How to deal with anti-gun parents?

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They are very much pro Obama, pro Democrat, the conservatives are ruining this country, blah blah blah and regurgitating what they heard on MPR that day (left leaning radio).
If it were simply the gun issue I would just ask that they not bring it up, and agree not to bring a firearm to their home when I visit - their house, their rules after all.

If they insist on pushing liberal policies on me, I would be very hard-pressed not to make a snide comment that combines the words "elderly", "shovel-ready", and "0bamacare"...
 
It's family. Part of dealing with family is knowing how to accept each others differences and opinions. If their anti-gun sentiments are that disruptive to you that you have considered not visiting them, you need to talk to them about it. Odds are tho the ball swings both ways and your folks have to tolerate as much as you do. Do you think they have ever considered not allowing you to come and visit because of your pro-gun sentiment? I doubt it.


You are lucky to still have two parents you can go and visit and accept you for what you are. Sorry, but to consider abandoning them over something as trivial as their political views at this point in their lives, is quite shallow and self-serving. Your parents taught you to be independent and to think for yourself. One reason you don't always agree with them. They have taught you to stand up for what you believe in and to not be afraid to express yourself. Least you can do is allow them the same.
 
"Mom, Dad, I know that the idea that I own and carry guns makes you uncomfortable, and I don't blame you—it seems like every time you hear about a gun owner in the news, they've done something wrong.

"Just remember that you both raised me to do the right thing and to have respect for the lives of other people, and I take that very seriously, especially when I am around a gun."

(And if that doesn't work, send 'em over here to get their minds blown.)
 
Hammsbeer you're an adult and you have a right to own firearms and shoot at the range.
I have met some people who are rabid anti firearm and actually "criminalize" firearm owners in their mind and in the mind of others.
It seems with that type of group that if a person owns one firearm they "must be a bad person."
Just do what you do. One response would be "I respect your First Amendment Rights and wouldn't you be upset if there was a drive to repeal the First Amendment. Thus respect my Second Amendment rights as well." Place another right they cherish on their laps and ask them if they would be willing to give it up.
 
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I'd just like to 2nd everything buck460XVR said in his post.
You only get one set of parents. Try talking to them. Tell them that you don't want any arguments or hard feelings, so you'd rather not discuss politics or firearms at all. They'll likely respect that and refrain from discussing it.
Of course you have to honor that as well and not go on and on about your views. Respect is a 2 way street.
 
In their house when politics and gun conversations come up you need to talk and counter their political arguments with your own thoughts in a logical and common sense fashion. Have a discussion not an argument .

Never stop talking !
 
I can sympathize. My wife's family is not by any means pro gun. They know I shoot and am quite into guns. Recently one of my wife's cousins put a gun to her head and ended her life. I do feel sorry for the family but it does not sway my attitude towards guns. My wife's mother has expressed her opinion to my wife that she should make me get rid of my guns. The wife is standing with me. I have told her family that I will not discuss guns, or anything that resembles them with them. If they start I will leave and they can continue their conversation with the nearest wall. This is in their house or mine.
 
In their house when politics and gun conversations come up you need to talk and counter their political arguments with your own thoughts in a logical and common sense fashion. Have a discussion not an argument .

Never stop talking !
Now see, I respectfully disagree. I just remain silent.

Prior to my retirement the department I worked in had a good cross section of pro and anti everything you could imagine. The fact that I was strong pro gun was no surprise as everyone knew I owned a gun shop, had a bullet clock in my office and pictures of guns on my office walls. We also had a small lunch room for my department in our out buildings.

Lunch was always a fun time for conversation especially with Bob present. Bob was as anti-gun as anti could possibly get. Frequently lunch conversation focused on stories in the Cleveland Plain Dealer the daily newspaper which was strong anti-gun. Every time the paper ran a story with their anti-gun agenda Bob just had to comment. His comments were always aimed at me of course. When I would fail to respond he would persist, when I still failed to respond he would really get going, finally becoming agitated. I found this humorous as well as everyone watching who knew exactly what Bob was doing.

You aren't going to change the minds or views of those dead set on gun control or those who choose to blame the gun for a hardening of the US culture. However, I personally find more fun in ignoring their baiting. That pisses them off and for my twisted mind that is entertaining.

If your parents or family members are anti-gun then simply ignore the subject. Should they choose to bring it up then simply ignore them. Additionally when anything goes beyond discussion never argue with a fool as those watching or listening can't tell the difference. :)

Just My Take....
Ron
 
I have heard it said that all it takes to turn an anti-gun person into a pro-gun person is a mugging. I am thankful my folks are on the pro side of things (and republican) I honestly do not know how I would deal with this if it were me, other than not visiting....
so you're saying he should have his parents mugged? i like it!
 
You will most likely never change their mind. So just hike up your big boy pants and politely, respectfully, but firmly explain to them you don't appreciate their snide comments and in the future the topic is off limits.
 
Thank you for the comments. I think a plan A approach will be to see if they will go to the range with me when the weather is warmer. I can expose them to .22s, pistols, and even the much maligned EBR. If that doesnt make any difference, then plan B will be an agreement that the topic is off limits.

As for the comments about "abandoning" them, thats simply not the case. I want to spend more time with them, but the infighting about guns and politics needs to end.
 
Im from MN too, a large part of my family is anti gun and ive been pro gun since a young age. I waited till I was 18 moved out and got my guns then. There was no attempt to try and convenience me that guns were abd and the topic was avoided at family gatherings, they respected that it was a big part of my life. That is untill sandy hook. It was brought up at thanksgiving, and I calmly listened to every point they all brought up at the table. When I finaly spoke up about my views every one either immediately left the room or outright attacked me by saying "how dare I bring this up" Im 23, and I dont got to family functions anymore, if they dont respect me then I have no need to reciprocate.
 
Is it THAT important ?.

In my past [ when they were alive ] I had to resist what my parents were telling me and go in a direction I truly believed was correct.

I did the same thing during my second marriage = yes it hurt like the blazes.

BUT if you have tried EVERYTHING,and to no avail.

You need to look deep into your self and ask "is this THE line in the sand".

I did what I had to do for my self and my FIRM beliefs.

Just do not second guess yourself AFTERWARDS,do all that before you act.
 
Simply refuse to talk about it

and make that a rule that you refuse to discuss politics and religion with them and that includes guns, gun laws, etc. Just make it very firmly clear that these are not topics for discussion and that if he/they persist in attempting to talk about these things you will simply walk away and ignore them if they bring the subject up. Simply agree to disagree and leave it at that. Make it clear you will actually leave if they bring up the subject. And be ready to follow through on that assertion. Do not promise any behaviors which you are will not be ready to follow through on.
 
shootingthebreeze suggested reminding them of the cherished First Amendment. Ask them whether each occupant of the White House every Congress should be able to simply choose which Amendment(s) to suppress or allow?

After they are reminded not to bring up this subject, maybe the OP (or others in the same parental, or wife situation) must drive through and then visit shops in a bad area which has experienced carjackings or muggings, and he should tell his parents that he will no longer take any handgun in the car.
Whether he usually does this or not might not matter. Remind them that After an attacker shoots you, you Then might be able to call the police for protection (this won't seem logical-even to them). How about something similar?
 
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Ask 'em if they're okay with their baby boy being killed by some tweaker in his own home, or by his own government in his own country.

Don't accept "When would that ever happen?" as an answer.
 
Just tell them, when they hear noises in the night and they are too afraid to check it out or someone is trying to break in their house to not call you...just call the police. I know it's kinda harsh but other than that just love them the same cause everyone is entitled to their opinion. Now if they don't want you in their house with your guns it's their rules and their house but if you feel strongly about it, tell them that they will have to come visit you, if you feel like you have to always carry.
 
Neither of my parents was anti-gun thankfully but when I was 16 my parents divorced. For a year or two after the divorce every time I was around my Father he would bad mouth my Mother. This caused arguments & I told him off pretty good a couple of times. Finally one day when I was around him & he started talking about her I just told him flat out. Every time you bring this up I get mad at you & you get mad at me. Why don't you just leave it alone. He quit bringing it up from then on.

I would not suggest cutting off contact with your parents. After my parents divorce I was angry with my Father for about 10 years. After my Mother died when I was in my late 20's I realized life was too short & made a point to forgive my Father. He died 11 years ago. You only get one Mother & Father. Don't create regrets.
 
Show them how wrong they are. Part of what turned my parents around was boatloads of research I showed them about how states with concealed carry have lower violent crime. Also be sure to show them the "statistics" of the antis are fundamentally flawed such as "a gun in the home is 43x more likely to kill you or a loved one than an intruder" or the recent one by Obama who claims something like 70% of all firearms bought didn't have a background check.
 
I'd say keep talking to them, but as soon as things get heated on either side of the discussion, just walk away. Tell them that you also want to enjoy shooting trap and skeet, two perfectly safe games. Tell them when you do bring it home you'll keep it fully disassembled and locked up. Definitely take classes on how to use it so she knows you take safety seriously.
As I went through college I found that my mom disagreed with a few of the things I enjoyed (booze, motorcycle, guns, trips to mexico, etc) but that it's far easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Just show them that you're responsible and let them decide what they going to do from there.
 
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