Good read - The changing face of gun ownership

[hso]

If we are to survive and the 2A is to survive we need new gun owners to join the struggle.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/the-changing-face-of-gun-ownership/

It’s been happening for years now. Your liberal-thinking neighbor. A self-proclaimed feminist family member. Several formerly anti-gun individuals within your circle of friends. Countless people who may not act or think like you have been buying guns for personal protection and home defense. And it’s awesome!

Growing Our Community
Reports have shown us that the last decade has brought more and more females to the gun community. In fact, a 2017 study by Pew Research Center found that about 1 in 5 women (22 percent) own a gun. But nowadays, we’re seeing even more changes to the face of firearms. During the first six months of 2020 — amid a worldwide pandemic — an NSSF report shows that there were more than 10.3 million firearms transactions. (That’s an increase of gun sales in the U.S. by 95 percent compared to last year!) And while all demographic groups have been making these firearms purchases, Black men and women accounted for a 58 percent increase.

 

[edwardware]

A few points:
- The best and highest virtue to be found here is a (slight but promising) move from dependence on the state to self-reliance. The belief that the state is competent to provide for your needs is the deepest political evil; the realization that the state is incompetent and necessarily evil (but perhaps necessary) is the highest political virtue. This appears to be a move in the right direction.
- Anyone who wishes the broad, overwhelming majority of the citizenry to be armed is my ally on that point. There's a lot of territory that doesn't cover, but it's a good start.
- The mere desire to be armed isn't necessarily redeeming. Mao's Red Guard were armed, and helped starve 60 million of their own countrymen to death at gunpoint.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[Iggy]

I don't want to appear racist and I am happy if the right people are buying the guns, but I have to wonder how many of those guns bought were straw purchases for BLM?

 

[AlexanderA]

If the trend of gun ownership continues, it's going to be increasingly difficult to enact gun restrictions, no matter which party is in power. One day the Democratic leaders are going to wake up, and realize that their own rank and file members have guns, and don't want to give them up. A noisy minority of antigunners can't have outsize influence forever.

 

[illinoisburt]

I don't want to appear racist and I am happy if the right people are buying the guns, but I have to wonder how many of those guns bought were straw purchases for BLM?

Probably not many, if any at all. BLM is a political movement. All kinds of people have differing political beliefs. That doesn't make them criminals nor take away their rights.

So do straw purchases happen? I'm certain they do. I'm also certain it's a tiny fraction of 4473 sales & completely unrelated to a person's political beliefs.

What definitely has changed is the societal view of guns, the types people buy, and general intended purposes. Hunting may have been the primary driver of long gun sales a few decades ago, it is not now. The number of long gun sales is dramatically higher and a lot have shifted over to magazine fed semi autos, all the while as hunting participation has waned. Concealed carry was not terribly common (or legal) 40 years ago. Today small concealable handguns make up the majority of sales. Although it's not uncommon these days for someone to own a collection of multiple guns, there is no way my aging generation of hunters and target shooters are absorbing the tens of millions of new guns sold. By definition it has to going somewhere, and that would be younger people from all backgrounds.

 

[Howland937]

but I have to wonder how many of those guns bought were straw purchases for BLM?

Probably not many. BLM is a group/movement very similar to LGBTQ, women's suffrage, Peta, etc...made up of members who individually have the same 2A rights as the rest of us (or don't, if they've been stripped of those rights for whatever reason). Whether you agree or disagree with their beliefs, their ability to purchase or not purchase firearms is mutually exclusive.

illinoisburt beat me by a fraction.

 

[3Crows]

Sometimes, for many people, it is not until a new gun owner has the gun in their hands that they appreciate the empowerment of the 2A and the responsibility therein demanded.

When I was in school my elementary school (and Jr/HS) had hunting and fishing clubs. I was in a catholic school and the priest and one of the nuns ran the club. They were both surprisingly skilled at both sports. The sister taught me how to throw a fly and while my dad and grandfather passed on much gun and outdoors knowledge, it was the father, an ex-Marine of Korean war, who really put the fear of God in me when it comes to guns, the awesome responsibility and nature of true sportsmanship.

My point is that there were learning/educational opportunities afforded earlier generations through parents and even school, my concern now is how to provide the new gun owners an equivalent learning opportunity when they walk out of the store with their new purchase.

 

[jmr40]

If the trend of gun ownership continues, it's going to be increasingly difficult to enact gun restrictions, no matter which party is in power. One day the Democratic leaders are going to wake up, and realize that their own rank and file members have guns, and don't want to give them up. A noisy minority of antigunners can't have outsize influence forever.

Almost exactly what I've been saying for a long time. We are already at the point where it would be impossible to enact another AWB like the 1994-2004 version.

 

[Kleanbore]

We are already at the point where it would be impossible to enact another AWB like the 1994-2004 version.

I think that is an extremely unrealistic assessment.

 

[Walkalong]

One day the Democratic leaders are going to wake up, and realize that their own rank and file members have guns, and don't want to give them up

When? The sooner the better, because we have a ton of liberal gun owners, they just need pro gun, or at least won’t vote anti, liberal politicians to vote for

 

[Outlaw75]

Almost exactly what I've been saying for a long time. We are already at the point where it would be impossible to enact another AWB like the 1994-2004 version.

Nope, just because a number of urban liberal types have bought "a" gun, does not mean they think the great unwashed masses out there should have them.

 

[Barbaroja]

I’m sad to see how close minded some people are and insist on painting everything and everyone with such broad strokes. We’re all individuals. Be it in politics, religion,anything. To me nothing makes a person sound or ignorant than to make broad generalizations about people they don’t know.
This isn’t directed any anyone in particular but
It just grinds my gears to see and hear it.

All that said I’m glad to see anyone getting into shooting and gun ownership, even if the extent of that is having it in the house just in case.

 

[Hartkopf]

Liberals owning guns? Kamala used to carry. Does that mean she understands the average persons right to defend themselves?

No she does not. At least doesn't care.

 

[Old Dog]

So do straw purchases happen? I'm certain they do. I'm also certain it's a tiny fraction of 4473 sales & completely unrelated to a person's political beliefs.

Most of the time, straw purchases seem to be happening for ... money. And they're still going on, all the time (given the numbers of firearms that are recovered that were never reported stolen); there just aren't the resources these days in law enforcement to track them all down. Still, sometimes, folks get caught.
https://komonews.com/news/local/renton-woman-pleads-guilty-in-illegal-firearm-scheme

 

[daniel craig]

Probably not many, if any at all. BLM is a political movement. All kinds of people have differing political beliefs. That doesn't make them criminals nor take away their rights.

So do straw purchases happen? I'm certain they do. I'm also certain it's a tiny fraction of 4473 sales & completely unrelated to a person's political beliefs.

What definitely has changed is the societal view of guns, the types people buy, and general intended purposes. Hunting may have been the primary driver of long gun sales a few decades ago, it is not now. The number of long gun sales is dramatically higher and a lot have shifted over to magazine fed semi autos, all the while as hunting participation has waned. Concealed carry was not terribly common (or legal) 40 years ago. Today small concealable handguns make up the majority of sales. Although it's not uncommon these days for someone to own a collection of multiple guns, there is no way my aging generation of hunters and target shooters are absorbing the tens of millions of new guns sold. By definition it has to going somewhere, and that would be younger people from all backgrounds.

Also BLM isn’t a super organized group with a head leader and a chain of command so “for BLM” means nothing really.

 

[daniel craig]

Lots of liberals have owned guns for a long time, and they pass that on to their liberal kids and friends, and believe in the 2A and gun rights strongly. The fact that surprises people is odd to me.

Also, some of the replies to this thread https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...l-be-the-only-thing-that-saves-the-2a.872076/

Vs the the thread this comment is on shows that some people are changing their minds on things and that’s a good thing.

 

[CapnMac]

It's far too easy to be dismissive of new shooters, of those "not like us."
It's a bias that is common to the human condition, so "we" are no more guilty (or innocent) of the sin than any other group.
Like as not, the group of new owners will fall into four broad categories.

One group will have been surprised to see how easy/hard the process was, and the presumptions put upon them as buyers, and with fervor, has embraced "our side"--they just maay not have become "visible" to us (they are certainly neck-deep at DFW shooting locations.

The Next group will also have been surprised, even upset, but has calmed down now, they have their one shooter and the one box of ammo, and they are done. They will not be contributors to "our cause" an probably would not identify as such. "We" may or may not see them on various fora asking questions.

The third group will be the group shocked that there ere not more regulations and hurdles, and once the disruption passes will either abandon their shooter in the attic, give it to the PD, or sell it---as long as it is "away!" That cohort will obviously not be part of "us" in any sense of the word.

The fourth group probably gets the least attention right now. They are the ones that tried and could not get a shooter (or could but no ammo). They are also the group that tried, but their local oppressive governments won't permit them. A (small) fraction will have discovered that they are Prohibited Persons for one reason or another. Another tiny fraction will have failed to have the fortitude to "brave" the inside of a gun store, and were fearful their ignorance would be used to abuse and cudgel them (the human mind will create demons out of shadows readily enough).

Some of that group could be part of "us" if they only knew there was an "us." Or if their State permitted.

"We" should, probably, be reaching out to them all, and celebrating every gain we make. I know rather a lot of folk in the first group.

Oh, and while we are at it, there's a fifth group, the people "not us" but had that one nightstand gun, the one shooter for no specified purpose. Who now, suddenly, are part of "us" after trying to go get a box of ammo, or book range time. "We" really need to try and capture those people. They were not "anti"--they were just ambivalent.

That's my 2¢, spend it wisely.

 

[Old Dog]

"We" should, probably, be reaching out to them all, and celebrating every gain we make.

Exactly what I've been preaching since this whole gun-buying frenzy started. We may not agree with another's political leanings, but the road to compromise and eventually consensus begins with exploring and finding the small things we may have in common.

 

[CapnMac]

We may not agree with another's political leanings

And, it behooves "us" to be "color blind" on politics, too.
Which is sore complicated at the best of times.
It's far too easy to be bombastic on single-issue politics (I've been guilty, myself, too many times).

Being blind, deaf, and dumb to politics, sex, and religion is some difficult; needful, but difficult.

 

[Obturation]

Nope, just because a number of urban liberal types have bought "a" gun, does not mean they think the great unwashed masses out there should have them.

Exactly . my mother is the PERFECT example. Full blown lefty, has a gun (amt backup 380) but doesn't think anyone else should have one because it could be dangerous.

 

[lionking]

We are already at the point where it would be impossible to enact another AWB like the 1994-2004 version.

oh yes they will and it will be worse than the original AWB Biden just today commenting on the the two LA officers that were ambushed called on gun control and bans as a answer. Biden/Harris and the rest of their sorts are just waiting to have a majority to vote in all sorts of stuff.

BLM the organization supports gun control and BLM the organization is not like most other civil rights organizations or movements that someone listed above if you read their site, and look who props it up at a administrative and financial level you will see that BLM is a front for pushing Marxism . You can be for racial civil rights and be against BLM at the same time.

I'm for anyone who is legal having a gun for self defense but I'm leery of political organizations like BLM especially when they endorse known pro gun control politicians.

 

[Howland937]

Exactly what I've been preaching since this whole gun-buying frenzy started. We may not agree with another's political leanings, but the road to compromise and eventually consensus begins with exploring and finding the small things we may have in common.

Agree 100%.The faceless people we interact with on here in a lot of cases are only known by nickname. We've all gravitated here for the same reason, which is also what makes this forum what it is. Since the goal is to keep this limited in scope to firearms in whatever way they're part of our lives, everyone here shares that. Since non-firearms discussion is limited, it would be easy to mistakenly believe, because of that, everyone here thinks the same, acts the same, feels the same. Our relationship with the firearms "community" is only one aspect of our entirety. But if we alienate potential additions to this community based on aspects where our views differ, we'll eventually run out of allies.

 

[grampster]

The sad thing is that most of us have no idea what the majority of Americans are thinking about guns...or anything for that matter. The MSM generally is promoting an agenda that is not friendly to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. So I wouldn't take it for granted about anything that we believe to be important. Keep up spreading the positives of firearm ownership and use. It doesn't always have to be about protecting our Republic. There are so many other terrific uses of firearms that could be promoted...so go forth and do so.

 

[AlexanderA]

Exactly . my mother is the PERFECT example. Full blown lefty, has a gun (amt backup 380) but doesn't think anyone else should have one because it could be dangerous.

That's the "zero-sum game" theory of gun ownership. That is, that me owning a gun makes me more powerful when you (or anybody else) doesn't own a gun. This is why a lot of current gun owners (on both the left and the right) don't have a problem with gun control. They don't think that it will apply to them.

 

[Walkalong]

Which is stupid