College has just ended for me and I have the day off, so here's a few thoughts on gun ownership in a college environment. Last fall, I read a thread on another forum asking shooters if they discuss their hobby at work. I realized it's not something I've tried to spread to others, so this year I gave it a shot. I was pleased with the results.
Background: I go to a religious college in Minnesota that’s located in a border town by North Dakota. I’m 21, and I don’t live in the state my school is in because I cherish RKBA. I’m a couple years older than most of the underclassmen from having served in the army right after high school. Most students are conservative at my school, and about 1/3 are liberal and usually anti-gun. The majority of the faculty are left-leaning.
When I arrived, I was taken aback to find out what the typical American college student is like - the sheer ignorance of this campus rivals a People‘s Temple meeting on Kool-Aid night. It’s easy to find someone who’s hot-headed and has an opinion, but logic is often in short supply (paradoxical at an institution of higher ed, I thought). While the politics and effects of education on the sponge-like mind of young Americans is mind-boggling and often depressing, I did made the best of it. I decided not to hide my gun ownership or 2A views; to the contrary I made it my mission to win converts. I had it working in my favor that college students are somewhat open to new experiences. When given lemons, make long island teas, as I always say.
From last fall to this spring, I ended up taking several green shooters to the range. Their prior experience levels were largely nil, and their motivations ranged from a liberal trying to justify his anti position, to a young conservative who saw shooting a handgun as a Republican right of passage. Most would only go once, but surprisingly it would be mostly ladies that made a habit of it and came back repeatedly. Except for the anti, I’m fairly certain that all are now neutral or pro-2A. A 20 minute drive to the range made this part easier - acting as a trainer, you get a student’s full attention while they’re with you to shoot. I’d use this time in transit to give a safety briefing and sprinkle in some light politics, nothing to blatant or soap boxy - the goal wasn’t to preach but to plant a seed. Go over the four rules, then mention how “movies and television constantly get them wrong, so don’t do anything like that.†This is a keen opportunity to drop in a bit about how the media doesn’t just make a mockery of the gun, but it’s owners, and they’re obviously wrong in that too (having proven myself to be an upstanding and friendly human being to them).
I asked perhaps a dozen people if they'd like to try shooting this year, and only three declined: Two politely, while the third looked at me as if I'd just asked her to abandon her Christian ways and drop acid while watching Kaptain Kangaroo naked for the afternoon. After the first couple went, I ended up taking some friends and roommates as well. And I already have three people lined up who will be going this fall.
Many of us fight for our 2-A rights in a non-public manner; we pay our dues to the various organizations, write a letter on a occasion, and call it good. All of that matters, but don’t underestimate the power of grassroots work in recruiting new shooters. All the people I took to the range can logically refute gun control the next time it comes in discussion with family or friends; I know for certain at least 6 of them will. NRA dues and a letter to a politico take a bit of money and time and are certainly worth the effort, but taking new friends shooting is absolutely priceless in assuring that future generations will be able to keep and bear arms. Keep in mind those around you - fellow students, coworkers, and friends. Don't be silent about our rights, and by all means bring them into the fold if you can. The cost of a few boxes of ammo pays big dividends when you use it foster a new shooter's love for guns and freedom.
Background: I go to a religious college in Minnesota that’s located in a border town by North Dakota. I’m 21, and I don’t live in the state my school is in because I cherish RKBA. I’m a couple years older than most of the underclassmen from having served in the army right after high school. Most students are conservative at my school, and about 1/3 are liberal and usually anti-gun. The majority of the faculty are left-leaning.
When I arrived, I was taken aback to find out what the typical American college student is like - the sheer ignorance of this campus rivals a People‘s Temple meeting on Kool-Aid night. It’s easy to find someone who’s hot-headed and has an opinion, but logic is often in short supply (paradoxical at an institution of higher ed, I thought). While the politics and effects of education on the sponge-like mind of young Americans is mind-boggling and often depressing, I did made the best of it. I decided not to hide my gun ownership or 2A views; to the contrary I made it my mission to win converts. I had it working in my favor that college students are somewhat open to new experiences. When given lemons, make long island teas, as I always say.
From last fall to this spring, I ended up taking several green shooters to the range. Their prior experience levels were largely nil, and their motivations ranged from a liberal trying to justify his anti position, to a young conservative who saw shooting a handgun as a Republican right of passage. Most would only go once, but surprisingly it would be mostly ladies that made a habit of it and came back repeatedly. Except for the anti, I’m fairly certain that all are now neutral or pro-2A. A 20 minute drive to the range made this part easier - acting as a trainer, you get a student’s full attention while they’re with you to shoot. I’d use this time in transit to give a safety briefing and sprinkle in some light politics, nothing to blatant or soap boxy - the goal wasn’t to preach but to plant a seed. Go over the four rules, then mention how “movies and television constantly get them wrong, so don’t do anything like that.†This is a keen opportunity to drop in a bit about how the media doesn’t just make a mockery of the gun, but it’s owners, and they’re obviously wrong in that too (having proven myself to be an upstanding and friendly human being to them).
I asked perhaps a dozen people if they'd like to try shooting this year, and only three declined: Two politely, while the third looked at me as if I'd just asked her to abandon her Christian ways and drop acid while watching Kaptain Kangaroo naked for the afternoon. After the first couple went, I ended up taking some friends and roommates as well. And I already have three people lined up who will be going this fall.
Many of us fight for our 2-A rights in a non-public manner; we pay our dues to the various organizations, write a letter on a occasion, and call it good. All of that matters, but don’t underestimate the power of grassroots work in recruiting new shooters. All the people I took to the range can logically refute gun control the next time it comes in discussion with family or friends; I know for certain at least 6 of them will. NRA dues and a letter to a politico take a bit of money and time and are certainly worth the effort, but taking new friends shooting is absolutely priceless in assuring that future generations will be able to keep and bear arms. Keep in mind those around you - fellow students, coworkers, and friends. Don't be silent about our rights, and by all means bring them into the fold if you can. The cost of a few boxes of ammo pays big dividends when you use it foster a new shooter's love for guns and freedom.
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