"Gun Culture" dying? Where?

[horge]

Getting "anti's" out to the range is a great idea.
It has worked and continues to work here in the Philippines.

Just a decade ago, a citizen was limited to one handgun .38 caliber or weaker,
and one rifle .22lr only (or a shotgun). This was practically the situation imposed
on Filipinos by Americans in 1904, and similar to that imposed by Spaniards since 1742.

Gun aficionados moved heaven and earth to have an IPSC World Shoot held here in '95,
to give all and sundry a clue that guns aren't just for criminal use. (rolleyes)
Folks also really pushed local shooting sports, introducing it to LEO brass and
several congressmen. Even Presidents were made guests of honor at
competitions. Legislation followed, relaxing restrictions on firearm ownership.
In the year 2000, a big one came out

Executive Order No. 194, 24th of February was issued:
"...NOW THEREFORE I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by law,do hereby order:

Section 1. General Orders 7, 7-A, 7-B and 7-C which authorize certain individuals to
possess and carry firearms, limit the number of firearms to be possessed,
and regulate the operation of gun clubs, are hereby repealed.

Section 2. Henceforth, all citizens of the Philippines may possess firearms of any type and/or caliber,
Provided that such firearms are not classified as crew-served weapons (CSWs),
light anti-tank weapons (LAWs), light machine guns (LMGs), anti-tank and anti-personnel
recoilless rifles, bazookas, etc.; Provided further that such firearms are
test-fired for ballistics, stenciled and properly licensed... (snip)"

I can go out RIGHT NOW and buy myself a select fire AK47 or an 'AK2000' chambered in 5.56.
I'd do it by driving to the nearest airconditioned supermall, walk to one of the the gunstores inside,
point, pay, fill out papers and wait for them to clear. Then I'd go up a floor and catch a movie at the
cineplex, looking forward to the week I could come back and pick up my new rifle.
Truth is, I don't have a need for a select fire firearm, and the license renewal fees are better
spent (for now), on training/recreational ammo for my pistols.

You Americans don't know how good you have it there, though:
We Filipinos have no RKBA. It's still only a privilege that can be taken away by the State.
Always has been... but it won't always be, at this rate.

Anyways... it's too easy to demonize those who don't yet understand certain things.
It's also too easy to condemn proven hypocrites, who deny others what they wish to enjoy.
But maybe if you can't replace 'em just yet.... you can coopt them.

Working on future candidates has paid off hansomely here, too
(Git'n them while they're young)

Whenever someone says 'gun culture' is declining (or expanding), I just take it as a data point:
a glance at a third-party speedometer. It merely tells me whether I have to double my efforts,
or quadruple them, in helping get the tools of freedom into the hands of every free Filipino.

 

[DMK]

People commonly get their first gun at an age older than 21 thesedays. It isn't like cigarattes (get 'em young). People decide that they have to take care of themselves because of bad luck or just better observation on their part.

Younger folks tend to be more idealistic and have a general sense of invincibility. I remember when I was in my twenties. I never considered carrying a gun. I felt that bad things happened to other folks and that I'd live forever. I never thought about violence or death happening to me. Heck, I hardly even wore a seatbelt(even after a few tickets for it). I never considered things like fire extinguishers or smoke alarms. That would cut into my party money!

As I got older, experience started to light a dim bulb. I realized that bad things and bad people can happen when you least expect it. I realized that preparedness is not uncool and is not a sign on insecurity or paranoia.

 

[cbsbyte]

As Cosmoline stated, it depends on where you live. At this time things are not going well in Massachusetts, and many Northeast states for gun ownership. Now it is true that historically the Northeast never really had a vibrant gun culture like the west and south but we had 25x the gun owners twenty five years ago. Gun ownership is way down in Mass; young people are not interested in the shooting sports and the older generations are giving it up because of the cost. The general population fear guns, and votes in people that will make it harder for people to own them. Too many people can not get licenses because of past run ins with the law, or can not afford it. I fear in the near future a larger % of the population of this country will live in areas where there is little gun ownership. The Gun Culture is doing better in the South, Midwest and West which is a good sign that at least part of this country will have be pro guns.

 

[garymc]

I'm 56. I'm not sure how many guns I own, somewhere in the 2 dozen range. I have 2 coming in next week. My dad bought me a 22 when I was about 12. I had to use his shotgun for hunting. I bought my first gun on my own in my mid 20's, an 870, followed soon by a deer rifle. Then three pistols by the time I was 30 and that was it for 20 years. The last 4 years I've bought another 15 or so. The point is, I grew up on a farm, handled guns at will, hunting, plinking, but didn't start buying my own until a later age. And didn't go overboard until my retirement at 52. I think there are a lot of future gun owners in their teens or early 20's biding time until they get the disposable income to start filling out their basic needs in the way of guns.

 

[2Lman]

A great discussion and timely. I will soon be purchasing my first gun at age 37 (soon to be 38... it will be my birthday present.)

I do not hunt. I never grew up in a household that hunted, so it just wasn't a priority. I have my CCF permit. It is time for me to take advantage of my right.

 

[TimboKhan]

well, I personally never said it was sying in that other thread, but I do think that we need to get away from the image of grampaw leading the little tyke down the cornrow while he smokes his briar pipe. It's a nice image, but very few kids (or even 30 somethings, like myself) can identify with it anymore. Shooting, like anything else, has to adapt to the times or it shrinks away.

 

[mec]

well writte and quite true

He did hit several nails right on the head(s) On top of that, just a few years ago, there was nothing positive about guns on any mass media. The three networks were churning out anti-gun documentaries and even peppering the entertainment programs with antigun sound bites whenever a gun bill was up for vote. Fox News and the internet have turned that one around.

The notion that gun ownership has declined is just the opposite of what we see in most reportage on the matter. The number of guns has increased substantially in recent years even though hunting licenses are on the skids in most areas.

We do have strong, and well funded enemies who are riding a political wave right now. Forty years ago, they would have been dodging subpoenas from the House Committe on Un American Activities but now they have somehow grown "respectable" having suffered and achieved martredom under Tailgunner Joe and J. Edgar.

 

[bl4ckd0g]

On a non-political note, shooting sports and other outside activities have been ditched in favor of computer games where one does not need to leave the comfort of their living room or den to experience something exciting.

I grew up outside of Chicago with anti parents and I was not able to make my first purchase until I was 21. It didn't help that the Daley regime was suing every gun store and range possible in and around Cook County.

Most of the major crime in the white 'burbs consisted of theft, drug possession, or spousal abuse, so there was little fear of unassociated violent crime (i.e. carjackings or home invasions). Therefore, there was little need to purchase a firearm vs. using the funds to pay for orthodontia or a vacation to Cancun.

Nonetheless, I am glad I moved to an area where gun culture is not only alive and well, but expected to be passed on to the next generation.