7 million new shooters this year.

[velocette]

Just remember folks, it is OUR duty to teach these new shooters proper safety, range etiquette, marksmanship etc etc. The large majority want to know these things and will respond well to polite guidance.
As long time range officer I have a little knowledge there.

 

[earlthegoat2]

How many of them vote pro-2A?

 

[Frulk]

Shooters or Gun owners? There is a difference.

 

[Deanimator]

I wonder how many of them realize just HOW badly some people want them to be FORMER gun owners.

 

[Scooter22]

Just remember folks, it is OUR duty to teach these new shooters proper safety, range etiquette, marksmanship etc etc. The large majority want to know these things and will respond well to polite guidance.
As long time range officer I have a little knowledge there.

I love your optimism. But I'll bet most of them bought a firearm out of fear and have little desire to actually become recreational shooters. Once the political climate softens I'll bet many of those over price guns will end up in used racks in gunshops. I'll be there with cash for the deals and to help small businesses.

 

[Waveski]

Ok , they may not all be staunch proponents of the 2nd Amendment , many may not be regular shooters , but lets at least consider that the increase may be good thing .....

How would we feel if there had been a decrease of 7,000,000 gun owners in the last year?

 

[SimonRL]

How come every time we talk about new gun owners we always assume that they are somehow suspect in their motivations and yet everyone who was a gun owner prior to the pandemic is cut from some greater moral cloth? It would seem hypocrites live on either side of the fence.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

7,000,000 potential 2A voters for us to work with.

 

[Frulk]

“How come every time we talk about new gun owners we always assume that they are somehow suspect in their motivations and yet everyone who was a gun owner prior to the pandemic is cut from some greater moral cloth? It would seem hypocrites live on either side of the fence.”

Speaking for myself and primarily as a reply to the thread title, I was just pointing out that gun ownership itself does not necessarily translate to other areas of the gun/firearms spectrum.

I think most of us here believe 7 million new (first time) gun owners in one year is a good thing. Regardless of anything else it may/may not lead to.

 

[WrongHanded]

Hopefully, what we have is 7 million more people who realize that buying a gun is not as simple and easy as many would think. 7 million people who are relieved that when they felt they needed to become armed, they could legally arm themselves. 7 million people who have realized that it's better to already have a gun, than stand in line to buy one and possibly wait a mandatory period of time til they can take possession of it. 7 million people who realizes ammo is not always readily available.

7 million people who better understand firearms ownership than they did before.

 

[cdahl383]

I’m a first time gun owner this year. Never against the 2A but never had a desire to own a gun.

This year that changed. Turns out, I love shooting! I spent a lot of time at my buddy’s house shooting at his outdoor range and have been going to the local indoor range a lot now since it’s winter. It’s a ton of fun and I wish I had been introduced to the gun world sooner in life. Better late than never!

 

[Trey Veston]

The two new shooters I personally know both did not vote the way I did. Not sure how to discuss the issue without it violating the TOS. While they have embraced the concept of gun ownership responsibly and physically, they have not embraced it politically.

Not sure how many of the new gun owners have had a wake-up call regarding their fundamental right to self-defense.

I do know that the local gun shop has had to adapt to a slew of largely inexperienced gun owners...



BTW, the signs reads, "NOT .38 Special" on a display of .38 Super ammo.

 

[WrongHanded]

The two new shooters I personally know both did not vote the way I did. Not sure how to discuss the issue without it violating the TOS. While they have embraced the concept of gun ownership responsibly and physically, they have not embraced it politically.

https://notechtyranny.com/index.php That's why this place exists. You want to start a thread about it there, I'll be happy to discuss it with you.

 

[Obturation]

The two new shooters I personally know both did not vote the way I did. Not sure how to discuss the issue without it violating the TOS. While they have embraced the concept of gun ownership responsibly and physically, they have not embraced it politically.

Not sure how many of the new gun owners have had a wake-up call regarding their fundamental right to self-defense.

I do know that the local gun shop has had to adapt to a slew of largely inexperienced gun owners...

View attachment 966891

BTW, the signs reads, "NOT .38 Special" on a display of .38 Super ammo.

I've seen the same 38 super warning. Some people...

 

[Pat Riot]

7 million new gun owners. To me, that means 7 million more people that won’t sit still for having their 2A rights messed with, regardless of their political leanings.

 

[Dogbite]

I look at it this way, the next time some politician says we are going to take your guns, a large portion of that 7 million might say, umm, no your not. That alone is a good thing. Are most of them going to get way into shooting like us? No, however the riots and craziness did open a bunch of non-shooters eyes and they said, we need guns! Nobody is coming to save us.

 

[Old Dog]

But I'll bet most of them bought a firearm out of fear and have little desire to actually become recreational shooters. Once the political climate softens I'll bet many of those over price guns will end up in used racks in gunshops.

Yeah, and it'll be because of guys like you who don't associate with them, don't mentor them, don't help them learn the positive aspects and fun of the gun-owning and shooting culture, and above all, don't help them learn about the importance of the Second Amendment and why it's so relevant today.

 

[FFGColorado]

Shooters or Gun owners? There is a difference.

Agree. I'll wager that the vast majority of these new gun owners and only that. They know that all they will need is $ and a clean record..buy that whatever and a box of ammo..'just in case'...yes, some will become shooters as well.

BUT gotta say, at the ranges I have been to..range safety officers, because of their position(and range safety shirt), DO demand respect and people listen to them. BUT..overhearing a few conversations between adjacent shooters..more than a few 'already know it all' and don't like to be told they don't.

How would we feel if there had been a decrease of 7,000,000 gun owners in the last year?

How would you even measure that? Ya buy a gun, then sell it...no record kept of that.

I've seen the same 38 super warning. Some people...

When I had my brand new S&W 642..went to Cabela's..really friendly sales gent asked me if I needed any help, "38 special ammo please'..he went over to the place, handed my a box..I went and paid for it...then at the range, realized 38 'Super' wouldn't fit into my 642.... I'm sure I said '38 SPECIAL..didn't even know 38 SUPER even existed.

Yeah, and it'll be because of guys like you

c'mon..his opinion. The gent has been on here for 9 years, has over 2000 posts. IMHO, no need to throw that stone....Not a binary choice, for or against, ANYTHING..much more involved than that.

 

[AlexanderA]

Shooters or Gun owners? There is a difference.

Bingo. "7 million new gun owners" doesn't necessarily translate into "7 million new shooters." Most of these guns are being bought for "insurance," not for actual use. Don't expect a huge upsurge in hunting, recreational shooting, or other boons for the gun economy. Many of the new owners are probably content with one box of ammunition. (The people buying up all the ammo are the old owners.)

By the same token, though, these new gun owners won't take kindly to proposals to confiscate their newly-acquired guns. Note that there has been silence on the gun issue from the usual suspects. The only people beating the drums right now on the gun control issue are those on the pro-gun side, hoping to spark donations.

 

[velocette]

Ahh, FFG has it right. There are some new and old folks too that already "know it all". They's red blooded 'Merican boys that was born with a six shooter in one hand and a rifle in ta other.
Not much can be done with them except tolerate them and watch warily as they display their foolishness. For the rest of the new gun owners / shooters we can do is watch, carefully suggest, offer good guidance and help them to enjoy shooting. Who knows we might just win over half or more of them to our side. Meanwhile, keep the damn things pointed down range.

 

[Waveski]

"How would we feel if there had been a decrease of 7,000,000 gun owners in the last year?"

"How would you even measure that? Ya buy a gun, then sell it...no record kept of that."

It was a hypothetical question , for the purpose of making a point ...

 

[cdahl383]

Wow, very curmudgeony in here haha! New “gun owners” won’t stand much of a chance to get more involved if everyone just scolds them for only buying a gun now after the 2020 chaos.

My thought was just that. I better buy a gun and have it just in case given the craziness happening last summer. If it wasn’t for my one buddy who brought me over to shoot and sort of teach me a lot of stuff, I would have never got that interested in guns. Now I love shooting and own several firearms. I even got my dad into it and he bought his first shotgun at 70 years old.

I’m glad my buddy took me under his wing and I didn’t meet up with an old fuddy duddy that would just criticize me.

 

[FFGColorado]

Wow, very curmudgeony in here haha! New “gun owners” won’t stand much of a chance to get more involved if everyone just scolds them for only buying a gun now after the 2020 chaos.

My thought was just that. I better buy a gun and have it just in case given the craziness happening last summer. If it wasn’t for my one buddy who brought me over to shoot and sort of teach me a lot of stuff, I would have never got that interested in guns. Now I love shooting and own several firearms. I even got my dad into it and he bought his first shotgun at 70 years old.

I’m glad my buddy took me under his wing and I didn’t meet up with an old fuddy duddy that would just criticize me.

I don't think anybody is 'scolding' or 'criticizing' anybody who has bought a gun in 2020 'just in case'. It just is what it is. People that recognize that the police aren't 'there' instantly, that there has been a lot of craziness going on, so they choose to buy a gun... it's not a bad thing. And it isn't a bad thing if they don't get involved in shooting for fun and training either. Their choice. Some buy that gun, shoot it and really enjoy it...like I did about 5 years ago.

No guns, son took me shooting..now I own 7 guns and rifles and shoot 2-3 times per month, have a CCWP. I have a friend who just bought a HD shotgun, I helped find and buy it( a small 12g he found at WallMart)..2 boxes of shells..and it sits by his front door. He shot it twice, as in 2 rounds, out his back door(in the country)..

BUT I certainly don't scold him or criticize him. I have asked if he wants to go shoot with me and he isn't interested. Oh well...

 

[redneck2]

There’s a lot of condescending attitude here.

I know everyone here is exceptionally brilliant and knows the difference between.38 Super and .38 Special. You were innately born with mountains of wisdom and are the be all, know all, end all sources of everything pure.

But, maybe you could GENTLY guide the new kids rather than ridicule them

 

[Jimbo80]

I imagine new gun ownership is like anything else. A small percentage will get really into the sport and for a larger percentage it will be a passing phase and the gun will sit there getting dusty with the golf clubs, scuba gear, and camping equipment.