Do you come from a non-gun family?

[valnar]

I have been interested in asking this question for awhile.

I come from a non-gun family. My parents did not shoot, hunt, nothing. I have no relatives - none whatsoever that I know of - which own a gun. I'm a typical city dweller so other than the 6:00 news, I have never been exposed to guns in a positive light. Nevertheless, with the advent of the Internet, it got my curiosity piqued and I bought my first SIG P229 about 10 years. From there, it has been a slow, but growing passion of mine in-spite of my family.

Anyone else in the same boat as me?

 

[hirundo82]

My parents don't own guns--not anti, just no interest. One of my grandfathers hunted avidly (his son, my uncle, still does), but he had health problems that prevented him from doing that from the time I was very young.

So I've picked up the hobby completely on my own as well, starting about 6 years ago.

 

[jdub3]

My dad owns some guns, and went hunting for a while. And he did teach me to shoot, but now that shooting has become a passion of mine, he seems to discourage it. His rationale is that, "I need a more social past-time, like tennis." I respect my dad, and he is an intelligent man, but his dislike of my interest in guns is completely non-sensical, IMO.

Anyways, I've basically been self-taught, in terms of shooting (did pay for a 4-day defensive pistol course a few years back). About to try and teach myself to hunt. Really wish I had someone to guide me though, easier to learn from the mistakes of others.

Mom refuses to learn to shoot, and my sister likes it, but isn't dedicated.

 

[Batty67]

Same, my Dad shot rifle team in HS and at Naval Academy and certainly not anti-gun, but never had guns in the house. My brother and I shoot a lot and he joins us sometimes, so he still likes to punch paper from time-to-time...

 

[Nico Testosteros]

My parents, being English, weren't exposed to guns. I couldn't even have a BB gun as a kid. When I moved out of the house, my first gun was a KelTec P11. I now have more than that and have taken up hunting. My wife's family are gun people and I've received 4 guns as gifts since we've been married.

 

[Double Vision]

Yep. I came into the firearms hobby completely on my own. But I have brought my wife & sons into it as well.

 

[nyrifleman]

My wife's family are gun people and I've received 4 guns as gifts since we've been married.

Does your wife have any sisters?

I do come from a pro-gun family, but my father was the first to be into guns. Though my grandad served some 30 years in the military, he never had any particular interest. As a result, for example, my dad hasn't the faintest clue about hunting -- and no interest. So I'm having to pick it up on my own.

I guess this isn't really a question about hunting, but it's just been on my mind recently.

 

[HOWARD J]

My dad was in WW 1 & 2
He did not like guns
When I was 13 I got a gun on the QT--this got my brother interested--it did
not take long before we had a bunch of 22's & shotguns at home.
Now I have many bunches

 

[preachnhunt]

My Dad had a couple of long guns around when we were young and we would get to shoot occasionally.
Now my parents both seem to hate guns,especially handguns.My wife and kids like 'em though!

 

[gidaeon]

No one in my immediate family every had guns, hunted or anything of the like. For whatever reason I had a certain interest since I was a child - and finally pursued it years later. I now do my best to convert any responsible parties who are interested or willing to listen\try.

 

[bushmaster1313]

No.
My family is anti-gun.

 

[Mousegun]

First and only here. That is why I consider myself the top of the heap

 

[P-32]

My Dad like many WW2 vets was not anti but he did not own any either. I heard many stories about how good of shot he was in his youth, but I never got to see him shoot. My grand parents on my moms side and other aunts and uncles had fire arms in their homes. I shot my first Phesant with my G/Pa's Win. Mdl 12 at about the age of 12. It was not until I brought my first 22 home was there a fire arm in the house. My BB gun didn't count.

I got bit real hard after I had been in the Navy for awhile. After I bought my first center fire rifle the wife thought $12,50 was too much to spend on a box of 30-06. The wife suggested I start reloading and it's been down hill since then. My wife is very much used to dry fire practice with match guns in the house.

 

[Mule]

Mom's family had a suicide and a fatal hunting accident. Dad saw combat in europe in WW-2. When asked he said he had enough guns for a lifetime. No guns in our house. Once out of the house my first was a Mosin purchased at auction for $27.00. My bride gave me a Rem 742 .30-06 as a wedding present. 37 years later i still have both the bride and the 742. Next came the addiction of reloading. My sons are accomplished hunters. My daughters are not hunters, but they are excellant shooters and had a lot of fun embarassing the boys that came around that thought they could shoot. Now I have a couple of grand kids to get trained up.

 

[rromeo]

My parents don't own guns--not anti, just no interest.

I come from the same situation, although my mother once asked me about how to buy a gun if she wanted one.

 

[JayBoogs]

My family are not an anti but far from gun loving but it is more understandable in the state of NY. Born and raised in NYC created a certain mystic behind firearms. Now living in Westchester County I bought my pistol and love it. I have a little niche of friends now that are avid enthusiast.

My family, especially my mother, is still trying to figure out why I'm had to get one (haha) [She is accustom to inner city- Either cops have guns or criminals have guns]. My father on the other hand is from the south (SC & NC) so he is much more accustom to it. My uncles hunt and have firearms. He was actually quite excited I had gotten my permit and bought one. Now my brother is getting ready to apply for his permit.

As far as my other family, it's plain and simple, they don't know. I am not hiding it, but I know I will be bombarded with questions and so on.. so i have just left it for now.

 

[almherdfan]

I grew up in a gun neutral household. My parents didn't have guns, but they allowed me to be exposed to firearms via Junior Police, Summer Camp and an uncle who was into BP guns.

I was further exposed to firearms when serving in the Army Reserve in the 80s. I bought my first gun when I lived in Alaska (.44 mag Ruger). I bought a couple of guns when I moved back, but didn't shoot 'em mudh & the new wife wasn't comfortable, so I sold 'em.

Got back into guns about 7 years ago. Wife is more comfortable now (though my wallet may not be).

 

[mortablunt]

Oh yes, the family (asides from me) is very much non-gun. Well, my father is very American and is indeed a naturalized citizen He actually introduced me to the idea of the second amendment being around as a final recourse to save the nation from tyranny. He's actually okay with the firearms. He's just like any other man and dislikes making drama with the wife. Th Funilly enough, he declined my offer to arm him after he got pick pocketed in Prague.The brother is anti-gun because it threatens how he's always help power through being physically superior by far. I'm glad that he isn't a gun man; he's violent, rash, and egotistical. I also rank him as being the most likely in the family to panic during an emergency. Mother was raised by antigunners, so she strongly agrees with the Brady campaign. At least she isn't trying to preach to anyone.

 

[hirundo82]

I come from the same situation, although my mother once asked me about how to buy a gun if she wanted one.

My father likes to go shooting with me when I'm home, although I think that's more wanting to spend time together than wanting to shoot (not that I have a problem with that). I even got my mother to the range once as well. Neither of them have shown any interest in buying, but they live in a very safe area and haven't had any experiences that might get them to consider it.

 

[Steve CT]

Non gun family background. My younger brother and I became shooters after moving out of the house, neither of us realized the other was shooting until several years later.

 

[Konstantin835]

Both my parents are anti gun. My dad is one of those "sporting purposes" guys but he doesn't even hunt, my mom doesn't like guns either. Even though my mom doesn't like guns she trusts me and knows that I can safely shoot and handle a gun. She's splitting the cost of an AR complete upper and lower parts kit with me for christmas so I can't complain. My grandfather was supposedly a superb shot and an outdoorsman but he passed away before I got into guns. Most of my family outside if that is pretty indifferent.

 

[Ignition Override]

Yes, but almost total indifference, even though my father grew up in central MS. His Dad used my 1940's vintage Savage .22 just for squirrels in pecan trees.
Guys in the early Meridian/Jackson MS ANG might have touched a handgun with wadcutters just once, as was the case in the early 80s (both OTS and in the squadron).

In grade school, only the .22 and his M-1 Carbine - once - with our Dad. Then a Crossman bb/pellet gun in junior high: they were well-built back then and powerful!
Many years later in the early 80s used the .22 just a few times.

Despite the fact that my Mom's father killed himself with a handgun when she was nine years old (right before her mother had suffered a crippling stroke), my Mom has only stated in a calm voice "I don't approve of guns"-but never sounded emotional about them, just sad.

Fairly recently my brother got interested (K-31/Enfield) and the bug hit me at age 52, back in '07.
Lots of catching up to do, you might say?

 

[Inebriated]

Sort of. Not ANTI-gun, but just NON-gun. No one in my family on my mom's side really has guns. My aunt is terrified of them, but I'm talking sense into her. The rest just don't care. My grandfather has a few, but never shoots them or takes them out. I haven't even seen them.

Only my dad and my uncle are here (rest are in Lebanon) from that side, so I would imagine the family there doesn't have any. My uncle, however, has always had a nice collection of firearms and the land to shoot, so instead of buying them, me and my dad would get ammo and go to my uncle's. My dad has always loved shooting and firearms, but never really got around to buying any until I got into it again at 18. Now my dad has a couple guns, and my mom is looking at getting a handgun as well, which is something I never thought I'd see.

 

[BRE346]

I had an uncle that hunted. He had me shoot at a tree one day. He wanted to take me duck-hunting once but Mom said no. No guns of any kind among the others.
I took this up for self-protection and home defense. I have one daughter that has learned to shoot. The other two aren't interested.

 

[Bonesinium]

Sort of. My mother hated and still strongly dislikes guns. My father bought me a BB gun for my birthday when I was younger, and did so without telling her because he knew it wouldn't fly. I never had any real firearms until I got older and was no longer living with them. I still carry when I am home, something I know my mother hates. However my interest in guns has got my father interested, and after I built an AR, he decided to too!