Possible Anti-gun conversion over Thanksgiving

[JeeperCreeper]

I just wanted to share an experience I had over Thanksgiving on how I dealt with family that absolutely detest guns and hunting.

To start it off, I spent two weeks over Thanksgiving with my girlfriend's family, and used it as an excuse to bear and deer hunt on their mountain (no luck). My girlfriend lives outside of a very "liberal" mini-city that is filled with Academics and white collar snobs (it's a huge University city). Her entire extended family including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents lives or stay in the city during the holidays and all are what most here would call "liberal yuppies". (I do not mean to offend, just the least wordy way of saying it). I do love her family, they are nice people, but when it comes to politics and religion and pretty much anything, we all DISAGREE. However, they have always respected me as I have served in the military (none of them can name 3 people who have), I do alot of work for them around the house when I am in (they don't know what manual labor is), and saved the day a few times (saved a capsized boat, helped with car problems, other manly-man things of that nature).

So just because they disagree with me, it is hard for them to denounce that I am a nice person who is intelligent and makes good decisions. So at Thanksgiving, when they discovered I was bear hunting all week, and was possibly going to go turkey hunting in the morning, they were all shocked and almost repulsed, until I calmly explained hunting. I made sure to remain calm, explain my side, explain how some myths are false and that hunting is part of conservation and that I am not mercilessly killing animals to let them rot. What was shocking was that for people who hated hunting so much, they knew NOTHING about it... the thought you just went out, unlicensed, killed for pleasure and left rotting animals across the woods. No wonder they hated hunting.

A while later, the gun discussions came up. I explained I love guns, and that I collect them, shoot them often, and explained everything good about them that we all know on this site. Again, for knowing NOTHING about the legalities, philosphies, responsibilities of gun ownership, I was shocked that someone could be so against something when they didn't even know how a bullet worked.

There is much more to the discussions, but to keep it short, I feel I converted a few anti-gunners because I remained calm and respectful and just stayed with being myself. I didn't get angry, I didn't call names, I just explained my side and remained open minded to theirs. I even had some ask me to teach them to shoot and one of them is the biggest "liberal" that I know. So when killed with kindness, people can see the logic behind hunting and gun ownership.

Just remember, always be a good ambassador and representative of the lifestyle. Stay thirsty, my friends....

 

[SuperNaut]

Good job! Keep your cool and take the long view.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Good job, JeeperCreeper,

Uncharacteristically, I have a short comment. Something I happened to start composing this morning.

When we describe gun-control advocates in demonizing terms, do we hurt or help supporters of gun-rights advocacy?

We may motivate 2nd Amendment supporters with fiery rhetoric, but do we encourage rational debate with which we might win over those in the populace who are undecided?

Lost Sheep

 

[JeeperCreeper]

definiely hurt... I don't normally use the tone that I wrote in my post, but it was the shortest way to get the point across.

Remember the golden rule:

... if someone called me a paranoid-tinfoil-hat-wearing-nutjob-redneck, then it would be hard for me to sit down and have a conversation with them or even want to hear their debate. So don't do that to someone else!!!

 

[NOMI WASP]

A big part also in the environment you grow up in. If your around firearms your less likely to hate them. Many city dwellers have never shot a gun and believe only law enforcement should have them. I remember my dad always having a wheel gun in a ankle holster with random bullets rolling around in the center consol.

Next time, offer to let them shoot a couple of your guns and watch their faces light up. Cheers to you for keeping your cool!

 

[ohbythebay]

Interesting topic

I am currently in the process of building a dialog and going to try and present to some anti-gun groups. Its not about 2A. Its about seeing things from both sides and showing, we are not as far apart as they think. For the most part, we want the same things. The mechanics are just screwy. I don't mean gun bans (no we do not want that). I mean we want a safe, educated, gun owning society seeking to defend our love ones, not seek to harm others.

 

[TomJ]

My son and i had a similar conversation with a good family friend, who happens to be one of the sweetest ladies we know, over the weekend. I'm not sure how it came up, but she told us that she doesn't understand people who carry guns. My oldest son and I had a respectful conversation with her where we explained why I CC and presented her with facts regarding concealed carry, gun ownership, crime statistics, etc. Having grown up and continuing to live in a liberal environment in Chicago, she had never heard the things we were telling her. Because we were respectful and talked to her about the facts without trying to push our opinions on her, she walked away with a more favorable and accurate view of gun ownership. As other posters mentioned, had we been insulting we would have reinforced her negative opinion of gun owners.

 

[J-Bar]

Well Done, and congratulations on being such a good example.

I suspect you will already know this, but on that first trip to the range, please just use plain bullseye splatter targets, at least until they become enthusiasts. Leave the animal, torso, and zombie targets at home! If you can give them reactive targets to shoot at, such as spinners or clay birds, even better.

Instant feedback of success promotes enthusiasm!

 

[oneounceload]

As long as you can keep them calm and not let their emotional hysterics get in the way of logic, you can actually have a conversation with folks like that.

Good job!

 

[Teachu2]

The Unknown is scary to many people. Calmly relating factual information can reduce that fear, and teaching safe gun handling practices really helps.

I try to be an ambassador for the shooting sports. I will discuss firearms with anyone, listen to their views, and calmly state mine. I try to find things that they enjoy doing, then relate that to firearms - if a woman enjoys sewing, I'll tell her how much I appreciate the workmanship of her sewing machine: the elegance of the design, the usefulness of it, the precision of both the machine and what she produces with it, the diversity of machines available. I can relate parallels to firearms in all these aspects. Then I mention safety - how safe operation of the sewing machine is learned until it becomes second nature. The same discussion can be about anything mechanical - cars, garbage disposals, whatever.

That brings about a discussion of gun safety, a teaching moment. Four rules of gun safety. Respect and understanding trump fear and ignorance. When they have the four rules down, almost everyone decides they would like to try shooting a gun.

At the range, we review the four rules before we unpack anything. I usually take a variety of .22 rimfires and at least one 9mm pistol. I uncase a .22, show them how to verify it is unloaded, show them the controls, and lay it on the bench. We discuss the unloaded condition, and I have them pick up the gun and verify that it is unloaded. I have them demonstrate the controls, then load snapcaps and try aiming and squeezing the trigger. We then unload the snapcaps and load live ammunition.

I use large shoot-n-see targets at close range for first-timers. I usually demonstrate shooting first, then reload and have them shoot. Often they will quickly transition to my scoped 22/45, which most shoot with great success. Many will want to try something bigger, and will get a try on the G34 or CZ 75B.

I always end the session by producing my carry gun, showing them that it is loaded, and then laying it on the bench. Then we stare at it for a while. Eventually they will ask what we're doing, and I will reply "Waiting for it to fire", and they will usually point out that it will be a long wait. They have just learned that a gun has no ability to operate on it's own....

 

[MtnCreek]

when they discovered I was bear hunting all week, and was possibly going to go turkey hunting in the morning, they were all shocked and almost repulsed,

While gathered around the bird that someone else killed for them... or was tofurky on the menu?

 

[LockedBreech]

I always try to stay calm and friendly. Demonization is not at all better when our side does it. The vast majority of anti-gun people are not trying to steal freedoms from American citizens. They just want safety and they aren't educated about the topic. They're real people with families and jobs and lives, and nearly all can be reached through calm deliberation. Much like my conservative-leaning friends who were very anti-gay until they actually met and hung around with a gay shooting buddy of mine, it's absolutely ignorance that fuels a lot of rhetoric about pretty much any topic.

That's how I got an Obama campaign volunteer and lifelong Chicagoan to shoot and love an AR-15. It moderated his anti-gun feelings significantly, and he's an educated, successful guy. I like to think I might have stopped a check from being cut to Bloomberg.

They aren't pansies or pantywaists or freedom-haters. They're just people. It's our job to bring them to the shooting bench.

 

[il.bill]

The Unknown is scary to many people. ...

I always end the session by producing my carry gun, showing them that it is loaded, and then laying it on the bench. Then we stare at it for a while. Eventually they will ask what we're doing, and I will reply "Waiting for it to fire", and they will usually point out that it will be a long wait. They have just learned that a gun has no ability to operate on it's own....

I like it!

I may gently incorporate that angle into my next 'introduction to firearms' session.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Congratulations!

If I may, I would say that you had a rather good starting point, having already been a respected person with your girlfriends family in the first place.

Such discussions are generally much better received when conducted by someone already known and respected.

Again...congratulations!

 

[stchman]

While I don't have a desire to go hunting, I have many friends that go hunting.

As far as the OP's GF's relatives being repulsed at hunting and killing animals, where did they think that Thanksgiving turkey came from?

All I say to the anti gunner is the following:

One of Adolph Hitler's first acts when he became leader of Germany was to restrict the citizens to own firearms, especially Jews.

 

[Black Knight]

Very good job. As the old saying goes "strike while the iron is hot". take them shooting as quickly as possible. The longer it is put off the more likely their interest will wain. Start them off with something very mild and fun. Take some ballons and put them on some sort of backing, that way they can "play darts" using a gun.

 

[Somewhere in NM]

Good job. If you can keep your cool and they can too, this is the perfect approach. If one party can't, then talk about football. My father has some pretty crazy political opinions (in my opinion) that he is very adamant about. I just smile and change the subject. Most important is to enjoy the company of family and friends.

 

[danez71]

Good job and a great example for others.

And once again proving that 'liberal' doesn't have to = anti 2A.


There's a fair chance that one of those 'liberals' will like the experience if you do take them out and teach them.

That one 'liberal' is likely to have other liberal friends and tell them about the enjoyable experience.


We need as many on our side and shouldn't alienate anyone.

 

[Leanwolf]

JEEPER CREEPER - "... Again, for knowing NOTHING about the legalities, philosophies, responsibilities of gun ownership, I was shocked that someone could be so against something when they didn't even know how a bullet worked. ..."

I've known many, many people like that, especially when I lived in Los Angeles for 36 years. I've found that mainly, no matter how you try to explain and reason with them, they just refuse to cloud the issue with the facts.

For example, I know a man there who has stated a number of times on a private blog that we need some "common sense" gun control laws because..."You can buy machine guns on the Internet and have them shipped to you by the U.S. Post Office, no questions asked."

No matter how I stated the actual Federal laws, page and paragraph, he kept on with his rejection of truth. Unfortunately, many of the people on the blog, believed him. Let's just say their political persuasion leaned to the far left.

Sometime calm and valid explanations work; sometimes not. Always a good idea however , to make the effort.

L.W.

 

[smalls]

The key is that you came to the table calm, collected, and informed. Good job! Discussions with two opposing sides can get heated, but if you take the time to explain it as simply as nicely, simply, and informational as possible, they have to at least respect you, and are more apt to listen.

Some won't. They just want to fight. Don't waste your precious time on those kind.

 

[ATAShooter]

I have had to deal with Anti in-laws before too. I was called Bambi, Yogi, and Bunny killer. I did like you, I stayed calm ( which was hard ). Then somehow later, the discussion went to the price of groceries. They were saying that they couldn't believe the price of meat and stuff.... I just smiled. They asked my wife how much she spends on groceries. She broke it all down, vegetables, other stuff, and then it got to meat. She said "Zero". They looked at her like she was nuts. I just smiled, laid back and rubbed my Buddha belly.

 

[gamestalker]

Good job JeeperCreeper, I've dealt with many in my own family, who just didn't understand hunting or guns, and any time I attempted to sway their opinions, it would always end with a bitter argument.

One such individual was my Dad, his views of hunting and guns was based on pure ignorance, after all he had never even fired a gun in his life. After many years of holding onto his opinions, he came to visit my Sister and I, and our families. During the visit, my brother in law and I stepped out back to shoot some clays, to which my Dad came out to investigate. Seeing us having so much fun, he asked if he could give it a try, you betcha Dad. That was all it took to break that life long misplaced opinion he had, he was hooked with the first trigger pull. After breaking his first target we couldn't hardly pry his finders off the 870. He was already in his 70's, which I think is a testament that most can be reprogrammed with the right approach.

After that memorable event, he moved to the small town we lived in, and made it a habit to ask to see my turkeys, deer or what ever I had harvested each season.

GS

 

[jrod]

Good job JeeperCreeper!