Something's going on...

[Yoda]

So, I'm at an office party, surrounded by my liberal anti-gun co-workers, and for once I've decided to avoid guns and politics because I really don't want to do anything except bail out and go home early, but...

One by one, each of my co-workers, plus one VERY liberal Democratic-operative wife of a co-worker, all approach me and ask if I would give them a concealed carry class. For years, they've all made disparaging comments about guns and gun owners (including me), but now they all want training for concealed carry. And they didn't just a vague promise to conduct a class sometime in the indefinite future. They got together and got me to commit to a class two weekends from now.

A few days later, I'm at a Christmas party with about 45 in-laws and other members of my extended family. This is a normal annual event, but THIS time, several fathers and one mother approach me and ask if I would give a concealed carry class to their daughters. My wife's cousin also asks for a class.

And an old friend called me out of the blue and asked what sort of gun he should get for concealed carry. He said he had been considering getting a gun for years, but now he's ready.

I think I'm seeing the symptoms of a general unease. Is anyone else seeing this?

- - - Yoda

 

[floorit76]

Yes, very much. Not in the same way, but I have seen alot of people who are starting to get nervous about the current state of affairs.

 

[guyfromohio]

Not to that extent, but I've taken more first-timers shooting these past three months than ever before. Something is simmering.

 

[Drail]

I think for whatever reason a lot of people (especially women) who simply never thought about violent crime are slowly waking up to the possibility that they are actually responsible for their own personal protection. It was not so much that that they were pro or anti, they just hadn't spent much time worrying about their personal safety or didn't consider that something bad could happen to them. I used to be an NRA instructor and we taught a lot of women's personal protection classes in Illinois where no one is ever going to be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. Yet once a month we would run a class of perhaps 50 women who had decided they wanted to take control of their safety when their husband was not available. They had either had a frightening experience or knew another woman who had. The thing that amazed me was the fact that even though we knew and all of these women knew that they could not legally carry concealed every one of them planned to do so anyway. I also knew a lot of LEOs who knew what we were doing and approved in spite of the law. I was so proud of every single one of these women. You could see a change come over them when they realized they could take care of themselves. Good luck with your class. Teach them to be safe above all.

 

[gunnutery]

I'm sure there are lots of reasons for people turning round to SD including the economy, global protesting and overthrows, and perhaps even congress passing a national carry reciprocity bill. But one of the things that could be hitting home is all of the murder/suicide coverage. I'm only 31, so I can't say if this trend (or the media's coverage of it) has been only in recent years or has just been quite common over a long period of time. But it does seem to be reported much more than I remember in years past. It seems like a day doesn't go by that we don't hear of some little girl going missing or some nut killing a bunch of people then offing himself.

Perhaps this is only a small part of it, but I'm glad to hear so many people are finally seeing the light.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

My dad just talked to me about the possibility of stockpiling food, ammo, etc. He is pretty liberal, I was shocked.

I agree, something is up.

- TNG

 

[signalzero]

I've found that guns and politics are not always mutually exclusive. Good that they've identified you as a reliable source. Most people lose their preconceived notions about guns once thy have proper education.

 

[dcarch]

I have taken more first time shooters this year than any other time in my life--- put together. I definitely feel like something's up too.

 

[Drail]

I have noticed that there are a lot more shows on television discussing the economy and the 2012 thing and the future of this country. It's interesting to see the looks on the reporters faces when the survivalists tell them that when if system collapses those with guns will be better off than those without. The other night a show had reporters talking to various "experts" and someone asked how long it would take for civilization to completely break down if fresh water and food and medical care started getting scarce and he quickly replied - "four days". The reporters seemed stunned. You could almost hear the gears turning in their little heads.

 

[Apple a Day]

2012: elections, Nostradamus, economy,zombies... People are nervous.

 

[wvshooter]

My personal take is that the financial picture has people worried. No need to list all of the problems. They're talked up on TV every night.

I'm assuming having a way to defend yourself and having some stocks of supplies on hand is one way to alleviate some of the anxiety. It probably all boils down to the fear of social unrest.

 

[welldoya]

I've had several people at work show interest in learning to shoot and buying a gun, especially women.
I think it's due to increased crime and the increased availability of concealed weapons permits.

 

[Twmaster]

Something is afoot. I can feel it in the way people talk. The attitudes I encounter. People are scared.

 

[mokin]

"Interesting" times indeed....

 

[Zundfolge]

Aside from people getting nervous, I also think the anti gun movement is dying on the vine.

Its amazing just how much people are manipulated by media and with the decline in the anti gun movement their voice in media is diminishing ... and guns are becoming popular with groups that used to hate them.

Have you noticed just how many pro-gun tv shows there are all of the sudden? Have you noticed that virtually every "reality TV" series has devoted an episode to visiting the range? I think the knee jerk anti gunner attitude in most media is starting to fade.

Guns are actually starting to become chic.

No telling if the trend will continue or reverse at some point, but that could be part of the equation.

 

[bpsig]

I agree something is up. The money and world problems have started to set in and wake people up. The trips to the stores, shopping ,food costs Seems to have jolted them again. The final straw has been many places laying off cops and basically saying your on your own. when not distracted by the bs on tv and papers about hollywood they have an oh shi realization. So many will dive in and try to change. Others will continue burying their heads and deny. listening / chanting to the everything is fine speech right up until the buses show up to collect them for saftey relocation . Just means more people trying to get stuff like us.

 

[Lonestar49]

*The blind will see

...

Besides the due date of Dec/21/2012, and the hard times/economy still heading further south, right after the Christmas/Holiday temporary hiring ends, all one need do is watch the nightly news, read the daily papers, and see crimes of hate, hate you because of the nice car you're driving, hate you because of the nice house you live in, hate you just to hate, kidnap your kids for your money, take you hostage while your other goes to bank and withdraws all your money or else your kid, wife, gets it. The unrest at many of our Colleges, churches, anywhere there is a crowd, unrest is not far away these days.

Besides the out of control road rage and short tempers of many due to hard times, drugs or booze while driving, hell, just walking around us, and whatever crime, no matter how violent or senseless and how lives have been getting ruined over the decades - closer and closer to where one lives or has tp drive past or to and they've realized, finally, a known fact that the PD's arrive only after the crimes or events have already taken place and people are now understanding - one cannot, or should not, depend on one's PD or someone like yourself, those of us that are part of this forum, etc., to be there as well to help them - rather

It's an awakening to the fact of "taking responsibility for one's self or family" has a deeper need to be fulfilled, prepared for, and possibly a close friend or neighbor or someone you don't even know - but you know a/o they may realize, in foresight, that such a person in harms way and there is no time for the wait a/o the wait time if one makes a 911 call first.. if time for that.

It's the simple code of good vs bad and self responsibility in a time, past, now, tomorrow, next week, next year, and on, that may not get any better rather - far from it, and "being to late" has meaning to them - now

*The truth always finds a way to those who refused to see or hear it while they've read and seen, daily, bad, terrible, scary, news events via any news source for a long time, up until "now", thinking "it will never happen to me or my family" or a close friend or neighbor - and now "it just could and I need to be prepared in the best way I can" - enter the_gun SD/HD use and its true meaning we've known for a long time "and" -

As my Godmother always told me - "there's nothing new under the sun" as it's the same today, as will be tomorrow, as it was, way back when, with the founding Fathers and their struggles for freedom way back then and to keep those freedoms each day forward, including today, "modern times". Thus the 2nd Amendment and one's Right to own and bear arms -

OMMV,


Ls

 

[Hypnogator]

each of my co-workers, plus one VERY liberal Democratic-operative wife of a co-worker, all approach me and ask if I would give them a concealed carry class. For years, they've all made disparaging comments about guns and gun owners (including me), but now they all want training for concealed carry.

Charlton Heston described the same phenomenon, with his ultra-liberal gun-hating Hollywood neighbors, who were for every anti-gun piece of legislation until the Watts riots, then came to him asking, "Hey, Chuck, could I borrow one of your shotguns for a few days?"

Still, it's an opportunity to educate some folks, and as others have pointed out, "there's something in the air out there."

 

[Inebriated]

My parents both are asking me to take them to a CCW class when I go (I'm 20). I'm glad to see that they're finally seeing why for the last few years, I've walked softly and carried a rather large, pointy, steel stick.

 

[Fishslayer]

Maybe you saw one of the several articles re this Black Friday's record gun sales?

Here in The People's Republik an FFL told me that Kalifornistan had sold more guns by 0900 than they usually did ALL DAY!

The range I go to is an indoor, sorta "family oriented" place. I see women shootists in there all the time. Not just the "drag alongs," though there are also plenty of those. These gals are putting in serious practice.

People are reallizing that things are gonna get a lot worse before they get better. I was told there were 9 armed robberies in a two week span along Main St. of my little town.

Hopefully enough people in San Diego will want CCW enough to oust our anti gun Sheriff.

 

[Ignition Override]

Possibly the tragedy in CT months ago, where the two thugs broke into a very nice house in daylight and murdered almost the entire family (the doctor/father survived), along with a huge number of crimes repeated so many times on '24 hour tv' are a factor. Even when people feel threatened and some manage to make a 911 call, what call can stop a bullet or a knife?

Maybe that single, highly-publicized tragedy infiltrated those anti-gun peoples' subconscious thinking, and made it up into the conscious awareness? Women often realize how vulnerable they are.

Images of ongoing major demonstrations -violent or not- in some Euro Zone countries, some of which will default on huge loans, plus violent unrest in several UK cities, but specifically, how widespread the strategic US "Occupy Wall Street" movement became, might be 'sinking in'. Warm spring weather will mark another season, with the smaller, tactical "Flash Mob" possible due to cell phones.

On a much more subtle note, a friend and I sat in front of his semi-rural home months ago on a nice day. This is south of Olive Branch, MS, not far from Memphis.
Two guys walking down the road were checking every driveway, and were not carrying anything visible. Their 'look' exactly resembles that of the Shelby County convicts who maintain the trail network at Shelby Farms.

When I left ten minutes later, both guys were squatting at a road intersection, and when one saw me look their direction from the stop sign, he quickly turned his face away.
This was in the middle of a sunny afternoon. Who would notice them strolling by at night? County roads have almost no street lights.

 

[Paris]

Definitely more people shooting these days.

I used to go shooting at an indoor range down the road from work in the middle of the week on my lunch hour. So, Wednesday or Thursday, noon to one'ish. The place was always dead. I was always the only guy in there shooting. There would be five or six gun counter guys standing around (fairly large attached gun shop). That was six years go or so.

Recently I started going during lunch again. The first time I went I had to sign in and be put on a waiting list. All the lanes were full! Each time I go now the place is busy, and this is in the middle of a work day!

Crime is down overall. That's proven. People's perceptions are hard to change though. If someone you know and trust tells you "things are getting rough" you are inclined to believe it. Toss in a few anecdotal stories and you are convinced. Then you go and tell someone who trusts you, and so on, and so forth.

 

[Paris]

Zundfolge, I think you nailed it. Guns are becoming trendy for a lot of people. The media definitely are giving guns a wide birth compared to what they were. It used to be the only "gun" shows on TV were old war documentaries on History or A&E, but now we have lots of them and even mainstream shows are incorporating them.

I think it also has to do with the boomers starting to wind down. Boomers were the biggest group of anti gunners but subsequent generations seem to have less issue with them. Yeah, they are out there but not in the same numbers from what I can see.

 

[scaatylobo]

I too have seen a change.

My brother [ a bit younger,62 ] just informed me that he is getting his CCW.

Now this is a man who voted for Obama and who I would classify as a 'bit' liberal.

AND his wife who is flaming liberal,want to learn how to shoot the pistol too.

I am very hesitant to sign CCW's for those I know.

But three very close and good men asked me and I did sign for them.

They then asked me to train them,I agreed as I want them safe and good .

I do see a change.

 

[JoeMal]

I don't think the (R) and (D) aspects play as big of a part as they used to. And just because you are (D) doesn't mean you HATE and are totally opposed to firearms. Just sayin'

It's a weird place we live in today...people are taking it upon themselves. And for good reason.

If anything, it shows people are sick of the media influence of "I shouldn't own a gun because...". People see and understand that guns are beneficial in more ways than not.