Which is the biggest "recruitment" to our ranks?
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PaisteMage
Member
I always wanted to know how to shoot. I didn't have the luxury of growing up with some family member who shot. I always figured it would be good to know how to shoot in the case of needing to hunt for survival, in order to defend my own life or loved ones in a defensive scenario, and because I felt that firearms are something that all Americans should at least have a good knowledge of.
I shot a few times. A friend took me to the range and I shot a Mosin, his Ruger Sr9C, and a shotgun. I bought a defensive pistol not too long later, and the SR22 pistol for working on fundamentals as well, a few months after going to the range with him a handful of times.
Good thread.
I shot a few times. A friend took me to the range and I shot a Mosin, his Ruger Sr9C, and a shotgun. I bought a defensive pistol not too long later, and the SR22 pistol for working on fundamentals as well, a few months after going to the range with him a handful of times.
Good thread.
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22-rimfire
Member
Spending too much time on the gun forums. 
That pretty much reinforces the "addiction". Buying generally starts because you had fun shooting a friends gun, self defense, or hunting.
That pretty much reinforces the "addiction". Buying generally starts because you had fun shooting a friends gun, self defense, or hunting.
JTHunter
Member
Things that go "BANG!" have always intrigued me, from fireworks to firearms. I've made my own blackpowder former and reloads for the latter.
Several years ago, my mother (in her early 70's then) decided that she needed something where she lived out in the boonies. Her husband wouldn't be of much help (due to age) and she hadn't handled a gun for over 40 years.
She now has a .38 Sp. and a .22 rifle that she got from a friend of mine whose renter died and left it. The friend took the single-shot shotgun for himself for "HD" purposes.
The friend doesn't shoot much as money is too tight for him but mother is popping the muskrats, turtles, and snakes in her lake. She had me put a cheap red-dot holosight on the rifle as she doesn't need glasses for distance (yet). She's taking 50 yd. shots at these varmits with plain LRN .22 ammo and doing a good job at keeping the population in check.
Her father had tried to get his "tom-boy" daughter to learn to shoot as a kid, to no avail. He's probably doing cartwheels in Heaven now that she's a shooter herself.
Several years ago, my mother (in her early 70's then) decided that she needed something where she lived out in the boonies. Her husband wouldn't be of much help (due to age) and she hadn't handled a gun for over 40 years.
She now has a .38 Sp. and a .22 rifle that she got from a friend of mine whose renter died and left it. The friend took the single-shot shotgun for himself for "HD" purposes.
The friend doesn't shoot much as money is too tight for him but mother is popping the muskrats, turtles, and snakes in her lake. She had me put a cheap red-dot holosight on the rifle as she doesn't need glasses for distance (yet). She's taking 50 yd. shots at these varmits with plain LRN .22 ammo and doing a good job at keeping the population in check.
Her father had tried to get his "tom-boy" daughter to learn to shoot as a kid, to no avail. He's probably doing cartwheels in Heaven now that she's a shooter herself.
An old friend was a clerk in a gun store in Los Angeles in 1966. When the race riots started in Watts he said every white liberal who had denounced gun ownership was lined up to buy whatever guns they could get. He said six to twelve months later they came back in to sell the guns back to the store.
Fear is the great motivator with gun sales. Fear of being attacked, fear of not be able to buy later on.
Fear is the great motivator with gun sales. Fear of being attacked, fear of not be able to buy later on.
Fear is the most powerfull emotion period. That is the reason people who were previouslly not interested in guns become interested. After Money, and Power, comes Fear, it trumps all of the other emotions, as there is no cure for it. You can't buy it, or order it to go away. It will crush the most powerfull of men, and if allowed can cause men to do things that they never thought themselves capable of.
When left to the imgination, war, rogue nukes, invasions earthquakes etc, etc, this end of days scenario with zombies actually is causing much of this. the easiest thing a confused person can do is go buy a gun.To many it seems like the logical thing to do. Like these shows and movies that are everyware now. This is a fairlly new phenomenon, it is a self fulfilling profecy. If enough people believe something they will cause it to occur.
Having a gun just gives some people a feeling that they are now prepared for what comes, thus the recruitment to guns, not necessarily to my ranks, as I have been a gun person who carried a gun for 43 years.So it's not a fad for me, nor do I believe that a gun will help if a serious disaster occurs, "but it can't hurt". The new "jump on the gun bandwagon" willl show in a few years to be a fad, for all but the few who trully are outdoorsmen and collectors, and shooters of various discplines. Not the weekend warrior, who buys whatever is the latest trend. This is not Bowling. I see some good deals in the future once the disenchanted loose interest.
Right now it's fear that is the motivater.
When left to the imgination, war, rogue nukes, invasions earthquakes etc, etc, this end of days scenario with zombies actually is causing much of this. the easiest thing a confused person can do is go buy a gun.To many it seems like the logical thing to do. Like these shows and movies that are everyware now. This is a fairlly new phenomenon, it is a self fulfilling profecy. If enough people believe something they will cause it to occur.
Having a gun just gives some people a feeling that they are now prepared for what comes, thus the recruitment to guns, not necessarily to my ranks, as I have been a gun person who carried a gun for 43 years.So it's not a fad for me, nor do I believe that a gun will help if a serious disaster occurs, "but it can't hurt". The new "jump on the gun bandwagon" willl show in a few years to be a fad, for all but the few who trully are outdoorsmen and collectors, and shooters of various discplines. Not the weekend warrior, who buys whatever is the latest trend. This is not Bowling. I see some good deals in the future once the disenchanted loose interest.
Right now it's fear that is the motivater.
Fishslayer
Member
I would say both. The past few years I've seen a big increase in the number of female shooters and lots of other n00bs at the range & gun shops. The gals aren't all dragalongs, either.
I think a lot of people purchase a gun for protection and then discover that the shooting sports are fun.
There is almost a universal reaction to firing a gun for the first time. A big ol' ear to ear grin.
blarby
Member
Given the number of times I've seen it happen, including the time it happened to my wife.
I'm going to have to go with:
I'm going to have to go with:
Steel Talon
Member
For most new shooters taking up the hobby. I'd guess it was a friend that introduced them to shooting
breakingcontact
Member
I get concerned that many new shooters are coming to it from vidja games (Hank Hill lingo) and zombie business.
There have really been 2 traditional routes to the hobby/lifestyle. Military and hunting.
We should definitely welcome the new shooters and try and cultivate them into good stewards. Can't be snobbish and deny them joining our ranks, especially if they get on board politically.
There have really been 2 traditional routes to the hobby/lifestyle. Military and hunting.
We should definitely welcome the new shooters and try and cultivate them into good stewards. Can't be snobbish and deny them joining our ranks, especially if they get on board politically.
Nushif
Member
I'm confused by this. You're worried people are coming on board from outside of your two traditional sources but you want them to?
breakingcontact
Member
You're confused. I'm concerned (not worried).
Why am I concerned. I think many of the video gamers and zombie hunters are living out their games. That's cause for concern.
The military and hunting traditions teach respect for firearms. They are tools not toys to me.
Either way. Consider my whole post. I want the new comers to learn the respect and safe handing of firearms. They can teach me about zombies and Call of Duty.
Why am I concerned. I think many of the video gamers and zombie hunters are living out their games. That's cause for concern.
The military and hunting traditions teach respect for firearms. They are tools not toys to me.
Either way. Consider my whole post. I want the new comers to learn the respect and safe handing of firearms. They can teach me about zombies and Call of Duty.
Ragnar Danneskjold
Member
I think you're dreadfully wrong and would wager you don't personally know very many video game players.
breakingcontact
Member
Eh. Its all good. I enjoy a video game now and again but I'm not a "gamer". More importantly consider the overall sentiment of the post(s). People are joining the gun culture from non traditional backgrounds. That's OK. Lets bring them properly onboard and be glad to add them to out ranks.
9MMare
Member
Neither one here
I grew up in a gun-neutral family (with no guns) and eventually, after buying farm property and being around more gun supportive people, decided looking into a hand gun for SD was a good idea. So I took a ladies class, rented a bunch of guns at the range, enjoyed myself, and got my CC.
Oh...and I'm a Democrat and liberal (albeit a rather conservative one)
I grew up in a gun-neutral family (with no guns) and eventually, after buying farm property and being around more gun supportive people, decided looking into a hand gun for SD was a good idea. So I took a ladies class, rented a bunch of guns at the range, enjoyed myself, and got my CC.
Oh...and I'm a Democrat and liberal (albeit a rather conservative one)
Considering most of the first-person shooter games primarily involve shooting people, I don't agree that 'many' of those gamers are 'living out their games'.
Plan2Live
Member
Age - Finances - Fear - Curiousity - Fun, in that order. Because:
If you grew up around guns then most people acquire them as soon as they are old enough Age and as soon as they can afford to own them Finances. If you didnt' grow up with them or grew up around them and developed some irrational dislike of firearms (liberal indoctronation) then waking up one day and realizing how dangerous the world really is or having your own close call with danger Fear will drive you to embrace firearms. Aside from the two reasons detailed above then I would say the next factors bringing people into the fold is simply Curiousity followed by Fun once people discover just how much fun a day at the range can be.
I was at the range this weekend and thanked a dad for his actions. He had his children out shooting. The youngest was a little girl about 5 years old. Under her dad's very watchful eye she fired a .22 rifle and a .22 1911 and did a fine job with both. When not shooting she stood back and either watched her siblings or picked up brass. she seemed to particularly like the kitty litter scoop and left the range in much better shaped than she found it.
If you grew up around guns then most people acquire them as soon as they are old enough Age and as soon as they can afford to own them Finances. If you didnt' grow up with them or grew up around them and developed some irrational dislike of firearms (liberal indoctronation) then waking up one day and realizing how dangerous the world really is or having your own close call with danger Fear will drive you to embrace firearms. Aside from the two reasons detailed above then I would say the next factors bringing people into the fold is simply Curiousity followed by Fun once people discover just how much fun a day at the range can be.
I was at the range this weekend and thanked a dad for his actions. He had his children out shooting. The youngest was a little girl about 5 years old. Under her dad's very watchful eye she fired a .22 rifle and a .22 1911 and did a fine job with both. When not shooting she stood back and either watched her siblings or picked up brass. she seemed to particularly like the kitty litter scoop and left the range in much better shaped than she found it.
You know, I love hearing the stories about how folks got into shooting. Yes, there are a few common denominators, and that analysis is useful. But, as far as the most common method? When I thought a moment about it, I decided...that I don't care. That's right.
There are opportunities all around us. We can talk to people. We can take people shooting. We can have good conversations at the range with new people, and make sure they enjoy that trip. We can even just LISTEN. So...as long as we keep bringing more folks into the fold, I kind of don't care how they get there.
That's right.There are opportunities all around us. We can talk to people. We can take people shooting. We can have good conversations at the range with new people, and make sure they enjoy that trip. We can even just LISTEN. So...as long as we keep bringing more folks into the fold, I kind of don't care how they get there.
Nushif
Member
Since we can't "upvote" posts I'd say this is spot on. But about this ongoing trend of fear leading people to buy a gun, when I bought my first gun out of fear ... it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't something I wanted to do and I really didn't feel at ease with having it.
It wasn't until I shot a handgun that I enjoyed shooting. so I question whether it's valuable to have people to our community our of fear. Maybe that's why we're so unpopular supposedly? Because instead of an initial exposure of fun, we get a big ol' dose of fear in our new guys?
jtischauser
Member
Obama is a big right now. Everyone I know that is a "gun guy" is buying a gun in fear of more anti gun legislation.
Next up is hunting.
Next up is self defense.
I wish more people shot competitions like 3 gun.
Next up is hunting.
Next up is self defense.
I wish more people shot competitions like 3 gun.
mljdeckard
Member
I think that if all you have is a bad experience, with no further mentoring or training, the desire will go away. People who are new to guns must be shown that they do have the ability to use it correctly. So, I think that the good range day AFTER the bad experience is just as important. If you have a young woman who has a bad experience of some degree, and the only one who can help her is her fat uncle Lou who went to half of the poolice academy in 1983, and he gives her a featherweight J-frame that beats her up and tells her automatics are for sissies, then she probably won't come away from that thinking that handguns are a good option for her.
fanchisimo
Member
I grew up in a gun neutral home, but my gun progression went from being a video gamer, joined the army, got interested in guns, got out of the army, and am slowly learning hunting and the like. Loving it. Whatever it takes to open a person's mind to the gun world is great as long as they learn the safety elements of it.
I find the idea of an anti-gunner buying a gun for self defense both hypocritical and funny because of the hypocrisy.
I find the idea of an anti-gunner buying a gun for self defense both hypocritical and funny because of the hypocrisy.
As far as gamers go, all of the science pretty much says that that doesn't happen. On the whole, gamers know the difference between fantasy and reality. They may buy a particular gun because they thought it was cool in Call of Duty (one of my purchases was because of Metal Gear Solid), but chances are they were already interested anyway. Also, though recent games have shied away from it, many shooters have friendly fire which requires players to learn proper trigger (or mouse) discipline and target identification, lest they earn the wrath of their friends and/or some of the more strict admins.
As for zombies, no matter how into it someone may seem, they know it's not real. They just like playing along with it. It's kind of like professional wrestling.
Out of all the gun owners out there, the only people who really concern me are the real WROL/doomsday preppers.
9MMare
Member
What science shows that?
And the prepper thing is odd....I'd think they'd stay home, not go out looking for trouble.
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