Do the 'conversions' go against us? Ever?

[GigaBuist]

Since we've had a recent spat of conversions, or semi-conversions, in threads lately I began wondering.

Does it ever go the other way?

Just wondering if members of the Million Mom March crowd ever convert a gun person into becoming a total anti. Do they tell people about it? Is this a great accomplishment for them?

I'm guessing not -- or at least it's very very rare. Whenever we get fence sitters out to the firing line I never see reports about them running away vowing to never ever partake in the activity again. Just seems like once you've been exposed to it the fog lifts and things start making sense.

 

[whm1974]

I used to know people who are anti gun due to a friend/relivtive who offed themselfs with a gun or have been killed by one. But I think they were a little anti gun to begine with.

-Bill

 

[swingset]

I think it's usually only trauma that makes people anti gun that once were neutral or pro gun.

But then, trauma does strange things to a person - not always rational or healthy.

I myself cannot drink beer and eat candy corn due to a traumatic gastrointestinal incident. No pro-beer/candy corn person would ever convince me it's ok, either.

 

[G1FAL]

I myself cannot drink beer and eat candy corn due to a traumatic gastrointestinal incident.

Dude, there is just something inherently wrong with that combination in the first place!

 

[Dionysusigma]

Like whm1974, I once worked with a baker who was raised with guns as a little girl. Then one day (in her late teens, IIRC), she was hanging out with a few of her "friends" and were using various illegal drugs. Guy gets out his dad's pistol, and saying the infamous "It's not loaded," prompty and messily shoots himself in the head.

Now she hates the look, sound, and mention of guns (kinda like me and circular saws ) and refuses to ever let herself or her children near them. On the bright side, she's never touched drugs, alcohol, or tobacco since (and refuses to let herself or her children near those as well).

 

[Jim March]

I only know of one.

That barsterd is the reason I have a perfectly good 1984-era fax machine around here I can't use. No manual for the dang thing, I've tried to reset the outgoing message stamp I dunno how many times.

Sigh.

 

[itgoesboom]

My father used to be very pro gun, and now thinks that the majority of Americans should be prohibited from owning guns. Ofcourse, he thinks that he should be able to own firearms though.

Also, this is the man that almost shot himself in the foot, because he can't follow the safety rules.

His one safety rule was, there is no point to a loaded gun.

Ofcourse, I love the fact that he can't legally own firearms anymore, or vote (he is a felon), so I don't really care what he thinks.

I.G.B.

 

[antsi]

I have known a number of folks who are in the shotgun/skeet/trap or hunting crowd who profess to believe in handgun bans or bans on so-called "assault weapons" or licensing/registration schemes, etc.

Generally I think it is political correctness, or a desire to enjoy their own shooting sport without taking on the heat that goes with being a "gun nut."

They do not seem to realize this is part of the anti's divide-and-conquer strategy.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Ofcourse, I love the fact that he can't legally own firearms anymore, or vote (he is a felon), so I don't really care what he thinks.

I'm sure prisons and jails are packed to the rafters with people who sincerely believe law-abiding American citizens should be disarmed.

 

[Cacique500]

kinda like me and circular saws

Now that is truly something to fear

I only know of neutrals/marginal anti's that've had a relative or friend of a friend who did something bad with a firearm.

And the beer/candy corn combo is also a little frightening Might as well just start mixing Pop Rocks & Pepsi while you're at it!

 

[DMK]

It seems to me that everyone mentioned in this thread was either a fence sitter or an incredibly self centered power junkie (ie. I've got my gun but don't think anybody else should own one).

I would not consider those that hunt or skeet shoot yet advocate gun control laws as pro-2nd amendment to begin with. We have a large number of those in office actually creating these laws and one running for president.

 

[JackC]

I myself cannot drink beer and eat candy corn due to a traumatic gastrointestinal incident. No pro-beer/candy corn person would ever convince me it's ok, either.
Just the thought makes my stomach turn flipflops!!
Back to topic:
It seems that most peoplechange, if they change at all, to more freedoms, not less.
I don't care what the leftest polls say, most in the United States want LESS Govt, not more. Maybe I just talk to the right people.
Jack

 

[FMarlon]

Well, I was once an anti..... Not so long ago either.

I grew up as most little boys do in Iowa. GI Joe, Cops & Robbers, those awesome little green army men. I loved guns. I even had a .22lr bolt action with scope before I was in double digits.(dont laugh, it was awesome, there was no squirrel or rabbit safe from my "sniper rifle")

My Dad even let me fire his shotties and .357(with extra light 38's LOL). I was a gun nut as a kid (what little boy wasn't?).

Then at 16, I became an anti.

It was caused by trauma.

My big bro killed himself with a 12 ga mossberg 500.

GUNS, I hated guns for 10 years.

Then a wakeup call.

In 2003 there were (I believe) 5 (high profile) murders in the whole year in my city. In 2004 there were 5 in the first 3 months.

I have a wife, 2 girls, and WILL PROTECT WHAT I LOVE!

FMarlon

 

[sturmruger]

I have never seen it go the other way. All of us are working to hard to bring people over. I am sure at the end of every month we have a net gain in gun people.

 

[halvey]

Now she hates the look, sound, and mention of guns

I understand her point, but still, getting drugs off the street still didn't make a difference and her friend died. Getting guns off the street will be the same thing.

 

[tulsamal]

I am sure at the end of every month we have a net gain in gun people.

I doubt that. Very serious gun people are like the WWII generation: they are dying off every day. And the vast majority of the children being born today are going to be raised in schools and homes that tell them guns are inherently evil. Unless we have some massive historical event that flips that trend, the demographics will continue to slowly go against us.

All that is really on our side is that our government was created to protect the minority from the desires of the majority. Everything about the Constitution is about slowing down the process and creating a bunch of divided pieces of government so that they can act to check overzealous actions by other pieces of government. Look at how hard it is to amend the Constitution or how many steps there are before a bill can become law. In a more "streamlined and efficient" government, we would have been toast long ago.

Gregg