Had an interesting talk with my father today...sorry if I can't be be clearer.

[hopelessjoe]

My father is anti gun. By that, I mean that he refuses to own a gun...of any kind...even though he recognizes that senior citizens are most likely to served well by the ownership of firearms when it comes to self defense.

He is anti AARP because they oppose testing for drivers over certain ages and they oppose firearms ownership for senior citizens (dig deep enough and you will find that their biggest reason for their opposition that they fear that old folks will commit suicide with their guns. I am not making this up. You will not find it on the internet. You will just have to trust me this time.)

It sounds a little too weird, but this was todays conversation.

Comments. Without being rude, mean about it.

 

[fjolnirsson]

Perhaps your father is a man who feels others should be able to own firearms, but feels for whatever reason, that he is incapable of the self discipline required. Whether he feels the onset of dementia, or fears being unable to pull the trigger, it sounds like it's a personal issue with him. Have you asked him his reasons?

 

[Walter]

hopelessjoe, IMHO, as long as your father isn't trying to force his anti-gun
beliefs on you, he should be entitled to be as "firearm-free" as he wishes.

Like your Dad, I am vehemently anti-AARP, solely because of their anti-
handgun stance. I don't know where you got the idea that they opposed
handgun ownership because the elderly "may" commit suicide with one, but
regardless of that being true or not, the fact that AARP lobbies for stronger
gun control laws makes me "Anti-AARP.

Walter

 

[TCB in TN]

That is in interesting conversation. My maternal grandfather shot himself when they told him that they were going to have to take a leg, couldn't stand the thought of NOT being able to get around anymore, or to be a burden on the rest of the family. Had he NOT had a gun he would have found another way.

My father in law is in his 70's and has advanced Parkinsons and some serious back/leg issues and has already mentioned that he is not sure how long he can live like things are. Now I am not sure that he would end his own life, especially with a gun (he doesn't have one at home now), but the thought has crossed his mind. It is a sad state of affairs, one that I personally don't agree with but every human being has their breaking point and I am afraid that he is close to reaching his. I hope for my wife's sake that he does NOT go that route but if he does then like most other folks then he will probably find a way to accomplish the act anyway.

I feel for anyone who get to that point, I cannot imagine myself being there, but you can never be to sure what you will do until you walk that mile. That said, even in spite of losing someone I loved to suicide, I will always support the 2A because even in spite of a few individuals desire to do harm to others or themselves, the freedom that we enjoy is to dependant upon that right to ever give it up.

 

[hopelessjoe]

as long as your father isn't trying to force his anti-gun
beliefs on you

We got over the gun-anti gun owner arguement years ago.

He won't own them and I refuse not to own them. Case closed.

It is just kind of odd that my father recognizes that owning a gun may save him from an evil perp, but he just resigns his fate to a realization that he feels that when god decides it is his time to go it won't matter if he has a gun or not.

I see where he is coming from, but I won't give up my firearms!

 

[foob]

I'm confused, so is the AARP actively working towards banning senior citizens from owning firearms? Or do they just state that they think senior citizens should choose not to own firearms due to suicide risk.

Because if it is the second, kind of weird for your father to respect other people's views on firearm ownership, yet feel that an organization cannot express a view on it too.

How are they opposing firearm ownership for senior citizens? Is congress getting lobbied by them about this? Are they kicking out members that own firearms?

 

[bakert]

Confused?? Don't know about your father or his age but mine at 87 yrs old and a Marine Corps veteran of the Pacific in WWII is one contrary old fart. He loved to hunt when younger but his views seem to change about handguns from time to time and the fact I carry one concealed at all times even though he owns a couple. My uncle shot himself some yrs ago and that might have some bearing on it at one time but the main thing about my Dad though, is that he loves to argue, and I think mainly at times he changes what he says just to pi$$ me off. Although I dropped out of AARP a long time ago, he has insurance with them and couldn't care less about their gun views. At age 69 I'm a bit contrary myself so I normally don't argue or debate things with him. Well, most times anyway!!

 

[doc2rn]

My dad is 67, and while not anti- the only one he owns is the one I gave him. My dad told me the same thing about why AARP is anti-handgun. He got this from one of the call center people he was talking to. He definately is anti_AARP now, and he falls into the liberal pro-choice camp. My dad turned into a pro-choice guy after camping with me and my daughter in the Rockies.

 

[MakAttak]

It could be he's angry about the hypocrisy:

We can't trust seniors with guns, they might shoot themselves!

But we want them to drive no matter what, there's no chance they could kill themselves (or others) with a car!

(Please note, I am saying this is the AARP's stance, not my own).

Of course, do you expect consistency from something like AARP?

 

[ozwyn]

Is your Dad really an Anti?

I mean, it sounds like he acknowledges people should have the right to own guns, and merely chooses not to do so himself.

That's not really an Anti in my book.

An Anti thinks others should not own guns and makes an effort by voting or donations to try and reduce gun rights.

He is pro gun, but not participating in ownership. That's his right.

Of course, even odds I am clueless and confused on this.