Why does half of the gun community want to be "tactical"?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Just wanted to put my 2 cents in, I think a lot of people view the modern soldier as the most self sufficient person today, kind of like the cowboys of back in the day. Perhaps some think they will be the best prepared if they have similar equipment as the modern soldier because hey, the U.S. spends a lot of money to come up with the most 'efficient' gear.

I don't consider myself part of the tacti-cool crowd (w/e that is) but I do have several pieces of survival/emergency gear (and firearms) that you would find in the possesion of a modern soldier.

And I'm from Maine so boots are a given :D
Posted via http://whowouldntlikethis.com
 
Who cares? I used to wear BDUs of various makes and combat boots all the time, I needed pants with a lotta pockets and comfortable footwear. My point is, one guy's tactical is another's everyday dress. As long as people are being safe, let's just play nice together, eh?
 
They put out a bad image to the public and in my opinion they are attempting to steal valor from the legitimate warriors among us.
Click to expand...

If you're a mall ninja then it's whatever. Not my preference (though it was when I was 16 haha) but who cares? At least there's people on the pro-2A side.

I don't know that anyone is attempting to steal anyone's valor. That seems a bit much. If, and that's an IF, you are one of the "legitimate warriors" you speak of then tacticool kiddos on youtube isn't something that should bother you. Protection of freedom is the reward in itself regardless of other's reaction to it.
 
mini14gb said:
Stealing valor should be punishable by prison time.
Click to expand...

Yes, by all means let's lock people up for exercising their right to free speech. Unless they are pretending to be ex-military to get some tangible privilege they haven't earned (which is already a crime--it's called fraud), let them say whatever they want.

Those who have been there and done that (hint--they aren't the ones bragging about it) will always know the truth. Valor is something that is only earned, and can never be stolen.
 
I don't understand the Tactical dress phenomenon. I can CC a Taurus 85B3 with a 3" barrel in the pocket of most of my jeans. I have also carried a Springfield XD Subcompact in the pocket of my carpenter jeans. I don't need pants with a super special pocket that holds my gun and a knife. A pair of carpenter jeans and I can carry my gun, my knife, my cell phone, my keys, and my wallet. I can do it in regular jeans when necessary. I don't need to spend $60 on a pair of 5.11 pants. Black Hawk "warrior ware" is absolutely unnecessary.

I don't understand why people feel the need to dress like they are about to raid Pablo Escobar's house. I run in to a guy at the range, ocassionally. The guy actually has a "daily survival" messenger bag to go with his 5.11 pants and "DOJ" approved boots. The guy carries two guns with six magazines, quick clot, multi tool, "comando" fighting dagger, and a whole mess load of "daily essentials."

Really if you are in a situation where you need two guns and 60+ rounds of ammo, a fighting dagger, and quick clot, you are screwed. At that point you need to follow the old addage, save one for your self.
 
speaksoftly,

I don't ever remember saying that I was one of the legitimate warriors. So I'm not sure where your driving at with the whole "IF" comments. Your wrong about that not worrying about people stealing valor thing. Darrell Young in his book" "Element of Surprise Navy SEALS in Vietnam" talks about confront false warriors and actually really kicked the crap out of guy. If you haven't earned it to sport it. As for me I was just a regular dumb dumb 11B with the Rakkasans of the 3/187th who flew into Iraq back in the early 1990's.
 
As for me I was just a regular dumb dumb 11B with the Rakkasans of the 3/187th who flew into Iraq back in the early 1990's.
Click to expand...

Very well. Congratulations and thank you for your service. As far as I'm concerned, you have nothing left to prove and have earned something that a million mall ninjas can't take away from you. This being the case, what I was trying to say about it is that there's no reason to lose sleep over it.

Those who have been there and done that (hint--they aren't the ones bragging about it) will always know the truth.
Click to expand...

+1 They can try to belittle the actions of bravery all they want but they can never take it away.
 
hirundo82,

Sorry but some of the been there done that crowd do brag about it. Haven't you been to the book store lately. Those books are not always written with the greatest amount of modesty.
 
A 1911 by it's very nature is a tactical weapon; it was designed for war. Is everyone who owns one a poser? Other than maybe hunting rifles, what handguns AREN'T tactical in nature? Oh wait, it's just the clothes that matter, right? "Real" shooters only have flannel shirts with mullets, right? And they all drive pickups with gun racks in the back window. :uhoh:
 
I hear what your saying speaksoftly. More than anything I think these guys reflect poorly on the gun community. That really is my only point.
 
I don't need pants with a super special pocket that holds my gun and a knife.
Click to expand...

Need is subjective. I might feel you don't "need" to carry a semi auto XD pistol, but you do anyways. Does doing so make you any less of a man in my eyes? You should hope not.

Really if you are in a situation where you need two guns and 60+ rounds of ammo, a fighting dagger, and quick clot, you are screwed.
Click to expand...

So, if you were involved in an armed confrontation or were caught in a tight spot, and a silly looking shaved head kid covered head to toe in guns and tactical gear offered to assist you, would you turn him down? I didn't think so. He has more in common with you than a non gunner likely does.
 
mini14gb said:
2WheelsGood,
Its more about their attitude while they are dressed like ding dongs.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, because none of the flannel-wearin' mullet heads act like ding dongs. I invite you to scour youtube a bit harder if you really think that's the case.
 
mini14gb said:
I hear what your saying speaksoftly. More than anything I think these guys reflect poorly on the gun community. That really is my only point.
Click to expand...
I think it depends on where you live. If these guys go marching around in a liberal arts college town, yeah. It bolsters the "paranoid gun owner" stereotype. If it is in the middle of Montana, it is probably different. People probably just shake their head and laugh.

My problem is that three towns near me have mayors that are members of MAIG. So, I feel like gun owners need to be extra dilligent in putting forth an image that counter acts the idiocy espoused by politicians.
 
Mini14gb,it seems to me that you're conflating "tactical" (whatever that means) with people who try to falsely pass themselves off as actual combat veterans or operators.

Given that you've not really defined what "tactical lifestyle" means to you, I have to wonder how one could come up with a definition of the term such that it includes people who are trying to fake that they're military heroes.
 
Well I'm done with this subject. I would have never imagined ith would have grown this long in the first place. Rant off.........
 
Why is the other half so offended by the term "tactical"? Give it a rest.

I am at heart a traditionalist. I'm not a mall ninja. I live 70miles from the nearest mall and only go because my fiancee wants to shop. I don't wear "tactical" clothing, unless 5.11 khaki britches count. I don't wear SWAT boots. I don't carry three pistols, five knives, a SAP, a flashlight and a baton. I don't practice The John Woo Roll in the backyard. Most my guns are relics or replicas of relics from the late 19th century. I think there is nothing better than blued steel, ivory and walnut. My clothing is outdated, I wear cowboy boots and jeans wherever I go. My hat is beaver felt, 99% of my "gear" is leather. I do not pretend to be anything I am not and I dance to my own tune. I'm a grown man and I act like it.....most the time. If I "wannabe" anything, it is Elmer Keith, not GI Joe.

Yet, there is an ornery segment of the shooting population who are very quick to lump me in with "mall ninjas" because I have and love to shoot a "tactical" 10/22. Or because my AR has a foregrip and weaponlight. Doesn't matter that I have a legitimate use for them (as if it matters) or that I simply enjoy shooting them. 'Some' folks just have an innate need to distance themselves from anything "tactical". So much so that they are more than willing to alienate their fellow shooters to do so.

So tell me again, who exactly is it who needs to "grow up"?
 
fireside44 said:
Need is subjective. I might feel you don't "need" to carry a semi auto XD pistol, but you do anyways. Does doing so make you any less of a man in my eyes? You should hope not.



So, if you were involved in an armed confrontation or were caught in a tight spot, and a silly looking shaved head kid covered head to toe in guns and tactical gear offered to assist you, would you turn him down? I didn't think so. He has more in common with you than a non gunner likely does.
Click to expand...
Hopefully my last post clarified things a little bit.

I wouldn't turn the guy down if he came to help. However, I would doubt his ability to help. In my area though it usually isn't the young guys in 5.11 pants and Black Hawk clothing. I usualy see it on 300lb guys that look like they are going through a mid life crisis. Plus most of the LEOs and military men I know don't dress like soldiers on their off time.
 
MikeNice said:
I don't understand why people feel the need to dress like they are about to raid Pablo Escobar's house. I run in to a guy at the range, ocassionally. The guy actually has a "daily survival" messenger bag to go with his 5.11 pants and "DOJ" approved boots. The guy carries two guns with six magazines, quick clot, multi tool, "comando" fighting dagger, and a whole mess load of "daily essentials."

Really if you are in a situation where you need two guns and 60+ rounds of ammo, a fighting dagger, and quick clot, you are screwed. At that point you need to follow the old addage, save one for your self.
Click to expand...

One thing's for sure, if something goes down, I'd rather be with him than you, based solely on what you've told us.

Are you a carpenter? Why would you wear carpenter jeans unless you were a carptenter? I can't believe the number of people these days wearing carpenter-cool clothing... :neener:

Point is, you wear them because they fit your criteria for function, comfort, and style. I'm pretty sure that's why people wear 5.11 or other cargo pants.
 
CraigC,

I also have weapons lights. For me its not about the style of weapons its about the attitude of the tactical crowd and how they look to the general public. I have 2 AR's and I have an Arsenal AK47. I also use weapons lights for going to the outhouse in the middle of the night which I used to shoot at and miss in a encounter with a lion, it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. I did let about half my bladder loose I'm sad to sad.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Why are so many gun dealers dishonest?
2 3
Replies
59
Views
3K
Elmer
E
SSN Vet
  • Locked
Why the great gun rush of 2013 could be a good thing.
Replies
4
Views
505
Phatty
P
M
  • Locked
Why many women and urban males don't understand guns
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Chrontius
C
S
  • Locked
Northern Illinois Gun Owners !!!
Replies
1
Views
444
PCGS65
P
Miami_JBT
  • Locked
Lets have an honest discussion about the majority of gun owners.
2
Replies
45
Views
3K
hso
hso
Back
Top