Took some "extremely left wing" friends to the gunrange today. . .

Ignition Override said:

More than anything else it seems to be the near-total lack of exposure, when living in larger cities, in contrast to those living in small towns or rural areas.

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Bingo! People who grew up in a city and have never fired a gun don't understand the pleasure that can come from shooting with friends or hunting with family. They don't understand the use of a firearm as a tool. Likewise, people that have grown up in a rural area don't understand the level of gun violence in major metro areas and can't understand why someone would like to restrict access to firearms. Sometime those worlds can collide and common ground in found.

I would hardly call the Irish left wing. Anti-gun, probably, left wing - not the impression I got when I was there. Ireland is probably the most conservative English speaking country in the world.

OP I think that's awesome. We all should be trying to get people exposed to our sport. Also we should correct misconceptions in a tactfully way.

By painting people with a Liberal or Conservative brush we are doing our sport more harm than good.
Not everyone has gun rights as their number one priority and may have other reasons for their left leaning views.

This should in no way prevent them from enjoying and/or supporting the shooting sports.
The more people we bring into the fold the better our sport will be because of it.

I bring as many Liberal friends to the range as I do Conservative friends.

I only fraternize with right-libertarians and paleoconservatives......but if you can stand authoritarians and leftists, I say go for it.

Not to hijack this thread, but it's hard for me to understand how a leftist personal philosophy of right to bear arms can be compatible with the expectation that the very vehicle that the left worships and empowers, that is government, will not turn and devour their individual rights and liberties when the individual liberty is at odds with the natural evolution of government; tyranny.

FWIW, a few years ago I had my husband's Illinois Democrat parents visit during hunting season. They were horrified that I was corrupting their son until FiL sat down to a dinner of molasses cured venison ham.

Last hunting season FiL managed to harvest a very nice buck with a 45 caliber "in line" muzzle loader which was the first gun he had ever bought. A fact my Dad took endless amusement from. His words - sometimes the path to winning hearts and minds is through the stomach.

Bought a friendly very long-term business aquaintance whom I speak to (and work in the same building as) regularly a membership to NRA that he said the year before he had joined. Turned out he was only kidding. He is a Rockefeller Republican but pro-gun. Maybe even a RINO... He voted for Obama first term.

I have invited Rob "Mitt" Goldberg to the range but he doesn't understand what is to stop anyone from just turning around and shooting him dead so he won't go. I believe his dad was a conscientious objector in WWII. Rob thanked me for the NRA membership when they sent him an announcement card at the holidays. Then, per his membership, after getting a couple of copies of America's First Freedom magazine (he gets no solicitations) which Rob referred to as "junk mail' he called and attacked me... The best line was:

"My wife asked me 'what the hell is that?' -- what am I supposed to tell her, Matt, and my kids [who are away at college]!? THERE'S A PICTURE OF A GUN IN MY HOUSE!"

Ideaology runs deep.

I wonder what ol' Rob would say looking into the average gun safe of a member here?

He'd probably pass out, if he's upset at photographs. LOL

In the UK, hunting and sport shooting are popular activities. The Irish, especially, have a long and comfortable history with firearms. To characterize them as "lefties" or such is complete ignorant nonsense.

In the video, you see how she is relaxed and confident, taking her time and hitting her target. Compare with any number of YouTube videos showing American women shaking, wobbling, and hitting themselves in the face with the recoil.

Most importantly, there is nothing in the Democratic or liberal position in politics that militates toward an anti-gun policy. If you believe that, then you have been sold a bill of false goods. Disabuse yourself of the notion post-haste.

I have worked with and known far too many ex-military, hard-line conservatives (one even had a picture of himself hugging Newt Gingrich), who don't want any citizen to have access to firearms.

It is NOT a liberal vs conservative issue. If you think that, you are wrong. Plenty of hard-core republicans are violently opposed to personal gun ownership. That's just a fact. They don't trust anybody and they sure as hell don't trust you.

By the same token, many liberal Democrats love the 2nd Amendment and own firearms and are responsible owners who advocate for ownership and introduce others to the sport. It's not a political thing. It's a personal thing. And we all make our own choices.

I believe that there are three types of people in regards to guns

1) Staunch anti gun folks - Wouldnt go to a range if you paid them

- Very few people come out of this group, and bring their kids up to hate/fear guns. They will quote any anti gun propoganda they can find.

In my mind..... not worth the hassle


2) Middle of the road folks......... Can be swayed either way....... they may have little or no experience with guns. Maybe indiferent, may vote for guns if thier conservative news media says they should, may vote against guns if their liberal news station says they should.

- This may be 30-60% of the population


3) Staunch gun folks - Beleive strongly in 2A


IMHO, the 2nd group will either hurt us or help us in the long run. Our challenge in the long run is to get more people interested in the activity, whether that be hunting, protection, or just shooting for enjoyment.

We need to take seriously our personal role in increasing the number of new (and safe) shooters.

We can make a HUGE difference

If we EACH just took 1-2 people in group 2 to the range per quarter, we would not have a problem in the long run. our future of shooting would be secure.


The media/entertainment/education industry is heavily wieghted toward making the populace fear/hate any weapons........... they are heavily funded.

Do you think your kids arent hearing an anti-gun message at school?

They are serious about what they are doing


Maybe WE should be too.........................

You know, after a few moments of thought I'm not sure I know anyone who doesn't shoot at least a little. I knew a few young ladies back years ago who had never shot, of course I changed that for them. But now days I don't meet many net lady's, the wife would frown upon that.

Cryogaijin said:

Lucy had the range down as a necissary evil for visiting the US: Gotta shoot guns at some point.

By the end of the day, after repeating her single shot bullseyes several times, she is encouraged to look into the sport herself. And she REALLY loves my hunting rifle.

Andy also had fun, and was wearing a silly stupid grin most of the evening, but his favorite was my .17hmr (Which is a freaking tack driver. From 5 feet to about 75 yards I'd say my .17 is more accurate than my hunting rifle. From 75 to 350 yards my hunting rifle might as well be a laser I got REALLY lucky)

Both are interested in getting involved more, and will be encouraging their other 'Murcan friends to do so as well.

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Good for your she will remember how much fun she had over the years. She will relay this to other friends back in Ireland. It will do some good.

I've taken and converted a few to pro-gun in my younger days, even if they stayed lib on other issues.

The last was a potential work outing. Our boss and 3 of us shoot, 3 others didn't. We invited everyone, including holding a safety class. They declined, so we never went. Kind of a bummer...

shockwave said:

...Most importantly, there is nothing in the Democratic or liberal position in politics that militates toward an anti-gun policy. If you believe that, then you have been sold a bill of false goods. Disabuse yourself of the notion post-haste...

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You have got to be kidding. Are you being sarcastic? And if not, you do realize The President is the head of his party, right!?

Wars are not won by winning hearts and minds.
Wars are won by killing people and breaking things.
It isn't pleasant, but it's reality.
We will never win this war by pandering to the left.
The last thing you want is for your enemy to have a fair chance at beating you.

shockwave said:

...The Irish, especially, have a long and comfortable history with firearms. To characterize them as "lefties" or such is complete ignorant nonsense...

In the video, you see how she is relaxed and confident, taking her time and hitting her target. Compare with any number of YouTube videos showing American women shaking, wobbling, and hitting themselves in the face with the recoil...

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The OP titled this "Took some "extremely left wing" friends to the gunrange today. . ." Many here know about the Irish and guns, especially what the "extreme left wing" can do with them.

As for the YouTube videos of cute American women (rather unlike Lucy, darn right) having problems handling a big gun for the first time, don't you think that's the reason they are there or doesn't that fit the agenda?

Lucy's pretty good getting hits off hand and from sitting. Most guys at my range spend all day shooting off the bench.

Lucy looks like she's having way too much fun, to be an antigunner.

Wars are not won by winning hearts and minds.
Wars are won by killing people and breaking things.
It isn't pleasant, but it's reality.
We will never win this war by pandering to the left.
The last thing you want is for your enemy to have a fair chance at beating you.

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We have voting, a Congress, lobbies, and free speech so that we can resolve domestic policy disputes WITHOUT killing people and breaking things. I'm down with "whatever means necessary" if we start looking at a Third Reich style dictatorship, but it just ain't right to trot out that sort of rhetoric whenever a legislature passes a law you don't agree with.

There is no "war." There's numerous policy disagreements between liberals and conservatives in this country but there is NOTHING that comes close to justifying "killing people and breaking things."

Wars are not won by winning hearts and minds.
Wars are won by killing people and breaking things.
It isn't pleasant, but it's reality.
We will never win this war by pandering to the left.
The last thing you want is for your enemy to have a fair chance at beating you.

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You are one of the top ten reasons why I own guns.

Jaymo said:

Wars are not won by winning hearts and minds.
Wars are won by killing people and breaking things.
It isn't pleasant, but it's reality.
We will never win this war by pandering to the left.
The last thing you want is for your enemy to have a fair chance at beating you.

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We arent at war......

Anti gunners are not my enemy.


All I am saying, is win over 2-3 per year.

There are so many people that are indifferent when it comes to guns..... If they
See a national tragedy, and dont shoot....... They MAY start voting for anti gun polticians

If you are an avid shooter, or just enjoy the sport..... You will be much less inclined to vote for the anti gunner.

Its easy, this is a fun sport. Its like introducing someone to a new flavor of
Ice cream....... Its all good when its safe....

And...... More shooters , are more voters