Mom's worried and giving me a hard time, again!

[Rockrivr1]

Last night I went to the parents house to visit as I hadn't been down to their house for a few weeks. Dad was reading the newspaper when I came in and he showed me as story about a guy who was arrested with an "arsenal" of weapons and ammunition. He then told me that "arsenal" consisted of a 2 handguns, two rifles and a few hundred rounds of ammo.

Ok, here I make a rookie mistake. When he said that I laughed and said "Is that it? Better hope they don't ever come to my house." Of course my Mom was in the room and she starts going off. I get this whole torrent about how that kind of comment isn't funny, why do I need so many guns/ammo, it would be such an embarrasment if the police ever raided my house and reported to the world what I had etc etc.

My Dad and I just rolled out eyes, which she saw and became even more pissed. I can't quite figure it out. She not anti as my Dad has had guns in the house as long as I've been born. She even indicates that if my Dad passes before her she will get one for protection. Not exactly sure what her problem is other then the numbers involved. I think anyway.

Several months ago she actually asked me if I thought the world was going to end soon, because my wife indicated that I had stored MREs and bottled water in the basement.

Anyone else have to deal with this stuff from their family? So far I've just let her rant. Not sure how long I can keep that up.

 

[AJ Dual]

Assess realisticaly if you're going to "reach" her or not.

Education, range trip, etc. etc. etc.

If not, just up the ante. Tell her if she keeps bugging you, if you ever "go down", you're going to get interviewed by the newspaper, and tell them how your mom trained you as a survialist sniper commando, and that you're more afraid of her for "chickening out" and not going out in a "blaze of glory" like she taught you to, than you are of the law…

That should do it.

Sometimes, with family arguments, it's better to just "go nuclear" and get them over with once and for all.

 

[akjren]

Quote:
"Anyone else have to deal with this stuff from their family?"

Not since hurricanes Ivan and Katrina. When power goes out for several weeks straight and grocery stores run out of perishable food, gun owners will not have to worry about starving to death.

Aside from that, I grew up with parents who kept enough guns in the house to supply a small militia. It's mostly friends in college who get on my case about my guns.

Alex

 

[dracphelan]

1. Calmly explain that, since you are not breaking any laws and have no plans to, the police have no reason to raid your home.
2. Point out that your collecting firearms and ammunition is a hobby. Just like someone who collects sports cars, motorcycles, dolls, antiques or stamps. Explain that it also crosses the line of a sport that takes lots of practice to maintain and build your skills in. This practice requires the large amounts of ammo.
3. Explain that the MREs and water are for the protection of your family. Give examples things like what happened in Kansas City (about a week without power), Katrina and other natural disasters.

If none of the above works, explain that you will not discuss it with her anymore. Explain you love her, but you are an adult now. You need to lead your life your way.

 

[Zundfolge]

I get this whole torrent about how that kind of comment isn't funny, why do I need so many guns/ammo, it would be such an embarrasment if the police ever raided my house and reported to the world what I had etc etc.

Its not about the guns, its about the fact that you live surrounded by socialist idiots who have made gun ownership into a socially unacceptable vice, and your mother is afraid if you get into trouble with the local JBTs and it gets in the papers or on TV that it will reflect poorly on her and she won't be allowed to play bridge with the local bluehairs or whatever it is she does now socially.

Typical of people who live under oppressive governments, she just doesn't want to "look bad" to her peer group. Many here wonder how people can allow the rise of Fascism and such, its because of social pressure ... most people are MORE afraid to be talked about behind their backs and not invited to parties than they are of being held down by the jackboots of government agents.

 

[Parker Dean]

i...t would be such an embarrasment if the police ever raided my house and reported to the world what I had...

Pretty much says what she's worried about , and why, right there.

She's worried about what the neighbors will think and has been brainwashed to believe that guns and some food are the sure signs of a survivalist whacko who's "this close" to being a household name.

Don't know how you're going to deprogram, but I do know you can't give in.

 

[MudPuppy]

Yup--I stay away.

 

[ScottsGT]

Ask her to watch a Golf game on TV, then ask her how many golfers only use one golf club and one ball.

Thats what I did to shut up an anti coworker that golfs

 

[espanola]

Ah, heck, it's your mom. Just let it be water off a duck's back. Doesn't sound like either of you are going to be changing your mind soon. She's entitled to her opinion as you are. But, since she's your mom, don't go out of your way to set her off and just go about your business and do what you want.
Just be glad you have her around to hear her rant. Won't always be so.

 

[Ala Dan]

Kind'a Of

Greeting's All-

My wife isn't an "anti" by any means, as she was the victim of a very
violent car-jacking in October of '94; but she isn't into "the gun thing"
either. Her thoughts are, "you only have two hands, and thats the
most you can shoot at one time". She is not hip as too the different
calibers; but does know the difference in a revolver and a self-loader.
In the almost 38 years that we have been married, she has seldom
going shooting with me. Her choice of a firearm is, a 2" barrel square
butt Rossi model 88 with wood grips. Go figure~!

 

[steelhead]

Ah, heck, it's your mom. Just let it be water off a duck's back. Doesn't sound like either of you are going to be changing your mind soon. She's entitled to her opinion as you are. But, since she's your mom, don't go out of your way to set her off and just go about your business and do what you want.
Just be glad you have her around to hear her rant. Won't always be so.

This is the best advice you can follow!

 

[ArmedBear]

You don't exist to make your Mom happy. It might make her proud if you were just honest with her, even if she didn't "like" it.

Are you getting money from the 'rents or something?

 

[Desperado]

Im gettin my first autoloader next month when I turn 21. We went to the gun store so I could get a rifle case and I was showing her some of the pistols I was looking at and she asked me, "And you want this why? Youve got a .357 in Arkansas. You just have to wait till youre 21 to get it." I simply responded with "Its a man thing."

 

[Sunray]

"...asked me if I thought the world was going to end soon..." And you didn't say anything about the Signs of the Apocalypse being there? Mom's make it too easy sometimes.
Teasing my Ma is one of the things I miss most since she died. Put a fur, cat toy, mouse next to her tea cup one time and went down the hall to the TV room. All I heard about 2 minutes later was, "I hate you." Laughed so hard I almost fell off the chair. Deathly afraid of mice, so she was.
"...just let her rant..." Exactly. You won't change her anyway. No matter how old you get, she'll always see you as her little boy. She might evenutally learn that not reacting takes the fun out of it though.

 

[HankB]

Don't let it bother you - you're an adult, on your own, not under her roof, so all she CAN do is rant.

If it gets too bad . . . you don't have to stay there and listen to it.

That was the case with my Dad and his mother, who was very domineering. After he was married, after I came along, Grandma was always on his (or my mother's) case about something; she just didn't like NOT being the queen bee anymore. So . . . more than once, a visit was cut short and we left.

Eventually the message sank in.

 

[P-35/53]

Your not going to change her - she is not going to change you. If we all ran our lives to others wishes or expectations where would be? I have been told by one of my Brothers I own too many guns. The odd thing is he owns about 3 rifles , a carbine and 2 pistols. He goes shooting about once a year - maybe. he says he hates the NRA - he also says he belives not everyone should own guns - just people like him . For the past 15 years or so we do not talk guns. In fact we rarely talk as he has decidedly opposite views from me. His choice not mine.

 

[Erebus]

Just tell her you're not worried about the end of the world. But a natural or man made disaster that leaves you fending for yourself for a time.

Up here in the northeast a good blizzard knocking people's power out for days isn't uncommon. It's good to have a supply of unperishable food and an alternative heat source(wood stove, fireplace etc). Home invasions are probably considerable less likely with a few feet of snow everywhere, but that same few feet of snow also makes help that much farther away should such an incident occur.

Better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

[made2cut]

I didn't have any guns before I got divorced but had a large collection of knives. When my Son started leaking info to her Mom about my new hobby I decided to bring the subject out into the open. To make a long story short she pretty much freaked out on me . After her reaction when she asked me how many I had I quickly responded with 3 pistols and 1 rifle (seemed like a reasonable number at the time ). I was scared to tell her the truth . I'm sure not going to tell her I'm a CCW holder and am armed 99% of the time I leave the house. I don't know why it's such a big issue to people about the number of guns you own. Collecting firearms does not make someone a terrorist or a nut case and if you shoot a lot, having large amounts of ammo is just cost effective and convenient.

Anyway, I feel your pain.

 

[TIMC]

My dad is a gun nut too so I don't get any flack from him. My wife just thinks I'm nuts! She doesn't say much about my gun collection because she knows it will just be a waste of breath. I told her before we got married she will go before the guns so there was no miss-communication. She does however shake her head in disgust when she walks by the vault and I have the door open, I can live with that.

 

[Deanimator]

Anyone else have to deal with this stuff from their family? So far I've just let her rant. Not sure how long I can keep that up.

My mother knows that I don't value ANY of her opinions unrelated to cooking and food. She mostly keeps them to herself. Keeping at least one state between us doesn't hurt either!

 

[Roadwild17]

I feel ya,, when I was 16 I gave my mom the money to buy me a glock, which she did. How she wont let me have the dang thing . It dosent help that I have 2 friends that come over just about every sunday afternoon to show off a new toy. One day my mom walked outside and they was about 5 1911s sitting on the table and a .41 mag relover, guess who fliped out .

 

[Pilgrim]

Several months ago she actually asked me if I thought the world was going to end soon, because my wife indicated that I had stored MREs and bottled water in the basement.

After the big earthquake in Northridge, CA that dropped a freeway span in Newhall, my aunt announced she had resolved to keep $500 cash on hand in case of urban disaster so she wouldn't have to rely on ATMs to supply her with the cash to buy essentials.

I commented to her she would be better off stockpiling $500 worth of food, water, medicine, and ammunition. In a real urban disaster that $500 won't go very far when the grocery store shelves are bare.

She responded she didn't want to think of an urban disaster that serious.

I said that she might as well pretend she had $500 cash reserve on hand since she was going to pretend there weren't going to be any really serious urban disasters.

Pilgrim

 

[Green Lantern]

I read your mom's 'end of the world' comment and heard:

"baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

I don't really have to deal with "anti" relatives as much as ones that keep their head in the sand when it comes from anything from personal protection to natural disasters.

Pilgrim, your aunt's plan may be flawed, but at least she's TRYING to take a step to prepare. Most of my relatives shut me out with the "I'm under enough stress as it is, I don't want to think about this now!" bit...

IMO, maybe you'd be best to adopt my policy with a close cousin who knows I CCW but isn't very pleased about it. When I first started, she said her bit (why you wanna carry a gun? I trust YOU, but don't think they should issue CCW permits),

...and then I said my bit (Wake up, you never know when some crook/psycho/scumbag's gonna take a shot at you! The world gets more dangerous every day. And only people with clean backgrounds and training get CCW permits, it's a long drawn out pain in the butt, and no one with a permit wants to risk doing ANYthing stupid or illegal, with or without a gun, to risk getting the permit revoked)...

And now, it's more or less "don't ask don't tell." She seems to be happy, I AM happy. Well...pretty happy. I'd love to see her and ALL my loved ones get CCW too, but Rome wasn't built in a day!

It wasn't really an agreement per se, we didn't sit down and say "let's have one all-out RKBA debate and then shut up about it." It just, well, worked out that way. Maybe the next time your mom starts you can counter all of her arguments, and then NOT "bait" her again as you did over the arsenal...

 

[Rockrivr1]

TIMC wrote: "I told her before we got married she will go before the guns"

A couple weeks ago during a VERY hot and humid stretch of weather I was out playing golf. While I was in the process of broiling and losing a lot of water to sweat, I somehow lost my wedding ring while taking off my glove to put.

Well, needless to say my wife was PISSED. She said to me and I quote "You'll just have to sell a few guns to get the money to buy a new one". I said, "NO WAY, I'll sell my watch or something first!" She just gave me one of those looks that wives give when they are pissed and willing to push you to do things you don't want to.

Lucky for me someone found my ring an returned it so I didn't have to sell anything! (Big Sigh when I got the call from the golf course)

 

[JesseJames]

People just don't get it.
Ask a painter if he uses only one brush to make a portrait. Most likely he'll say "No.". He uses the best brush or knife for his purposes on what he or she is trying to accomplish on the canvas.
Say the word gun and some people instantly think death, destruction, plague, pestilence! Okay, maybe not the last two but it's an emotional over-reaction.
Most of the time it's women who are guilty of this but we're not gonna go there now.