Help smoothing things out with neighbors

[desert gator]

I have moved out to Virginia to work for the summer, and I have become friends with my neighbors. Nice people, both of them are in the military. They have had me over for dinner a few times, and the husband and I drink a few beers on saturday nights. We started talking about hobbies one night and I told him that I enjoy shooting hand guns and had just recently purchased my first one. He told me about being in the military and the different guns he has shot. I thought all was good. Well come to find out that he and his wife are a little taken back that I a single guy living alone I might add, have a gun in the house. They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one, and I think that they are also slightly offended because the wife commented asking me if I dont feel the neighborhood is safe enough. Its so bad that they called me one day and told me they thought that they could here someone in my house when I was not there (we have town homes) and they where worried about someone taking the gun (which is locked up by the way). What I cant understand is why would two people both in the military have this attitude of being so paranoid?

 

[elrod]

Being in the military doesn't mean pro-gun. You have to remember for each arm-bearing soldier, there are dozens of cooks, clerks, mechanics, etc. That is not to say they are not needed, but everyone can't be a SEAL or Green Beret.

 

[Gamera]

They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one,

Because you like guns? Because you can? You might as well ask them why they feel the need to be in the military.

the wife commented asking me if I dont feel the neighborhood is safe enough.

I suppose you could say "well it's just for target shooting/hunting" or you could say "it never hurts to be too prepared".

 

[Eightball]

They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one,

"For all legal and lawful purposes" is my standard reply.

the wife commented asking me if I dont feel the neighborhood is safe enough.

People thought that that church in Illinois was safe too, right up to the point the pastor got murdered. It's safe until it isn't.

 

[kingpin008]

They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one.

I don't understand why my neighbor has a BBQ grill on his porch -I mean, he's got a perfectly good stove right in his kitchen!

Tell them politely but firmly that it's not about need, it's about personal interests - and leave it at that.

What I cant understand is why would two people both in the military have this attitude of being so paranoid?

I think Elrod nailed this one. Military doesn't equal gunnie.

 

[desert gator]

Yeah I guess you guys are right. It was naive of me to assume that military=pro gun

 

[mcdonl]

I think the important thing is if they carry on about it. As far as smoothing things out... is there anything to smooth out?

I have to sypathise with them to some respect because I a gun owner and 2nd Amendment advocate asked on here... a gun related site a question about... "why do you have such and such....." so maybe, like me they were just curious and it will all go away now.

If they start treating you differently, then... well... nothing you can do short of giving up your passion.

Leroy

 

[kingpin008]

If they start treating you differently, then... well... nothing you can do short of ignoring those fools who can't accept that you share a different viewpoint than they do.

Fixed it for ya.

 

[vicdotcom]

Say "Dont worry I carry the gun with me."

 

[jim in Anchorage]

taken back that I a single guy living alone I might add, have a gun in the house.

Whats being single have to do with it? Does that make you unstable? Anyway I used to work with a guy 20 years Air Force and a coworker asked if he would like to join him deer hunting. He had to get his Service records out to see if he had ever fired a gun-if he did,he couldn't remember.

 

[Grassman]

You don't need friends like that. What a couple ninnies.

 

[Blackbeard]

Cut out a few news stories about people massacred in their own homes in "safe" neighborhoods. Case closed.

 

[Eyesac]

Be gentle. Take them out. Get them involved. I have a Canadian friend who's come around and is even now deciding what first gun to buy..

Good luck!

 

[Deanimator]

They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one, and I think that they are also slightly offended because the wife commented asking me if I dont feel the neighborhood is safe enough.

Google the rape, murder and burnings of the Connecticut doctor's family a few years ago. Ask her if THAT was a "dangerous" neighborhood. Then remind her of the shootings of six women, five of whom who died, in a Tinley Park, Illinois Lane Bryant clothing store. Ask her how "dangerous" Tinley Park is IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

ANY place can get as dangerous as Normandy on D-Day in an instant. It just takes one person. You can resign yourself to being a victim if that happens or you can have the ability to defend yourself. You've chosen the latter.

 

[Deanimator]

Yeah I guess you guys are right. It was naive of me to assume that military=pro gun

When I was XO of a basic training company at Fort Knox in the '80s, the XO of the company next door said that "he didn't believe in guns". I asked him why and he replied, "Because they kill people." The following exchange then ensued:

Me - "What branch are you?"
Him - "Field Artillery."
Me - "What branch kills the most people on the battlefield?"
Him - "The Field Artillery."
Me - "Can you explain why you believe in artillery, but not a .45 automatic?"
Him - "No."

 

[garymc]

So the guy was ok until he went home and talked to the wife. You said you told him one of your hobbies was shooting. When they ask why you need a gun tell them you'd feel foolish going to the range, pointing your index finger at the target, cocking your thumb back and yelling POW! Oh, darn, I missed.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

You don't owe anyone any explanation. If they think you're going to go Bill Foster on them or something, that is their problem.

Personally, I am of the opinion that good fences (preferably a solid wall about, oh, 8 feet high) make good neighbors.

 

[Kansan]

If they are worried about somebody breaking into your house, then the neighborhood obviously isn't "safe enough" to not need a gun. Maybe instead of living in fear, THEY should get a gun.

 

[TimRB]

" They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one..."

This whole "Why do you feel the need to have a gun?" business is just a patronizing crock of poo that do-good gun grabbers say so they can feel sanctimonious and elite. They imagine themselves helping you get over the irrational fear that drives you to "need" a gun. And they can do it, too, because they subscribe to Psychology Today.

Tim

 

[rdhood]

They told me that they just dont understand why I feel the need to have one,

Look, beyond the basic needs of food, shelter, ask them why they feel they have a need to have <fill in the blank>. From your information alone, I could fill the blank with <a townhome>, <beer on Saturday night>, <people over to the house>, <whatever his hobbies are>. It goes on and on. Asking people to explain themselves... without viewing your own stuff/activities as WAY more than is necessary... is a hypocritical and fruitless task if they know how to answer correctly. Anything more than a bowl of rice/squirrel and a lean-to is luxury and past time, and requires no explanation. One should never question what a man has/owns/is interested in (as long as he obtained it honestly and it does not deprive others of life liberty or property) , lest he be judged himself.

 

[chris in va]

Wow, sounds just like my friend before she started 'seeing the light'.

Know what turned her around? Reading the local crime reports, especially home invasions. People just have no idea how much violent crime happens right around the corner from them on a regular basis. Don't forget various gangs such as MS-13 that have cropped up in Virginia.

They're probably not 'anti', just uninformed.

"Why do you feel the need to have a gun?"

I see that as a neutral question that merits a neutral, valid response. Same as "why do you have a lock on your door" or "why do you have a fire extinguisher" and "why do you wear a helmet (motorcycle)" etc.

 

[heviarti]

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/heviarti/ImageqyYz6wMTiUnCy87uOIxGFg-1.jpg There's your gun loving military. that 'all' applies to soldiers that live off post as well.... thought I already posted this

 

[KBT1911]

Q- Why do you need a gun?

A- My Scottish Claymore is too big to swing in the hallway

Q- Don't you feel the neighborhood is safe enough?

A- Yeah, but if someone robs me in my house, I'll be a good sport and admit I was wrong after the police mop up.

Q- What if someone takes, your gun?

A- Cripes, never thought of that! You should get one too. That way if someone tries to get one of our guns the other can stop him. Better get the wifey one too, in case you're mowing the lawn when it happens.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The easiest way I have found to deal with neighbors...is DON'T deal with them at all.

Works for me...

 

[stickhauler]

There's your gun loving military. that 'all' applies to soldiers that live off post as well.... thought I already posted this

That was one battalion commander, and the order has been rescinded from what I've heard.

Now granted, that requirement seems extreme for most folks, but soldiers aren't most folks. Pretty much constitutional rights go out the window when you get sworn in. While I disapprove of any commander issuing such an order of his troops, I do understand that the younger generation who are serving now came up in a very different world than I did, as witnessed by the norm of using a firearm in a dispute instead of "taking it outside" like was done back in my younger days. Any commander has to look at the very real potential of a troop who owns a privately owned firearm, and the even more real chance that they could opt to use the gun in a dispute off post or on.