I don't actively flaunt my gun ownership, but i don't view it as something that should be hidden either. i live in california, and go to school in san francisco. the subject of guns has come up many-a-time. fortunately, all my close friends are pro gun control. when it comes up in a classroom setting (i'm in high school), i'm often surprised. it is usually the teachers that object the most, and are the most uneducated on the matter. the students there are pretty open minded, and most seem to agree with me. most students don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but aren't outwardly hostile to the notion of owning guns. usually when it comes up in a debate or something, and they find out i own guns, i'm met with a lot of thoughtful questions like "what are the laws about guns", and "where do you go shooting".
Reactions of Friends finding out you own/carry a gun?
- Thread starter boredelmo
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SaMx
Member
One time I was on a bus with a bunch of people, some friends, and my roomate, and some new people. I was talking about my broken wrist, and mentioned in passing how it was difficult to fire a mosin nagant with my wrist in a cast, but I did it anyway. One of the new girls just goes, "YOU HAVE GUNS! I"M NOT GOING TO TALK TO YOU!" I just said, "that's stupid." And I didn't talk to her the rest of the night. I talked to her friends, and other people I met, but just ignored her. She changed her mind later.
pistolman1974
Member
I'm 33 and it doesn't get better with age. Most of my family knows I carry and a few of my friends.
My Mother and I have had an ongoing debate about concealed carry. She was dead set against it. All I can say is this experience is the best teacher. She is now the proud owner of a Smith and Wesson M&P and a CCW permit. We plan to take some shooting classes together. She saw me shoot IDPA and Now she's going to this year.
My aunt said..that there would be shootouts and blood in the streets. I said MO has had concealed carry for 3 years...seen any shootouts or blood lately?
My best friend: why do you carry?
Me: For protection.
Me: Then I asked him why don't you carry.
My best friend: I don't feel the need to.
A month later:
My best friend: So how do you go about getting your permit? I would like to get one.
the list could go on.
I love to debate the 2nd amendment!
My Mother and I have had an ongoing debate about concealed carry. She was dead set against it. All I can say is this experience is the best teacher. She is now the proud owner of a Smith and Wesson M&P and a CCW permit. We plan to take some shooting classes together. She saw me shoot IDPA and Now she's going to this year.
My aunt said..that there would be shootouts and blood in the streets. I said MO has had concealed carry for 3 years...seen any shootouts or blood lately?
My best friend: why do you carry?
Me: For protection.
Me: Then I asked him why don't you carry.
My best friend: I don't feel the need to.
A month later:
My best friend: So how do you go about getting your permit? I would like to get one.
the list could go on.
I love to debate the 2nd amendment!
As people age
They embrace it is my opinion. In my CCW cert class, I was fairly young. Not the youngest, at mid 30s, but closer to the bottom than the top in age. It was a class of ~20 people.
Events happen in one's life that make you think, that can happen to me. Instead of the usual, it won't happen to me response, things change in one's thinking and preparedness is not such a bad idea after all.
I know people who used to be against the idea, now, they are considering it themselves.
They embrace it is my opinion. In my CCW cert class, I was fairly young. Not the youngest, at mid 30s, but closer to the bottom than the top in age. It was a class of ~20 people.
Events happen in one's life that make you think, that can happen to me. Instead of the usual, it won't happen to me response, things change in one's thinking and preparedness is not such a bad idea after all.
I know people who used to be against the idea, now, they are considering it themselves.
fugi
Member
I've been questioned quite a few times about needing a license for all my guns. now of course they're in safes instead of out on racks where everyone can see them and the safes don't open for curious parties. I even had someone threaten to call the ATF and get me in 'trouble' too because they were so offended and taken aback. and they call *us* nuts...
WinchesterAA
Member
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- Mar 9, 2006
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- 870
Upon entering my new job my brother worked there at the time (he later went to Austin).. My introduction was pretty akward when getting aqquainted as I actually had a reputation, and I didn't even know it.
anyway, "oh my god you weren't kidding! and he has all those guns?? he doesn't look like the kinda guy who'd have guns..."
I dunno, but I've turned a lot of people in my work area onto shooting. Some have even gone so far as to set in motion a "gun club" complete with outdoor range on a friend's property just cuz they liked shooting lots of different stuff a lot at the range we went to, but didn't much care for the range nazis giving long speeches about why more than 1 shot per second is bad, and that some guy died somewhere when the line wasn't cold and he wanted to change his target... It was great though, we had 7 guys with us, and we all brought shotguns. We headed to the shotgun line first as it was the first line we came to after paying. They don't like rapid fire, but 7 guys with shotguns is a nifty loophole. I think we made some of the pistol shooters mad though cuz they stopped firing, so we moved onto the rifle range after that and calmed down slightly..
I haven't heard much back from that, but I really hope they pull it off, or appoint me as president/organizer or whatever. They're takin their time and I wanna shoot!
anyway, "oh my god you weren't kidding! and he has all those guns?? he doesn't look like the kinda guy who'd have guns..."
I dunno, but I've turned a lot of people in my work area onto shooting. Some have even gone so far as to set in motion a "gun club" complete with outdoor range on a friend's property just cuz they liked shooting lots of different stuff a lot at the range we went to, but didn't much care for the range nazis giving long speeches about why more than 1 shot per second is bad, and that some guy died somewhere when the line wasn't cold and he wanted to change his target... It was great though, we had 7 guys with us, and we all brought shotguns. We headed to the shotgun line first as it was the first line we came to after paying. They don't like rapid fire, but 7 guys with shotguns is a nifty loophole. I think we made some of the pistol shooters mad though cuz they stopped firing, so we moved onto the rifle range after that and calmed down slightly..
I haven't heard much back from that, but I really hope they pull it off, or appoint me as president/organizer or whatever. They're takin their time and I wanna shoot!
yongxingfreesty
Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,396
i went all out when i turned 21 in december 06, bought 3 andguns from academy, 3FTF. i havent told anyone.
Travis Lee
Member
You had a GUEST in your home threaten to call ATF on you?!
I trust you showed him the door.
The first time a guest gives me guff about guns or any other aspect of my life,
is the last time he walks my floor.
--Travis--
I trust you showed him the door.
The first time a guest gives me guff about guns or any other aspect of my life,
is the last time he walks my floor.
--Travis--
lawson
Member
i grew up in a gun friendly family, despite the fact that my mother is very liberal when it comes to issues of war, immigration, etc. she had no issues with my dad taking us shooting as young children. she trusted his judgement. now that i'm an adult, she trusts my own judgement. she knows i own guns, knows i carry daily, and is okay with it.
my brother owns a handgun. his company has him traveling all over supervising construction. he follows state law, but does his best to have it nearby if he can't have it on him.
my sister and brother-in-law live in Hollywood, CA. he owns a handgun and a pistol caliber carbine, and they both go to the range at least once a month.
when it comes to my friends, it's a mixed bag. some of my friends enjoy guns and own them, some are interested but don't own them, and some of them don't like them whatsoever. we don't really debate the issue. they respect my beliefs and i respect theirs. if they aren't willing to accept and respect my stance, well then we probably won't be friends.
i have more problems with random people while open carrying. i mostly carry concealed, but occasionally i do carry open. AZ isn't quite as gun friendly as it used to be, due to the large numbers of people moving here from other states.
my brother owns a handgun. his company has him traveling all over supervising construction. he follows state law, but does his best to have it nearby if he can't have it on him.
my sister and brother-in-law live in Hollywood, CA. he owns a handgun and a pistol caliber carbine, and they both go to the range at least once a month.
when it comes to my friends, it's a mixed bag. some of my friends enjoy guns and own them, some are interested but don't own them, and some of them don't like them whatsoever. we don't really debate the issue. they respect my beliefs and i respect theirs. if they aren't willing to accept and respect my stance, well then we probably won't be friends.
i have more problems with random people while open carrying. i mostly carry concealed, but occasionally i do carry open. AZ isn't quite as gun friendly as it used to be, due to the large numbers of people moving here from other states.
CajunBass
Member
It's never occured to me to give a hoot one way or the other about what people think of my guns, or of me carrying one. If they object, well that's just too bad. They'll either get over it, or they won't.
DaltonSpringfield
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
- Messages
- 52
Dear old Granny
There are very few who know what I own, and even fewer who know I carry.
I was raised by my grandparents and firearms were never discussed beyond the basic safety lecture "don't touch them." My Grandmother "isn't against guns, just not in THIS house". This past Christmas, my Grandmother invited my wife and I to stay at her home over the holiday, "so we don't have to stay at that dirty truckstop or pay the *ethnic comment deleted* for a motel room." Out of respect for her, I felt a duty to inform her about my carry before I brought it into her home. Surprisingly she did not object. After the rest of the relatives left we had a conversation about my need to carry. I went online and pulled up a few statistics about crimes against truckers and statistics for the places I frequented most. It didn't take long for her to agree I should carry. I know my secret is safe with her. I doubt Grandma will ever change her mind about her own home no matter how hard I try, but I managed to change her mind about me.
Dalton
There are very few who know what I own, and even fewer who know I carry.
I was raised by my grandparents and firearms were never discussed beyond the basic safety lecture "don't touch them." My Grandmother "isn't against guns, just not in THIS house". This past Christmas, my Grandmother invited my wife and I to stay at her home over the holiday, "so we don't have to stay at that dirty truckstop or pay the *ethnic comment deleted* for a motel room." Out of respect for her, I felt a duty to inform her about my carry before I brought it into her home. Surprisingly she did not object. After the rest of the relatives left we had a conversation about my need to carry. I went online and pulled up a few statistics about crimes against truckers and statistics for the places I frequented most. It didn't take long for her to agree I should carry. I know my secret is safe with her. I doubt Grandma will ever change her mind about her own home no matter how hard I try, but I managed to change her mind about me.
Dalton
Some people are that way. Trust him that he has the judgement not to tempt himself. I've talked with someone like that. I respect her for her choice, since she's probably messed up enough to really make a mess if she gets her hands on a loaded gun.
The furry fandom has some interesting people in it. I once posted on a community about guns, wondering just how much of the people that enjoy furry stuff enjoy firearms, and was surprised at how liberal they were. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, since over half the fandom is gay/bi, but the few initial contacts I had coming into it were rather conservative. I suppose I'll have to dig up that post and bookmark it. Most of it was liberal hysteria, but it did lead to the creation of a furry gun community.
Most of the people I've met(through family and church-school buddies of my brother, and friends of the family from church) have been real cool with it. Most are curious about gun laws and such, and I've been more than willing to enlighten them. I'd imagine going to school in Wyoming won't be much different than what some people have said-somewhat liberal faculty, open-minded students.
I'm 35 years old, and although I grew up in a VERY pro-gun area and state, my career has taken me to various places.
I found it interesting that over the years, I slowly came to completely understand that even mentioning my position on gun ownership, let alone my ownership of same was a BIG No-No.
The last company I worked for had such liberal-oriented social policies that I feared that I would be fired for even having a pro-RKBA position. (Our headquarters was in San Francisco, and the politics of that area permeated our corporation, even though it was a Fortune 500 company.
Once the stock market collapsed, and no one was making any money, I felt it was a good time to go finish my Master's Degree, and moved back to my historical home to do so.
Afterwards, I decided to open my own firm and I am the boss. Now I am surrounded by people who-- like me-- grew up with a gun in their hands and it stranger that someone would NOT have a firearm. God, its good to be home again!
But on a side note I have an interesting story for you guys...
My father has a neighbor who moved to the neighborhood from God-knows-where. This neighbor is an unabashed SOCIALIST liberal, and makes no appoligies for it. He is an intellectual who takes particular pleasure in looking down his nose at all the simple hicks who live around him. He tried bringing that subject up with me when I moved back home (thinking I suppose that I shared his opinion.)
At any rate, this ultra-liberal pseudo-intellectual is also decidedly Anti-RKBA, even though it turns out that HE owns at least one firearm.
I know his position on gun-ownership because he came by my father's home one day as I was dropping my dad off from deer hunting. The liberal saw my Remington 700 30-06 and said "I don't think people should be allowed to own those things in the US." My response was that I had no right to determine who comes to my father and mother's home, but I want to be clear and concise: "You are not welcome in my home, and I want and expect no further interaction with you."
In the aftermath of Katrina, he got in a verbal arguement with his next-door neighbor who he completely hates. The neighbor had a crew removing trees blocking his driveway, and the truck drove over a TINY piece of his lawn (EVERYONE'S lawn looked like no-man's land at the time-- no harm done.)
This liberal ANTI-GUN socialist comes out the house with a rifle and STARTS SHOOTING over the heads of the next-door neighbor's crew-- effectively running them off.
The police were called, but I do not know the results of it.
The point? I find that most liberals who want firearms banned fear the guns, but more importantly fear themselves with guns-- and simply assume that others share their lack of self-control.
I think if I have to speak to him again I will ask for a show of hands of who is against the RKBA, and then get a show of hands of who has had a firearms violation against them....
There are really some sad, sad, hypocritical, people in this world.
-- John
I found it interesting that over the years, I slowly came to completely understand that even mentioning my position on gun ownership, let alone my ownership of same was a BIG No-No.
The last company I worked for had such liberal-oriented social policies that I feared that I would be fired for even having a pro-RKBA position. (Our headquarters was in San Francisco, and the politics of that area permeated our corporation, even though it was a Fortune 500 company.
Once the stock market collapsed, and no one was making any money, I felt it was a good time to go finish my Master's Degree, and moved back to my historical home to do so.
Afterwards, I decided to open my own firm and I am the boss. Now I am surrounded by people who-- like me-- grew up with a gun in their hands and it stranger that someone would NOT have a firearm. God, its good to be home again!
But on a side note I have an interesting story for you guys...
My father has a neighbor who moved to the neighborhood from God-knows-where. This neighbor is an unabashed SOCIALIST liberal, and makes no appoligies for it. He is an intellectual who takes particular pleasure in looking down his nose at all the simple hicks who live around him. He tried bringing that subject up with me when I moved back home (thinking I suppose that I shared his opinion.)
At any rate, this ultra-liberal pseudo-intellectual is also decidedly Anti-RKBA, even though it turns out that HE owns at least one firearm.
I know his position on gun-ownership because he came by my father's home one day as I was dropping my dad off from deer hunting. The liberal saw my Remington 700 30-06 and said "I don't think people should be allowed to own those things in the US." My response was that I had no right to determine who comes to my father and mother's home, but I want to be clear and concise: "You are not welcome in my home, and I want and expect no further interaction with you."
In the aftermath of Katrina, he got in a verbal arguement with his next-door neighbor who he completely hates. The neighbor had a crew removing trees blocking his driveway, and the truck drove over a TINY piece of his lawn (EVERYONE'S lawn looked like no-man's land at the time-- no harm done.)
This liberal ANTI-GUN socialist comes out the house with a rifle and STARTS SHOOTING over the heads of the next-door neighbor's crew-- effectively running them off.
The police were called, but I do not know the results of it.
The point? I find that most liberals who want firearms banned fear the guns, but more importantly fear themselves with guns-- and simply assume that others share their lack of self-control.
I think if I have to speak to him again I will ask for a show of hands of who is against the RKBA, and then get a show of hands of who has had a firearms violation against them....
There are really some sad, sad, hypocritical, people in this world.
-- John
peacemaker45
Member
Dalton, you should have reminded me about your granny. It's at least a little impolite to carry in someone's house if they don't want guns in it. I forgot that she wasn't really a fan.
Anyhow, most of my friends are shooters. My family is a little more schiziod, though. On Dad's side of things, everyone has guns, shoots guns, and the men carry guns. I think that two of my cousins' wives are going for their CCWs this year as well. On my Mom's side, well, it ain't quite so. Mom, her mother, and sister are anti, to one degree or another. My uncle is a vet, and has taken his son shooting a few times, with friends' guns, but bows to his rabid anti wife's wishes about guns at home.
Co-workers are about the same, the males all seem to be shooters, and the females anti, to one degree or another. It's a pretty well known fact that I carry, since the boss and I had an informal ballistics comparison recently. Stepped out back and opened up on a bunch of rejected watermelons. (company is extremely rural. out back lands you in either a woods or cornfield.) Anyhow, after drawing quite an audience, we established that 9MMs carry more rounds than .45s because they NEED more.
Haven't had much luck with ex-girlfriends.
~~~Mat
Anyhow, most of my friends are shooters. My family is a little more schiziod, though. On Dad's side of things, everyone has guns, shoots guns, and the men carry guns. I think that two of my cousins' wives are going for their CCWs this year as well. On my Mom's side, well, it ain't quite so. Mom, her mother, and sister are anti, to one degree or another. My uncle is a vet, and has taken his son shooting a few times, with friends' guns, but bows to his rabid anti wife's wishes about guns at home.
Co-workers are about the same, the males all seem to be shooters, and the females anti, to one degree or another. It's a pretty well known fact that I carry, since the boss and I had an informal ballistics comparison recently. Stepped out back and opened up on a bunch of rejected watermelons. (company is extremely rural. out back lands you in either a woods or cornfield.) Anyhow, after drawing quite an audience, we established that 9MMs carry more rounds than .45s because they NEED more.
Haven't had much luck with ex-girlfriends.
~~~Mat
DaltonSpringfield
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
- Messages
- 52
No worries
Strangely enough, she has known YOU carry longer than she has known I do. You were actually how the topic came around to my carry. Granny's words exactly "Well, at least he's not leaving it in the car where some punk can steal it". I think your safe.
boredelmo
member
Wow, I'm glad a lot of people had something to share.
brentwal
Member
What happens is something on this order.
I pull out my CCW and shot at the target, THEY pull out their CCW a shot a target.
I get out my AR,FAL,AK,SKS......,THEY get their alphabet soup rifle out.
Friends don't let friends be antis.
I pull out my CCW and shot at the target, THEY pull out their CCW a shot a target.
I get out my AR,FAL,AK,SKS......,THEY get their alphabet soup rifle out.
Friends don't let friends be antis.
yardism
Member
I live in CA and don't have too much of a social circle. Whenever the subject comes up at work, I usually take it as an opportunity to try and educate someone.
My boss : ALL guns are "assault weapons"
Co-worker1 : Looks at me like he thinks I might try to kill him
Co-worker2 : Doesn't know anything about them, but doesn't seem to give a hoot one way or the other.
Co-worker3 : Is naive, but teachable.
When I lived in Alabama, it was different to say the least.
My boss : ALL guns are "assault weapons"
Co-worker1 : Looks at me like he thinks I might try to kill him
Co-worker2 : Doesn't know anything about them, but doesn't seem to give a hoot one way or the other.
Co-worker3 : Is naive, but teachable.
When I lived in Alabama, it was different to say the least.
thexrayboy
Member
Another possible reply to the above is....."It's entirely possible that I am better with a gun than a cop"...
fattsgalore
Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
- Messages
- 364
Most my family knows i own a firearm but hasn't and never will see it. Out of respect of course. All my close friends own; have owned; or will own. They understand why i have it and they know I'm responsible. My brother and sister been to the range with me and my sister plans on getting a piece. She was mugged right outside of our home. And i don't live in the ghetto. I live in the burbs.(she kicked the assailant in the balls and dipped, no victims in my family) Tells you something about the state our world is in. She decided to get a pistol after she had her baby, she got all maternal an ****. Mother lion type.
If i ride with a particular friend he's paranoid about getting pulled over with it on me, so I lie to him.(He's a felon) People want to hold it. I own a Glock23 so the answer is "This thing don't have a safety on it." Or they say crap like "Just take out the bullets." I personally don't feel comfortable handing my gun out, Period
Another gripe is when they doubt if it's real. Happened when i first bought the Glock. A friends girl asked "Is that real?" I wanted to pop a round in her house to prove a point. (I really wouldn't do that though) And when my shooting buddy shows people his Hi-Point .40 carbine. "Thats not real thats a BB gun." Again with the proving them.
And what pisses me off the most is people want to shoot but don't break bread when it comes time. They think this crap is cheap.
If i ride with a particular friend he's paranoid about getting pulled over with it on me, so I lie to him.(He's a felon) People want to hold it. I own a Glock23 so the answer is "This thing don't have a safety on it." Or they say crap like "Just take out the bullets." I personally don't feel comfortable handing my gun out, Period
Another gripe is when they doubt if it's real. Happened when i first bought the Glock. A friends girl asked "Is that real?" I wanted to pop a round in her house to prove a point. (I really wouldn't do that though) And when my shooting buddy shows people his Hi-Point .40 carbine. "Thats not real thats a BB gun." Again with the proving them.
And what pisses me off the most is people want to shoot but don't break bread when it comes time. They think this crap is cheap.
Lamb of Gun
Member
Some people get it whether they're into guns or not. Other people think it's a reckless hobby that I have. It's really annoying when people think I'ts a joke. It's a hobby just like music, cars, photography, etc.
RemingtonFreak870
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2007
- Messages
- 70
I get that a lot being 21. People always think I need a license or that I need all my guns to be registered or licensed...but I inform them of the law and they are usually surprised.
michiganfan
Member
Some are envious, some are uncomfortable, and most just dont care .
Donut
Member
Wow, that's no fun. Our work actually paid for 16 of us to go to the range, bought ammo for those with those with personal weapons, and rented a couple handguns. My boss had a couple rifles sitting in his office for a few months. Of course, this is the same company that used to let us blow off steam by playing "Hostile Workplace Environment" with airsoft during the business day. So that has to tell you something.
I know one of my closest friends would probably have a conniption if she knew I owned a firearm of ANY sort. Some of my family knows, some don't, all for different reasons. My mom is slowly coming around. I'm trying to convince her to get her HSC, and she seems receptive so far.
I was talking to someone
a while back and we were talking about guns and stuff. At one point in the conversation I said, "too bad silencers are hard to get" He gives me this wide eyed look and says, "what, are you planning on killing someone?!" I reply, "What if I feel like practicing in my backyard at night after work without waking up the neighborhood?!" Too bad he did not agree with the right to bear arms for the common man.. He served in our military too.
a while back and we were talking about guns and stuff. At one point in the conversation I said, "too bad silencers are hard to get" He gives me this wide eyed look and says, "what, are you planning on killing someone?!" I reply, "What if I feel like practicing in my backyard at night after work without waking up the neighborhood?!" Too bad he did not agree with the right to bear arms for the common man..
He served in our military too.- Status
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