rskent
Member
Thank You. We all had reasons why we got into guns. in my mind, the current situation is as good as any.
There seems to be a lot of first time buyers
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Thank You. We all had reasons why we got into guns. in my mind, the current situation is as good as any.
I've heard it here, other posts here,other websites. That if someone is buying a gun right now, it doesn't mean they will become pro-2A. One thought to ponder, I would more certainly say that anyone NOT owing a gun,could be more correctly labelled as such.
I cannot claim to be a Chevy advocate, oh model X was fantastic, why did they discontinue that certain feature etc. , all while having a Hyundai in the driveway.
While the amount of interest is absolutely up for discussion the fact that they now own, for whatever reasons they deem necessary, is not. That is in itself very good. Why apply that strict standard to someone brand new, that we do not apply to others just because shooting for several years? The same logic could apply to the following. You only shoot single shot trap Whhaaat? Revolver is sooo outdated. that is overkill for a deer...on & on...
I cannot claim to be a Chevy advocate, oh model X was fantastic, why did they discontinue that certain feature etc. , all while having a Hyundai in the driveway.
While the amount of interest is absolutely up for discussion the fact that they now own, for whatever reasons they deem necessary, is not. That is in itself very good. Why apply that strict standard to someone brand new, that we do not apply to others just because shooting for several years? The same logic could apply to the following. You only shoot single shot trap Whhaaat? Revolver is sooo outdated. that is overkill for a deer...on & on...
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You've never worked behind the gun counter have you? They are very easy to identify.
FFGColorado
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Gotta tell you about a little conversation I heard at a Cabela's about 3 weeks ago..gun buying panic in full swing.
Young lady at counter..who OBVIOUSLY knew zero about guns, essentially wanted the guy behind the counter to tell her what to do, what to buy..
He did, a M&P EZ in 380...she kinda had that 'deer in headlights' look...
buck460XVR
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I've yet to see anyone pop out of the birth chute with a gun in their hand, wearing a NRA hat. IOWs, we were all newbies once, and iffin' we ever purchased a firearm, we all were a first time buyer. In all my years of teaching hunter safety, the newbies taking the course generally ended up being safer hunters than their long time gun owner dads, that brought them to class. So a first time female gun buyer comes to the counter and we feel the need to ridicule her on social media? Wow, what a friendly and helpful community we have here. What a positive image that gives the rest of us responsible gun owners.........not.
herrwalther
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I distinctly remember when I started to seriously consider owning firearms. 9/11 happened and I was in middle school. I felt helpless sitting in a class room as the school was on a hard lock down. On my 21st birthday I bought my first handgun. If even just a few of these first time buyers become lifelong advocates for gun rights, that is a win.
It doesn't guarantee that they will become a gun person or 2A "activist," but they are MUCH more likely to become gun people or more supportive of the 2A than if they'd never owned a gun. If they are buying their first gun out of fear that things might get bad and they might need it, that's a HUGE step toward recognizing that they can't count on the police when seconds count, recognizing that **** can go sideways fast enough to make your head spin, and that you just might have the responsibility to protect yourself and your family instead of living in the fantasy that nothing bad enough to require a gun could ever happen. IMO, it's a very good thing for 2A support that a lot of first timers are buying guns. At the least, they will take the gun home, they will feel a little more at ease because they have it, and they will feel a little more naked and unprotected next time someone starts talking about taking it away from them. Perhaps a portion of them will get scared after the virus panic passes and want to give up the gun, but not a high percentage.
People here who sound like they are very close to saying "No gun for YOU since you haven't ever owned one before and are just panic buying!" are very close to practicing a brand of the very gun control that they claim to be against.
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Outlaw75
Member
I don't think anyone here is saying that. What they're saying is don't count on the panic buyers becoming staunch 2A supporters. They may see the need to keep a gun around, but there's no guarantee that they'll want to extend that right to you or me.
Old Dog
Member
And that's where we come in. Extend these folks, if you know any, a welcome to the community -- offer instruction, referrals to training and shooting facilities, share stories, go shooting with them, share the "four rules," be available. Don't shun them or make scornful comments to them ...
No guarantee, but I'll guarantee if they can detect some of the attitudes I'm seeing displayed lately toward the new buyers, they'll never become any kind of 2A supporters. What've you got to lose?
FlSwampRat
Member
I sold a lot of guns to new gun owners in the past two weeks. I love that they're buying as they see the need for taking personal responsibility for their own safety.
They are seeing, for probably the first time, how wrong the media is they way they portray how easy it is to get a firearm. It just isn't. And that's not what the media has been saying for so long.
I urge them that as soon as classes start again that they take a few basic lessons. They don't have to try to turn into John Wick, but basic safety lessons so they don't shoot themselves or someone else accidentally. Then, once they do that, practice some at a range to get where they're comfortable with using the gun. That's as important as getting accurate with the gun.
If they don't turn into pro2A folks, they at least are moving away from the anti stance.
Ernie Bass
member
A whole lot of guns in the hands of a whole lot of People that know nothing about them or basic safety. Great for the people selling guns.Maybe NOT a great thing for others.
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Old Dog
Member
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Yeah, because every single one of you on this forum all did years of research, learned the safety rules, took professional training before buying your first gun.
Give these unwashed masses some credit. If they're millenials, their first stop is gonna be Google and YouTube -- and some of you guys frequently mention what a wealth of gun information you can find on the internet ...
Actually having a gun is a good first step to learn about guns. While we'll never go broke betting on the low numbers of stupid people in the world, everyone's gotta start somewhere.
Like cream rising to the top, so too does the number of RKBA hypocrites outing themselves on the internet ...
No, I haven't. I'm an instructor, and the only way I've been able to identify new shooters when they show up as students is to ask them.
I'm amazed that you haven't seen people who didn't know how to load a mag or even put the mag in the gun.
Terry G
Member
How are you reacting to friends/relatives that either want to borrow a gun or seek your help in buying one and training them ? I want to see if I'm being selfish jerk.
FlSwampRat
Member
I don't loan out my guns. I gifted my sister with one, and I'll train her and anyone else who wants to buy the ammo. There are limits don't you know.
I wouldn't have noticed-- in an Intro class or a Basic class, I assume none of them know anything, and I demonstrate and teach the manuals of arms before they ever touch a gun. I suppose you could make the case that everyone in an Intro class is a new shooter, but I never thought about it.
Furthermore, I wouldn't assume you were a new shooter just because you demonstrate that you don't know how a particular firearm works or because you ask a question about how a particular gun works. There are a lot of very experienced shooters who don't know how all guns work.
.308 Norma
Member
I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking. To me, teaching a friend or relative about guns, or helping them in their selection of one to buy is entirely different than loaning them one. Except for the pellet rifle I loaned a buddy to deal with his squirrel problem last summer, I don’t loan guns, period.
Besides that, things are different than they were a few weeks ago. As a matter of fact, just three weeks ago, a rancher friend of mine who was looking to get a concealed carry gun (and possibly one for his wife) asked me and my wife over to their place to show them what we carry. He, his wife, my wife and I all went out behind their house and popped off a few dozen rounds of 380, 38 Special, and 9mm. Then we went in the house and drank coffee and visited for a while. We wouldn’t do that now. We’re all staying home.
BTW, I think my rancher friend’s wife fell in love with my wife’s M&P Shield, 380EZ. So if she doesn’t have one by now, she probably will when this is over.
bdickens
Member
Well said!
Gunversation
Member
Absolutely! When purchasing your first firearm you're sort of forced to seek out information. That could come from online or an in-store visit to a gun store. Either way, I feel like any gun owner wants to get better at shooting. Lessons on safety and best care come with the territory. The one thing I'll add is that it's important to think about safekeeping if you're new to this and you plan on having a couple of guns. I looked up a couple of American made concealed gun safe furniture stores online. They have wall-mounted picture frames, dressers, nightstands and even headboards for beds. Read about them on my blog gunversation.com
wagonburner
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Nobody is born a gun expert. They need to start somewhere.
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FFGColorado
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I agree and we all know here, probably, that what goes hand in glove with ANY gun purchase, is training and knowledge of what it is, how to use it. Since there is no requirements for such a thing, training and knowledge, I think a lot of new gun owners will buy it, and then store it until this thing lessens.
I think we all 'probably' agree training should be part of this whole thing..ofttimes it isn't tho.
Zaydok Allen
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People buying guns for any legal reason is a good thing. If it’s gun people buying, then we are supporting the industry. We’re keeping some people employed. Good.
If it’s new gun buyers, EVEN BETTER! We will inevitably gain some new members to the overall gun enthusiast community. Even if they are not converted to the gun nuttery lifestyle, they are at least acknowledging that private gun ownership is a benefit to them by their actions.
Will it gain votes in the next election? Of course it will. How many, who knows? It doesn’t matter at all. Any increase in even a minimal support of the 2A by adding gun owners is ultimately going to be a positive thing. There will be people all over the spectrum and they may not be perhaps as die hard as some. That’s one of the reasons we have forums. They are a tool to embrace new shooters and help them learn. Be nice and engage them in a dialogue. Encourage them to get formal training when public health issues are resolved or mitigated. This is a terrible situation but we have a good opportunity in front of us to welcome these new gun owners.
Some folks seem to think we are going to have a bunch of newbies blowing holes in their walls or faces and roaming the streets causing mayhem because they are poorly or not trained at all.
There’s no need to overthink this. People buying guns is a good thing. We have work ahead of us. But that’s ok.
If it’s new gun buyers, EVEN BETTER! We will inevitably gain some new members to the overall gun enthusiast community. Even if they are not converted to the gun nuttery lifestyle, they are at least acknowledging that private gun ownership is a benefit to them by their actions.
Will it gain votes in the next election? Of course it will. How many, who knows? It doesn’t matter at all. Any increase in even a minimal support of the 2A by adding gun owners is ultimately going to be a positive thing. There will be people all over the spectrum and they may not be perhaps as die hard as some. That’s one of the reasons we have forums. They are a tool to embrace new shooters and help them learn. Be nice and engage them in a dialogue. Encourage them to get formal training when public health issues are resolved or mitigated. This is a terrible situation but we have a good opportunity in front of us to welcome these new gun owners.
Some folks seem to think we are going to have a bunch of newbies blowing holes in their walls or faces and roaming the streets causing mayhem because they are poorly or not trained at all.
There’s no need to overthink this. People buying guns is a good thing. We have work ahead of us. But that’s ok.
We are our own worst enemy, for the reason stated above. We all HATE hypocrites, right? Yet we hypocritically ridicule noobs, when we
were all a noob, at one time or another.
OTOH, and closer to topic, history once again repeats itself, as there are no Atheists, in the fox-holes. It also will be interesting, to see if these
"new converts" are pro-active, and 2A supportive, in the long run.
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