Define Anti-gun

[XD Fan]

I recently read a thread that was rating the degree of various peoples' anti-gunnedness (sorry, coining a new word) on a 1-10 scale.

I am sitting here feeling puzzled, as I think many of members of this forum might consider my father something of an anti. I never have, and yet he is not the staunchest defender of RKBA.

He owns several guns, but they are purely for hunting purposes. He would never own a gun for SD. I remember him telling us that when we had the opportunity to shoot handguns, to be especially careful because they are more dangerous (reason - short barrels make it easier to be careless with muzzle control). He told us we should probably not buy handguns as they are no much good for anything but killing people. Although he is aware of various politicians' stances, RKBA is probably not a huge voting issue for him--really more of a secondary issue. He was not really very disturbed by the AWB (certainly not a supporter, but...).

However, he introduced my brother and I to guns at a very early age (first time shooting a .22 -- 4 years old), taught us strict safety rules (safety rules = purt near commandments handed down from GOD), and gave us our first firearms when I was thirteen (Winchester Model 88 in .308 for me and a Winchester Model 12 for my brother). He is an extraordinary shot with a shotgun or a rifle. On the few occasions that I have seen him shoot a handgun, he is always on target. And yet, he never trains or practices. ( I do not have that gift. I practice fairly often and yet am only an average marksman.)

So all that to say, I wonder how do you define the label antigun. What characteristics must a person possess in order to be an antigun person.

Look forward to your comments.

 

[velojym]

I'd say, if he actively votes for antigun laws, voices an 'anti' position frequently in debate, etc., I'd call him an anti.
If he is just holding an opinion and has no desire to force them on anyone else, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Husker1911]

So long as he recognizes another person's right to their beliefs and ownership of various types of firearms, that's perfectly fine. I've a problem with "sportsmen" who feel others shouldn't own ::take your choice of gun:: because they're unsuitable for sporting purposes.

 

[SDC]

Ditto, Husker; these "fair weather friends" are the ones who will scream the loudest after the Bradys, Clintons, Pelosis, etc. of the world say "Now, about that evil long-distance sniper rifle these so-called "deer hunters" like to use..."

 

[22-rimfire]

My father is only interested in hunting type firearms and has no use for most handguns or modern military style semi-autos. I doubt that he would knowing vote against the right to bear arms, but it is far down in his list of priorities and votes Democrat almost regardless of their positions. So, I would rate him as a "4 or 5" where 10 is strongly Anti-gun. Did I get the scale correct? 1=single issue pro-gunner and 10=single issue anti-gunner. I'm probably a "2".

 

[MachIVshooter]

The difference between pro and anti is defined by actions more than opinions. Someone who votes for gun control (whether directly or by voting for an anti-gun politicain) is an anti.

He owns several guns, but they are purely for hunting purposes.

His perogative.

He would never own a gun for SD.

Personal choice. Naive, but his to make.

I remember him telling us that when we had the opportunity to shoot handguns, to be especially careful because they are more dangerous (reason - short barrels make it easier to be careless with muzzle control).

A fact that should not be lost when teaching people to shoot handguns.

He told us we should probably not buy handguns as they are no much good for anything but killing people.

Again, more Naive than anything. Although projecting his opinion in that matter is RKBA harmful.

Although he is aware of various politicians' stances, RKBA is probably not a huge voting issue for him--really more of a secondary issue.

Meet 98% of voters, and a good share of gun owners.

He was not really very disturbed by the AWB

Most "hunters" weren't. After all, it wasn't thier hunting rifles that were being banned............yet.

 

[Monkeybear]

If you dont want to own guns thats a personal choice.

If you dont want anyone to own guns your anti gun.

If you want to only "allow" certain types of guns it means your anti-gun-so-long-as-it-dosnt-affect-me.

Basically I dont mind if you are opinioniated about guns but the moment you try to start limiting or removing completely, though voting or otherwise, my ability to own guns you are anti gun.

 

[cbsbyte]

XD Fan, Your father sounds like a typical gun owner. A large majority of gun owners are not active in the RKBA issues, and do not consider it a vital issue. Most are not worried about gun control since politicans state they only want to restrict ownership of handguns or semi-auto rifles, not hunting guns.

 

[akodo]

I always make this argument to 'sporting and hunting only shooters'

So, you don't mind the ban on semi-auto military type weapons and high capacity handguns. If you could wave a magic wand and all these would disappear from police/military, what do you think would happen? Criminals would steal or have someone buy for them 12 guage shotguns, and saw them down, and end up with a much more potent weapon than what a lot of them are using right now. What do you think happens next? Ban on hacksaws or ban on shotguns? Or take your rifle. If it has a scope it can be demonized as a 'sniper weapon' and you as a 'sniper wannabe' Any bullet that you can legally and humanely use against a deer can punch through standard police bodyarmor, so are you some kind of cop killer that you want armor piercing bullets?

 

[22-rimfire]

akodo: Most people such as my father don't believe that the government will ever take away their hunting firearms. So, it is not a political issue to them period no matter what argument you want to make. That is why even the little half hearted ad by John Kerry with the camo and duck hunting was enough to satisfy any concerns they might have. Right or wrong, that is the way it is for many hunters.

My brother is similar to my Dad in his reasoning. He will vote Democrat just about every time no matter what. If Hillary runs, she gets his vote as well as his wife's. His main concern is that the US sticks its unwanted nose into international politics and situations like Vietnam and Iraq. He views that as a Republican party trait. Gun control, although he is against it in almost any form, is a minor issue to be dealt with when the time comes.

He views folks like me as a fringe element like people who are pro or anti-choice.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I think that someone who only owns guns for hunting is not so much a true "gun owner" as they are a Hunter. They are sportsmen only, who happened to have chosen a rifle as their means of killing deer or whatever they are hunting. Their concern is not whether or not they have to register their guns, but whether they'll be able to take out a 12 point next year.

This is how it is possible to be both an "anti" and a gun owner. "He owns guns, how can he be an anti? Simple... he's a hunter who happens to use firearms to take down the deer."

 

[benEzra]

Depends on whether or not he'd support restrictions on MY right to own a handgun, an AR-15, a civvie AK lookalike with a 40-round RPK mag, or a long-range target rifle. If he's OK with me owning those things, he's not anti-gun, even if he himself doesn't choose to own them.

Someone who is anti-gun doesn't want to allow others to choose differently than themselves. "I wouldn't want to use an AR-15 for hunting, so YOU shouldn't be allowed to own one." (Never mind that most gun owners aren't hunters.)

 

[Leanwolf]

XD FAN - "... He would never own a gun for SD."

Then he does not believe that a shotgun or high powered rifle could be used effectively for "self defense"?????

Or, is it really that he would never protect himself, his wife, or his family members from attack by a vicious criminal(s), using a firearm???

Over the years, I've known quite a few anti-guns people who would, under questioning, finally come down to admitting that they could never shoot another human being, no matter what that human being was doing to them or their families.

So, they reason, because they would never protect themselves or families, YOU should not be allowed by Big Brother to protect your's. Their high blown, sanctimonious "morals" should be imposed on you ... at the point of Big Brother's guns, if necessary.

And the gun owners who support anti-guns laws and anti-guns politicians are nothing more than raving hypocrites. "I don't care if they confiscate YOUR guns, so long as they don't confiscate MINE."


.22-RIMFIRE - " ... His main concern is that the US sticks its unwanted nose into international politics and situations like Vietnam and Iraq. He views that as a Republican party trait."


.22 RIMFIRE, you might explain to your brother than President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon Baines Johnson, were Democrats, regarding that "Vietnam" bit.

L.W.

 

[michiganfan]

If they say I cant own a gun

 

[bumm]

To me, being "anti-gun" involves blaming the gun for crimes committed by people. It follows, according to these people that banning guns will reduce the crime rate.
In reality, bad people are the cause of the crime, and they will get a gun or some other weapon to commit their crimes because they obviously don't care about the law.
Marty

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

There's a difference between "anti-gun" and someone who is against a right written in our United States Constitution. I may be mistaken but there is nothing at all about hunting in any of the Bill of Rights. It used to be a given that someone has the right to hunt or protect themselves but we have long regressed since then.
Someone who is opposed to anyone owning and bearing a firearm for self-defense is anti-2nd Amendment. It's that simple. You either support it or not. That involves carrying(that whole 'bearing' part for those who don't know) without fear of repercussions from the goverment or agents thereof.

 

[Maui19]

Anti-gun people are those who don't want others to own guns. Everyone else is pro-gun to some degree.

I own several guns, but gun issues aren't at the top of my political agenda.

 

[MinScout]

Watch the movie "Runaway Jury".(which I had the displeasure of seeing recently) That's anti gun!

 

[Aries-]

i figgure anti gun is someone that makes an active choice to make it law not to own fire arms of any kind.

but. i think its every gun enthusiasts job to better the gun laws that are out there now wether it be in the states or canada or wherever else in the world.

no need to vote for all guns to be allowed. thats just silly. but every gun law needs tweaking to make just right. all politiciants even non anti gun ones need education on firearms.

take here in canada. an AR15 is a restricted firearm due solely to the way it looks. not sure as to why a steyer(SP) aug is banned totaly here. the barrel is 18 inches in length. but any bull pup design rifle is banned in canada with no good reason.

things like this need to be changed and tweaked. but banning guns outright is not the answer.

 

[XD Fan]

Minscout -

Watch the movie "Runaway Jury".(which I had the displeasure of seeing recently) That's anti gun!

No kidding! What an asinine film!