Why is there such insularity in the gun community?

[reckless carolinian]

A simple question for you. With very few exceptions, there seems to be a very insular and exclusive nature to gun ranges, shops, and the community of firearms in general. Why? Is it really to keep the "riff raff" out, as I have been told? Is it a function of where I live? It would appear that to get more people interested, you'd actually want to welcome them. Teach them what you know, not dismiss or ignore them. Do you know why I don't hunt? Because I don't know how, and there isn't anywhere to hunt anymore here. This forum is about the only place I've found that actually understands how to treat newcomers. Many of my friends have no interest in guns, including my best friend of 18 years. Sees no point in having a gun at all. I'd loved to drag him to the range, get some trigger time in, show him how fun it can be, but ranges are few and far here. The two indoor ranges here are pistols only. So what can be done to make shooting more accessable to the newcomer?

 

[armoredman]

Get picked on enough, told you're scum enough by the media, called names in public by elected officials, you tend to get a bit insular. That's a problem we all need to work on.

 

[Cosmoline]

I haven't noticed that here at all. Folks at the range tend to be pretty open. It's not an exclusive community. Most houses have rifles, at least.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

maybe because it is a male dominated environment- we don't do sunshine and roses

 

[earlthegoat2]

I haven't noticed that here at all. Folks at the range tend to be pretty open. It's not an exclusive community. Most houses have rifles, at least.

Thats because you live in Alaska. When I was there in the Air Force you would be strung up in the town square if you refused to go shooting or hunting.

 

[BHP FAN]

I have never met more open and friendly people than I've met at the range.Around here, they're willing to let you shoot their guns,and ammo,and will spot for you while you do it.

 

[RedAlert]

I think it is like many aspects of our society now. You need to spend the time with the people to let them open up. People do tend to be more cautious now than in times past. Look around you. Notice how many folks are wrapped up in their iPODS or Cell Phones?

I suggest, if there is a pistol range near you that you spend some time there even if only blasting off some .22s. Once folks see you around, you will more easily make contacts.

Of course, all bets are off if you constantly point the business end of a pistol at your fellow shooters and not the target ;-0

Ralph

 

[MarineOne]

Think of it as an exclusive club.

There are a lot of folks on here that like to go shooting, hunting, and camping .... and sometimes do all three at the same time.

Some folks come here because they have had an "experience"; some found out that the evil black rifle won't come flying down the hallway shooting full auto after jumping out of the safe it was locked in, and others because they found out the hard way that criminals don't follow the rules and never will.

But the best part is we're willing to share what we know because its enjoyable to us.

Find a rod and gun club, an IDPA group, or if you're a vet (I saw your swabbie tag) try your local VFW, Moose lodge, Elks, etc., and network with people.


Hope that helps



Kris

 

[Sav .250]

" many of my friends have no interest in guns." Try joing a gun club or something of that nature. Hearing the same song and dance from your present friends, leaves you no room to grow as far as hunting/guns goes.
Get out of the "rut" and take the next step. Come to think of it, a good first step would be to join the NRA. Visit you local Gun shows (if you have any.) Keep looking asking questions.
We are out there!

 

[EddieNFL]

Get picked on enough, told you're scum enough by the media, called names in public by elected officials, you tend to get a bit insular. That's a problem we all need to work on.

In addition to being labeled a potential terrorist by your own government because you have a military background.

 

[Rembrandt]

Why is there such insularity in the gun community?.....Do you know why I don't hunt? Because I don't know how, and there isn't anywhere to hunt anymore here.

Many of my friends have no interest in guns......I'd loved to drag him to the range, get some trigger time in, show him how fun it can be, but ranges are few and far here. So what can be done to make shooting more accessable to the newcomer?

Too many people in today's society like to play the victim card and blame their lack of initiative on something or someone else. If you really wanted to hunt, you'd find a way to do it.....if you wanted more shooting ranges, you'd take the initiative to start one rather than criticizing others for not making one available to you. You get out of life what you put into it.

This country was founded to give you the opportunity and freedom to do those things....not to provide them for you.

 

[murdoc rose]

you don't have to go to a shooting range to shoot a gun, best bet is to find some friends that like guns, shouldn't be too hard. Hunting is more of wanting to go than anything else.

 

[huntsman]

maybe because it is a male dominated environment- we don't do sunshine and roses

+1 Pure macho with a little testosterone on the side.

Do you know why I don't hunt? Because I don't know how, and there isn't anywhere to hunt anymore here.

I can see the lack of hunting grounds being an issue ( at least with firearms) but as for knowledge in hunting this IS the golden age. There are more books and now Videos available than there were in the 70's (when I started) and bowhunters now have more opportunities to succeed with the explosion of the deer population.

I had to teach myself deer and grouse hunting dog training and other outdoor skills because my Dad was not physically able to get into the woods most of the time.

Teach them what you know, not dismiss or ignore them

What ticks me off is when you run up against a "self proclaimed expert" who thinks his wisdom is the only thing of worth no matter if it's flawed or not.

 

[Carl]

It might just depend on the region. Some places the people at the range are friendly and informative and will jump up in a second to answer a question/give out advice if asked for it. Other places, some people are afraid to even go to the range with the fear of making a newbie mistake and end up getting yelled at by a RO with a pistol, or someone else that says he draws his weapon and threatens someone if they sweep him. That could scare a lot of new people away.

After reading some stories here, I was nervous the first time I went to an indoor pistol range. I was afraid that if I didn't do everything smoothly that everyone would sense I'm new to pistol shooting and think I don't know anything, or I'll do something newbish and get yelled at by someone and end up in the "dumbest thing you've seen on the range" thread.

 

[RugerBob]

I hear ya on the 'no place to hunt' or 'don't know how' and where to 'shoot your rifle'. Maybe someone at the pistol range can guide you to a local rifle/combo range. I lived and hunted deer growing up. After army service (3 years) I moved to a city area in texas. I was gonna hunt, but had to travel far and share a leased piece of land at high $$$ for 5 days. It was alot of money for me even splitting it 4 ways. So, for the next 18 years I never hunted. Went to the local range (League City Texas). Was ok, but not what I was used to. See if theres a range near you, or at least find some like minded people if possible. I ended up moving way north as my wife wanted too . So, for the last 6 years I have been able to hunt again. It took a few years years to meet decent like minded people. Got some nice clubs I joined. Went to the monthly meetings. One club doubled the dues and we did get rid of some riff raff. Not near as many holes in range roof and garbage at the range. Not all people I have met or shot with are friendly. Not mean, just there for them selves and thats ok. Being the carolinas I'd figure you would have better luck. Be safe and have fun....

 

[bhhacker]

As a younger gun enthusiast that has anti gun parents, I have never had a person teach me how to do anything in real life. (Still looking for someone in Austin, texas or in Juneau, Alaska if you feel like doing that )


Thehighroad has been my go to source for advice concerning a wide gamut of things. The knowledge from fellow members + a little common sense and me willing to get my hands dirty has gotten me pretty far. Still stuck to the regarding the hunting thing, but I plan on buying some land later so i figure ill get it in eventually.

 

[wishin]

I get the feeling that for the most part it's a them against us mentality, making some RKBAers suspicious and intolerant of who's perceived as "them". I see that attitude right here on THR amongst our very own.

 

[xcgates]

I'd say a lot of it has to do with where you are. My parents live near a big city, and around there ranges tend to be very expensive, and you need to be sponsored to become a member. I suspect it is to prevent people from getting in who are not going to follow the rules, and risk a shut down of the range.

Now, where I live most of the year, in rural upstate NY, I found a range that costs $10 per year, and you can buy memberships everywhere from the hunting/fishing store, to the pizza shop, to the barber's. There there is a clubhouse that is unlocked for regular events, and a rifle range, shotgun stations, and a pistol range. Highly informal, and I love it all the more.

And no, I have not encountered any of the horror stories about stupid things at the range that people talk about here. Its the kind of place where people use you going to change targets as a chance to shoot the breeze and grab a smoke. Sometimes seems like people spend more time chatting that shooting, actually.

 

[ny32182]

There are almost as many firearms as there are people in this country. You can't make any broad generalization about the "type of person who owns a gun"; it would be nearly as futile as trying to define the "type of person who drives a car".... because almost ALL types of people do it.

You will find gun owners who fall into any and all of the following categories, and many more:

-open and friendly
-'insular'
-helpful
-rude
-paranoid
-conservative
-liberal
-white, or black, or spanish, or asian, or....
-knowledgeable
-cocky and sure they know everything
-high school dropout, to Ph.D.
-$30k a year, on up to high income
-male, or female, or....

..and the list goes on. It is too broad a segment of society to pigieonhole in any one or five ways. Just at my local IDPA matches here in BFE, SC, we've got a pretty good cross section of the above represented, and that is just one small region of the country not known for its "diversity".

Once you get into an enthusiast concentrated community (doesn't matter the topic... firearms, cars, motorcycles, boats, whatever), which is what this website is, you will start to see the "extremes" of all facets of the above. That is just the way it works.

If you want shooter friends, you will need to search out their concentrations locally, just like you would need to with any other interest.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

[Pruned... -Sam]We all have varying opionions, good grief look at the caliber war threads. That variation in opinion is partially what has driven the incredible diversity we enjoy in the shooting sports today.

 

[al123]

I've found gun folks to be more serious then let's say astronomy hobbyists. Maybe has something to do with handling deadly force

In my narrow confines, folks here believe that anyone who owns guns is a nutcase or has 'something to prove'. You also may become a target for burglars. It's best to keep your mouth shut. So I understand if there's a view of insularity about gun owners.

 

[ny32182]

I've found gun folks to be more serious then let's say astronomy hobbyists. Maybe has something to do with handling deadly force

Read up on the debate about whether Pluto was/is a planet, and you might reevaluate the seriousness of astronomy hobbyists...

 

[longtooth]

Our range in Texas sure dont have that problem.
I are a RedNeck & wear the title prowdly. If you still tip your hat to a Southern Belle you may be too.

Cant speak for other places cause I aint seen all of Angelina County yet let alone the Carolinas.

 

[cerberus65]

Is your location accurate? And are you "from around there"? The reason I ask that is because I grew up just about 100 miles north of you. Appalachian folks are naturally a bit standoffish until they get to know you (but then they'll give you the shirt off their backs). If you're not from around there you'll have to work a bit harder to earn folks' trust.

I do have a hard time believing no one around there is interested in guns. That doesn't match my experience in the area at all. Enlarge your circle of friends and I bet you'll be blown away how common guns are. But they're not going to tell you about them unless they trust you.

It also shouldn't be too hard to find hunting areas around there. Those are beautiful mountains you live in with plenty of areas where the trees go on as far as the eye can see in every direction. Unless, of course, all the land has been scarfed up by folks wanting to build summer cabins. But there's a lot of land up there so I can't believe we've got that bad off yet. I started into hunting two seasons ago and I found folks at work and at church that have helped me out some. I still have a long ways to go but I'm having fun as I slowly figure things out. http://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/H_Game_Land_Maps.htm looks like a good place to start looking for places to hunt. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Sam1911]

We're on the verge of this thread heating up and bursting into flames. Let's not discuss who is or isn't an "elitist" -- or what constitutes an "elitist" -- or a "redneck." Or "Elitists and Rednecks ... Have they Infiltrated THR?!?!?"

The original discussion has merit, but chewing on each other is wholly unproductive. Mmmmm'k?