Do you ever get bad news and just want to go shoot something to feel better?

[Arkansas Paul]

I find shooting to be stress relief. As far as bad news, I don't know. I guess it would depend on the news. If it was a death in the family, I probably wouldn't. I would go to my family and be with them. If I found out I had some serious illness or something along those lines, I probably would.

But everyone is different. If that's what makes you feel better and you are still emotionally capable of keeping safety in mind, go for it.

 

[erkman]

Yes I have. It is a great stress reliever to go shoot some. It does help that I can do it in my back yard though.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Yikes!

Here's just the kind of thread that would come up in a future prosecution's/plaintiff's investigation, were a responder to be just a bit un-careful.

Temper adressed with the use of firearms. Yikes!


"Your Honor, I do believe my account was hacked at that time."

 

[joustin]

I don't get very angry or upset often so I can't comment on that. But it takes a lot of stress out as I can be alone in a stall and not be bothered while at the range. Until some comes in with a 500 super ultra awesome mag and blasts the target like it was a zombie on the attack. Then I have to leave as the noise bothers me at the indoor range.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I wouldn't worry about it being brought up in court. A lawyer can call a psychologist anytime to confirm OR refute shooting for stress relief. But, when you think about it, if you ever have to shoot to defend yourself, isn't that EXACTLY what you are doing? Example: Bad guy pulls a gun on you, and says he is going to kill you. That causes you stress. The ONLY way to relieve that stress is to draw and shoot him first. You cannot assume he is kidding, or will just disappear. Simple stress relief.

 

[horsemen61]

I like the way you think sharps

 

[MattShlock]

All that being said I am also very likely to find solace in The Lord or one of his angels sent to this earth, such as his angel Jack Daniels.

Just out of curiosity why would one find shooting to relieve stress un-nerving. No disrespect just curious.

Stress, in this context, is a psychological manifestation based on mental or emotional challenges. Picking up a gun to relieve oneself from such duress, especially under these circumstances, is more than unhealthy. Maybe dangerous. It implies intellectual instability. Stick to your Jack Daniels (not you personally, just using your example) -- another great escape. There are plenty of others that are even less balanced, legal, seemly, or adult.

 

[blarby]

Recoil therapy is great with reactive targets........

 

[MattShlock]

No ... if my concentration is clouded by issues and such, I don't shoot because at that point it's only turning money into noise. Soothing music is better therapy for me ... sometimes some good old rock n roll from 1950 - 1963 does the trick.

Romeo, what happened in 1964 that changed your world for the next 50 years to date!?

 

[GBExpat]

Stress, in this context, is a psychological manifestation based on mental or emotional challenges. Picking up a gun to relieve oneself from such duress, especially under these circumstances, is more than unhealthy. Maybe dangerous. It implies intellectual instability.

OK, all of you Guys & Gals who find shooting to be relaxing, take note.

 

[Sam1911]

Stress, in this context, is a psychological manifestation based on mental or emotional challenges. Picking up a gun to relieve oneself from such duress, especially under these circumstances, is more than unhealthy. Maybe dangerous. It implies intellectual instability.

Methinks the author of this statement has a very lopsided and unrealistic view of motivations and mindset of the majority of us here when we "pick up a gun." (Or, as is much more likely, he's engaging in intensely subtle humor.)

While drinking or abusing drugs to numb the psychological effects of stress is patently unhealthy, engaging in a technical skill activity, the required concentration of which draws the conscious mind away from one's troubles for a time, and the successful execution of which introduces positive emotions to help counter the negative feelings one is experiencing can only be a beneficial thing.

If one looks at "picking up a gun" as a de facto violent act then obviously this does not hold true. But I'd wager there's very, very few of us who's cognitive associations of heading off to the range are ones of violence.

 

[Mike J]

Well said Sam. I have seen the time that my wife and I went through a very stressful situation. I spent the weekend at the hospital with her. When we got home from there my then teenage nieces came & spent 2 days helping her so I could work. That weekend & the next few days my time was spent either at the hospital.work or taking care of her & our at the time small children dealing with family etc. The first day things somewhat settled down I went to the range & cleared my head. I did not want to hurt anyone and was not angry. I just needed a little time away to let some steam off. I don't use shooting as a drug but it can be relaxing just like any other activity or hobby that gives one a few minutes respite & then lets them look at circumstances again with a clearer head.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

1963-1964? Take your pick. Either JFK's assassination or the Beatles. Both changed the world. RE: MattShlock's "Theory": It is a great theory, but there are too many exceptions to the rule; so many shooters, abiding the law, shooting to relieve stress, and many here as participating THR members (let alone the rest of the otherwise sane shooters out there). That assumption just doesn't hold water.

 

[MattShlock]

No Sam, I wasn't being sarcastic there.

I enjoy shooting, movies, squash (the game and the gourd) and long walks on the beach. Whatever. But when I want to "blow off some steam" or "relieve stress," irregular base mental conditions driven by overwhelming emotion, it sure isn't with a gun, a throttle, nor a bottle. The concept is antithetical to balance, anathema to me, and I'm not even sure what those mean!

LOL

Seriously, the thought never even crosses my mind and, thinking about it, it's just the wrong thing at the wrong time. No, "bad news has never made me want to go shoot something to feel better" and I am not sure those it has should be allowed to have a gun.

Yup, I went there. Said it...

 

[Kynoch]

I don't. I find comfort/encouragement in the Word or God.

That being said, the hobby of guns, hunting and shooting is in the top five passions of my life.

Nothing is going to change the situation that you recently got the news of, but changing the situation isn't really the issue; changing your view of it... or getting through it (coping with it)... is the real issue. I don't know how a range trip could change the way you view the situation, or could change the way you deal with the situation, or could get you through the situation.

IMHO, it will only temporarily get your mind off of the bad news and punt the inner healing down the field.

"The Word" (of God) = Jesus Christ = God the Son.

"The word" (of God) = Sacred Scripture.

Two entirely different things.

 

[Sam1911]

No Sam, I wasn't being sarcastic there.

Oh? That's too bad.

I enjoy shooting, movies, squash (the game and the gourd) and long walks on the beach. Whatever. But when I want to "blow off some steam" or "relieve stress," irregular base mental conditions driven by overwhelming emotion, it sure isn't with a gun, a throttle, nor a bottle.

A gun, throttle or bottle? What does that even mean? You're conflating very disparate things all of which can have intensely positive or intensely negative aspects. Self-medicating with a 5th of booze to dull the pain? Very negative. Sitting down to a drink with friends to relax and set aside the tensions of the day? Very positive.

Taking a long drive to relax and think and let a change of scenery brighten your mood? Very positive. Getting in your car and driving distractedly or aggressively? Very negative.

Grabbing a gun to go destroy something (or someone) because you're angry? Of course that's very negative. Heading to the range to spend a couple hours practicing your marksmanship, analogous to the meditative, zen, practice of a Kyudo archer with his bow -- or, shoot, just to have FUN -- is a very positive, healthy thing!

If you're unable to understand the differences here, you're suffering an unfortunate mental block that you should probably seek to remedy.

The concept is antithetical to balance, anathema to me, and I'm not even sure what those mean!

You don't understand what that means because it doesn't mean anything. You just cribbed a pithy saying and used it inaptly.

Seriously, the thought never even crosses my mind and, thinking about it, it's just the wrong thing at the wrong time. No, "bad news has never made me want to go shoot something to feel better" and I am not sure those it has should be allowed to have a gun.

Again, you're displaying a distressing misunderstanding here that the reason one picks up a firearm is necessarily to shoot/destroy some-THING (or, obviously, some-ONE) -- as though the destruction of that thing was the goal. I don't think a single person polled here at THR would tell you they hit the range to destroy targets. While self-defense training has specific goals which are violent in nature, most shooting is simply a refined skills practice -- a meditation on self, in a way -- and is about as violent or unbalanced as playing the piano or flower gardening.

Yup, I went there. Said it...

I'm a little worried for you. These things you're saying or feeling aren't quite normal.

 

[Sam1911]

I'll add that if you're acting out rage, trying to cathartically expunge your bad emotions by violent exercise (which isn't necessarily a negative thing, either) I wouldn't do THAT with a gun.

In that case, you're looking to drive yourself to a point of emotional exhaustion and release, often significantly loosening self-control. That's something best done with a heavy punching bag or some other safe outlet. Guns require too much control and presence of mind for that.

But that's a distinctly different activity than simply shooting to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, etc.

 

[Lee Roder]

No.

 

[EmbarkChief]

There is nothing wrong with going to the range to get your mind off of what's bothering you. I've done it on a few occasions and always leave feeling more calm and relaxed. However, if "bad news" involves family, death, or other BAD NEWS then you should leave the firearms at home IMOP.

Unfortunately I had a situation that involved my little sister passing away 6 years ago. The day she passed I went home, unloaded my carry pistol, put it in the safe and spun the dial. I knew that my mind wasnt' right and I had no buisness packing at that time. It was two weeks before I started carrying again.

 

[rookorami]

I think Sam did a great job of showing how its not really black and white. Your motivations and your "goal" so to speak really matter. But it is a personal thing and everyone must judge what works best for them. For everyone's sake I home that most choose well.

 

[newfalguy101]

Stress, in this context, is a psychological manifestation based on mental or emotional challenges. Picking up a gun to relieve oneself from such duress, especially under these circumstances, is more than unhealthy. Maybe dangerous. It implies intellectual instability. Stick to your Jack Daniels (not you personally, just using your example) -- another great escape. There are plenty of others that are even less balanced, legal, seemly, or adult.

I really hope yer just funning, cuz to seriously suggest its "healthy" to crawl into a bottle when stressed out........yea, gotta be a joke Ha ha ha


By the way, I will be sure to mention your opinion to the counselor if I meet with her again, I spect she would get a chuckle out of it.....

 

[LaVere]

No, not ever.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

This is exactly why hunting has been around so long, even after man didn't have to go out and hunt daily to survive. Being able to shoot and kill an animal, whether we like it or not, satisfies a primal urge to kill. If we did away with contact sports, hunting, and martial arts, etc, pretty soon people would experience pent up anxiety and stress, and pent up primal urges, and start acting out in less acceptable ways. This isn't a hard and fast rule for EVERYONE, but mankind as a whole. When the anti-hunters take to the woods, they would be aware that they are bordering on testing the limits of "civilized" men. I think if you kick an otherwise peaceful and "civilized" dog often enough, it will show you what it was designed to do.

 

[HOOfan_1]

So....you are asking, if I am unhappy....do I want to go do something I like to do?

Yes, when I am unhappy, I go and do something that makes me happy.

Shooting makes me happy. Do I want to shoot something for the act of destruction? Nope. I want to shoot because it makes me happy.

Golf makes some people happy....they like to go out and drive golf balls when they are unhappy....I hate golf however.

Driving/riding motorcycles or bikes makes some people happy. So they do it when they are unhappy in order to become happy.

 

[MattShlock]

I really hope yer just funning, cuz to seriously suggest its "healthy" to crawl into a bottle when stressed out........yea, gotta be a joke Ha ha ha


By the way, I will be sure to mention your opinion to the counselor if I meet with her again, I spect she would get a chuckle out of it.....

NewFalGuy;
There I am lumping in turning to alcohol with turning to shooting guns to get over bad news; pointing out it is psychologically profound escapism. In that paragraph I put them almost at the level of unbalanced, illegal, unseemly, and/or childish.

As for even having drinks after work to relieve stress? If and when I drink it is not because I have to, not because I need the medicinal effects of a (interestingly enough) depressant. And if I caught myself thinking that way I'd go out of my way not to act out by imbibing. Nor by picking up a gun -- I don't feel relief, am not empowered over bad news and negative emotions, by it. Sorry -- that's just me and my emotional quotient.

Half the others' mileage apparently varies. Wrong thing, wrong time in my book. Highly questionable behavior to me.

And I was being self-deprecating for others' benefit about not understanding the multi-syllable words I was using -- I have a decent enough command of the language. I try to keep it "average high school level" which, admittedly, is sometimes a challenge for me. One I also don't get a compulsion to shoot things over... Nuance is easily lost in writing as can be sarcasm (read: wit), and sentences including punctuation are often too complicated for some, so, I try to KISS.