A good sign that we are winning.

[Owen Sparks]

There was a sales flyer in the Sunday paper from Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Along with the typical hunting rifles and shotguns there were 4 different AR models on sale. You would NEVER have seen an ad like this back in the days before the assault weapons ban. Back then these rifles were sort of on the fringe and the average hunter or shooter had never even handled one. Modern rifles are becoming a common sight now and psychological effect on the general public is very positive because the more they see them the more they become the norm.

The AWB could never have passed had these rifles been as common then as they are now. The AR is becoming "traditional".

 

[Old Dog]

I think the black rifle achieved its pinnacle of acceptance when Wal-Mart started selling 'em ...

 

[MtnCreek]

Here's another sign: My children's school has a raffle for their Fall fundraiser. This year is a .270 A-Bolt. Last Spring was an AR-15.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Once the average person walks past the gun display at Wall-Mart, sees Dick's ad or whatever these rifles become "normal" in their mind and not as mysterious or unconventional.

 

[bannockburn]

Owen Sparks

I would agree with that. Could be people seeing them in Walmart or Dick's, right next to the typical rifles and shotguns used for hunting, gives the AR rifles a more mainstream acceptance. Sort of like: "Well if Walmart is selling them they must be okay."

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

I think the black rifle achieved its pinnacle of acceptance when Wal-Mart started selling 'em ...

True

 

[X-Rap]

Millions of our military have used the Gov. version and many more millions have felt the bite of the old AWB and said not again. Competitors, woodsman, ranchers, hunters, home defense, men women and kids have all take to them well. I doubt if there are many detractors under 50 yrs old and it would be interesting to see the result of politicians trying to prohibit the guns or the mags that feed them today. Whole different world from the 90's.

 

[rtroha]

Newspapers are desperate for ad revenue and will now take ads for things they used to refuse. Up until a couple years ago, the Cleveland Plain Dealer would never accept advertising for firearms. Now full color inserts from various gun stores are a regular feature.

 

[Owen Sparks]

The "newfangled" has sort of worn off the idea of civilians owning military styled rifles, though when you think about it, bolt actions were once military style rifles.

 

[xwingband]

At the same time I remember an instance of hearing a little kid calling the MP15-22 at walmart a "machine gun". He didn't say that about the shotguns or bolt actions... the AR pattern rifle.

So seeing it is one thing, changing the perception is the other! One could probably argue the perception will change with exposure, but I don't think it will help anyone already set against guns. An real raving anti would probably flip out at seeing AR's in walmart... though I also don't see a raving anti being too interested in the camping/sporting section all that much anyway to even see it!

 

[Owen Sparks]

Another good thing is that umpteen millions of unregistered modern capacity magazines are now in the hands of citizens. Any attempt to outlaw new ones would not make any real difference in availability for several decades, maybe even half a century or more.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I just saw a sixty second Henry rifle commercial while watching Fox news.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.

 

[Ryanxia]

Another good thing is that umpteen millions of unregistered modern capacity magazines are now in the hands of citizens. Any attempt to outlaw new ones would not make any real difference in availability for several decades, maybe even half a century or more.

And if they are not required to be registered if a ban hit (and have their own serial #) then it would be pretty easy to continue to make them and pass them off as pre-ban.

Well said Certaindeaf.

 

[GlockFan]

Here's another sign: My children's school has a raffle for their Fall fundraiser. This year is a .270 A-Bolt. Last Spring was an AR-15.

When this happens in a Chicago school then I'd say we WON.

 

[TrickyDick]

Here's another sign: My children's school has a raffle for their Fall fundraiser. This year is a .270 A-Bolt. Last Spring was an AR-15.

I remember when i was in 1st grade, i brought a Power Rangers "pistol" to class, the thing was yellow with a disk that rotated in the front which had 4 different color lights. the only thing that made it look even remotely to a gun was the fact that it had a trigger. My teacher flipped and made me put it back into my backpack... I was clueless

I envy your child's school....

 

[Warp]

When I was in 5th grade my teacher brought a revolver in and walked around the classroom with it so we could all handle/dry fire it.

He was still there many, many years later.

And I'm <30 years old.

 

[Ignition Override]

rtroha:
With gun ads now in newspapers which never allowed such advertising in the past, is it likely that many newspaper writers or editors cringe when they work on each edition, or simply find the images more acceptable?

I don't know how to copy/paste quotes, except in my company website's monthly bidding.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I envy your child's school....

My high school had a rifle team.

 

[gbeecher]

Common sense becoming more common?!

Part of it may have to do with the fact that the assault weapons ban had no affect on violent gun crime or crime in general. Maybe some of the anti-gun people have had a change of heart or perspective. Hope springs eternal and miracles never cease!

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

Back in the fifties and sixties we would bring our deer rifles to school so the principal could compare his gun with ours. But also back then we packed our Winchester lever actions on Honda 50s and 90s and now we pack AR-15s on our 4-wheelers here in Idaho. I think the black rifle has been accepted. But no one that I know has a rifle rack in the pickup rear window like we used to have either. Alot of things changed.

 

[230RN]

Don't do the happy dance yet. I got browned off when our Channel 2 (KWGN-TV-Denver) made a big deal a couple of days ago about some outfit up in Idaho giving away a rifle as a premium for some large purchase or another. I mean, with "Ewwws" and "Oh, noes" and typical "politically-correct" hand-fluttering, nose-wrinkling, and "tsk-tsking" that wasn't written into their script.

Not a new promotional idea. I remember The Bank of Boulder (Colorado), used to give away Weatherbys as an up-front interest payment on large Certificates of Deposit, and as I recall, that's what really got that bank going when it started up.

On the other hand one of that Channel 2's semi-anchors did a piece on Cowboy Action Shooting about two years ago, so there's hope. I guess. Because he's still on their roster.

Terry, 230RN

REFS:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1994/07/25/79589/index.htm

http://extras.denverpost.com/business/biz0126a.htm

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ificates-of-deposit-weatherby-target-practice

 

[gfanikf]

Another good thing is that umpteen millions of unregistered modern capacity magazines are now in the hands of citizens. Any attempt to outlaw new ones would not make any real difference in availability for several decades, maybe even half a century or more.

I love arguing that point with people...they get really pissed off because I ask how will they be collected or removed? No one, besides some Euros (and not even most of them) think required turn in or confiscation is an acceptable answer, but in theory it's the only feasible (not saying legal or anything else) approach...but it seems now a days no one will dare suggest it. They know I'm pushing them towards saying that, because they know I'll win right there. lol At best they offer time and attrition and admit it will take decades....

Part of it may have to do with the fact that the assault weapons ban had no affect on violent gun crime or crime in general. Maybe some of the anti-gun people have had a change of heart or perspective. Hope springs eternal and miracles never cease!

One can hope...but I think real issues coming up and the NRA juggeruant in lobbying.

Lets be honest if they didn't stop the extension back in 04, Bush would have signed it, and I would even though I didn't realize it (as I didn't own any guns till last year) I'd be sooooo screwed and the wrong tone for the nation and state legs would have been set.

Newspapers are desperate for ad revenue and will now take ads for things they used to refuse. Up until a couple years ago, the Cleveland Plain Dealer would never accept advertising for firearms. Now full color inserts from various gun stores are a regular feature.

Funny enough the last issue of the (original) Philadelphia Bulletin had an ad from this place in Philly that sold Machine Guns. I recall seeing it years later (last issue was kept around the house) and going whhhaaatttt. lol

 

[X-Rap]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Owen Sparks
Another good thing is that umpteen millions of unregistered modern capacity magazines are now in the hands of citizens. Any attempt to outlaw new ones would not make any real difference in availability for several decades, maybe even half a century or more.

Quote:
I love arguing that point with people...they get really pissed off because I ask how will they be collected or removed? No one, besides some Euros (and not even most of them) think required turn in or confiscation is an acceptable answer, but in theory it's the only feasible (not saying legal or anything else) approach...but it seems now a days no one will dare suggest it. They know I'm pushing them towards saying that, because they know I'll win right there. lol At best they offer time and attrition and admit it will take decades....

I don't get my hopes up over that thought, if they make the penalty high enough for possession and enforce it people will turn them in by the dump truck load.
I think many misjudge the government's potential for cruelty when the wrong people are at the helm.

 

[Water-Man]

The availability of AR's to the public is a good thing.

I'm not so sure the popularity of AR's is such a good thing.

Yes, I own one.

 

[Sam1911]

The availability of AR's to the public is a good thing.

I'm not so sure the popularity of AR's is such a good thing.

Eh, good ergos, low recoil, accurate, super-easy to teach someone on. Nothing wrong with it -- they were "space guns" back in the 60s and 70s. Now they are the standard. Life is good!

Another good thing is that umpteen millions of unregistered modern capacity magazines are now in the hands of citizens. Any attempt to outlaw new ones would not make any real difference in availability for several decades, maybe even half a century or more.

I love arguing that point with people...they get really pissed off because I ask how will they be collected or removed? No one, besides some Euros (and not even most of them) think required turn in or confiscation is an acceptable answer, but in theory it's the only feasible (not saying legal or anything else) approach...but it seems now a days no one will dare suggest it. They know I'm pushing them towards saying that, because they know I'll win right there. lol At best they offer time and attrition and admit it will take decades....

I don't get my hopes up over that thought, if they make the penalty high enough for possession and enforce it people will turn them in by the dump truck load.
I think many misjudge the government's potential for cruelty when the wrong people are at the helm.

I think this misses the larger and more subtle point. A good deal of our federal gun control laws and legal precidents hinge on the Courts and Congress playing both sides of the fence, of whether a certain gun is appropriately suited for national defense and thus protected by the 2nd Ammnedment, or whether it is in common use for "sporting purposes." Guns have been put on the ban block ostensibly because they had no "sporting purpose." Cases have been made that the 2nd Amenedment didn't apply because a certain gun wasn't suitable for military use.

Now we have a very special situation where the most common (or certainly one of the top few most common) "sporting" weapons (however you define "sporting) is simulaneously the nation's standard issue infantry arm.

Hard for the politicos to decide which way to try to squirm out from under that.