HarleyFixer
Member
This is why whenever I go to a gun show I always wear my t-shirt that says" Paddle faster.....I hear banjo music"
Are most gun lovers kind of weirdos?
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This is why whenever I go to a gun show I always wear my t-shirt that says" Paddle faster.....I hear banjo music"
Flash!
Member
its not just gun people..... in all of my hobbies I see normal people and the not so normal people at all the events.....
DammitBoy
Member
First off, the gun shows I go to are in Mississippi and a few in Alabama.
I'm not from around 'these parts' but I've lived down here longer than I care to admit. I hear the banjo music while walking through the mall.
When I go to gun shows, I see a disproportionate number of people that one might call 'socially challenged' to say the least.
On both sides of the table. For what it's worth though, I prefer to associate with folks that are as gun nuts as I am.
I have catagories that I put certain gun show attendees in:
a) the miltia nut; this guy is wearing full camo and carrying a techno-cool AR - he isn't selling it, he just brought it to show it off.
b) the expert; this guy knows more about every gun on your table then you do and what's more he's going to tell you and everybody else that will listen for the next hour. He will never buy anything.
c) the bargaineer; your prices are nuts and he's going to tell you and everyone who will listen that everything at the show is a ripoff.
d) the noobie; doesn't know anything about everything and has decided to learn the hard way at a gun show. Poor lil feller.
e) the hen-pecked wreck; thought bringing his wife who hates guns to the show was a great idea. She reams him a new one everytime he looks at a gun.
f) the deal maker; has the deal of a century for you, one of many he is trying to sell on the floor out of the trunk of his car. Would you like to buy hitler's luger?
There are many more, too many to list at one time...
I'm not from around 'these parts' but I've lived down here longer than I care to admit. I hear the banjo music while walking through the mall.
When I go to gun shows, I see a disproportionate number of people that one might call 'socially challenged' to say the least.
On both sides of the table. For what it's worth though, I prefer to associate with folks that are as gun nuts as I am.
I have catagories that I put certain gun show attendees in:
a) the miltia nut; this guy is wearing full camo and carrying a techno-cool AR - he isn't selling it, he just brought it to show it off.
b) the expert; this guy knows more about every gun on your table then you do and what's more he's going to tell you and everybody else that will listen for the next hour. He will never buy anything.
c) the bargaineer; your prices are nuts and he's going to tell you and everyone who will listen that everything at the show is a ripoff.
d) the noobie; doesn't know anything about everything and has decided to learn the hard way at a gun show. Poor lil feller.
e) the hen-pecked wreck; thought bringing his wife who hates guns to the show was a great idea. She reams him a new one everytime he looks at a gun.
f) the deal maker; has the deal of a century for you, one of many he is trying to sell on the floor out of the trunk of his car. Would you like to buy hitler's luger?
There are many more, too many to list at one time...
HANDLOADER
member
You bet gun owners are "weird". We believe in the American way of life and not the soc/comm way of life like our left wing friends who cant seem to get the facts right.
tjj
Member
DammitBoy
LMAO - You must go to too many shows. I've seen or met every one of those at the local shows too.
LMAO - You must go to too many shows. I've seen or met every one of those at the local shows too.
armoredman
Member
Go watch Burning Man and tell me who's weird!
Radagast
Member
Nope, in my experience most gun enthusiasts tend to be normal people who have chosen an excellent hobby. The percentage of freaks and weirdos may be higher than in general society due to their attraction to things that can be used to destroy, but it's a hell of a lot lower than in the drug, gay and dance/rave communities in my home town (all three of which seem to have a lot of cross over). There are more freaks and weirdos hanging around the average bar at midday than at a gun show. Unfortunately its the weirdos who you remember because they do stand out from the crowd.
Of course at our local shows we do have the obligatory nazi. He has an opinion on everything that he can never be corrected on for fear that his world will collapse. He sells made in vietnam racist/nationalist t-shirts and made in china genuine nazi memorabilia.
It is my earnest desire to tar and feather him, but my boss finds him very useful, whenever we get the expert know it all or the bargain hunter who thinks everything is a rip off, he sends them to see the nazi, thus annoying both of them.
Of course at our local shows we do have the obligatory nazi. He has an opinion on everything that he can never be corrected on for fear that his world will collapse. He sells made in vietnam racist/nationalist t-shirts and made in china genuine nazi memorabilia.
It is my earnest desire to tar and feather him, but my boss finds him very useful, whenever we get the expert know it all or the bargain hunter who thinks everything is a rip off, he sends them to see the nazi, thus annoying both of them.
stickhauler
Member
- Joined
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Gun Show Folks Don't Bother Me....
I live in Dayton, Ohio, there is a small town called Yellow Springs just East of us, it's the home of Antioch University. You want weird, these folks are either the burn-outs from drugs in the '60's, the "inhaled, but forgot to exhale" crowd or their offspring. That's what I call weird. I find it sad there were so many slurs of rednecks in this thread though, I wear the redneck label proudly. Some elitists slam us at every chance, yet they sure as hell want to see us when their damned car breaks down out in the middle of nowhere. Then we're their new bestest friends!
I live in Dayton, Ohio, there is a small town called Yellow Springs just East of us, it's the home of Antioch University. You want weird, these folks are either the burn-outs from drugs in the '60's, the "inhaled, but forgot to exhale" crowd or their offspring. That's what I call weird. I find it sad there were so many slurs of rednecks in this thread though, I wear the redneck label proudly. Some elitists slam us at every chance, yet they sure as hell want to see us when their damned car breaks down out in the middle of nowhere. Then we're their new bestest friends!
wankerjake
Member
The weirdest guy I see around Tucson gun shows (except maybe for the token Nazi guy) is the Sham-Wow guy. Lots of tattoos and piercings all over his face. And when you walk by he gets a real weird psychopathic look on his face and says some quiet mumbly BS about the Sham-Wow. I always want to ask him how it does with fresh melted heroin when it spills out of the spoon. Yeah, he is worse than the Nazi guy.
And the Nazi guy just sits and scowls with his Nazi crap. You want to make a smart ass comment about his $250 Nazi helmets or his young Hitler portraits, but can't get past the stare. You just know he hates you.
Other than that everyone else is basically normal. We get gang bangers and liars but not too many freaks. I would say the two weirdest people there are the ones that aren't affiliated with guns. You Tucson guys know who I'm talking about eh?
And the Nazi guy just sits and scowls with his Nazi crap. You want to make a smart ass comment about his $250 Nazi helmets or his young Hitler portraits, but can't get past the stare. You just know he hates you.
Other than that everyone else is basically normal. We get gang bangers and liars but not too many freaks. I would say the two weirdest people there are the ones that aren't affiliated with guns. You Tucson guys know who I'm talking about eh?
Eightball
Member
Go to the NRA convention, then go to the Brady campaign's website. Then tell me who you think is weird.
ill put it to you this way we have several gun shops here and most are run by gun nut
most of the guys now have a nickname amongst my friends
we have
stinky pee man because he has about 100 cats in his house/shop/range (no we cant use them as targets)
theres crazy machinist who REALLY creeps us out because some of the stuff he has put together or services he offers sound a bit off kind of like if you slipped him a franklin he would make stuff go boom boom boom not just boom (we try to avoid him for anything other than ammo)
theres the psycho war relic who has seen one too many battles and acts like hamburger hill is a porno hes EXTREMELY creepy and wierd but when you gotta find parts to surplus hes the only local show
we have our beloved unknowledgeables who run there shop like everyone going in is an out of town idiot and they will tell you anything they feel like depending on there mood (i.e. ask a question on the phone and get a completly different answer when you show up)
theres also miss kaboom who is a sweet little old lady untill you talk about home invasion scenerios then shes all about MAXIMUM punishment by the business end of her gun
and isnt shy to tell you about it
most the gun owners ive met have been normal people but the gunshop crews there the real scary crowd
most of the guys now have a nickname amongst my friends
we have
stinky pee man because he has about 100 cats in his house/shop/range (no we cant use them as targets)
theres crazy machinist who REALLY creeps us out because some of the stuff he has put together or services he offers sound a bit off kind of like if you slipped him a franklin he would make stuff go boom boom boom not just boom (we try to avoid him for anything other than ammo)
theres the psycho war relic who has seen one too many battles and acts like hamburger hill is a porno hes EXTREMELY creepy and wierd but when you gotta find parts to surplus hes the only local show
we have our beloved unknowledgeables who run there shop like everyone going in is an out of town idiot and they will tell you anything they feel like depending on there mood (i.e. ask a question on the phone and get a completly different answer when you show up)
theres also miss kaboom who is a sweet little old lady untill you talk about home invasion scenerios then shes all about MAXIMUM punishment by the business end of her gun
and isnt shy to tell you about it
most the gun owners ive met have been normal people but the gunshop crews there the real scary crowd
wankerjake
Member
It is my firm belief that anyone who claims not to be a redneck is missing out on the finer points of life. These people are in the majority.
shiftyer1
Member
Try running a pawnshop across the street from an apt. complex with rent as low as $20 a month. Nothing shocks me or strikes me as wierd anymore. I think i've been desensitized. Although finding out my landlord is worse than Mel Gibson in conspiracy theory. I found that to be a little wierd. But I did learn that the gov. was dropping bird flu on us out of airplanes. Which was why he was wearing a the little filtered breathing mask. But i'm scared of snakes which some may find wierd.
model of 1905
member
I'm thinking that the world is made up with all kinds of weirdos and you will find them in whatever you do. Gun owners are no exception. It is in fact why I choose to own and carry guns. WEIRDOS!.
BTW, alot of my friends and loved ones think I am a weirdo.
BTW, alot of my friends and loved ones think I am a weirdo.
Very true! Except some at the gun shows are packing....scary kind of.
I should have explained that I live in Southern California and the Gun Shows in my specific town aren't like the "The Shot Show" or a NRA Gun Shows for that matter. We get all sorts of red necks and the typical have to have my truck lifted and be packing with a tight shirt on type of guys. You know the guy who has a grip sticking a good 3 inches out of shirt like, "is that supposed to be a concealment weapon?" You never see guys dressed or speaking of some kind of sophistication there except for one or two of the good salesman. These guys always have the newer weapons and shooting gear. They are my favorite to talk to and I think that goes both ways because we talk weapons and find that mutual respect and knowledge of the newer technological weapons , optics etc. Then talk about all the weirdos around.
P.S. Sorry, but most guys selling the older guns are kind of weird. Every once in a while though there is a good older guy there with some M1 Grands, Nagants etc that knows all the older guns in and out. He can tell you just about anything that has to do with guns period as well.
CajunBass
Member
You ever wonder how many people at the show are looking at YOU and thinking, "That guy is weird!"?
Deanimator
Member
I see you've never been to a ham radio show...
SleazyRider
Member
Cuckoo's Nest
Randall Patrick McMurphy weighs in on weirdness:
McMurphy: What do you think you are, for Christ's sake, crazy or something? Well, you're not! You're not! You're no crazier than the average ******* out walking around on the streets, and that's it!
Nurse Ratched: Those are very challenging observations you made, Randall.
Randall Patrick McMurphy weighs in on weirdness:
McMurphy: What do you think you are, for Christ's sake, crazy or something? Well, you're not! You're not! You're no crazier than the average ******* out walking around on the streets, and that's it!
Nurse Ratched: Those are very challenging observations you made, Randall.
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
Hey! I resemble that remark! 
Not any different than the general public, and from my experience I would say a cut above. You can always find a few exceptions, but 99.5% are good upstanding people.
How many other gatherings of people have to get a background check to do thier hobby? Put a large group of scrap bookers in a room and run background checks.......I'm sure a few would suprise you!
Not any different than the general public, and from my experience I would say a cut above. You can always find a few exceptions, but 99.5% are good upstanding people.
How many other gatherings of people have to get a background check to do thier hobby? Put a large group of scrap bookers in a room and run background checks.......I'm sure a few would suprise you!
I wouldn't use the word 'weird', but 'individualistic' certainly seems to fit. I think it comes down to most gun show attendees being NON-sheeple, who are more likely to have the confidence to express themselves rather than quietly conform to 'normal' society's rules of dress and manner.
That said, when you do run into a weird one at a gun show, they tend to be WEIRD.....
Oh, and the number of obvious former hippies rambling the aisles lately is amusing me to no end.
That said, when you do run into a weird one at a gun show, they tend to be WEIRD.....
Oh, and the number of obvious former hippies rambling the aisles lately is amusing me to no end.
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