Any other ladies in here

[moi_self26]

I'm sorry, I'm not too sure how many females we have in this forum.... but I have recently discovered a rather unsuspected "outlook" on women w/ firearms. Several of my friends/family members (including men who shoot, and women who's husband's shoot)... have made comments about me owning a gun being a "redneck hick" thing to do. This kind of surprised me both because of the people that it came from (most with some degree of affiliation with firearms) and because other than my love of country/rock music, there would be very little to draw this conclusion to. I'm just wondering if this is an experience of most women, or if it's just the people that I am around. It doesn't bother me, if they think it makes me a "redneck hick" so be it, if having the means to defend myself places me under any label then I will wear it with pride, it just seemed odd?

 

[General Geoff]

I think it gives you the label of "awesome"

 

[FLA2760]

It is a stereotype that many anti gun people like to spread about gun owners. Don't let it bother you.

 

[LWGN]

It's just them.

I have to say that "redneck hick" is not a label that most people who know me would apply to me, or, for that matter, to most of my female friends who also own firearms. But that might be because there are so many ACTUAL redneck hicks in the area that the error would be obvious.

It is certainly true that rural areas have a higher percentage of armed citizens, primarily because cities have been at the forefront of gun control legislation, so city dwellers have more hoops to jump through, and secondarily because backyard shooting is far less practical when you don't have 40 acres or so of backyard and a nice tall pile of oak stumps to set the paint cans in front of.

I live in a condo. I can testify to the truth of this.

But lots of non-redneck non-hicks own and shoot firearms. Really.

 

[Bluecherie7]

Female condo dweller. I'm a good shot. Never been called names because I am able to handle and maintain a gun. I get admiration from the males I trust knowing I own a gun. It might be the area you live.

 

[7.62X25mm]

I know more than a few upscale female attorneys who drive upscale designer autos and wear upscale designer shoes . . . etc.

And they have a CCW and upscale firearm in their briefcase. Not rednecks, not hicks, pretty serious about not becoming an upscale victim.

"Generalizations ain't worth a damn, and that includes this one."

I think that was Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain).

 

[Hoplophile]

Ha, show them Oleg's work. We're black, white, Mexican, European, academics, laborers, guns, guns, for everyone.

 

[2RCO]

FWIW I have friends that think all people that own guns are "redneck hicks". In general do what you like and don't get frustrated by what others think. Try to slowly introduce them to the positive side of firearms. I personally see firearms as an artform and a study in the history of modern man.

On another note we need more women gun owners because as a guy I can agree with the general's label of "awesome."

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I find women that shoot, pique my interest a bit more than "regular" women.

Just wish there were out there.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I wish....

I could get my wife to go shooting with me.

I told her that she should, at minimum, know what to do in the event that she either needs a gun, or needs to handle a loaded (not cocked) gun.

She has no problems with me having guns as I am extremely careful. However, she has no use for them (and I hope she never does).

As for your situation, keep up the good work! I'm glad to see females getting involved.

I was at the range about a year ago and this young guy and young "lady friend" were shooting an old 22 rifle with an old scope. She kept holding the gun so the scope was about 1" from her eye. I noticed this, then after a while (when her friend didn't say anything) I offered some friendly advice. I showed her how the scope has to be a certain distance away from your eye in order to see.

Then we all figured out that the scope was mounted way too far back. I got some small screw drivers out of my truck and offered to set the scope for proper eye relief. Also the crosshairs were not level at all, they were canted about 8 degrees! I lined everything up and tightend it all up, then they had fun shooting.

I am old enough to have been their father, and I kind of got a good feeling --- being able to help out some apparent new people to shooting!

 

[ZO6Vettever]

"Rednick hick" why do you say that in such a negative way???

 

[Mike J]

Life is too short to worry about what other people think. I intend to teach both my girls the basics when they get old enough. Whether they choose to go further than that with it or not is up to them.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I was born and raised in Queens NY but all of my friends call me a "redneck" because I have a shotgun. They all love guns and shoot when we can get out to Long Island (less restrictive) but the simple fact that I have a shotgun for home defense makes me a "redneck" ,ow well.

 

[Shung]

I'd be glad to be called a "redneck".. owning guns here, is more likely to make you a "maniac" or someone with virility problems..

Neverminds... don't talk with stupid people, the risk to make them smarter is too high...

 

[indiandave]

My wife could shoot as good or better then me. If someone called her a redneck hick she would have laughed about it. I find women who shoot and know about guns kind of sexy. If someone calls you a hick or a red neck because you have a gun just laugh like my wife would have.

 

[Cajun]

All the women I know of around my parts either have a gun or have shot one my wife is a Deputy Sherriff so I would have to say that she has a gun and she damn sure knows how to use it! She carries the S&W Model 66 357 mag

 

[craig]

my wife reads the forum, she just doesn't post.

redneck hick? i think she'd take that as a compliment and then fire back with "better a redneck hick than a helpless city slicker."

 

[Officers'Wife]

I heard both phrases quite a bit when I was in college but it was more because of my farm background than firearms. The standard answer I came up with was - History shows when the city dwellers allowed many atrocities until the redneck hicks with rifles sent King Georges' army back to England.

Selena

 

[boomana]

People who don't know me might call me a redneck hick if they knew I was a 2nd Amendment supporter, owned guns and carried, had many conservative values, and loved grits. People who don't know me, including some on this site, would call me something quite different if they knew I was an eco-friendly vegetarian and one of those damn liberals who spent some years at a Buddhist college. People who don't know me might label me if they knew I was a middle-aged, educated, girly professional woman who loved the arts, classical music and jazz, and high-end audio gear. Others would label me if they knew I used to live in squats, had been in jail, and loved 80s punk and speed metal. Etc. and on. All is true and more.

People will always have preconceptions, take comfort in labeling others, and even feeling superior to those whom they've pigeonholed. It's a shame, but I wouldn't worry about it. Go about your life, enjoy what you enjoy, believe in what you believe, stand up for yourself, but also be open to others, not rushing to label them as they have labeled you.

 

[XD Fan]

Boomana has it right because:

I am a "redneck hick." I live in the foothills of the Ozarks. I hunt & fish. I love to shoot any thing that goes, "Boom!" I love large four-wheel drives. I have worked in sawmills and farm fields. Bocephus gets my blood pumping. And, like boomana, I love grits.


But wait, I am a student of history, a lover of art, and an enthusiastic librarian. I love Thoreau and Whitman as much as I love Hank (more, if the truth were told). You know that what-CD-would-you-take-to-a-deserted-island question? It would be Beethoven for me. I get giddy with excitement when the orchestra begins to warm up at the symphony.

So what label should I wear? The thing is that most of us defy labeling. I have often thought that Don Williams' song "Good Old Boys Like Me" serves as my personal anthem. It is a shame that we spend so much time labeling when it is not a functional activity.

 

[mio]

my wife can shoot a rifle gut a deer filet a fish baits her own hooks and outshot me with my dads .44blackhawk on thxgiving she can also light up a room with her smile host a party flirt her way out of a speeding ticket and looks so damn good when we go out that i feel like a clumsy country oaf next to her.

if shes a redneck so be it i wouldnt have her any other way.

 

[tayen2]

I honestly can't think of anything in my life that is particularly redneck. I work in a laboratory, practice attachment parenting, and am Asian.

 

[Just Jim]

Country is the real soul of America just like owning a gun. Being called a redneck hick means you have achieved recognition for being a true American. Wear the title with pride, it beats the titles used for alot of other people.

jj

 

[goon]

Screw them.
Who cares what they think?
And what's "redneck" about a woman being able to protect herself?
A handgun is the ultimate tool for equality and female empowerment. You'll never have to fear walking across a dark parking lot by yourself again.

 

[moi_self26]

I actually was able to convert one friend who told me I was crazy when I was talking about owning guns. She spewed off all of the usual liberal talking points, after I successfully dispelled all the lies with simple common sense, safety features/precautions, and practical purposes for self defense.... she then said "well maybe if they made them in pink", I pointed out that they do (while I find a pink gun to be hideously tacky and silly, I knew I had to keep in mind that winning her over to the 2A enlightened side was the primary objective), then she told her husband that she wanted one..... her husband thanked me with a huge smile and a hug lol. Whether or not she will actually become an owner & enthusiast or not, only time will tell, but at least she now knows the truth in regard to all of the lies and misconceptions out there.