Social stigma

I would be curious about it but I would choose not to engage. In my years I’ve come to realize what other people think on such topics is a matter that doesn’t require my concern, and vice versa.

igotta40 said:

I would be curious about it but I would choose not to engage. In my years I’ve come to realize what other people think on such topics is a matter that doesn’t require my concern, and vice versa.

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DITTO

Usually a liberal mindset.

It's very mainstream. Guns kill people= guns are bad.

Only police /military should have them (maybe not the former, after last summer's events police should only carry trained social workers in their holsters).

If guns kill people and guns are bad, if you like guns, you're weird at best and potentially dangerous at worst.

Challenge this and maybe you'll be reported to the FBI for possible extremism!

It's the belief that the European democracies mostly embrace and raise their kids to believe.

I can't help but push it, I am guilty of befriending everyone. As time goes by and you get to know folks, if the above ideas come up I just look quixotic and ask if they've ever shot.

No? (more often than not)

Do you want to? Make it a fun day. I highly suggest a cheap 22 lr single action revolver.

Higher caliber revolvers and 1911s are usually pretty popular as well if they enjoy the 22 or you go a couple times.

Then, it can challenge those stigmas with experiences. This guy isn't weird or dangerous, that was a Dang good time.

I mean, I am both weird and dangerous, but just put that on the shelf for a few hours.

If it's just someone you don't interact with much or its hostility out of the gate I agree. Not worth the time. This is why I got off all social media more than half a decade ago. Sometimes it's just a toxic echo chamber of media engineered talking points and social reinforcement. That isn't conspiracy, both the US and China and any number of other countries employ bots /troll factories to sway public belief and opinions online.

Unfortunately you see this play out in the real world as well..

KY DAN said:

In conversation today with an colleague the topic of gun nuts came up for discussion. I have never gave it much thought as what ever level of involvement and interest is one's own prerogative. My colleague said it made him slightly uncomfortable when he delt with individuals with a heavy involvement in firearms and the like. I just noted his concern and continued to sip my coffee as it was not my concern to change his mind in that moment. Always a time and place for those conversations.

Does anyone else share this concern and if so could you please explain your view point.

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Everyone needs to access their own comfort level with conversation topic. I work for a large company that is extremely diverse. I have no problem talking about all kinds of topics from guns, politics, Jesus etc.... I just try and be respectful but I won’t apologize for my beliefs and convictions. Ymmv.

Nasty crack from a Left Liberal who learns I am a member of The Gun Culture:
"Oh, we had better be nice to you." As though I was going to go postal if, in one example, the dental hygienist poked my mouth too hard.

It is one of the pillars of the Marxists’ doctrine and their media allies: create social stigma / denormalize / instill fear around gun owners and gun ownership. This increases the acceptance for and legitimacy of actions to curtail the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.

I'm pretty selective about those I share my love of firearms with. I do own a couple of hats with related logos (one HK and one Aimpoint) but I'm mindful of where I wear them. Really I haven't seen any social stigma directed at me on account of being a "gun guy" but then it's probably because I don't advertise it. There are good reasons to manage your "image", not the least of which being avoidance of theft. IMO an NRA sticker or one from a gun company might look good on your bumper but it might also clue a thief in that smashing your window might lead them to finding a gun to steal.

DocRock said:

It is one of the pillars of the Marxists’ doctrine and their media allies: create social stigma / denormalize / instill fear around gun owners and gun ownership.

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You missed that one by a mile, try reading a book occasionally!

“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary”

― Karl Marx

Same thought I get when they report on the most recent “arsenal” or “cache” seized when the number of guns is less than a dozen and the volume of ammo doesn’t overflow a duffel bag. It’s all in connotation, and some people buy into it. “Gun nut” implies armed idiot just like “weapons cache” implies a sizable selection of weaponry that could outfit a a small military force… and not with 22s and bolt rifles. It’s a silly term, and one I would gladly use to make the guy who said it feel about 2 inches tall with when I had him over for dinner and opened the door to one of the safes.

I have learned to be more discrete about everything, especially in this era of electronic recording and surveillance. I was supposed to be an intelligence analyst/interpreter in the Army-never actually worked at it of course-it was drummed into us repeatedly "No Need To Know". Like Dean Grennell, no bumperstickers on my cars, no firearms related attire, don't feel the need to broadcast a lot of things.

I’ve taken quite a few people shooting that have never fired a gun. Some who have never even seen one up close. Nobody has every said they hated it. The usual reaction is “It’s not as scary as I thought” (had been taught).
It’s up to the gun community to educate people. The popular media isn’t going to do it.
The key is rational, calm conversation, not banner-waving, shouting, mass ‘displays of force’
On the other extreme, the Hello Kitty guns don’t help. We don’t have Hello Kitty chain saws.
But just like any other subject, if you’re pushy you’ll more than likely get a negative response.

WestKentucky said:

Same thought I get when they report on the most recent “arsenal” or “cache” seized when the number of guns is less than a dozen and the volume of ammo doesn’t overflow a duffel bag.

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My first thought is, “Wow, you should see my place”.
I don’t really advertise my interest but I can’t hide the UPS truck that stops at my place once or twice a week with hazmat packages.
Once on a flight a lady sat down in the seat next to me and said “Soyou like Ruger!” I replied yes, I’m a Ruger fan, how’d you know? - “The Ruger logo on your phone”. Nice flight.

Phaedrus/69 said:

You missed that one by a mile, try reading a book occasionally!

“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary”

― Karl Marx

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Although communism in practice disarms the workers and insists upon a monopoly of arms for the state. They get around this by saying those police /stasi are your comrades in the union I suppose.

Tyrants pick and choose the talking points from the demented dribble that spawns them. I'll butcher the quote but it was Orwell I believe that said, "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."

By that metric I should say the UK and most of Europe is insufficient in their symbols of democracy.

Same guy also said (I think) if you want a vision of the future picture a boot stomping the human face forever.

We all know these things, but folks today with a flippant embrace of socialism or even communism often don't.

Your day out with a 22 single action revolver, a few cans, and some fellowship might well set them on a path towards common sense and enlightenment.

Phaedrus/69 said:

You missed that one by a mile, try reading a book occasionally!

“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary”

― Karl Marx

Click to expand...

Although communism in practice disarms the workers and insists upon a monopoly of arms for the state. They get around this by saying those police /stasi are your comrades in the union I suppose.

Tyrants pick and choose the talking points from the demented dribble that spawns them. I'll butcher the quote but it was Orwell I believe that said, "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."

By that metric I should say the UK and most of Europe is insufficient in their symbols of democracy.

Same guy also said (I think) if you want a vision of the future picture a boot stomping the human face forever.

We all know these things, but folks today with a flippant embrace of socialism or even communism often don't.

Your day out with a 22 single action revolver, a few cans, and some fellowship might well set them on a path towards common sense and enlightenment.

Phaedrus/69 said:

You missed that one by a mile, try reading a book occasionally!

“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary”

― Karl Marx

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Phaedrus/69 said:

You missed that one by a mile, try reading a book occasionally!

“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary”

― Karl Marx

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Those are the “workers” in classical Marxism, comrade.

Today’s Marxists, of Critical Race Theory, Systemic Racism, and Leadership of the Elite want the proletariat and anyone they deem a “nationalist” disarmed. Try getting in touch with the 21st Century, tovarisch.

I still live 50% of the time in the belly of the beast, the Chicago area. I've had people I know tell me they don't care for guns, but not in a malicious way. I simply tell them if they're not for them not to own them, and that's as far as those conversations go. I also have family members, a sister in particular who gets pretty animated when the topic comes up. According to her we should give up our 2A rights because gun related deaths in Japan are low. There are more flaws in that than I have time to address now, but in trying to keep peace in the family I simply tell her that my guns are not the problem and change the subject. If I'm talking to a person who I want to or need to have an ongoing relationship with, I either avoid these conversations or tread carefully as it, and politics in general have become too angry for my taste.

WestKentucky said:

“Gun nut” implies armed idiot just like “weapons cache” implies a sizable selection of weaponry that could outfit a a small military force… and not with 22s and bolt rifles.

It’s a silly term, and one I would gladly use TO MAKE TGE GUY WHO SAID IT FEEL ABOUT 2 INCHES TALL

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A really a dumb thing to do.

twarr1 said:

We don’t have Hello Kitty chain saws.

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Well now you are just daring me to do that.

I tend to be pretty open about my enthusiasm for guns but usually frame in the context of hunting for those I don't know terribly well. I also go out of my way to be helpful generally so when they do realize I'm a gun nut they have to come to terms with the neighborhood handyman being the 'bad' guy. Hell this past weekend I spent all my free time cutting up trees, driving around my generator to run frige and freezers for an hour, and resetting electrical services (well I was on company time for these) after a storm took the city for a ride. Harder to be demonized when you are perceived as good natured in the day to day before people find out every little thing about you.

When I decided that I no longer cared who does or doesn't approve of my interests, I became a much happier person. If someone asks a specific question, I'll answer truthfully. Not hiding, not advertising, and certainly not being the one to bring it up.

KY DAN,
Your colleague likely met someone, does not know them well, who puked up their views on politics, religion and 2A issues right quick and in a hurry. Holding your counsel and sipping coffee as he described his encounter makes you one of the reasonable and prudent few.
As another post suggested take him shooting and show the other side of the coin. .22’s and some gongs are always fun.

Sadly, while an important issue to "our" community (and vital to healing the schism between "us" and "them" I fear this will veer well out of THR guidelines.

For my 2¢, one of the things that has been (slowly) pounded into my stone-like noggin is that discretion in all things benefits everyone.

To misquote somebody smarter than I, "You never have to apologize for humility."

I can invest all the effort in promoting my own positions in just living them as an example rather than a billboard for the uncaring (or the staunchly opposed). Opinions are stubborn things and only change slowly, if at all. Browbeating really only irritates the beaten, and wears out your arm. There are a number of people, in several persuasions, who probably ought take that to heart--but, only time will change their opinions.

"Why do people own guns?" is a question I equate with "Why do people wear underwear?" They have their reasons, and asking about either is tending towards impolite at best.

defjon said:

Although communism in practice disarms the workers and insists upon a monopoly of arms for the state. They get around this by saying those police /stasi are your comrades in the union I suppose.

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Communism and Marxism aren't the same thing. Kind of like how Christ wouldn't recognize a modern Christian.

At least knives and cars --- i.e. Berlin, Nice, London, NYC mass murders etc --- don't kill people. A self-defense class sometimes suggests that a knife makes it far easier to cause multiple, critical wounds,

It doesn't do any good to get in a debate about guns, unless the other person (or maybe just total ignorance, willful or not) agrees to a set of statistics to be the foundation of the discussion.

I never seem to have printed, Comprehensive documents in my pocket which have such govt. statistics on guns, crime, the hundreds of thousands of people who exposed a carry gun (maybe a rifle in home), or used a guns to save themselves or .....children.

PWC said:

A really a dumb thing to do.

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To let somebody shoot their mouth off about something they have seen repeatedly on TV and then prove them wrong with tangible proof that not everybody in gun culture is a gun nut as the term implies.