Any gun epiphanies since NOLA?

[hso]

A buddy of mine called today because his mildly anti wife had the light bulb blink into full illumination after watching/reading/listenting to the reports on New Orleans. Now she wants a handgun and to take the carry course.

Anyone else have this experience where someone formerly anti or neutral suddenly "got it" that a police officer does not instantly crawl out of the phone and hold your hand every time someone dials 911 after absorbing the information from New Orleans?

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Well, I've been teaching a friend to shoot for the past few months and while he really enjoys it (we go almost every week) he hadn't made the jump to buying his own gun. He almost bought a .22lr rifle, but his mother doesn't want a gun in the house. I talked to him about self-defence and he agrees with me, but it was kinda like "when I get my own place, I'll do it. . . "

Well, he called me early last week saying "I need to buy a gun. What I'm seeing on the news is scary!"

I told him "See? Aren't you glad you already know gun safety and the basics of how to shoot? Imagine if that stuff happened here? It's too late to try to learn to use a gun properly then, and there's that 10-day wait, too. . . And make sure your parents watch the news, too!"

 

[sfhogman]

Yup. My G/F. Also two friends at work. Believe me, in San Francisco that's saying something.

I found a really nice used Security-Six at a local shop. If she like's it, she's getting it.

Jeff

 

[chopinbloc]

no bona fide moment of clarity, but i can tell my stepmom is starting to see the importance of firearms and the necessity of self reliance.

i'd like to add that this is a great opportunity to convert folks. don't bother talking about guns. i know it's hard to avoid the subject; i can't talk for five minutes without saying something about guns. wait for them to mention how messed up the government's response was and engage in THAT conversation. innevitably, they'll probably blame bush or other specific officials. your job is to point out that every major disaster that has ever happened in the u.s. was accompanied by slow and ineffectual govt. response. hurricanes are great examples but other major disasters such as fires and earth quakes have been plagued with poor response. point out the reason is that government CAN NOT take care of you. this is the crucial point for a liberal and it is often painful for them to see the light. just like plato's cave analogy they will be blinded for a while but once they get over that hump, everything else follows and you will find that people quickly turn to hardcore libertarians when they discover it is impossible for their nanny state to do all the things they expect of it.

 

[Preacherman]

Well, we've had several "gun epiphanies" in the Alexandria, LA area... you see, many of the NO gang-bangers "evacuated" to this area, and have been trying their usual tricks - but this ain't NO, and the police and general citizenry in this area are rather less submissive and/or co-operative than what these worthy (?) citizens are used to. A number of them have found themselves trying to commit petty crimes, only to end up staring down the business end of a 12ga. shotgun - a true "gun epiphany", if you ask me!

They're now in local jails, complaining bitterly because they aren't being allowed out without bail. Our local bail bondsmen, strangely enough, aren't accepting property or goods in NO as security...

 

[Third_Rail]

Gun epiphany? Sure.


My parents had a gun epiphany.


"What's happening in NO is awful! You're definately not allowed to have guns in this house now! If something like that happened here, we don't want you to go looting, so no guns!"





Yeah, I still don't quite understand that one myself...... :banghead:

 

[Janitor]

A number of them have found themselves trying to commit petty crimes, only to end up staring down the business end of a 12ga. shotgun - a true "gun epiphany", if you ask me!

You know ... while I absolutely hate that you and yours have to suffer through all of this ... I love your recounting of what's gone on there. Exactly the kind of thing I needed to read with the dark attitude I seem to have this morning. Not that I'm glad the bangers showed up in your neighborhood, but I'm glad they showed up in a neighborhood - any neighborhood - that gets it.

It's better than they deserve, but I hope they rot in your jails.

 

[entropy]

Well, I had mine long ago, back when they actually taught about the founding fathers. I guess they still do, but it's more of a "they were a bunch of evil money-gubbing slaveholders who didn't want to pay their taxes.." My older son, who is getting ready for his first deer hunt, has expressed more interst in, and appreciation for my attempts to teach him self-sufficiency, SERE, etc. Whenever such an event as NO happens, my wife is glad that I have good self defense weapons. When a prisoner escaped Stillwater and headed our way, she was glad I had a rifle handy, and when the LA riots over the Rodney King verdict happened, she was relieved that I had a .44 Redhawk loaded and on me in the apartment we lived in then. NO really makes me hope that CCW passes here in WI this time!

 

[alpineman]

Yeah, I had an epiphany, in the form of a question....

"Now,why haven't I bought my beloved wife her OWN AR-15?"

Two eeevil black rifles are better than one. At least now I won't have to waste time wondering what to buy her for her birthday!

The sign in front of my home would read, "You loot, WE shoot."

 

[Billy the Kid]

For some time I have kept a SHTF bag. Filled with ammo, a few hand guns, flashlights, medicine, a knife and other essential survival utilities that would work if there was a breakdown of order and there was no electricity. Its all wrapped in waterproof plastic and inside of a tough canvas military carry on bag. If there is ever a SHTF situation I can grab that holster my glock get in my car and drive away or jump on a bike and ride off. My father and brothers and girlfriend and almost everyone I work with all called me a nut and a survivalist and psycho, and told me to move to Montana.

When I brought up how much everyone in NOLA would love to have my SHTF bag right about now they all finnally agreed. Ha ha ha.

Some choice quotes.

"I wouldnt spend all my time worrying about stupid what if scenarios, I want to live my life now, not spend it worrying." <--this from a 20 vitamins a day health nazi who thinks hands free laws in our area are a good idea.

"youre a big guy, why do you need the guns for? you can fight" <--my pop... he grew up in gangland and used to carry when I was a kid because we lived in a ghetto. I am confused about this one myself.

 

[Pilgrim]

Several years ago in the PDRK, I paid for basic handgun training for my brother and his wife. Taking the course earned them their Basic Firearms Safety Certificates, required then to buy a handgun. After the law changed a couple of years later, and BFSCs would soon be no longer good - they would need a Handgun Safety Certificate - I asked them if they wanted my help in shopping for a handgun.

My brother's response was, "Gee, Bruce, I don't see Al-Qaida marching down Beach Boulevard (Huntington Beach). If I need one I can always borrow one from you."

I told him that might be a solution, provided he could escape and evade through forty miles of SHTF Los Angeles, then travel through another 160 miles of rural CA that is hostile and suspicious of escaping and evading Los Angelenos to get to my house.

He shrugged and hid that terrible thought in his "Denial" basket on his desk.

Now he has to escape and evade 1,000+ miles to Idaho to borrow one of my guns.

Pilgrim

 

[roo_ster]

A while back my wife had a handgun epiphany, so I taught her to shoot pistols & she now has her CHL.

She wasn't so interested in rifles, however. I gave her the basics, but her desire/enthusiasm was lacking.

Now, after seeing NOLA, she not only wants to learn to shoot a rifle for real, she wants several rifles of the same make...one kept available and the others stored away where gun confiscators can not easily find them. And ammo to go with them. She has had not any tactical or "tacticool" training (other than my help and some IDPA), but instinctively realized that she wants something to keep looters of whatever stripe at a distance...and rifles do that better than pistols. Oh, she also wants them to have an integral bayonet. (She saw Last Full Measure & was impressed by Stonewall Jackson's cry, "Give them the bayonet!")

I think I see some Mosin-Nagant M44s, PVC, and cosmoline* in our future...though I won't start her out on one.

I had thought of getting a vintage rifle like, say, a CG63 for my AnniversaryBirthdayChristmasValentine'sDayGuyFawksDay present, but I'm now thinking more AR15, since it is an easy centerfire rifle for her to learn on.

After we have our kiddo in March, I think I'll see if a THR_DFW buddy is willing to help her out with some rifle instruction. I can only help her so much, before being married gets in the way of instruction.

* & corrosive milsurp 7.62x54R in cans for long-term storage

 

[dasmi]

Sort of. My mom has now seen what happens to those who aren't prepared, and has decided it would be good to start a little emergency stock pile of supplies. She's still wary about the guns, but she'll come around

 

[jwmoore]

Scene: Wife and I watching news footage of looting & chaos in NO, voiceover about armed homeowners protecting their stuff.

Her: "I bet they're glad they had guns!"

Me: "Do you want me to teach you how to shoot?"

Her: "I'm not ready for that yet."

Me: " "

Baby steps, I guess.

~W

 

[MuzzleBlast]

My wife, on the subject of gun confiscations in NO: "We should have some kind of hiding place to put guns in case this kind of thing happens here."

 

[goon]

Well, sort of... But not in the same way you are talking.
I have made a couple realizations.
1.) My overall preparedness is lacking in several areas. I need to strengthen them up.
2.) Although I love guns,it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have every cent I have tied up in them. If I had to evacuate I would only be able to carry three at most, maybe one or two more if I could go by vehicle. That would leave the rest just sitting there rusting or being blown into the nearest tree by whatever storm was headed my way. Or worse yet, the guns I couldn't carry would be looted by others. They may be commandeered by the local police or by the local criminal element. Either way, I spent money on guns that are now serving someone else and could possibly be used against me. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. My solution is a "list". Only a few more that I want that will perform clearly defined uses. Some will end up being sold or passed over to allow the guns on "the list" to be purchased. Has to be that way. I am keeping a couple for fun shooters but the rest are hardcore "I'll need this for this" type of guns.
3.) I will be assembling an ammo can that will be loaded with pre-loaded mags and stripper clips, and whatever else I can thing of that I might need. In the event of SHTF, I can just grab the guns I choose to take (which will be predetermined) and the ammo can and run like hell.

 

[CAS700850]

I need a long gun. Which one, exactly (shotgun, rifle, pistol caliber carbine) I have yet to decide...

 

[Dionysusigma]

I put together an abbreviated, though concise, first-aid kit. Basically, it's designed for any major injury that I'd know how to handle, plus an old 1972 Army Field First Aid manual. No band-aids, but rather gauze rolls, medical tape, ace wrap, Advil/Tylenol/Aspirin/Aleve, alcohol, etc.

Also made up a list of tasty, storable, simple food (think trail mix and jerky) to stock up on.

 

[Roadkill]

I took an AK from the toy room, loaded five magazines, locked/loaded and safed gun, am keeping it in a centrally located area in the house. I always had a 12 ga and a pistol available before, not going to put up with any idiots.
My purchases over the next year will be ammo only in .308, .223, and 7.62x39. I reload for all my handguns and will purchase substantial components. My wife has never been interested in guns, we just brought a Western Marshall .44 from the toy room and made it available for her sole use. I loaded 230g lrn with a low charge for her. Its a big gun, single action, simple, reliable, and deadly at close range.

rk

 

[Libertyteeth]

My epiphany had more to do with the door-to-door gun confiscations in NO, which I think was a test run. Time may be shorter than I had thought.

Time to finish the range, finish sighting in and familiarization with the new homeland security rifle, buy more ammo...

Billly the Kid said

My father and brothers and girlfriend and almost everyone I work with all called me a nut and a survivalist and psycho, and told me to move to Montana.

Heh. I love it. Glad to see Montana still has this reputation. Keeps the undesireables out.

 

[Luchtaine]

My dad said, "I need more ammo."

go figure and I think he views my stoc pile as a bit eccentric though he has more himself go figure.

I bought another 1,000 rounds of .308

 

[Alex45ACP]

Yes. My dad used to be a huge anti gunner, wanted all guns banned, etc.

Now he wants a 9mm Sig and a 12 gauge shotgun

Unfortunately, his wife hasn't "gotten it" yet, and doesn't want guns in the house

 

[Gannet]

Count me as one. I certainly wasn't anti-gun before (I was an NRA-ILA member), but I had no interest or intention of owning a gun.

NOLA just showed me how much this country has changed from the nation of my youth (I'm 51). Ok, so I'm a slow learner. Or maybe overly optimistic, take your pick.

Last Saturday I completed an all-day combined CWP/self-defense pistol course (200 rounds through a CZ 40-P). Monday I bought a new XD-40 and carry rig, and sent in my CWP paperwork. I pick up the gun tomorrow, the permit will hopefully be here in about 2 weeks.

Chalk it +1.

 

[goon]

On second thought, sort of.
My dad used to be one of those "What do you need that for? Can't hunt with it!" people. I started slow, drawing him in with the current flow of semi auto handguns and EBR's in and out of the house. Then I gave him a CZ-52. Time passed.
Last week, after seeing footage of the crap going on in NO, he stated that he would like to have a light .223 and asked me about the AR-180B. I may have to invest in an AR-15 at some point and "keep it at the house so I have something to shoot when I come back on weekends".

 

[Ryder]

Sort of an epiphany. I didn't realize there were people so stupid as to believe they were being shot at every time they heard shot.

Also, although not related to the situation down there, I have changed my opinion regarding the skill potential of criminals. Two people were murdered South of here Saturday night. News coverage shows somebody emptied a magazine through a safety glass door. The grouping was real tight.