Funny,
I was in a similar argument with my parents and more specifically with my father, yesterday evening. Although our argument was not about whether or not they would allow us (me and my brother, he is 18, I'm 21) to buy a gun for plinking and target shooting. A .22 rifle or something. Because we KNOW we will never have their permission. They are just too stubborn about this (and have every right to).
However, yesterday evening I was trying to launch a discussion about why they had something against guns. They didn’t seem to base their “no” on anything, and I would have liked to know their reasoning. Because, although young adults as my brother and I tend to think we know everything better than our parents, our parents do have the advantage of experience. And therefore, they might have a logic or reasoning not yet understood by us...
Although I cannot remember too much from the discussion, because it became quickly very heated, when I asked my father directly, what he had against guns, he said the following: “What are guns made for? I will tell you, their only purpose is to kill, to destroy. Therefore I can never accept this in my house, or have anything to do with it.” Now, I can hear you all thinking that my father/family is one of those families not willing to accept that the meat from the butcher does not come from some tree. Well, you wouldn’t be farther from the truth. We actually own animals, that we kill and clean ourselves, but apparently, using a gun to shoot an animal is too much...
Another thing he said was the following, and you won’t like this: “People buy guns for two reasons, either to kill, for example when out hunting, or either to have sense of power, to feel better than another person.” Well, I really couldn’t say anything by now. Cause either I’m a barbaric madman, ready for destruction, or I’m a two-bit loser on a power trip.
To finish off, they gave an example, trying to change my view upon gun ownership: “What if, some time in the future, when you have your own kids and a wife and you do decide to buy a gun. Or even a couple of guns, and you always treat them with care, lock them away and use all safety precautions, just like you are telling us you would do. And some day, your wife, who has a small depression, decides to turn one of your guns on herself. What will you do the next day? I will tell you what you will do, you will throw away all your silly guns and blame yourself forever why you didn’t listen to your parents!”
What can I reply to that????
Anyway, as some have suggested here, it is indeed probably the best thing, to never bring it up again. And just buy a gun, once I live on my own.
You can eat cold pizza every day for breakfast; turn your underwear inside out instead of washing it; and rent "Girls Gone Wild" videos every night if you want. Why have a discussion that you know will turn into an argument? Just do go your thing.
