Idiots at my school think I'm a murderer.

I know how you feel. When I was working in Ecuador they called me "la terrorista" because I was always talking to the security people at the rigsite about guns when I wasn't working.

Reminds me of the time I was in a college political science class wearing a trench coat (they're warm and keep you dry!) and someone asked me if I was packing an uzi under it.

People are exactly that, people. They're stupid more often than not.

Don't sweat it.

You can use this opportunity to educate your peers about responsible gun ownership and handling.

But still be careful when you're in school. Keep your focus. There are crazy people out there, some of which are on school boards.

If this "idiot" (from your title) is actually your friend, he/she will be receptive to your explanation about both the safety and the fun that one can gain from shooting sports. I suggest that you take your friend to the range at your earliest opportunity, or at least give him/her some simple facts about guns. You were a normal individual in your friends eyes until this picture was seen; there is no reason for that image to change if you provide the proper education.

Precision:

I used to be a high school principal, and hunter safety instructor here in Michigan. Thank goodness there are a few of us in the world who not only possess a brain, but can exercise that brain. For what it's worth, my neighbor here next door, walked out as I had a nice 7-point buck in the back of my truck, and was removing my rifle to bring it inside. All the sudden, my neighbor retorts,

Gene, you hunt? You killed that poor animal?!

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I answered,

Yes, would you like some of the meat?

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He screamed in horror,

You're a murderer! You're a murderer!! No, I don't want any meat!!

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Then he went back into his house, slammed the door and goodness knows what. I think he made a voodoo doll of me and sat there poking it, because I had a Hades of a neck ache that night!

Geno

lol Geno,

Bet he took the family out to a nice dinner at Mc. D's to discuss their horrible neighbor, lol.

I lived in CA for 20 years, so I know how that is. My sisters had a fit when I came to visit last year and brought a gun. Thought I was paranoid.

Go to college in a different state and never go back.

Or you could take them to a website like this one:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/convrates.htm

Which will show you how CHL holders are actually more law abiding than the general public.

My sisters had a fit when I came to visit last year and brought a gun. Thought I was paranoid

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You should have told her (with a big grin on your face) that you do not need to be paranoid because you have a gun.

Best part was all of the neighbors were outside doing something...even the neighbor who is a LEO. He doesn't like me much anyhow... Now he too likely thinks I'm some crazed, psycho murderer. I probably still have a tap on my phone. Did that sound paranoid?!

It didn't help any one day when my (then 13-year-old) daughter, screamed from 105 yards down the street as she saw me loading my firearms to go to the range:

Cool! Dad, can I go shoot the machine gun with you?! Can we take the sniper rifle too?!

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Keep in mind I have no machine guns. But, Morgan was captivated by my Bushmaster Carbon 15, Model 21 pistol with the 90 round magazine.

Geno

I guess things have most definately changed. In '78 I mustered out of the NAV and went to a private school in Santa Barbara.
Up on Camino Cielo, there was a dump that bordered President Reagan's ranch.
Every few weeks myself and some other shooters who were not natives would assemble and shoot-up that dump. We got pretty good at busting half-pint liquor bottles on the fly, shot nickles at about 50 yards or so with our rifles, just regular fun on an unregulated range.
During one of these sessions, I called a "cease-fire" as I noticed two well dressed gents exiting the rocks/scrub, wearing large frame Ray-Bans and wired for comms, which they were using, one actively speaking into a small mic hung on his suitcoat.
Turns out, they were secret service, and, as President Reagan was at the ranch, rightfully wanted to know what all the shooting was about.
Well, no prob!
I shot a stick and a half with one of their mini-uzi's, and that agent fell in love with my .357Blackhawk after I clued him to the trick of consistently killing tossed half-pint bottles.
No harm, no foul, just shooters doin' what shooters do.
I imagine opportunities like that are just fond memories in today's "Golden State".

Mike

Precision said:

So I was in Algebra, and we'd all been given some time to do our homework in class. I'd brought some papers on the CZ Model 455 American .22 LR with me so I could read up on it, and I'd already finished my homework. My friend leans over to look at what I'm reading, and a paranoid expression forms on his ignorant face.

Remember, I'm looking at a rimfire, not an AK.

"Did you bring that to school?" Rhetorical, I know. Shows you what I'm dealing with in CA.

"...No, a friend gave it to me," I lied. You get weird looks here if people find out you like guns. I've been reported to the school safety advocate numerous times.

"Is your friend a murderer?" The insane thing is that he meant it.

[facepalm] [facepalm] [facepalm]

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Was this in high school?

If so, you're lucky you didn't get tackled by SWAT.

Or expelled for gun porn. The horrible thing is that isn't a joke.

Precision,
As was stated before maybe you could teach your classmate about responsible gun ownership along with all the other values we believe in.
At the same time protect yourself. Even though you may feel that you are not a threat to anyone and that you aren't the next Columbine shooter there is still something to be said about perception being reality. If you can't pull any of your friends or classmates into the fold you may just want to keep your gun enthusiasm low key. Of course that's your choice.
By the way what grade are you? High school, college?

In good old California back in 1974 I had a Argentine Mauser and a Armalike .22 that looked like a mini M16. Anyway, my buds and I were talking and I wasn't paying much attention to the rearview when I pulled into a range just outside of Benecia I looked in the mirror and saw police lights. I got out and the officer asked where I was going in such a rush. I explained that we were just going shooting. He asked to see the guns, I popped the trunk and showed him the mauser and the Argentine. We talked a bit and he left with a "Take it easy on the speeding and have fun."

Nowadays I would probably end up in jail...

You're going to hear this your whole life. Just know in your heart that your hobby is misunderstood, and that you're not weird for loving guns. I'm in college, and guns aren't really accepted. I just show a good example daily, and try to be a leader. Don't let your emotions take hold when someone doesn't agree with you. Smile, and breathe. Keep your cool. It shouldn't be a secret to others. Just tell them that you don't see firearms as killing machines, as so are cars, knives, fists, metal, (cigarettes kill 400,000 a year) etc..... I tell people that I love to shoot targets, and they don't know how much it really means to me. It is my number one hobby, and they don't have to convert, just realize its a positive hobby. I also like to point out to them that I'm not a hunter, and don't believe in killing at all, and have avoided violence my whole life. You'll understand one day. High school is not known for acceptance. Life will be better my friend!

If only foolish, stupid, and dumb were adjectives like broken, ignorant, misaligned, latter three can be fixed, educated, and realigned. I spend everyday trying my hardest to teach people that guns are only tool, and nothing more.

You're a murderer! You're a murderer!! No, I don't want any meat!!

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LOL I wonder where these people think thier food comes from?

Reminds me of "Sarah Palin's Alaska" where she shoots a Caribou. After that show a woman wrote her that "it's wrong to shoot animals and she should get meat at the store where it's made". :banghead:

Reminds me of "Sarah Palin's Alaska" where she shoots a Caribou. After that show a woman wrote her that "it's wrong to shoot animals and she should get meat at the store where it's made".

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Please tell me you made that up. Please?

Push the cart downhill, Precision.

Just keep hacking on' 'em that you and everybody you know is a murderer or a

terrorist, and they'll get over themselves remarkably quick.

Geckgo said:

lol Geno,

Bet he took the family out to a nice dinner at Mc. D's to discuss their horrible neighbor, lol.

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There is no real meat at Mc. D's anyway...

Not unusual. Even here in Colorado I had something like that happen back in the early 70s.

I was up in my favorite prowling grounds above Nederland CO taking a break from prowling with my .22 rifle. I'm leaning against a tree smoking a cigarette (safely) and along the trail comes about four hippie-types, two boys and two girls. Steel-rimmed glasses, etc, you know, four carbon copies of the hippie "uniform." Suddenly one of the girls spots me with my rifle across my lap and out of the clear blue sky, exclaims, "Oh, you've got a gun! Are you going to shoot me?"

I was so stunned that I made some inane remark about if she had a car, would she run me over?

"Oh, that's the stupidest thing I ever heard," she said, and they flounced down the trail, looking back at me.

Well, she was right. It was a stupid remark. I guess stupidity begets stupidity.

But I've heard that unthinking reaction several times over the years since.

Terry, 230RN

and was removing my rifle to bring it inside. All the sudden, my neighbor retorts,

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i feel watched when i come and go to the range , we r renting a small house for now it sets between hood #1 and hood #2 . a lot of foot traffic here with walmart just across the street

first time ever i felt the need to have more then 1 weapon setting around within reach,

hope we r not here much longer, i do leave man size targets up in the garage for all to see when the door is up, might be a good/bad thing, I'm thinking of it as a deterrent thing.