Cavalier Knight
Member
Send them to my website.....smallarmz.info
How do you break the stereotype of gun owners?
- Thread starter jlbraun
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DRZinn
Member
It's faster to say how I do fit the stereotype:
I'm a white male.
That's it. (Though I'm looking for a good pickup.)
I'm a white male.
That's it. (Though I'm looking for a good pickup.)
Camille Eonich
Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2006
- Messages
- 8
I am a 41 year old, white, professional, female with a BSBA in MIS who is currently a self-employed software engineer. I started shooting almost as soon as I could walk. My mom got me a bb gun when I was seven years old and no I'm not gay. I own as many if not more guns and knives than my husband does. 
I am not affiliated with any party but I do vote the issues. I am prochoice and I don't give a hoot who marries who or what they do in the privacy of thier own homes. I am not religious and I don't drive a truck although my husband does. I carry concealed every single day and I have for many, many years.
I am not affiliated with any party but I do vote the issues. I am prochoice and I don't give a hoot who marries who or what they do in the privacy of thier own homes. I am not religious and I don't drive a truck although my husband does. I carry concealed every single day and I have for many, many years.
dodging230grainers
Member
Lets see:
Jewish.
Currently 17 years old.
First person born on American soil on both sides of the family.
Well to do family and upbringing.
Didn't shoot a gun until I was 12.
Alcohol tastes horrible.
Bodybuilding is a huge hobby of mine.
Never hunted and never will.
No southern accent. (despite being raised in Houston)
Not a conservative/republican. (I'm liberetarian)
Drive an Acura, not a pickup.
Do I win?
Jewish.
Currently 17 years old.
First person born on American soil on both sides of the family.
Well to do family and upbringing.
Didn't shoot a gun until I was 12.
Alcohol tastes horrible.
Bodybuilding is a huge hobby of mine.
Never hunted and never will.
No southern accent. (despite being raised in Houston)
Not a conservative/republican. (I'm liberetarian)
Drive an Acura, not a pickup.
Do I win?
Nathanael_Greene
Member
I've found that the easiest way is for people to get to know me first, without firearms entering into the discussion.
Then, when the subject of guns comes up (and it always does), I offer to take newbies to the range. You'd be surprised how many people have taken me up on this. For a lot of people, personal experience with a firearm will get them to realize that they, too, could one day be gun owners.
One of us...one of us...one of us...
Then, when the subject of guns comes up (and it always does), I offer to take newbies to the range. You'd be surprised how many people have taken me up on this. For a lot of people, personal experience with a firearm will get them to realize that they, too, could one day be gun owners.
One of us...one of us...one of us...
How do you change the stereotype? Well, I think Ghandhi said it best when he said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."
So, don't be the stereotyped firearm owner. Be yourself. Be whatever sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. you want to be, and be a law abiding firearm owner. However, if you want to truly change the stereotype, make it known to your friends that you shoot and are a firearms enthusiast--which typically works better after you know them a bit.
I've done this, and I'm in a field dominated by pretty much rabidly anti-gun individuals who base their stance on complete ignorance. Once they find out I shoot, they typically tell me how surprised they are and how they wouldn't have figured me for a "gun toter." Some then make erroneous assumptions about my political beliefs, which I politely correct when they come up in conversation.
In essence, be who you are, and don't be afraid to tell people that you shoot. Invite them to the range. I've invited many people from my work to the range, and many more have taken me up on it than I would have thought (over half). In fact, once I "outed" myself as a gun owner and shooter, many more people came out of the wood work and told me that they shoot, too. We're still in the minority at our place of work, but it feels good to thwart their negative stereotypes of firearm owners at work since I am viewed in high regard professionally.
Nothing debunks a stereotype more than innumerable counterexamples that hit close to home (your place of work, your neighborhood, etc.).
You could even mention that the last president of the NRA was a Harvard educated Jewish female attorney from San Francisco (Sandy Froman). That usually throws 'em for a loop since they think NRA = Charlton Heston and Tom Selleck (not that there's anything wrong with them, but it's great to make the anti-gunners' heads spin by debunking their stereotypes).
So, don't be the stereotyped firearm owner. Be yourself. Be whatever sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. you want to be, and be a law abiding firearm owner. However, if you want to truly change the stereotype, make it known to your friends that you shoot and are a firearms enthusiast--which typically works better after you know them a bit.
I've done this, and I'm in a field dominated by pretty much rabidly anti-gun individuals who base their stance on complete ignorance. Once they find out I shoot, they typically tell me how surprised they are and how they wouldn't have figured me for a "gun toter." Some then make erroneous assumptions about my political beliefs, which I politely correct when they come up in conversation.
In essence, be who you are, and don't be afraid to tell people that you shoot. Invite them to the range. I've invited many people from my work to the range, and many more have taken me up on it than I would have thought (over half). In fact, once I "outed" myself as a gun owner and shooter, many more people came out of the wood work and told me that they shoot, too. We're still in the minority at our place of work, but it feels good to thwart their negative stereotypes of firearm owners at work since I am viewed in high regard professionally.
Nothing debunks a stereotype more than innumerable counterexamples that hit close to home (your place of work, your neighborhood, etc.).
You could even mention that the last president of the NRA was a Harvard educated Jewish female attorney from San Francisco (Sandy Froman). That usually throws 'em for a loop since they think NRA = Charlton Heston and Tom Selleck (not that there's anything wrong with them, but it's great to make the anti-gunners' heads spin by debunking their stereotypes).
Maybe one stereotype...
-not religious, from Jewish and Catholic parents
-biology and fine art degrees
-though i played linebacker in college I have no interest in spectator sports
-Independent w/ libertarian leaning (do not like this 2 party circus)
-not too into pickups, but love Broncos
-I drink within reason. Mostly beer... every once in a while a 40 of OE
-I have hunted before... tried bow fishing once (hard*)
-used to have a "liberal" view on gun ownership. With having dismay to our current political status I reread the BOR and constitution and it just simply clicked.
- there are reports that I chew when playing Company of heroes or World in Conflict
-not religious, from Jewish and Catholic parents
-biology and fine art degrees
-though i played linebacker in college I have no interest in spectator sports
-Independent w/ libertarian leaning (do not like this 2 party circus)
-not too into pickups, but love Broncos
-I drink within reason. Mostly beer... every once in a while a 40 of OE
-I have hunted before... tried bow fishing once (hard*)
-used to have a "liberal" view on gun ownership. With having dismay to our current political status I reread the BOR and constitution and it just simply clicked.
- there are reports that I chew when playing Company of heroes or World in Conflict
Templar223
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 309
The people who usually carry those sorts of bigotries are the big-city types who pride themselves - in their little minds - for being tolerant of diversity.
I prefer to use the pen to eviscerate them.
If one is articulate, one can convert the non-ideologues as logic and science will beat out fears and emotions more often than not.
For the ideologues, I don't waste my time or energy.
John
Autolycus
Member
Ironically your stereotyping big-city types and saying they have little minds. Your insinuating that they are hypocrites for not being tolerant while your post is completely intolerant of them.
Good thinking, huh?
Tecumseh wrote:
Good catch, Tecumseh. But in all fairness, HE never claimed to be tolerant of diversity.
It doesn't diminish the irony, however.
As a personal editorial comment:
I do know what he is getting at-- and you probably do, too. Earlier in this thread I briefly mentioned my experiences as a rural southerner living in NYC. It IS typically those that push tolerance and diversity that are VERY quick to label anyone a racist, prejudice or whatever for not toeing their ideological line. Many commentators have called this the new Liberal Fascism. Its seems that Fascism isn't just for conservatives anymore.
-- John
Good catch, Tecumseh. But in all fairness, HE never claimed to be tolerant of diversity.
It doesn't diminish the irony, however.
As a personal editorial comment:
I do know what he is getting at-- and you probably do, too. Earlier in this thread I briefly mentioned my experiences as a rural southerner living in NYC. It IS typically those that push tolerance and diversity that are VERY quick to label anyone a racist, prejudice or whatever for not toeing their ideological line. Many commentators have called this the new Liberal Fascism. Its seems that Fascism isn't just for conservatives anymore.
-- John
JWarren-
pretty much what I was thinking, glad you posted it first as I was thinking something along the lines of, he said "The people who usually carry those sorts of bigotries are the big-city types..." not big-city types are the ones that carry those sort of bigotries.
Heck, I drive a big truck, live in the 'burbs and shoot guns, most people at work know this, the ones that I don't work directly with assume I'm getting paid for my good looks, personally I think it's the toothless grin.
pretty much what I was thinking, glad you posted it first as I was thinking something along the lines of, he said "The people who usually carry those sorts of bigotries are the big-city types..." not big-city types are the ones that carry those sort of bigotries.
Heck, I drive a big truck, live in the 'burbs and shoot guns, most people at work know this, the ones that I don't work directly with assume I'm getting paid for my good looks, personally I think it's the toothless grin.
BridgeWalker
Member
I recently "came out" as a gunowner to a bunch of hyper-liberal women. They were shocked. I think I blew a few of their ideas about gunowners.
A lot of the mothes I run intoare hyper-liberal because we are somewhat natural-living oriented. Although I drive a Jeep (14 years old; what I burn in gas, I saved in manufacturing costs), we try to get local produce and some items we prefer to get organic. Our daughter was born at home because we object to the hyper-medicalized birth culture in the US (also, it just works better at home). I'm still nursing out 16 month old daughter and probably will until she's about 2-1/2 years old. We practice gentle discipline--which means no hitting and no yelling, among other things. We're pretty well-described in the book _Crunchy Cons_, although do not remember the author atm.
This means that most of our more mainstream gun-owning relatives think we are hyper-liberal freaks and most of the people we know from parenting-related things think we are hyper-redneck freaks. The liberals think we're barely human and the conservatives think I'm a hyper-feminist <censored>. It gets weird sometimes.
But we're just us. I guess I'm a feminist in that I want to be treated like a person, whether in the classroom or on the job, at the range, or wherever I happen to be nursing my daughter--which I do in public and without shame. I guess I'm a conservative in that I am religious (Catholic, formerly [and sorta still] Jewish). I am vehemently anti-abortion. I'm a law student. I don't care who sleeps with who, but I think culture should be more than sexuality-based commonalities. I guess I'm a liberal in that I don't think all entitlement-type programs are bad, something is needed to balance big business.
I've been eyeing this thread for a few days now and now I'm saying my say, finally. Yeah, there's diversity among gun-owners. I think there would be more gender diversity if gun people wouldn't be so weird about women shooters. What do I do about the stereotypes? I live my life and I don't hide that I love shotgunning and am getting to like other forms of shooting.
Now that I got that off my chest, I'm gonna go clean my rifle. All by myself, without my husband's help. I didn't even bring him along when I bought it. Weird, I know.
A lot of the mothes I run intoare hyper-liberal because we are somewhat natural-living oriented. Although I drive a Jeep (14 years old; what I burn in gas, I saved in manufacturing costs), we try to get local produce and some items we prefer to get organic. Our daughter was born at home because we object to the hyper-medicalized birth culture in the US (also, it just works better at home). I'm still nursing out 16 month old daughter and probably will until she's about 2-1/2 years old. We practice gentle discipline--which means no hitting and no yelling, among other things. We're pretty well-described in the book _Crunchy Cons_, although do not remember the author atm.
This means that most of our more mainstream gun-owning relatives think we are hyper-liberal freaks and most of the people we know from parenting-related things think we are hyper-redneck freaks. The liberals think we're barely human and the conservatives think I'm a hyper-feminist <censored>. It gets weird sometimes.
But we're just us. I guess I'm a feminist in that I want to be treated like a person, whether in the classroom or on the job, at the range, or wherever I happen to be nursing my daughter--which I do in public and without shame. I guess I'm a conservative in that I am religious (Catholic, formerly [and sorta still] Jewish). I am vehemently anti-abortion. I'm a law student. I don't care who sleeps with who, but I think culture should be more than sexuality-based commonalities. I guess I'm a liberal in that I don't think all entitlement-type programs are bad, something is needed to balance big business.
I've been eyeing this thread for a few days now and now I'm saying my say, finally. Yeah, there's diversity among gun-owners. I think there would be more gender diversity if gun people wouldn't be so weird about women shooters. What do I do about the stereotypes? I live my life and I don't hide that I love shotgunning and am getting to like other forms of shooting.
Now that I got that off my chest, I'm gonna go clean my rifle. All by myself, without my husband's help. I didn't even bring him along when I bought it. Weird, I know.
elkhuntingfool
member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2007
- Messages
- 393
Never once heard a gun lover described like that.
Me - I'm from Utah - handed a gun at birth and hunter's orange.
I could care less about the stereotype - just proves ignorance on their part in many different ways.
As for me - I don't flaunt my passion for guns and hunting. People know I hunt - big deal. I don't have guns in my rear windows and I don't wear camo every other day. Nor do I brag about what I've killed or witnessed someone killing. In fact, I don't even mention it. Someone asks how the hunting went - it was fun. End of story.
I have just the opposite problem. I can't seem to get the women in my life (wife, sister, mother) to actually GO shooting with me. Oh, they are shooters (to a degree) and all hunt (wife goes with me), but none are big on recreational shooting.
Help!
-- John
My Jeep's back window says it for me: I have a Grateful Dead sticker (Steal Your Face) right next to my NRA, Hell on Wheels, and NC Sherriff's Association Contibuting Member Gold emblems.
These mixed messages must be working. We took 3 antis to the range last weekend. 2 asked to come back. The third was too embarassed to do so, but we're patient.
These mixed messages must be working. We took 3 antis to the range last weekend. 2 asked to come back. The third was too embarassed to do so, but we're patient.
Pigspitter
Member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 614
I'm the number 9 student in my class.
And I'm on the debate and academic bowl teams.
And I'm on the debate and academic bowl teams.
DontBurnMyFlag
Member
I drive a Volvo...
Enough said.
Enough said.
BridgeWalker
Member
Awesome! No NRA stickers here yet, a little worried about break-ins since my locks don't actually work, but wish I had an NRA sticker to match my SYF!
DontBurnMyFlag
Now there's a stereotype...Volvo drivers are "leftwing fanaticals". While diving one of the guys drove a Volvo with an NRA sticker and a Rush license plate frame. A guy I work/shoot with drives a cracker box on wheels (Scion), in the back window he has "Gun control-use two hands" and Bush '04.
Now there's a stereotype...Volvo drivers are "leftwing fanaticals". While diving one of the guys drove a Volvo with an NRA sticker and a Rush license plate frame. A guy I work/shoot with drives a cracker box on wheels (Scion), in the back window he has "Gun control-use two hands" and Bush '04.
Thain
Member
Let's see... I've always liked guns in a sort of "Those Are Cool" scifi nerd way, but never actualy handled a firearm or went shooting until my wife took me to the range with her and my cousin-in-law (female). She was so proud of her "little hubby"
I'm a geek in the most classic sense of the word. Star Trek, Star Wars, comic books, video games, Dungeons & Dragons... Lots, and lots of D&D in fact.
I'm lower middle class, white, urban, and male... But I work in a (para)professional enviroment, attend college and attended university. I'm Catholic, but I'm perfectly okay with the LBGT folks around here, I'm not a racist, sexist, or anything else-ist... I've never smoked, don't drink much, and am... in general, pretty freakin' boring.
Like my wife, Delta9, I'm into the whole natural living / natural family bit. I'm an attached dad, and love to walk around town wearing my daughter in a sling, changing diappers, and hangng out just daddy and toddler. All the Crunchy Con stuff she mention...
I don't like NASCAR, or really anything automotive. I'm not interesting in hunting, despite my growing collection of guns. I'm in the Bill Engval camp when it comes to the subject: "Its really early, really cold, and I don't want to go." I look forward to being a "Deer Widower" when my wife heads out to go bag herself a buck, however.
So, yeah, I guess I break the sterotype of the typical gunowner from both sides. The non-gunners are shocked that I'm not Cletus the Yokel, and the gunners are shocked that I'm neither a hunter nor a moonbat liberal.
Oh, and before anyone asks, there is no way in heck delta9 would ever use the phrase "little hubby," that was a not-so-subtle poke in the ribs to all the guys around here who can't get "little wifey" to get into their hobbies. I can't get my wife to play D&D, and she can't get me into collecting fine Gerber knives... Somehow we make it work.
I'm a geek in the most classic sense of the word. Star Trek, Star Wars, comic books, video games, Dungeons & Dragons... Lots, and lots of D&D in fact.
I'm lower middle class, white, urban, and male... But I work in a (para)professional enviroment, attend college and attended university. I'm Catholic, but I'm perfectly okay with the LBGT folks around here, I'm not a racist, sexist, or anything else-ist... I've never smoked, don't drink much, and am... in general, pretty freakin' boring.
Like my wife, Delta9, I'm into the whole natural living / natural family bit. I'm an attached dad, and love to walk around town wearing my daughter in a sling, changing diappers, and hangng out just daddy and toddler. All the Crunchy Con stuff she mention...
I don't like NASCAR, or really anything automotive. I'm not interesting in hunting, despite my growing collection of guns. I'm in the Bill Engval camp when it comes to the subject: "Its really early, really cold, and I don't want to go." I look forward to being a "Deer Widower" when my wife heads out to go bag herself a buck, however.
So, yeah, I guess I break the sterotype of the typical gunowner from both sides. The non-gunners are shocked that I'm not Cletus the Yokel, and the gunners are shocked that I'm neither a hunter nor a moonbat liberal.
Oh, and before anyone asks, there is no way in heck delta9 would ever use the phrase "little hubby," that was a not-so-subtle poke in the ribs to all the guys around here who can't get "little wifey" to get into their hobbies. I can't get my wife to play D&D, and she can't get me into collecting fine Gerber knives... Somehow we make it work.
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gloucestergarand
Member
Sittin' here on the deck, wearin' my favorite old Birkenstocks, a Rolex and a Garand Collector's Association sweatshirt, enjoying the "stereotype gun owner" thread.... The poodle is sleeping nearby, the cat is sitting on the hot tub cover. Volvo and a pickup are in the garage. Graduate of a historically black college, with a Masters many years later in Hospital Administration. My daggone good lookin' Permanent Resident Alien wife is by my side. 20 years flying helicopters in the Army and two fun filled times in Mosul and in Balad. Hard to figure out, eh? Come around uninvited, and that Swedish made Mossy 500 is likely to bark, or perhaps a CZ or Walther or just a plain ol' Smith. I vote and it won't be for Mrs. Bill Clinton, B. Hussein Obama, Breck Girl or the other likeable Democrats, nor will it be for a RINO. Have a terrible case of Garanditis though....
skeeter1
Member
I don't know that I fit into any mold very well. I tend to vote rather independantly, although I lean toward the left more often. I'm a Christian, but seldom attend church except for weddings and funerals. have two college degrees (Biology and Medical Technology) and am a registered member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists). All of which is my long-winded way of saying, I'm just like everyone else out here. I've been shooting for 50 years, and that's my favorite sport. Hunting is a close second, and maybe when I'm done with the cancer treatments I'll be back in the field again. Watch out squirrels! I tried my hand at golf, but I was never very good at it. Put a firearm in my hand (handgun, rifle, shotgun) and I do better than most. And more importantly, shooting is what I enjoy most.
anygunanywhere
Member
American by birth, Texan by the grace of God.
Anygunanywhere
Anygunanywhere
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