Welcoming new gun owners

[danez71]

You obviously know more about me than I do. But I thank you for your advice.



Lol, It seems you know me more than I know myself. And I have to really thank you for your "unsolicited advice". And I will kindly ask that you give me no more. Thank you.

Well you kind of open yourself up when you speak on an open pulic forum.

It seems you know the reasons why there are all these new owers... better than the new owners do.

And it also seems that you give unsolicited advice too, contrary to your claims. Just a few post up.


You just undermined yourself.

 

[bummer7]

I can't help but think this is an opportunity for us to help new gun owners we see at a range or at the LGS. Whether our help is in the form of instruction on the four basic rules of firearm handling, a conversation about range etiquette or range, or introducing them to the shooting sports.

Sometimes we can be our own worse enemy if we don't help new gun owners and shooters.

 

[Ernie Bass]

Well you kind of open yourself up when you speak on an open pulic forum.

It seems you know the reasons why there are all these new owers... better than the new owners do.

And it also seems that you give unsolicited advice too, contrary to your claims. Just a few post up.


You just undermined yourself.

What is interesting is how your are actually making my point. Really do not want to argue with you. This would not be good at a range. How about we agree to disagree and move on. Thank you.

 

[danez71]

What is interesting is how your are actually making my point. Really do not want to argue with you. This would not be good at a range. How about we agree to disagree and move on. Thank you.

As you are making mine. Saying 'hey nice gun... is it new?' isnt starting an arguement at a range. It's identifying a common interest.

Sure... we can agree to disagree.

 

[Ernie Bass]

No comment.

 

[AlexanderA]

Actually the third reason you posted "defense against tyranny" is a very valid if not the main reason new owners are buying in record numbers. People are quite aware of what is going on in this Country, see it getting worse every single day and they are concerned for their safety, the safety of their family.

The "defense against tyranny" justification for buying a gun is somewhat theoretical (even though it's probably the main reason for the 2nd Amendment). I believe that when a new person buys a gun, under the current circumstances, it's a direct, personal, pocketbook decision. Basically, they are buying guns because they feel personally threatened.

As for increased support for the 2nd Amendment, I have my doubts. I don't see the new gun owners as political activists, of any stripe. They are individuals who simply want to be left alone.

 

[23tony]

But we should also be worried about why these people are rushing to buy guns. Whatever the reasons, they don't bode well for the country.

I find it interesting how different people read this statement so differently. Some seem to have taken it as a reproach on the new owners, others as AlexanderA seeing a sign of the end times. To me, it just seems like he's saying "we might want to consider what's going on in the country when a bunch of people suddenly feel the need for self-protection".

I guess it's just that we all read things through our own filters, whatever they may be.

 

[AlexanderA]

No, and no. First, if "these people" are rushing to buy guns because they have had an epiphany that they may actually need to protect themselves and family during a period of possible widespread social unrest ... they're just now coming to the same conclusions most of us came to long ago. Second, what's going on in the country sprouted its roots quite a while back ... the fact that suddenly lots of folks who'd never considered firearms ownership previously are just now buying up guns is hardly a harbinger of the upcoming apocalypse. Your statements make no sense, sorry.

I actually agree with most of what you are saying here. But although what's happening in the country has been developing for a long time, we are clearly reaching a tipping point this year. The gun buying is an indication that more and more people are losing faith that society can protect them and that government can be useful to them. This is why I'm saying that this is an ill omen for the future. What we're seeing is a breakdown of the "social compact."

 

[danez71]

I find it interesting how different people read this statement so differently. Some seem to have taken it as a reproach on the new owners, others as AlexanderA seeing a sign of the end times. To me, it just seems like he's saying "we might want to consider what's going on in the country when a bunch of people suddenly feel the need for self-protection".

I guess it's just that we all read things through our own filters, whatever they may be.

That a good point. With no facial expressions or inflections from the voice, it creates the potential for not understanding what the posted says in the way the poster intended.

I agree with what you said... we should be concerned or at least interested as to why but I don't agree with that no matter the reason, that it doesn't bode well for the country. I think thats a leap too far to assume.

 

[danez71]

I actually agree with most of what you are saying here. But although what's happening in the country has been developing for a long time, we are clearly reaching a tipping point this year. The gun buying is an indication that more and more people are losing faith that society can protect them and that government can be useful to them. This is why I'm saying that this is an ill omen for the future. What we're seeing is a breakdown of the "social compact."

In general terms, I tend to agree.

But that doesn't cause me to be suspicious of new legal gun owners. Lol... if anything it makes me think I'm not the only one.

 

[23tony]

I agree with what you said... we should be concerned or at least interested as to why but I don't agree with that no matter the reason, that it doesn't bode well for the country. I think thats a leap too far to assume.

Taken in context with other current events, I tend to think it's an ill omen. But that's just my personal take, as mentioned, filtered through my own personal lens. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

Either way, I agree that we should be as welcoming as possible to new shooters, and do what we can to encourage them to get good training. How far you go with that is an individual decision (as to talking to strangers at the range, etc.) Since I do my shooting at home, that's not an issue for me - but I've had a few acquaintances that I've walked through the basics with, as they were considering their first purchase.

 

[GEM]

I disagree in that some of the next gun owners think government itself is antithetical to their interests and may repress them. That is a defense against tyranny outlook. I see no reason to distrust any of the new gun purchasers' motivations. I might wish they tune up on gun handling but we already know that the majority of owners and carriers have no significant training.

 

[danez71]

Taken in context with other current events, I tend to think it's an ill omen. But that's just my personal take, as mentioned, filtered through my own personal lens. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

Either way, I agree that we should be as welcoming as possible to new shooters, and do what we can to encourage them to get good training. How far you go with that is an individual decision (as to talking to strangers at the range, etc.) Since I do my shooting at home, that's not an issue for me - but I've had a few acquaintances that I've walked through the basics with, as they were considering their first purchase.

I tend to agree with you on this.

It seems like an ill omen. That there are so many new owners makes me think that even the people that weren't ever concerned before and are now... that I'm not alone in this thought.

And I look at the new owners as potential allies. But theyll likely never be unless we talk 1st.

I don't shoot at ranges but I have sparked conversations at the gun counter with 3 sets of new buyers. The 1st was at bass pro and the sales guy couldn't really elaborate on buckmark vs mk3 at the time.
The buyers looked a little lost and confused. I was 2 ft from them... so I offered to tell them some of the differences and why people tend to choose each one. I could see the relief in the face. I told them I have a buckmark but there very valid reasons why people choose ruger and that its a great choice and i almost chose ruger too.Before I started, I asked the sales guy if he minded; he didn't all and he actually asked me a few questions.

 

[cdahl383]

Wow, lots of debate over new gun owners. People have a lot of reasons for why they do what they do.

Im a new gun owner. Anyone suspicious of me? Haha! I just came here to learn. Everyone has to start somewhere.

 

[bummer7]

cdahl383, Welcome! Never be afraid to ask a question. As with any group, you'll find diversity of thought and ideas.

 

[Old Dog]

Wow, lots of debate over new gun owners. People have a lot of reasons for why they do what they do.

Im a new gun owner. Anyone suspicious of me? Haha! I just came here to learn. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Welcome, again. Absolutely true everyone has to start somewhere. Sometimes the gun forums are like the military -- lots of folks "forget" that they were once the new guy who didn't know anything.

cdahl383, Welcome! Never be afraid to ask a question. As with any group, you'll find diversity of thought and ideas.

Ditto.

Like any community, we've got our share of d1cks. Not typically evident on this forum, for the most part -- we'd like to think we're friendlier and more open to those looking for information and seeking knowledge.