I hate to say it ...but some gun owners freak me out a little bit

[sonny]

Now and then we get a "new guy" at the club that thinks he or she knows a little more than they really do about firearms and "combat"
More often than not they are young,usually in their twenties and they know the "lingo".....they talk about the S Hitting T F a little bit too often and are very concerned about having the hardware to take a man out at 1500 yds.They buy whatever is the hottest new NAVY SEAL gun and try to inform every one that WW 99 is going to go down sooner than we think. It amazes how they memorize and slip into conversation every common and not so common firearm term and tactical teqnique ever invented.
I sometimes enjoy thier enthusiasm and will listen to their stories of impending doom but when I try to calm them down and suggest that they relax and enjoy life and shooting as a sport ,it seems to disturb them a little?I get a look like (I wouldn't want to be next to you in the trenches)
I guess anything is possible but even if the S did HTF, some of the scenerios that these guys dream up are mind bogling!
Too boot, these guys have never seen combat ,have no shooting routines and can't shoot to save their lives...some are really bad!
When I look at the faces of some of the old Vets when they listen to these kids it is truly priceless.I could only imagine what they are thinking!
On the bright side ...I have over the years seen some of these guys calm down and come back to reality when they get real jobs and have familys

 

[MountainPeak]

Prophets historically do tend to "freak" some people. Don't let it get you down.

 

[Don Gwinn]

WW 99? That's a new one for me. Best thing you can do is just be nice to these guys and be gentle about correcting their problems. Most of them will come around.

 

[spacemanspiff]

hey now sonny! i resemble that post.


well, i used to anyways. its all about association. if you socialize with those who are mature and responsible and level headed, likely you will emulate those good qualities.
but if you 'hang' with the boys who lack such, you wind up copying the wrong examples.

 

[HSMITH]

Couple of the tin foil hat crew at the range I shoot at once in a while too. Fellas make me a bit nervous.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Just tune them out.

I do.

 

[sonny]

Don Gwinn.....I agree with you ....I don't think that they're bad kids but it is sad that they live in such fear.
I usually suggest that they get a routine going so they can gauge their progress.....that usualy humbles them for a while.
When I ask them why they don't join the military so they can "preserve freedom" ....the "anti social monster" that lives inside them usually exposes it's ugly face

 

[Schuey2002]

This is why I shoot outdoors...

There is no one around to bother you.

 

[sonny]

What ....may I ask ...is a tin foil hat?

 

[Mike Irwin]

I need to ammend my answer a little...

I ignore them until one of them points a gun at me.

Then I pay a LOT of attention to them.

Sometimes I get the "I'm a SEEL NINJA TURTLE ASSASSIN 007 UNDERCOVER AGENT!"

I actually once threatened to shoot a kid who kept pointing his handgun at me at an indoor range.

Luckily the owner overheard this and removed the kid.

 

[Pendragon]

A lot of it is just immaturity.

Young men often feel overwhelmed making the transition from teen/kid to "man" and they often feel the need to overcompensate by displaying excessive competence or by posturing.

When I was about 20, I started reading a lot of the literature about the "New World Order" and all that crap - how the UN was going to put us all in camps and such.

Between that and watching too much COPS and AMW, I was convinced that not only did I need to be armed all the time, but I probably needed a sniper rifle and a few AWs and all sorts of ninja gear - so I could be the last man standing or so I would not run out of ammo or so I could do cool ninja tricks and - whatever.

Anyway, that lasted for maybe a year and then I realized that some people are kooks and some people are paranoid and I was not going to listen to them.

I lost my fascination with wonder nines and "tactical" stuff and just mellowed out a lot over the next year or two.

Also, probably due to our movie culture, a lot of youngsters buy into the "gun as a talisman" thinking - only it is usually "super cool gun as a super cool talisman". When I was younger, everyone wanted pistols that held 16-18 rounds. A handgun that held 8 or (God forbid it!) 5 or 6 rounds was just inconcieveable - except as a back up and then you probably want two.

As you get older, you realize (some of us do) that Cooper is right: "Man fights with his mind".

When I finally do get my CCW, I will probably just carry a J frame and 10 extra rounds. But I think I will feel better prepared than I was when I was young and wanted to carry my BHP and (3) 15 round mags (just in case I need them).

Sory for the windy reply...

 

[sm]

I'm like Mike Irwin,

I /we other members tend to ignore, usually after they embarass themselves, they come around. If they don't we boot them out.

Did have to tackle a guy once and disarm him, never point a gun and say threatning stuff to another person--I Don't care If breech is open...I'd do it again.

 

[cuchulainn]

Nothing to apologize for sonny. Some gun owners freak me out too in both their words and actions.

As you note, they're usually young. They're fantasizing without realizing the consequences of the fruition of the fantasies. They want the S to HTF so they can prove themselves in a way simlar to some young men who want America to go to war. There's a big difference in being prepared for SHTF or war and hoping it happens, but that difference hasn't dawned on them.

tin foil hat = Some people believe that the government is beaming mind-control wave into their brains and that wearing covering their heads with tin foil blocks the waves. Obviously, they've got some, um, "issues." Do a web search for "tin foil" and "mind control" and you'll find some "interesting" reading.

Personally, I've never understood how covering only the top of your head works. Can't the waves penetrate your face?

 

[Mike Irwin]

"Anyway, that lasted for maybe a year and then I realized that some people are kooks and some people are paranoid and I was not going to listen to them."

OH MY GOD, THE FEDS HAVE GOTTEN TO PENDRAGON, MAN! THEY'VE TURNED HIM! HE'S GONNA HUNT US DOWN AND KILL US FROM WHAT HE KNOWS OF US HERE! OH GOD!!!!

 

[Gordon]

Once and for all: a "tin foil hat" is in reference to weird devices/thinking that UFO people used to exibit like:" this tin foil hat tunes my brain waves to receive secret govt signals that only I can hear about their conspiracy with extra terrestorials" ect ect .....So it is brandished about branding any paranoid delusional thinking, right or wrong!

 

[EnfieldIII]

I always thought the tin foil hat was a style thing guess I'll put mine back in the closet!

 

[Ed Brunner]

sonny

You are not alone. I refuse to share space with anyone who knows nothing about gun safety and has one.
Part of our job as experienced shooters is to try to improve the ranks. Gun safety is really simple. The problem is that a lot of new shooters are reluctant to acknowlege their ignorance or don't realize how little they know. We can help and it makes it a lot safer for all of us.
My daddy used to say "It's your bullet when you fire it and it's yours when it stops. Be responsible."
If they want to be responsible, you can help. If not, stay away from them.

 

[Croyance]

Well, young people can change. Let's remember what we (and our friends) we're like when we were young. Some of us like an occasional drink, but don't like bars because of all the twenty-something testosterone cases. Young people have trouble figuring out where they fit in and how to prove themselves. To take the bar example, that is why so many young men drink to excess every weekend. The better ones learn by example from those around them.
I thought you were talking about other gun owners. The ones who know nothing about gun saftey but won't listen to others (who just don't want to get shot).:banghead:

 

[G-Raptor]

It's natural for folks to get excited when the get involved in a new thing. Jump in with both feet, as they say.

They usually settle down with a little experience or figure out they're in the wrong game.

 

[Butch]

sonny, this is a tinfoil hat. It is used to keep out the brainwashing waves from space or any other government agency.
Just keep it on & you'll be safe but be sure to wear it shinny side out so the pimploba alians cant see you either.

 

[sonny]

I had a long unsucesfull talk with one kid who was in the process of saving money for a high end "sniper rifle".
When I asked him what he does for a living he told me he was part time handy man.
When I asked him where he lived he said home with mom and dad untill he could save enough to get an apt for him ,his girlfriend and his baby girl.
I suggested that he should put off the "sniper rifle" and scope for a while and save the money for an apt. and he said "lot's a good that would be if I had no way of defending it.....I said what about you're shotgun?....he said........well yeah......at close quarters but what about long distances? ...I said ....suit youself pal:banghead:

.....................................Sick World ................................................

 

[Flatfender]

Don't forget to wear your "Tin Foil" hat with the shiny side out. Er.. or was that shiny side in. I forget. It works better one of those ways.


Okay now - get your hats on and sing...

Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs the cave fish of their site?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do! We do!

 

[Wakal]

My favorite "kid" story, at least this year, was the early 20's manchild who rolled up to my range and proceeded to dress up in a vintage US chemsuit with a surplus Israeli gas mask. He strapped his tactical thigh holster to one leg, and his tactical mag pouch to the other leg, then spent the next hour in a deep crouch, missing targets 5 yards in front of him.

The "check left, check right" while at low ready were OK, but the shoulder rolls were a bit excessive.

Would have been impressive if the targets had more holes in them when he left than when he arrived.

Sigh.



Alex

 

[Wade]

Last time I was at the range, I had a guy ask me how I liked my Glock 19. Pretty well, I answer. He tells me that he LOVES Glocks, and to prove it shows me the name "GLOCK" tatoo'd on his forearm!

Kinda freaky!

 

[rbrowning]

un-grown ups

I was at an uncontrolled range making sure that my 12 ga was ready for deer season. Three "kids" set up a piece of plywood at 25 yards. On the plywood was painted three outlines representing the bad guys. The kids got out their AK, inserted the taped together mags and cut loose. After flipping the mag and emptying two banana clips there was one non-life threatening hole in one target. I tried real hard not to laugh too loud but the kid saw the twinkle in my eye and asked if I thought that I could hit them. I said I would try. 10 seconds later there were three cyclops targets and three kids packing their gun to go home. Maybe they someday learned that three shots that hit are better than 60 that don't. The three deliberately aimed shots were faster, cost less and got the job done at the cost of not looking so macho.