a tale of a misinformed boy

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I have seen a lot of threads about why so many anti's seem to be in our society and it made me think of this story. I posted it in an other thread but thought I would start my own instead. Any one else have one of these stories? about someone just being ridiculous about you carrying a gun?

Recently my cousin and I went out on the salt river in kayaks each of us with a 357 on our hip. We came back in having a good natured laughing conversation, smiles on our faces from an enjoyable morning at the river. a large group was setting up for a picnic just next to the beach when we got back. A young man of about 19 or 20 saw us and started freaking out, in a panic exclaiming loudly how he doesn't like guns (several times), they scare him and he was leaving till we were gone. His mother and father looked rather embarrassed and were trying to quietly calm him down to no avail as he was stumbling over ice chests and baskets in such a hurry to leave. As luck would have it he scampered down the same trail we had to go down to get to the truck. He started running when he saw we were "following" him and who knows how far into the desert he went to "get away". His dad took off after him cursing under his breath ready to kick the kid's butt.

When we went back down to grab the other kayak, we said their "friend should calm down, we didn't threaten any one or even have our guns out of the holsters." We asked what the deal was with the young man (I use the term "man" loosely as it is my belief that no man would ever behave in such a way). His mother rolled her eyes and said she had no idea and apologized on his behalf. She asked us why we carried anyway, with seeming tone of confusion as to why on earth would any one need a gun in this day and age. I told her I carry because I love my revolver dearly, it is wonderful for protection against snakes and other potentially dangerous critters (first round was snake shot), and I enjoy exercising my right as stated in the second amendment to our constitution. She seemed surprised at the response but just said "oh ok" and left it at that.

My point is the world is full of those irrational types, and if you wonder why we don't live in the same world as our older friends on this forum lived in growing up, its because of people like that. The only thing we can do is attempt to educate the misinformed. I hope people are cured of this insanity soon, but I doubt it will ever happen.
 
So the tale is that he turned tail and ran?

Given that his parents were so embarrassed by him and didn't seem to be the source of his fear, he might have some emotional issues that have little to do with guns.
 
Hmm. Maybe the young "man" spent too much time listening to Chuck Schumer, Nancy Polisi, Sarah Brady and the rest of that ilk!
 
Sounds like autism. People with autism have sensory issues and usually don't like loud noises like gun shots. They like to be loud, just not hear loud noises. They can equate guns with loud noises and will avoid them even if they are not being shot at the time.
 
If I saw two people walking towards me with guns, I would be on alert. I live in Illinois so I have never seen it and its illegal.
 
wow. For one, you have no idea how much I wish I lived in a state that allowed open carry- especially without a permit! I have carried a sheath knife when hunting and camping, and I leave it on until I get home. many people give me strange looks, and the Lord's name has been taken in vane a time or two. I personally have no problem with it, and would open carry all the time (but I'm currently too young), so I know how you feel, and wish that all of the thin- skinned, unkind "irrational types" would grow a pair and realize that not everyone thinks and feels the same way they do! All we can do is promote firearms education, vote, and pray!

Marksman
 
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Birdmang, this was in Arizona. It's wide open country with all kinds of critters around, 2- as well as 4-legged. I also carry whenever I'm out away from my home in New Mexico. You never know when you will come across a rattlesnake or bigger predator. Out here, we are definitely NOT the top of the food chain.

I might add, if I were in a shopping center in the center of Chicago and two people came towards me carrying openly, I might wonder why, or check to see if I was carrying too. But as I said, this is in the open wilderness of Arizona. Come on out here and experience real freedom.
 
I think Cokeman is on the right track. I have a 15yr old son with an autistic spectrum disorder (PDD-NOS), & know other families with autistic kids. Many people with autism seem to have 'irrational fears', my son's included loud noises, but he has learned to overcome alot of his issues over time.
 
I think Cokeman is on the right track. I have a 15yr old son with an autistic spectrum disorder (PDD-NOS), & know other families with autistic kids. Many people with autism seem to have 'irrational fears', my son's included loud noises, but he has learned to overcome alot of his issues over time.

Did he hate vacuum cleaners and toilettes flushing when he was younger?
 
Maybe the kid in question had only seen a gun in a violent movie?

I'm pretty much under the impression that if they're that young, it's "not their fault."

I didn't know you could own a gun until I was 15, so there you go.
 
I'm sorry that family isn't taking advantage of their rights.

A couple of my other older family members were extremely surprised when I told them that concealed and open carry of a firearm was legal in some states.
 
i keep it as short as i can due to already posting 90% of this story already here

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=558798

every morning after taking my clients to their blinds I would stop at a gas station at the end of Gatlinburg for my morning biscuit and sweet tea. on more than one occasion i was "questioned" why i carry a gun. even though 50% of the time it is hidden from view of the public, depending how warm/busy the store is. the lady whom ran the store knew me by name and we often talk about hunting and my clients for sometime.

on one of the the occasions a guy didn't so much as make it as 10 feet into the store before confronting me by very politely asking me "does that gun make you fell like a big man?". he was a older gentleman, seemed very liberal and not fond of me or my firearm. usually I would have just smiled and ignored him "much more hateful than any comment". but seeing as i had just been chased by a large and quite hungry black bear a few days prior, I decided to retort with " no just a less tasty one!". he left me alone and walk away with a what the hell does that mean look on his face. i have since found its much more fun to confuse those who disagree with my choice to carry, than to argue with them for hours on end. but it goes to show you that keeping concealed is always the best option if possible.
 
While I can definitely see why autism would come to mind based on how it was presented, if you had been there, you would probably not think the kid was autistic (I used to work with them for a couple years, and know their behaviors fairly well also), and if he was it was a very mild case. But I may be wrong. If he was I think his mother would have said something about it, as it would have explained it all very well.
 
I wouldn't try to have a dialogue with a boy acting like that.
No need to talk to him.
Especially if there is a medical disorder involved.
Just calmy and happily go about your business like we always do.
Being a good example in action is so much better than trying to talk to the irrational.
 
Cokeman, No neither of those bothered him, but a friend's autistic son didn't like vacuum cleaners. Our son's noise issues seemed to be more frequency-based.....babies crying was one. On Boy Scout activities he didn't like the gun fire, & even when we did archery & were using balloons as targets he didn't like the popping! Like with most kids, he & his sisters would often watch the same movies over & over, & he would know when certain scenes/noises were coming up & he would just leave the room until it had passed.....his timing was impeccable! As I said in the other post, he's grown out of most all of his fears now & is doing quite well. He still has a fear of dead things, & doesn't even like to see pictures in books that show them. About 4-5 years ago is grandparents bought him a real nice book on birds, but in the birds of prey section it showed an eagle with a rabbit it had caught.....he never opened the book again after seeing that. Sounds like you have an autistic relation, too(?). I was going to reply to you in a PM, but judging by some of the earlier replies, it seems there's not alot of awareness or understanding of of some of these conditions, I decided to do so within the thread. A lot of autistic folks tend to be very inteligent, they are just 'wired' a bit differently & their thought processes can be a bit eratic.
 
"While I can definitely see why autism would come to mind based on how it was presented, if you had been there, you would probably not think the kid was autistic (I used to work with them for a couple years, and know their behaviors fairly well also), and if he was it was a very mild case. But I may be wrong. If he was I think his mother would have said something about it, as it would have explained it all very well."

Autism is a very broad term for a whole lot of different conditions. Also, you may be surprised at the number of parents of autistics kids who are not aware of what the issues are.....many autistic kids still go undiagnosed, though awareness is growing.
 
While I can definitely see why autism would come to mind based on how it was presented, if you had been there, you would probably not think the kid was autistic (I used to work with them for a couple years, and know their behaviors fairly well also), and if he was it was a very mild case. But I may be wrong. If he was I think his mother would have said something about it, as it would have explained it all very well.

Most people don't realize that my son has it. Most people don't believe my daughter has it.

Maybe not.
 
Some folks think that Asperger's syndrome is part of the autistic spectrum...

Gunfire is kinda calming to me... Then again, I feel more like I'm at home when I'm at a range than when I'm anywhere else.

Currently geeking on stuff around a machine shop. Tres kewl.

As for the original post: I'm guessing that the kid was basically indoctrinated by media and our government schools into thinking that anytime he saw a gun, it meant that someone was going to start trying to kill him.

Best way to handle that: "Hey, wanna shoot some soda cans?"
 
Cokeman, No neither of those bothered him, but a friend's autistic son didn't like vacuum cleaners. Our son's noise issues seemed to be more frequency-based.....babies crying was one. On Boy Scout activities he didn't like the gun fire, & even when we did archery & were using balloons as targets he didn't like the popping! Like with most kids, he & his sisters would often watch the same movies over & over, & he would know when certain scenes/noises were coming up & he would just leave the room until it had passed.....his timing was impeccable! As I said in the other post, he's grown out of most all of his fears now & is doing quite well. He still has a fear of dead things, & doesn't even like to see pictures in books that show them. About 4-5 years ago is grandparents bought him a real nice book on birds, but in the birds of prey section it showed an eagle with a rabbit it had caught.....he never opened the book again after seeing that. Sounds like you have an autistic relation, too(?). I was going to reply to you in a PM, but judging by some of the earlier replies, it seems there's not alot of awareness or understanding of of some of these conditions, I decided to do so within the thread. A lot of autistic folks tend to be very inteligent, they are just 'wired' a bit differently & their thought processes can be a bit eratic.

That's funny about the movies over and over. My kid can quote an entire movie from beginning to end, all of the characters' lines exactly. He can watch a movie 100 times and still be completely shocked by every surprise.
 
I live in Arizona, and prior to that was New Mexico, I'll add to this thread with one of my more recent stories. I live in a rual community west of Tucson and only have 2 convenience stores to patronize. While grabbing a cup of coffee one morning a man looked down at my .357 mag. revolver on my hip and very hatefully and with an obvious intent to instigate a comfrontation, looked me in the eye and said " only a pussy carries a gun ! " I stood there almost speachless for several seconds when he added " what, not man enough to respond ". I had, had, just about enough of his less than proper behavior in the presence of several nice local women with their young grade school children and replied, " only a real man would respect the little children and women who just had to listen to your imature and vulgar out burst. " He paused a moment and continued with the statement, " I would rather die from a criminals bullet than have to use a gun to defend my life with a gun, like a real man would do ". I know I shouldn't have further engaged this ignorant ill -mannered person who was dealing with very obvious identity issues, but I gave in and once again responded, " I feel so sorry for your innocent children, grandchildren, or wife you may have that would die or be violated the result of your ignorant beliefes and mentally challenged state of mind " " but even so, if you or them were ever being victimized, I would still defend you and your loved ones out of pure compassion and consideration without giving it a second thought, wether you like it or not " Have a nice day !
 
Most people don't realize that my son has it. Most people don't believe my daughter has it.

Maybe not.

well like I said I definitely could be wrong, I only dealt with severe cases, so if what you say is true, it could be a very real possibility.
 
My son is 12 and went shooting last week for the first time where he actually wanted to shoot instead of wander off. I'm thinking of buying him a rifle. Maybe a Henry youth lever action.
 
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