New member here. Had seen postings from this forum on other internet searches, but what led me to register was reading a small bit about it in the book Gun Guys- A Road Trip by Dan Baum. I have no stake in the book, but as a moderate gun owner, it definitely spoke to me. Anyway, great forum. I love it.
Gun Guys book
- Thread starter Catfishg
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r1derbike
Member
Welcome Catfishg. I haven't read the book, so can't comment about it. Enjoy your stay!
Baba Louie
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 3,831
Welcome to THR Catfishg.
Looked up the book mentioned... hmmmm. Might need to peruse a copy
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Guys-A-Road-Trip/dp/0307595412
Whatcha mean by "moderate" gun owner? Own one or two? Passive stance on RKBA? Not a "Full Goose Bozo" gun owner like a lot here?
No matter what it means (and there's no need to answer my musings above sir), good to have you, hope you enjoy your stay and share your thoughts.
Looked up the book mentioned... hmmmm. Might need to peruse a copy
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Guys-A-Road-Trip/dp/0307595412
Whatcha mean by "moderate" gun owner? Own one or two? Passive stance on RKBA? Not a "Full Goose Bozo" gun owner like a lot here?
No matter what it means (and there's no need to answer my musings above sir), good to have you, hope you enjoy your stay and share your thoughts.
CPLofMARINES
Member
Welcome to THR.
No disrespect, but I have never heard the term;
Moderate gun owner, just wondering what context
You are using such a term ? Anyways, welcome and
Enjoy, a wealth of knowledge and some great folks
Here.
Semper Fi
No disrespect, but I have never heard the term;
Moderate gun owner, just wondering what context
You are using such a term ? Anyways, welcome and
Enjoy, a wealth of knowledge and some great folks
Here.
Semper Fi
AlexanderA
Member
I've seen the author of the Gun Guys book interviewed on TV. He is not our friend.
Murcielago
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 84
Agreed. He was featured in a New York Times article with Joe Nocerra recently, and while he made a couple of good points, he is very anti-NRA and supports "reasonable" gun control measures. See for yourselves:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/o...hat-gun-lovers-think.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
I guess this is pretty much what I meant by 'moderate'.
I actually agree with most of what Dan says.
I have been a gun owner since I can remember (first shotgun around age 11), grew up around guns with a grandfather that made his living in the swamps of southern Louisiana and have a small collection of firearms. I have taught my wife and my 12 year old son how to shoot and be respectful, but not afraid, of guns.
In my opinion, the NRA sometimes does as much disservice to gun owners by polarizing the populace as much as the 'eliminate all guns'/'let's restrict the rights of the lawful gun owners' crowd.
I actually agree with most of what Dan says.
I have been a gun owner since I can remember (first shotgun around age 11), grew up around guns with a grandfather that made his living in the swamps of southern Louisiana and have a small collection of firearms. I have taught my wife and my 12 year old son how to shoot and be respectful, but not afraid, of guns.
In my opinion, the NRA sometimes does as much disservice to gun owners by polarizing the populace as much as the 'eliminate all guns'/'let's restrict the rights of the lawful gun owners' crowd.
sonick808
Member
either you're all for guns, or you're not. sorry to sound cliche but if you dig enough, you'll find it's the absolute, unfettered truth. There is no "moderate" gun support.
Quote "either you're all for guns, or you're not. sorry to sound cliche but if you dig enough, you'll find it's the absolute, unfettered truth. There is no "moderate" gun support."
Plus 1 ^!!! Anything less than "all for guns" assists with the "divide and conquer" agenda of the "anti gun" crowd!!!
Plus 1 ^!!! Anything less than "all for guns" assists with the "divide and conquer" agenda of the "anti gun" crowd!!!
CPLofMARINES
Member
Gun laws are necessary, just as laws related to automobiles,
However, be suspect of one who says it's ok to own a Chevy
Volt, but not a Dodge Challenger. Know what I'm saying?
However, be suspect of one who says it's ok to own a Chevy
Volt, but not a Dodge Challenger. Know what I'm saying?
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Hey, rather than argue the "your either for us or against us" angle, and immediately drive away our new member, let's discuss what's in THE BOOK, seeing as that was the subject of the thread.
Anyone read it? Was there anything the author said that was real good or real bad?
Anyone read it? Was there anything the author said that was real good or real bad?
AlexanderA
Member
Dan Baum argues for "reasonable gun controls." In theory, there might be reasonable gun regulations (such as checking to make sure felons don't get guns, etc.). Unfortunately, it's become perfectly clear that the antigun side will never stop at what gun owners consider "reasonable." They've been pursuing salami tactics -- one slice at a time -- ever since the Gun Control Act of 1968. Their ultimate goal is complete gun confiscation -- all you have to do is look at what happened in England and Australia.
Given this situation, gun owners need to band together and oppose anything put forward by the antigunners. It's become that polarized. People like Baum just don't understand the gravity of what we're having to deal with. They're either "useful idiots" or Quislings.
Thanks for trying to refocus the thread, Sam.
Truth be told, Gun Guys is way more about the people across the United States that love guns than it is about gun laws or Dan's opinion. The people are not all impressive, but the majority of them are. I would probably recommend the book more to anti-gun people than to gun people, just because it humanizes gun owners. Gun owners already know that part. He does editorialize some, but mostly he offers the experience of the different gun users.
I will admit, the book does a much better job of convincing me that there is a legitimate reason to consider no gun laws than most of the forum posts that I have read which are essentially the same post reiterated an infinite number of times.
Truth be told, Gun Guys is way more about the people across the United States that love guns than it is about gun laws or Dan's opinion. The people are not all impressive, but the majority of them are. I would probably recommend the book more to anti-gun people than to gun people, just because it humanizes gun owners. Gun owners already know that part. He does editorialize some, but mostly he offers the experience of the different gun users.
I will admit, the book does a much better job of convincing me that there is a legitimate reason to consider no gun laws than most of the forum posts that I have read which are essentially the same post reiterated an infinite number of times.
BrotherFrankie
Member
i often read opposing views.. as a pastor (christian) i read other peoples writings from other denominations...
i carry that through in all areas.. i like to know what others are thinking.. the best part of reading news online are the comments...LOL
thanks for the heads up..
i carry that through in all areas.. i like to know what others are thinking.. the best part of reading news online are the comments...LOL
thanks for the heads up..
rduchateau2954
Member
I actually just finished that book. It is true that Dan is no friend of ours, but the book is not blatantly anti gun. I for the most part, enjoyed it. There are parts where you sense the elitist liberal attitude creeping in but it didn't stop me from reading.
The author is a liberal, he never pretends to be anything else. It was how he was raised, and from what I understand, what he has always been. He does however keep an open mind while on his adventure.
While it won't convert any antis to drop the torches and pitchforks, it's still worth reading.
There is also a shout out to THR about a third of the way in, so he may be a member.
The author is a liberal, he never pretends to be anything else. It was how he was raised, and from what I understand, what he has always been. He does however keep an open mind while on his adventure.
While it won't convert any antis to drop the torches and pitchforks, it's still worth reading.
There is also a shout out to THR about a third of the way in, so he may be a member.
mcdonl
Member
I support any law that prevents violence, tragic mass killings and other tragic crimes. I have just not seen a gun law that would do any of those things so I do not waste my time pursuing them, nor do I allow my elected officials to do so without a serious battle.
palmetto99
Member
I've read the book. I've read almost every review of the book. I've read or watched almost every interview Baum has done to support the book.
I enjoyed the book, but I do take into account where he comes from. A "friend", maybe or maybe not, but I would consider him an ally.
I enjoyed the book, but I do take into account where he comes from. A "friend", maybe or maybe not, but I would consider him an ally.
I agree with the above statement 100%, and have been trying to talk to friends who are in the gun grabber camp about their stance, and convince them that most of what they lobby for, doesn't actually do what they think it does. I had one guy tell me that he is so frustrated with gun violence that he's willing to basically throw out "solutions" and see if one sticks. Very strange behavior from otherwise intelligent people. It turns out that fear is a powerful master indeed.
My impression of Dan Baum when I read his recent article in harpers about the ar-15 and why it is foolish to attempt to ban it, was that he sympathisizes with the above quote entirely, except that perhaps guns are not his #1 issue. He sees the foolishness in laws that couldn't begin to do what people wish they would do. He is, like many in society, interested in reducing gun violence, but if you folks read anything he says, he acknowledges that pretty much no law proposed so far would actually do much if anything to reduce gun violence, and the proposals actually serve to further divide our society to the point where we can't do anything sensible. It seems more written to try to tell fellow "liberals" to calm down and find common ground, than for any other reason. I have been somewhat unsuccessfully doing the same thing, trying to explain to them that this is a loosing battle, and that if we want to reduce violence in society (who doesn't???) we need to look at other ways, such as reducing poverty, and increasing access to quality education and good paying jobs. Baum rightly points out the fact that gun crimes and gun deaths have fallen in this country while gun laws have become more lax in general, and the number of guns in society has increased.
I highly recommend reading his stuff with an open mind, rather than any preconceived ideas of what he wants and where he is coming from because he is a "liberal". He seems like a very pragmatic fellow with good intentions, and he seems to enjoy shooting guns for sport, and happy with the fact that his right to defend himself with a gun if face with violence is not to be infringed.
here are a couple of links to articles and commentary by him that you can read without having to pay for them:
http://harpers.org/blog/2013/05/on-gun-control-and-the-great-american-debate-over-individualism/
http://harpers.org/blog/2012/07/the-price-of-gun-control/
http://harpers.org/archive/2010/08/happiness-is-a-worn-gun/
Don't worry, I don't exist either.
Welcome to THR, you'll find there are many good and interesting people here, sharing lots of good information. Though as with any forum, there are a few extremely paranoid types who can't see past their own prejudices and fear. pay them no mind and enjoy your stay. There's also plenty of good reading in the archives, especially in the shotgun forum, where a sadly departed forum member and moderator, dave mccracken, wrote very eloquently about the joys of owning and shooting shotguns and their myriad uses.
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