownership and would rather place their lives in the hands of strangers. But the minute these morons start issuing directives at me, I start to loose my respect for 1A.

[jaholder1971]

The guy who owned The Second Amendment gun shop in Overland Park Kansas closed up shop and became a professional witness for the trial attorneys suing the firearms manufacturers. I'd say that qualifies.

[BaltimoreBoy]

I don't know if the Second Amendment gunshop owner qualifies here. Yes he started parroting a lot of the standard anti-nostrums. But the measures he supported would have increased compliance costs and paperwork and made it more difficult to be a dealer.

Now why would a dealer support such a set of actions? Easy, to drive other dealers from the market. He was a little shop being pressed by bigger discounters.

I consider his "turning" to be a form of rent-seeking from what I was able to read.

[jqbagley]

He had an experience where he was almost shot by another hunter. After that, he sold all his guns.

I supposed he sold all his cars after almost getting hit by another vehicle? ;)

[cchris]

The guy who owned The Second Amendment gun shop in Overland Park Kansas closed up shop and became a professional witness for the trial attorneys suing the firearms manufacturers. I'd say that qualifies.

Nah, there are people out there who don't even know what they own store-wise, some of those top 5% income people.

Look at Viacom for example - MTV voted the song "Have You Forgotten" as the worst song of the year when it came out, and at the same time, it was playing on CMT - both Viacom-owned TV channels.

The same guy who owned the gun shop probably cared less about what he believed in, as long as there was income, then something swayed him.

Now if the gun store employees were the ones who all quit and turned anti, that'd be different.

[sammy]

I knew a pro-gun guy many years back. He was a 20 something year old living with his parents in Fremont Ca. His mom franticly woke him up in the middle of the night saying someone was trying to break in to the house. He loaded up his 92fs and called the police. While waiting the offender was trying to get in the front door, playing with the door knob and pulling on it. The barrel of the loaded 92 trained on the door the entire time untill the police arrived. Turns out it was a 90+ year old woman with alheimer's disease he almost shot. He sold the gun the next day.

[Armybrat]

Nope, not here.

Back in college, I was on campus during the Charlie Whitman Texas Tower massacre.

A couple of decades later, my BIL was shot dead by a bg outside a Portland club.

I bought more guns.

[Navy_Guns]

Former Virginia Senator John Warner, thanks to his latest wife. His staff sent me back a form letter after I wrote him concerning the sunset of the "AWB" - said he didn't support it originally but then changed his mind and thought it was a good law and should be renewed.