Who here was an anti, or leaned against guns, at some point in their life?

[Matt G]

Having recently mentioned that our number includes some who were formerly not pro-gun and receiving a rebuke of "Yeah, who?", I thought I'd just post a poll. I know of a couple of y'all who came here or to TFL with anti tendencies or leanings. Then there are y'all who came here (or to TFL) with uncertainty and open minds, but certainly no leaning, pro or con.


So who are you? If you don't care to admit that you were once anti but were, you can post to the poll anonomously. If, however, you'd like to share with the class your experiences, please explain here.

Thanks!

--Matt.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I was born pro-gun. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents were all pro-gun. I've inherited guns from each generation.

 

[Quartus]

I've never been anti-gun, but I did have to get rid of mine for a while. They became too much of my life - out of balance for sure. Now I don't have the money to rebuild my collection, so I have only a few - not even the bare necessities.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Pro-gun since my monkey equipment when I was a kid. (Any old timers remember those?) Always had toy guns for cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, etc. Even had a Tommy gun so I could be Sgt. Saunders.

 

[aerod1]

At one time, I thought you should have to need a gun, like in hunting or protection. NO MORE! I now have guns I WANT. I have very few guns because I need them. The majority of my guns now are "want guns". Guns are fun!
I have never been really anti gun.

Jim Hall

 

[greyhound]

Grew up in a non-gun owning, neutral family - they let me have BB guns etc, I never thought to ask for a .22. ( Strange looking back, we had a bunch o' hunters on our land I've been obsessed with military history since a young age!).

At one point I didn't think "civilians" needed to own assault rifles, but I used to be kinda neutral on CCW.

The GF of 3 years says she's always known I was a secret gun nut (didn't buy my first till 11/02 post sniper period). High point since my conversion was when her Pop in Alabama gave me a 870 Wingmaster 20 gauge!

Nothing so zealous as a convert (to anything)!

 

[einnor1040]

I was raised with guns. I don't remember not having one. I was hunting with my dad, with my own 22 rifle, as soon as I was big enough to walk and carry it. I still have that rifle and fortunately my dad too.

 

[HogRider]

Pro gun since birth. ( So I've been told).

 

[4v50 Gary]

Never had ammunition but the first gun I really got to know was the M-1 carbine.

 

[Quartus]

Even had a Tommy gun so I could be Sgt. Saunders.

Ooooooohhh! Only the RICH kids had those! My best buddy (to this day!) had the Zero-M version - black camo and an infrared scope. Silencer, too, IIRC.

We played Army up through high school!

 

[OF]

I used to be an anti many many moons ago. But I didn't even know what that was then, I just new guns killed people and that was bad. So I was all for 'getting rid of guns'...not that I ever gave it any real thought.

- Gabe

 

[MagKnightX]

For about 10 years of my life, I had no opinion. Then for about half a year, I was anti. Then I was neutral for another year. Then I went shooting. I can't believe I really was ever anti, but I was.

 

[Tamara]

No guns in the house growing up, so I kinda over-reacted after I moved out.

 

[Kaylee]

definately leaned against them for civilian/non-LEO ownership growing up.. just like I believed the rest of the collectivist stuff I grew up with. (I still love you Daddy. )

Never politicked against 'em or anything, but had a definate distate. I still remember once as a teenager some relative showing us a new shotgun he had, and letting us try it out. I adamantly refused to even touch the thing.. guess I thought it had EvilCooties or something.

Who knew ten years later when Daddy said "well, I guess Some Guns are okay, but no one should have Assault Weapons" I'd be able to excuse myself for a sec, and return with an AR-15 and a smile... "you mean like this one?"

-K

 

[CrudeGT]

All through my teens I was never a fan of guns. I had a big knife collection though. I was more into sharp objects. I had a knife collection worth about $500 (recently stolen from me when someone broke into my apartment). but summer of '02 my brother took me out shooting with his guns, has a glock 40, a little 22cal, a tech 9, and a remmington 870. After that day I fell in love with guns, and a huge pro-gun activist within my group of friends. got my CCW on my 21st b-day and my first gun then too. Have since helped 2 of my freinds into gettin CCW's and am constatly trying to get more into it. I can't beleive why I was every against them.

 

[MikeJ]

My folks were pretty much anti-guns and I really didn't give much thought to them myself. I always thought that people who carried handguns were pretty weird and a little scary but accepted hunters as long as they ate what they killed. That all changed about 20 years ago when I reconnected with an old high school chum that took me target shooting and I've been hooked ever since. I also very strongly believe in the need to have a gun for protection. I actually shot for a number of years before I kept a handgun around for defensive purposes. Best to all, Mike

 

[geekWithA.45]

I've always been pro RKBA...

Though for a long time, I did not choose to excercise the right.

My Dad was the kind of guy who objected to the notion that "you need a gun to be a man", and did not choose to have any himself, but understood the deep necessity of RKBA, and supported those who chose to accept the responsibility. When I was 12 and started shooting with (not at) the Boy Scouts, he was 100% in favor.

 

[P95Carry]

PRO - from the get go ....... and proud of it!!

 

[Kharn]

Holy crap was I an anti when I was younger. We were forced to move from suburban Philly to the good ol' boy country of Maryland (an hour South of DC, tobacco country when I got there) when I was 14.
I claimed everyone in the area drove an old 1950s pickup truck with a double barreled shotgun in the rear window (in my mind, the locals were the cast of Deliverance) as my main reason for opposing the move.

The thing was, I wasnt a total anti. I wanted guns for myself, but didnt think the locals could be trusted with guns. Now that I'm 8 years older, I believe its wise to be wary around the locals when they have thier guns out after they've been tasting the product of their back-woods stills (I know one of the local deputies, he's got a few stories that are just shy of LawDog-level glory), but I believe its also their right to own those guns as long as they dont hurt anyone with them. My compromise is that I steer very, very clear of the areas that sound like dueling banjos on Friday and Saturday nights, and I no longer care what guns they own.

Kharn

 

[Standing Wolf]

I was quite the young leftist in college, but kept a .38 special under my desk.

 

[Edward429451]

I used to lean against guns when I was a kid, mostly when I was resting on long hikes.

I'm not sure but I think I might have been born with a gun in my hand.

 

[Devonai]

I had some liberal views which quickly evaporated upon arriving at college (liberal atmosphere + rebelliousness = conservatism), but I was always pro-self defense. When I turned 21 it seemed to be the most natural thing in the world to get a CCW.

Now smoking, there's something I did a 180 on. Now that I smoke a pipe and the occasional cigar, I am thoroughly embarrassed about the views I once held.

 

[Zundfolge]

I've always believed gun control was a stupid idea, but I used to assume it was inevitable.

Then one day I decided to fight it (before I owned any guns BTW) and it was then that I discovered that there are a TON of people who believe what I believe ... that the war was far from lost and that gun control can be defeated.

 

[RocketMan]

I used to lean against gun ownership for others when I was in my teens. For me and mine it was okay, however.

In truth I gave very little thought to the position, and had little knowledge of what it was really about. It was mostly a reflection of what was fashionable or in the news at the time.

Then I grew up.

 

[Pinned&Recessed]

There should be a fifth option:

Wanted as many as I could get, but didn't want anybody else to have them.

I used to feel this way. That I could be trusted, but F the great unwashed masses. The stereotypical liberal position, isn't it?

I'm ashamed to admit I was rather liberal earlier in my short life. I chalk it up to not knowing any better. Once I got out of the house and saw more of the world, I took the proverbial Red Pill and became very conservative.

It's like a previous poster said, I'm in college. University (liberal) environment+conservative (leemeelone) values= Hardcore Pro-Gun conservative.

Please forgive me for my earlier sins. I now carry the Pro-Gun (for everyone) banner proudly. No more elitist crap.