I trust you, but not your gun

[Deanimator]

Sounds like he likes you, just has that irrational hatred and mistrust of an object. If you want to retaliate, simply state that he can come over, but he has to leave his car at home.

No, tell him he has to BRING a gun!

 

[sacp81170a]

It would irritate me, however, if somebody put a sticky note on my back that said, "Ask me about my concealed handgun!"

You pretty much already did that yourself. Don't get me wrong, I'm a CHL instructor and I advertise. I'm also an LEO (part time) and I'm known as one of the "gun guys" where I work. I willingly take that on, knowing that I'm going to meet opposition and chances to change attitudes and minds if I display responsible behavior myself. Do I let people know whether or not I'm carrying at any particular time? I just paraphrase the tried and true answer we gave about nuclear weapons in SAC: "I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons/that I am carrying a firearm."

In Arkansas, there is a duty to notify the home owner if you're carrying concealed, so that pretty much means I don't go to anyone's house who doesn't like me carrying. I don't know the specific laws in Texas, but if that's a requirement then you have no choice. Otherwise, I'd treat your carry status as sensitive information not to be divulged unnecessarily.

 

[romeo212000]

What an assinine comment. I have heard of a growing epedimic of people's CCW's jumping out of their holters and shooting other people. I would not be attending their house but that is me. Had a similar situation happen with a comment on the same level of stupidity and that is where I am now.

 

[Bobo]

The anti-gun comments come from a person who is essentially uneducated and lacks even a fundamental knowledge of the subject of firearms. This should be expected and not a surprise. This is why most anti's respond the way they do - just attribute it to ignorance.

This is precisely why no one knows I carry. I don't need the hassle, I feel very uncomportable unarmed, I don't feel it's my job to educate the uneducated. If the subject happens to come up I'll voice my option and try educate those that need it - even so, I don't tell anyone I'm armed.

Bobo

 

[Deleted member 66305]

You pretty much already did that yourself. Don't get me wrong, I'm a CHL instructor and I advertise. I'm also an LEO (part time) and I'm known as one of the "gun guys" where I work. I willingly take that on, knowing that I'm going to meet opposition and chances to change attitudes and minds if I display responsible behavior myself. Do I let people know whether or not I'm carrying at any particular time? I just paraphrase the tried and true answer we gave about nuclear weapons in SAC: "I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons/that I am carrying a firearm."

My friends may know this about me -- the public in general does not.

 

[Kentucky Kernel]

Sometimes it is a losing battle to discuss guns with certain people (who I conclude are irrational or narrow-minded).

Case in point (and honestly this is true): I was talking to a colleague (on a university campus) who was raised in Canada. Very (ultra?) liberal. The comment from her that stunned me into absolute silence was that she'd "rather be stabbed by a bad guy than protected by someone with a gun".

How can I respond to that? I just smiled and went on my way. This particular person, like many others, will never accept firearms in any way shape or form, and are thus not even worth trying to convivne otherwise.

KK

 

[Gordon Fink]

If you want to retaliate, simply state that he can come over, but he has to leave his car at home.

Yeah, I wonder if AB’s friend trusts him behind the wheel of a car.

~G. Fink

 

[BruceRDucer]

Tall Pine's idea

/

Not much of a "friend" if you ask me --Tall Pine

Tall Pine introduces an interesting perspective that I agree with.

The way I think things through, in any kind of crisis situation, ambivalent people are the least useful, and in fact, can just get in the way of necessary action.

When I think of a "friend," it always is in the context of a person capable of taking necessary action. It is as simple as the Boy Scout Motto: "BE PREPARED".

People who aren't prepared, are just one more obstacle for those who are willing to act responsibly.

/

 

[Deleted member 66305]

The comment from her that stunned me into absolute silence was that she'd "rather be stabbed by a bad guy than protected by someone with a gun".

Would she want somebody coming to her aid with a baseball bat? Golf club?

Or is she such a pacifist that she'd rather die than have anybody engage in violence on her behalf?

 

[BruceRDucer]

Deer Hunter's Post

Henry Bowman

I do not disagree with the info you present. And I am not saying we should give up our freedoms. Although I do not currently have a CCL I have been thinking a lot lately of getting one. I do believe in the right to own firearms and also in fact carry firearms.

I also think that some of the posters on this thread...if they present their message in the public arena the same as they present it here is part of the problem.

Here is an example of what I am talking about.

"The individual has insecurities tied to his sexuality/masculinity and sees you (with or without a gun, in fact) as a threat."

This type of comment is destructive to anything we should be trying to accomplish. How does someone make a statement like this? Does the person know the individual the poster is speaking of? The person who made this post is the type I would not allow to carry in my home. It is not constructive at all...just destructive. I want someone who can think straight and be levelheaded in a heat situation and this type of comment to me is just the opposite.

This is not the only response that is unproductive but it is just the first one I grabbed. I am sure I will get blasted...quickly... by those who have made these type of responses and if they get this upset that quickly do you want them carrying a gun around your wife? Children? etc...not me...I will pass.

Also as far as carrying a gun in someone elses home...Never without their knowledge and approval. Would I take this personally? No. Why? Because I choose to make the same decision about anyone coming into my home. Do I care what their reasons are? No. Would I want to talk to them about it? Not unless they are open to it. Would it prevent me from going into their homes? Not unless they live in a very bad area.

If we draw the line in the sand this way do we win? I think not. Only through constructive diologue can we overcome ignorance. That and showing people we do not reacte like Rambo can we overcome their prejudices.

DeerHunter, my friend, I wouldn't "blast" you, but there's a good bit of the BE PERFECT OR DON'T BE mentality in what you wrote.

We don't get to be perfect people, we're just people. If the man saw the difficulty in terms of a Psycho-Sexuality, then that's just his perspective, and "Arrogant Bastard" is asking for open discussion.

I agree that we should perfect a message, but nobody carries a message with perfect people. It's a lot easier to accept people as they are, rather than insist that they come packaged is a specific ethical form.

/

/

 

[BruceRDucer]

What Wulfbyte said...

Wulfbyte wrote one of the finest expositions in REDUCTIO AB ADSURDUM I have ever seen, and I agree wholeheartedly with it.

You'll notice that among the reasons so far listed, self defense is not there. I think that because so few have been in a situation where deadly force would be a reasonable response, they cannot conceive of it as a valid reason. For example, if you use that reason then you must be paranoid, and if paranoid, then you are mentally ill, and if mentally ill, should you be trusted to carry a firearm? If you choose to carry a firearm into my home, where there is absolutely no threat to you, does this not give further proof of your paranoia? --member Wulfbyte

When somebody writes something and states it better than I can, I like to recognize that. There are finer minds out there than mine, and that's a fact.

/
/

 

[3KillerBs]

He agrees in principle with the second amendment, though he thinks it's for sporting, hunting and self-defense against criminals. He agrees a person should have the right to arm themselves if they feel the need, though it makes him vaguely uncomfortable when that person doesn't have to carry a gun as part of their job.

In my case, I suspect he thinks i'm slightly paranoid.

Sounds to me like a very good candidate for conversion via gently increasing the scope of his knowledge.

 

[Werewolf]

He said, "It's not you. I trust you. But people with guns make me uncomfortable."

That person is either:

1. a lying, cowardly POS - he really doesn't trust you but doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to say so and instead justifies his lack of trust by blaming the gun.

OR

2. Delusional - he's one of those out of touch with reality types who honestly believe that guns have a magical ability to take perfectly normal, responsible, law abiding people and turn them into slavering, bloodthirsty, raving, murderous lunatics.

Either way - either address the issue with him directly or drop him as anything other than a casual acquaintance.

 

[Deleted member 66305]

1. a lying, cowardly POS - he really doesn't trust you but doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to say so and instead justifies his lack of trust by blaming the gun.

I suspect his position is similar to what other have mentioned here -- one said he doesn't trust ANYBODY with a gun until he's had time to gauge their level of knowledge and responsibility. That's a fair attitude -- just because somebody has a gun, or even because they have their CHL, does NOT mean they properly observe the safety rules. It doesn't mean I'd trust somebody with a gun to be a good enough shot to hit a threat beside me, and not accidentally hit me, instead.

I don't trust other drivers on the road -- I'm always wary of them.

I think that's a fair part of his attitude, and i think it's coupled with a vague uneasiness about guns themselves.

I have a sneaking suspicion if i play it cool, he will bring it up again, out of curiosity -- and I'll invite him with me to the range.

 

[Scoutsout2645]

AB--
I'm deeply disappointed...that attitude is reasonable, mature and fair and it might result in eventually educating a potential anti- to appreciate the 2A mindset!

Hardly Arrogant and not at all Bastardly!

 

[Werewolf]

I suspect his position is similar to what other have mentioned here -- one said he doesn't trust ANYBODY with a gun until he's had time to gauge their level of knowledge and responsibility. That's a fair attitude

I have to disagree. The guy obviously has no knowledge of firearms so how can he fairly and creditably judge another's level of knowledge or responsible use of firearms. He really can't. He might think he can based on preconceived notions of what is responsible but he'd probably be wrong as judgements based on false knowledge, opinion, preconceptions etc are almost by definition - wrong.

-- just because somebody has a gun, or even because they have their CHL, does NOT mean they properly observe the safety rules. It doesn't mean I'd trust somebody with a gun to be a good enough shot to hit a threat beside me, and not accidentally hit me, instead.

Now that gets more to the point but again - your friend has no way to creditably judge your skill or observance of the safety rules (which he probably doesn't know or maybe he does - I'd be surprised though if he did).

 

[Northern-Lights]

No sense loseing a friend. I'm sure some of your friends do things you don't care for either.

In this case......I think I'd approach him....tell him you can appreciate his concern and invite him out to the range. There, you can show him how to shoot and explain that it's not guns....it's the people who use or mis-use them.

If he don't get it.....you can always slap him upside his head and let him walk home!

 

[deerhunter61]

BruceRDucer

I am not sure how you come to the conclusion that I expect perfection...it is not. What I was expecting when I started reading this thread was feedback from those who responded to the ops question to be more than questioning the ops friends sexuallity or security. This seems rather shallow to me and not very well thought out. There have been a lot of responses that basically attacked the ops friend and had nothing to do with offering intelligent reasoning.

We all have the ability to influence those around us...the question is are we going to influence them in a positive way or negative way. What I have read in some of the responses was not about seeking to find a way to help the person or the op try to resolve this but to simply cast stones.

There have been some great responses and they have been very good...some were not.

The op has certainly given me a lot to think about...I have chose not to carry for quite some time. I have been rethinking this lately and the op has presented some things that have moved me closer to getting my CCL so thanks!

 

[deerhunter61]

19-Year-Old, Gun, Macho Puffing Up, "Self-Defense," Dead Bystander

After all the discussion going on here perhaps everyone that has not needs to read the above thread...perhaps this is why the person the op is talking about is afraid of people carrying? If you think about it the only people we hear about who carry/had/have guns are the morons like the ones that started shooting in this thread.

I did not read all of the thread but I did read the ops part and if it is as he has indicated both parties should be charged with first degree murder and the death penalty should be applied. AGH!

WHAT A WASTE.

 

[lamazza]

Getting past the whole trust and friendship issue...
The idea that a MAN is 'uncomfortable' or is afraid around guns shows a goodly amount of social programming and irrationale thinking. Good luck trying to convert this one.
Most men that I have met that are not familiar with firearms have a pretty healthy curiosity about them.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

But here is my question: What does it mean, "I trust you, but people with guns make me uncomfortable?"

It means that he is one of the Illuminati, aware of the secret power of suggestion hidden deep in the metallurgical structure of every firearm. This dark power overcomes reason on the part of those carrying said firearms, changing normally trustworthy people into mindless killing machines.

He apparently is unaware that the transformation is permanent, and that once you have worn a handgun for 24 hours you, too, will have been assimilated, and that asking you not to wear the gun in his presence offers him no protection because in your mindless, killing rage you will nevertheless terminate his existence using whatever instruments of slaughter fall quickly to hand.

 

[romeo212000]

A "friend" who basically says they do not trust you is not really a friend I would care to keep close to me.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I don't like snakes. I've tried to be logical, but drop a snake near me and my blood runs cold.

Snakes are OK. But change that to spiders and that's me. Difference is, I don't "live and let live." I kill every spider that I see. I guess it doesn't help that I was bitten by a particularly nasty one, but I never liked them.

Could it be that the friend is just wary of mechanical devices? Devices that can fail? And maybe he sees the wrinkles of fabric in an ordinary pair of pants or a shirt something that can "help along" the "failing" of that mechanical device in the guise of an AD. Though he trusts you, accidents can happen. For the longest time, I could not carry a 1911, because I "trusted" double-action over single-action. Yes, it was my hang-up. Maybe this is his. At any rate, education is the key. FWIW, I don't generally carry in my friends homes unless they have given me their blessing.

 

[crankshop1000]

Seems like a good reason to keep your personal decisions to yourself.It really isn't necessary to inform anybody of your getting training or a permit unless you want to hear uninvited opinions.Kind of like politics or any other controversial subject. You got your friend's opinion because your decisions became public knowledge. Your friend is as entitled to his opinion as you are. His request seems reasonable (his house,his rules) unless you are willing to lose some valued friends over your decisions,keep your mouth shut. You also need to respect a reasonable request not to carry into someones home either by complying or simply not going there.CCW is best when it is rolled quietly into your life, for your own reasons.It is much tougher when you try to become a spokesman for gun rights to anyone that will listen.There is a time and place for everything.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

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