THR is...

[Oleg Volk]

...a supportive environment for the newcomers to the culture of liberty. "Gun culture" is a necessary facet of liberty, but only one of many. Today, this week, this month, what have you personally done to make THR and your own environment more hospitable and supportive of those who are exploring the concepts of personal liberty?

 

[ugaarguy]

Bump, to bring Oleg's comments back to the top. It caused me to sit and think for a minute.

 

[sm]

Working with folks off forum via PM , or Email in various matters pertaining to :

-Shotgunning [Internet Lessons if you will, gun selection, reading material, and such]

-Sent a number of folks here : http://www.corneredcat.com/ looking for some answers to some questions I felt Kathy could address better than I .

-Sent links to THR Postings of folks I respect to those again asking questions and again others do this better than I.

Locally: Assisted with ladies and kids this summer on some private land. Most recent and most meaningful to me- presenting a gun to a kid.

One of the ladies I assisted, one I hang out with the most - found a used single shot .22 rifle like one of the kids wanted "if stuff ever gets better and I can get one". He and mom have a run of Negative stuff this summer, car repairs and the like. We cleaned it up, light refinish, and so forth and totally surprised the kid and his mom.

- Oh used some information from Al (moderator) in regard to COTUS to assist someone doing some research. Al does not know he helped me help another, but he did.

-The Old Man And The Boy - Ruark, was sent out again , one to a young lady for her B-day, and another for a prize for a fundraiser again out of state.

Passing it forward

To keep it - give it away

How raised, what you do.

I guess I can add Rich's Challenge and Oleg's wishes upon opening this site for us. Runs along the same lines as the italic lines I suppose.


Steve

 

[Marshall]

what have you personally done to make THR and your own environment more hospitable and supportive of those who are exploring the concepts of personal liberty?

Well, I was sweeter to OLD GI than I could have been. That's one.

I'm not trolling, that's two.

I never plan on trolling, that's three.

Thanks for the opportunity Oleg, and the forum.

 

[mc223]

Bump 2 think more. This message should be posted at BR Central.

 

[gitarmac]

The electricity always goes out here when it storms. No big deal, I have a battery powered radio and lots of led lights and headlamps. I saw my neighbor the next day (an older women, older than me) and she had commented on how bored she was and how hot the candles made the house. She could not read long with her old fashioned battery powered light.

The next time it went out (the next day I think) I took over one of my small led headlamps. She thought it was the greatest invention!

 

[MountainPeak]

Not much recently. Thanks for the BUMP. A reminder to us all.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Maybe not so much on THR, but in my own environment:

My own three kids were raised with the belief that they were lucky enough to be born in a free society, and that they should never let that concept die. They have all grown up into useful, productive adults who think for themselves. Sometimes they (especially my son) surprise me with common sense that I'm sure I didn't possess at that age.

Now I have eight grandkids aged six and under. Seems like my job is just starting. The two oldest, twin boys aged six, are already shooting BB guns off the porch, under the watchful eyes of grandma and grandpa.

The biggest challenge I see ahead is the indoctrination these kids will get in school. Although, they tried with my kids, and my kids saw right through them.

 

[hillbilly]

I teach as many people as I can to shoot.

I've taught four newbies just this week, albeit with air rifles.

hillbilly

 

[Monkeyleg]

Oleg, I don't know that I've made THR a more friendly place for shooters from WI.

If anything, I've gone so far as to berate and insult them, hoping that they would feel guilty, and step forward to do what must be done.

Perhaps we all work in our own ways.

 

[Low-Sci]

Well, I've been berated and insulted by monkeyleg, if that counts. Just kidding.

I do my best to not let my emotions get the better of me, and I don't post without thinking fairly hard about it.

In my community, I gave a stranger a ride, told a friend's girlfriend that she needs to be carrying mace (which she eventually agreed with), looked for mace for my own girlfriend to take with her to college, and loaned my little brother my pistol for a day at the range so he could see what its like.

And I flamed some people with bad ideas who should have known better in L&P.

I'm not really keeping a tally of things, but as long as I'm being asked, I may as well make the answer worthwhile.

 

[possum]

I am a combat veteran that is willing to die to uphold the freedoms that we Americans enjoy! I hope that is enough!

 

[Diamondback6]

Oleg & Co., one thing I do every day is trying to expose those on the other side in my life to what a gun-owner is like, so that they understand us better and might open their minds.

I suspect that for a lot of them, their fear is derived (as fear frequently is) from misunderstanding or lack of understanding, and the fact that it's harder to demonize something when you associate someone you know, respect and trust with it. Or even just someone who disagrees with you, but is still courteous, civil and polite. (At the same time, this lets me put some of my advanced Psych studies to good field-use.)

Another is the fact that I've been very careful about restraining my natural sharp tongue, something I've been doing ever since I got my CCW. (As Mr. Ayoob, I think it was him anyway, once wrote, you can afford to have a temper or a gun, but not both--I choose the path of effectivity in defense of myself and my loved ones. Defense policy's about the only field I blow head-gaskets on anymore...)

Thank you, Oleg, for inviting us to be guests in your online "home"; though I may have the odd hiccup, I strive to be a good "digital houseguest".

 

[armoredman]

Trying to emulate the master in pro gun photography, other than that, educating those at work.

 

[WayneConrad]

I try like heck to be as good as the people here. Mostly fail, but you've set a high standard.

I am trying, and sometimes succeeding, at not adding to a thread that's going off into the weeds.

In real life, I've put my hopes in my nephew, giving him every advantage I can think of so that he can be, as much as he is able, a free man. He's much more personable than his cranky old uncle and will influence many more people than I ever could.

 

[OEF_VET]

Let's see, what have I done?

I'm an NRA certified pistol instructor, and a TN Handgun Carry Permit Instructor, so I teach new shooters and those who are new to carrying a defensive firearm. I'd like to think I use what influence I have to mold those minds into proactive shooters, who think about what the RKBA actually means, and just how important it is to fight for that right.

I own a company that manufactures NFA / Title II weapons. I don't sell as many as I'd like, but I do spread the word about what is legally allowed, and try my best to dispel old wives tales regarding NFA34.

I've been known to do some modeling for Oleg, helping him spread the message.

Most importantly:

I VOTE!

 

[armedandsafe]

I, too, vote. I also let my hired hands know that I vote, and always include the name of my company. That way, they know what my hot-button is.

I still train a little bit, but I no longer take on students for a full course. I work with those who are sent to me by friends or family to get them started on the path of improvement, get some 'third-eyes' open and remind some who have become complacent that the enemy has not been defeated, just set back a bit.

I watch carefully for any of "my" children who start to spout the liberal's lies and set them straight by telling the truth.

Being a crotchety old fart has some advantages.

Pops

 

[dakotasin]

This message should be posted at BR Central.

must be referencing the 'supportive environment to newcomers' bit...

what have i done? hmmm... got a couple young female co-workers interested in shooting. one is excited about coming w/ me for some shooting, the other got pulled off the anti-fence.

ordered my wife a glock.

guess that's it for this month...

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I vote.

I'm a member of the NRA.

I take anyone that I possibly can, who is ignorant of firearms and the gun culture, or who leans anti (but is not a gun control activist/extremist) who is willing, to the range to show them it isn't some deviant behavior and that ranges are safe, shooters are nice people, and that firearms are treated with responsibility. One range session along busts about 1,000 subconscious myths and anti-gun images in the mind of a person.

It is truly amazing the shear amount of anti-gun pre-programming these people have from media, school and our culture. The myths, notions, and whatnot are just amazing.


Most people leave entertained and happy. They are shocked that going to a range and shooting a gun is fun. Some enjoyed the thrill. Some instantly want a gun of their own. Almost always, there's inquiries for training/class for more knowlegde before making that big 1st purchase that makes you a gun owner. At the very worst, they at least leave having heard the "other side of the story" with a personal experience that the gunowners and gun culture is not a pit full of savages and anti-government extremists.


Remember something folks, and remember it well...people don't care about rights they don't use. People don't mind losing what they don't have. When you own a gun, you now stand to lose something. You now have an interest in the issue. You will finally be in a position of understanding where you can finally feel the offensiveness of statements made against gun owners everyday. Nobody..nobody likes to be told they are "dangerous"..or a "threat"..or "incompetent" or "irresponsible" etc...That's exactly what gun-controllers do when they preach their rhetoric. Nobody likes to ever hear that something they own, use responsibly, causes no problems, brings them security and recreation, and most of all is a RIGHT should be banned. Yep, that "ban" word becomes real and it becomes ugly.


When I was a newcomer and new gunowner..I understood the politics a little but I wasn't as deep into it as I am now. Watching C-Span is great. It is the ultimate lesson. Watching some mini-Hitler at a podium basically telling me that I am an unsafe jerk that is irresponsible and a threat to society and that what I own should be taken away from me. Also, that because some other idiot commits a heinous act with something that I own...I should be a victim of group punishment and lose my right because others are not responsible. Which is triple insulting, since that is grouping me or categorizing me along with criminals and felons of the worst kind - as if we are both of the same status...like peasants that should have their priveledges revoked. Those are the very first things that strike a new gun owner when they take notice of the politics effecting them.


The easy part is taking someone to the range. The harder part is turning them into a gun owner. The hardest part of all - is helping to turn them into gunowners that CARE.


It is sad, but when there are at least 50 million individual gun owners in America, yet only 4 million NRA members....that is shameful. Want 922 repealed? Would be PIECE OF CAKE with 15million members. Want 86 ban changed.....

 

[Fly320s]

Most recently I spoke with an 8 year old boy who was sitting next to me on an airline flight last week.

I had my USPSA Front Sight magazine in the seat back pocket in front of me. The boy saw it which prompted a short discussion about guns. The boy said that only the police should have guns. I took a few minutes to discuss with him why making laws against gun ownership won't do much to save lives and that any object can be used to hurt people.

The gun talk didn't last long, but the kid is intelligent and I think that he understood me. Hopefully, I have planted a seed of open-mindedness.

 

[NailGun]

I took brother in law out shooting. He is an ultra-liberal, political activist that is working against all the good things that I stand for, like God, the constitution, the second amendment in particular, and so on. I have a range in my back yard, and lots of targets to shoot at. I was surprised at what a good shot my BIL was! After shooting up 200 rounds of ammo, he stated that shooting was fun, but he was really against indiscriminately polluting the earth with such quantities of lead. He stated further that handguns should be banned because all they are good for is shooting people. (ya, same old –same old.) We got into a discussion about the meaning of the second amendment. I was shocked at his interpretation! It made NO sense…completely irrational even….I reloaded, put 6 shots into the head section of a silhouette target, flashed him a “BIL’s suck” stare, and called it quits. I tried! :banghead: Lessons learned: When taking an ultra liberal brother in law shooting, make sure he understands that HIS job is to hold the targets. (Big sigh….)

 

[Oleg Volk]

NailGun,

Some people won't learn. Most would, given enough time. I have friends who were anti activists once and are gun owners now.

Patience and graciousness help.

 

[nplant]

Oleg,

Each month I invite new people to come to a range and shoot. Yesterday was the day for this month, and in addition to several old hands, we had two brand-new-to-shooting. Both walked away happy and better informed. I suspect we will see at least one of them next month for more fun. I do this with the intentions that people will come away from it with more safety-conciousness (I hate to read about accidents with guns that could have been so easily prevented), and to give them a look at what shooting is not (i.e. not stupid people doing stupid things).

Also, I vote and write my congresspeople, as well as write to the bureaucrats here and there (for all the good it does me), to make sure that at least one gun owner is having his voice heard.

I'm also a part time rifle instructor at a shooting school, where I try to teach in a course at least once per year.

Love the site, and your photography. Keep up the good work.

 

[ryoushi]

This week over on another non gun forum that I am a member of I politely defended gun culture, hunting and the 2nd amendment. Responce was pretty favorable, considering the website is devoted to a woman who was part of the million moms march.

 

[ACP230]

I supplied some information on a couple of threads here, and elsewhere.

Discussed concealed carry, and mindset, with my 21 year-old daughter.

Carried most of the time.

Wrote gun articles and sent them off to editors.