how to deal with friends who are sort of anti-gun...

[JWF III]

Get new friends.

My time's too precious to me to waste on people that won't listen to facts. Luckily I couldn't name one person, that I associate with regularly, that doesn't own a gun. Most of them, quite a few.

If someone shows a willingness to listen and learn, I'll spend all the time in the world with them. If they're arogant, and won't listen to facts and reason, I won't waste my time.

Ran into a few PETA out in the woods

If it was during a hunting season, call the law. Many states (don't know about yours, or where you're from) have laws against interrupting a legal hunt.

Wyman

 

[svaz]

Informal shooting is fun, but lure them further into the "gun culture" by take 'em to a competition. The more fun, the more people, the more "regular" or "normal" guns and people with guns may become.


And make the lousy mooches pay for their own ammo.

 

[tank mechanic]

Posted by JWF III

Quote:
Get new friends.

My time's too precious to me to waste on people that won't listen to facts.

I agree with you JWF lll, I don't have time for moochers and idiots. The "friends" that the OP talked about sound like parasites. Put your efforts into worthwhile ventures and you will be happier in the end.

 

[Gouranga]

I would say the moocher part would bug me the most. The rest is insult to injury. I will never recognize the mentality that has you engage in an activity with a friend, an expensive one at that, and then not even offer to split the cost. That just baffles me.

As for the anti part, if they say it is too dangerous, then challenge them. Ask how is it dangerous? We have a huge number of states in the US who allow concealed carry, so it should be easy for them to find some number to support such an obvious position from them. I mean of course you put more guns out it will be the wild wild west right? I half laugh cause I get the same from my father (he is in WNY). It is just something within him that makes him nervous. He is at least honest about it and does not hide behind the typical anti rhetoric.

I mean personally, if they were my friends I would have a heart to heart with them. Do they think you are dangerous in how you handle your firearms? What is so darned dangerous about having more law abiding citizens with guns?

 

[Pilot]

People, especially ones that rely almost totally on emotion to run their lives do not differentiate between LEGAL gun ownership and illegal gang bangers and criminals. The have allowed the media to brainwash them into thinking all guns are bad and even law abiding citizens can not be trusted with guns.

Continue to take them shooting, ask that they pay their fair share and hope the interact with decent folks at the range.

 

[Artiz]

Over the years I have learned to keep away from the majority of my "friends", now my friends can be counted on one hand, and you know what? They're all gun owners who can cover my back if need be. I have friends who are not gun owners, but they're not really ANTI, I'm just the guy with the guns... haha.

 

[Rembrandt]

We socialize with two other couples that are neighbors.....they are the wine & cheese crowd that supports every liberal cause and we're the conservatives on the block. Both the guys have expressed interest in shooting and guns. Been reluctant to take them out because I don't want them knowing the extent of what I have....like the old saying goes, "only one person can keep a secret".

 

[NG VI]

Rembrandt then take them with a few guns at a time, definitely bring one or two "scary" guns that they may think are super rare and lethal, just to show that they do fit into any ordinary collection and are nothing unusual. If you've got a Glock you've got to include it if they think it is made of all plastic. I still had to explain that one to someone who had the same day bought an S&W 40VE, but still didn't realize that the "all-plastic" Glock was built the same way as his S&W, poly frame, everything else stainless.

 

[Pyzon]

If you have come to realize they are hopeless anti, the hell with them. You're wasting time and spending money on kool-aid drinkers.

BUT.....at the rate things are going to pot in most of our towns due the economic and political debacle, it's only a matter of time before somebody breaks into their homes and rips off their stuff. Things will be different then, trust me.

 

[eldon519]

By the way you've described it (I'm only going on what you said), it sounds like you're being pretty intolerant. Do you only hang out with people who agree with you on everything?

From the description, they seem extremely mild in their anti-gun views (more aptly as Zundfolge pointed out, "not pro-gun"), you presumably enjoy their company, and they are willing to indulge in your hobby. It is a bit annoying that they don't pay for ammo, but maybe they don't realize how expensive it is these days and figure it to be one of those "it'll all even out in the long run" things like buying rounds at the bar. I'd recommend just bringing it up.

Of my friends, I'm one of the only conservatives. Most are left-leaning moderates. It's not a big deal to be friends with those who do not agree with you. I could see the point if every outing degraded into a screaming match, but even if it's a solitary issue, how big a part of your life is it? Could you not go to a bar or to the movies or even to the shooting range without broader issues of gun rights coming up? I'm all for spreading the cause, but I don't understand severing ties with good people because they aren't drinking your flavor of Kool-Aid.

 

[rm23]

Well I have a brother who refuses to touch even a .22 and another friend who does not want to pay any money at the range to contribute to the evil gun companies (though she will go if I pay)

Does she call the evil gun companies 'Big Guns'?

 

[Tom609]

I agree with the slow and steady approach, although sometimes it just doesn't work. That having been said, I would hope your friends have other qualities that made them friends in the first place. Not being into guns is not a reason to cut someone loose. I have close religious friends, even though they know they'll never get me into a church. That's why they're called friends and not clones.

 

[Tom609]

delete

 

[happygeek]

I've got a friend who knows about Army guns and knows how to shoot, but is rather ignorant when it comes to gun ownership on the civilian side. I've been trying to educate him on the legal aspects, cost aspects, all the stuff you don't have to concern yourself with going to the range at work. He's been to the range with me numerous times on the civilian side and has paid for ammo every time (and by that I mean he went to the store and bought it). When we went to an indoor range he paid the range fee since we were shooting my guns. I think he'll eventually buy his own rifle; I keep telling him he should buy a FN SCAR-L. He came out to the range with me just a week ago and some friend of his came along who hadn't shot in over 4 years. They brought ammo again, so no complaints.

I don't insist on someone paying for ammo the first time they ever come to the range with me though, especially if they just shoot 22LR. The wife has taken a mild interest in guns and tolerates me having them as a hobby. Her mom and a friend of hers have both come to the range with us in the just over a year we've been gun owners. I didn't make them pay for anything.

I wouldn't continue to take "friends" to the range though if they don't pay for ammo. Maybe if the only thing they shoot is 22LR, maybe. Any centerfire though, they need to BYOA. I'd suggest taking them to a store with you to pick up targets and ammo on the way to the range so they get a feel for how much this stuff costs. After that, if they don't start buying their own centerfire or at least buying you beer or gas or something ...

I wouldn't cease being friends with them, but I wouldn't continue to let them shoot for free. If they want to continue going to the range for free, they should join the Army.

Oh, that friend someone mentioned who refuses to buy ammo because she doesn't want to give those evil gun companies money ... ummm, she does realize the U.S. Military buys from those same companies? I.E. her tax dollars are already supporting them. Not all of them, mind you, but FN, Colt, Winchester, H&K, Beretta, and Remington just to name a few.

 

[52grain]

Seriously, I think it's impossible to turn them around.. I use to think they may be in-betweeners, but now it seems they are probably 30% pro gun and 70% anti-gun. I spoke with one the other day about CCW in WI and it wasn't fun.. It's not about trusting themselves with guns, but more of, "i think we shouldn't have any guns unless we use it for hunting.."

Good luck if they're from Madison...

 

[52grain]

We socialize with two other couples that are neighbors.....they are the wine & cheese crowd that supports every liberal cause and we're the conservatives on the block. Both the guys have expressed interest in shooting and guns. Been reluctant to take them out because I don't want them knowing the extent of what I have....like the old saying goes, "only one person can keep a secret".

Now that's funny...

A few of the office are into shooting, one of them won't tell me how many he has. Not sure if it's because he's embarrassed or if it's because he doesn't know.

 

[ForumSurfer]

A few of the office are into shooting, one of them won't tell me how many he has.

I thought it was improper etiquette to ask how many someone owns?

I couldn't answer that question. To be honest, I have never seen my meager collection all at once in it's entirety. I keep a few that my Dad likes to shoot at his place and some at my place. All spread between different safes and secure storage places.

When someone asks me that I suspect them of acting eager because they are a hardcore anti-gun person and I typically just clam up at that point to avoid what I feel may be an upcoming argument. It seems akin to asking me how much money I have in my wallet.

Maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Bear 45/70]

"The 2nd Amendment gives me the right to not worry about someone's hoplophobia."

That's an unreasonable fear of guns for those who don't know.

PS: I Open Carry everyday so they know up front what my position is already and I obviously ain't gonna change to make them happy.