GregGry
Member
After spending hours on gunfacts.info, and hundreds (if not thousands of hours) looking into firearms and the RKBA, I am left with a few un answered questions.
I am young compared to most on here (24). I never shot a firearm until I was 21. My grandfather had rifles/shotguns but I never was able to use any of them (to young at the time he was alive). My father owned a .357 mag revolver for a while, however I never got to shoot it. Since turning 21 I have acquired 2 pistols, a ar15, and a 12ga shotgun. I have expanded my knowledge of firearms from about 0 to about 80 (out of 100, I don't think anyone is really at 100). I never really had to deal with the passing of new firearm laws, I have only read about the silly things that have been done in the past.
So heres what I am wondering. How did the public opinions of firearms get to where its at today? I constantly hear stories about how easy it was to get firearms through the mail, that kids could in some places (a while ago) take rifles with them to school, and that public opinion on firearm ownership (As well as the NRA) was more like 90% for (rather then the typical 60% I seem to see in polls.)
Most of my family leans towards anti-gun, and most of the people I went to college with (For police science none the less) tended to lean towards anti-gun. Anytime I brought up anything to do with the NRA, I have often been treated to remarks along the line of "they pay money to cover up the truth and they create nothing but lies". I have tried getting into debates over gun control and I have never gotten any further with most people then being told something like "well I believe what i want, and your entitled to your opinion".
I completely realize that when our country was formed, firearms were absolutely part of life, and a necessity. Hunting was a requirement of being alive, and protection of oneself and family was a must since there was no one else to do it for you. Since then times have changed and its entirely possible for families to eat food, and survive for their entire lifetimes without owning a firearm. I can see where in the case of cities (Which have police forces a call away), that many families trust the police for protection. However I don't see how so many people in my area have such a negative opinion of firearms in general.
After looking into past laws and restrictions placed on firearms, and the events that took place in our countries history regarding firearms, I can see that the RKBA has been slowly diminishing over time. I can see that the invention of the tv and other media sources have influenced the population greatly. Is the media really to blame for everything?
I don't want to rant for hours here, especially because I am sure you have all heard it before. So I will leave with the real burning questions I have:
How did many people in society (in the case of my city, and I am sure many other cities) decide that relying on the police for protection is a better option then buying a firearm to at least keep in the house?
Why is it I can often say some untrue statement regarding firearms, and people will say something such as "Yeah i believe it" however when I say something thats true such as gun buy backs don't do anything, I am met with hostility and told I am just speaking like the NRA?
How did this mindset come about, considering the huge number of gun owners in this country?
How come the anti-gun mindset is practically written in some peoples DNA, despite often times never having any actual experience with firearms? With some people I can quote books, studies, polls, government reports, and they wont listen to any of it if such information is positive.
Why is it I that I will listen to a persons complete argument on why they are against firearms, and try to see things from their perspective, yet no one will do the same for me?
I am young compared to most on here (24). I never shot a firearm until I was 21. My grandfather had rifles/shotguns but I never was able to use any of them (to young at the time he was alive). My father owned a .357 mag revolver for a while, however I never got to shoot it. Since turning 21 I have acquired 2 pistols, a ar15, and a 12ga shotgun. I have expanded my knowledge of firearms from about 0 to about 80 (out of 100, I don't think anyone is really at 100). I never really had to deal with the passing of new firearm laws, I have only read about the silly things that have been done in the past.
So heres what I am wondering. How did the public opinions of firearms get to where its at today? I constantly hear stories about how easy it was to get firearms through the mail, that kids could in some places (a while ago) take rifles with them to school, and that public opinion on firearm ownership (As well as the NRA) was more like 90% for (rather then the typical 60% I seem to see in polls.)
Most of my family leans towards anti-gun, and most of the people I went to college with (For police science none the less) tended to lean towards anti-gun. Anytime I brought up anything to do with the NRA, I have often been treated to remarks along the line of "they pay money to cover up the truth and they create nothing but lies". I have tried getting into debates over gun control and I have never gotten any further with most people then being told something like "well I believe what i want, and your entitled to your opinion".
I completely realize that when our country was formed, firearms were absolutely part of life, and a necessity. Hunting was a requirement of being alive, and protection of oneself and family was a must since there was no one else to do it for you. Since then times have changed and its entirely possible for families to eat food, and survive for their entire lifetimes without owning a firearm. I can see where in the case of cities (Which have police forces a call away), that many families trust the police for protection. However I don't see how so many people in my area have such a negative opinion of firearms in general.
After looking into past laws and restrictions placed on firearms, and the events that took place in our countries history regarding firearms, I can see that the RKBA has been slowly diminishing over time. I can see that the invention of the tv and other media sources have influenced the population greatly. Is the media really to blame for everything?
I don't want to rant for hours here, especially because I am sure you have all heard it before. So I will leave with the real burning questions I have:
How did many people in society (in the case of my city, and I am sure many other cities) decide that relying on the police for protection is a better option then buying a firearm to at least keep in the house?
Why is it I can often say some untrue statement regarding firearms, and people will say something such as "Yeah i believe it" however when I say something thats true such as gun buy backs don't do anything, I am met with hostility and told I am just speaking like the NRA?
How did this mindset come about, considering the huge number of gun owners in this country?
How come the anti-gun mindset is practically written in some peoples DNA, despite often times never having any actual experience with firearms? With some people I can quote books, studies, polls, government reports, and they wont listen to any of it if such information is positive.
Why is it I that I will listen to a persons complete argument on why they are against firearms, and try to see things from their perspective, yet no one will do the same for me?