First off, let me make this statement, I DO NOT want any “Guns are good/guns are bad” debates here, any insulting, backbiting, or allusions to guns “compensating for anatomical deficiencies” will result in my requesting this thread closure
Okay, here’s the questions, I’ve always wondered if the more vocal of the anti-gun crowd has even seen/handled/used a gun, did their dislike stem from the rational side (tried guns, didn’t enjoy shooting) or the emotional side?
So, I put it to you, anti-gun (and former anti-gun) crowd…
1; Have you actually held a gun?
2; do you know how a gun operates? (any firearm)
3; have you actually fired a gun?
4; did you enjoy the experience or not?
5; did using the gun change your mind about them? (E.G. you started out as an anti, but found out you liked them after trying them)
6; for the former antis, what made you change your mind and give shooting a try?
these questions are obviously related to recreational sport shooting/target shooting
Please, keep the political posturing and debate out of this thread, I’m simply curious how you came about to disliking firearms
There’s a hugely fallacious assumption inherent in your last question that anyone who is formerly “anti-gun” (kind of a self-serving misnomer in itself), had no prior experience with firearms.
I don’t really know how to approach this… I’m anti-gun in the sense that I don’t think Joe Average needs to own a handgun or carry one in public, but you’re trying to relate the “anti-gun crowd” with the idea of shooting as a sport, which is a whole different ballgame.
I’ve held, shot and enjoyed guns, both handguns and shotguns, at shooting ranges and skeet-shooting. But I’m still “anti-gun”, by your definition I guess, in the sense that I’d never feel the need to own a gun, and don’t think the people around me have any reason to own a gun.
I think you’re trying to set up a straw-man argument (either “hey look, these anti-gun nuts don’t even know anything about guns!” or “hey look, these anti-gun nuts secretly love guns, talk about hypocrites!”) but I don’t really know how to respond the way you want me to respond.
Okay, maybe the last question wasn’t worded correctly, all I was wondering is what “changed” why someone who dislikes firearms decides to try one, was it simple curiosity, peer pressure, what?
and no, I have no plans to say “lookit those stoopid antis!, they don;t know what they’re talking about”
Yes the term Anti can be seen as (heh, no pun intended)…loaded, but I’m using it as a typing abbreviation, nothing more
no snark or ulterior motives intended here, just plain old curiosity, nothing more
That’s just the kind of info I’m looking for, just plain old curiosity
and for the record, I’m pro gun, but I don’t carry either, it’s just too much of a headache, besides, I live in a extremely low crime area, if someone wants to carry (concealed or open) or not, it doesn’t bother me at all, that’s their decision, not mine
You’re not going to get anywhere here because hardly anybody who’s anti-gun is going to admit that they don’t know anything about guns. Why would anyone want to admit that? This thread will either go under quickly, or become a pissing match between two or three people and get moved.
I thought as soon as I read this thread title placed in MPSIMS that this would likely be a “so tell us how you feel about having stopped beating your wife but please don’t break forum rules by arguing” thread, and the body of the OP doesn’t disappoint.
I know what you meant, but I still think you’re making an erroneous inferrence that people who support any kind of gun control legislation necessarily don’t like guns. It’s possible to enjoy shooting and/or hunting, but still favor at least some gun control legislation (Bill Clinton is a duck hunter). It’s also possible to personally dislike guns, but still support gun rights.
Of course, you didn’t explicitly say you were talking about people who support gun control legislation (or specify what degree of legislation would make somebody “anti-gun”), but if your intent is to solicit opinions only from people who actively dislike guns, without any necessary reference to a political stance, then I think you should probably make that more clear.
I don’t know if I qualify as “anti-gun.” I think the 2nd Amendment confers an individual right, and I don’t support gun bans or anything, but I do support some kinds of regulations (like background checks and trigger locks).
Personally, I’ve shot handguns, shotguns and rifles at targets and at animals. I do enjoy it. It hasn’t affected my opinions on anything.
To me it means anyone who thinks that guns are inherently negative objects that “the average person doesn’t need to have” and that restrictive gun laws such as those in Washington DC and New York City actually prevent criminals from obtaining weapons. It certainly applies to anyone who think the Second Amendment should be repealed (and I have heard many people espouse this.)
I don’t think you qualify as anti-gun, from what you’ve written above, anyway. I know you’re fond of penis/gun analogies but you’re a sarcastic guy so I take that into consideration whenever reading what you write.
I guess I’ll defy you and admit that I a. don’t like guns and b. don’t know anything about them. I have never held a gun in my life, and I don’t feel any desire to change that. I grew up in a part of the US where guns and hunting are not common at all, and it doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest. I would never want to have weapons of any sort. I am a non-violent sort of person.
I’m not a proponent of banning guns or anything like that, but it makes me unhappy that they are so prevalent in our society. I am sure that all of the gun owners in this thread, however, are responsible and careful with their weapons. If everyone in the US was like that, I wouldn’t have a problem with them. I do have a couple of friends now who are gun owners and enjoy going to the shooting range once in awhile. They are both military veterans and I have no doubt that they know exactly what they are doing. I have spent a lot of time in Israel, where guns (rifles, usually) are extremely common and visible on the streets all the time, and although it was strange and took awhile to get used to, I never felt like I was in danger because virtually all Israelis have gone through military service and are well-trained in how to use (and not use) their weapons.
Great answer, thanks for responding. When you say that you’re “unhappy that guns are so prevalent in our society” do you mean, “so prevalent among criminals in the commission of crimes”, or just prevalent at all? Because surely you wouldn’t be unhappy at all of the people who own guns in a responsible manner for sport or hunting, right? It certainly doesn’t seem like you would, from what you’ve said. Maybe you are bothered by people who own handguns for self-defense, but in that case maybe it’s the violent criminals who they presumably wish to defend themselves from that make you unhappy, and not the responsible owners of self-defense handguns?
When you say you are a “non violent sort of person” what would you do if someone attacked you? Tried to rape you? Surely you would defend yourself, right?
1; Have you actually held a gun? yes
2; do you know how a gun operates? (any firearm) yes
3; have you actually fired a gun? yes - shotguns, rifles and pistols
4; did you enjoy the experience or not? yes
5; did using the gun change your mind about them? (E.G. you started out as an anti, but found out you liked them after trying them) yes but not pro to anti, or anti-pro, it just changed the way I regarded them. I was ambivalent before trying, then when I tried I was enthusiatic, then stopped for personal reasons.
6; for the former antis, what made you change your mind and give shooting a try? N/A
I should qualify answer 2 - I don’t know much about the difference between rimfire and centerfire? rounds. And terminology sometimes trips me up. I know mechanical basics only, but all the safety procedures, of course.
I am anti gun. I see no purpose for them in society. I am not arguing that a professional criminal won’t get one- but a professional criminal with a weapon is not that dangerous to someone walking down the street.
And I have had (in my early days) a deal of experience with military firearms up to a Bren gun.
What you said mostly - I grew up with a dad who had a hunting shotgun, I grew up shooting my own air rifle. I’ve also said before that giving me a gun to defend myself with is as good as handing it over to the criminal due to lack of recent, real experience. My husband hunts so I see that as a reason to own a gun and sport shooting is fine, but going by those criteria given I’d fit the “anti-gun” category.
Like I’m personally not a fan of concealed carry, just because that gives way more idiots (yes, as well as responsible people who’d never misuse a firearm, but I’m not worried about those people) a “justification” to be toting a gun around for no good reason.
1; Have you actually held a gun? Yes. I have at least held all ordinary gun types.
2; do you know how a gun operates? Quite well.
3; have you actually fired a gun? Yes. A .22 rifle, a .22 pistol, a 9 mm pistol and two different .50 cal. black powder rifles
4; did you enjoy the experience or not? No. Guns are ugly, polluting, loud machines that make hunting too easy (it takes no skill whatsoever to bag small game with a .22, as I found out, and two guys with shotguns emptied an island in a weekend from black grouse that were archery-hunted for a couple years prior to that). I feel firearm hunting of small, non-varmint game should be severely restricted.
This is almost exactly what I was going to write. Growing up, almost every family gathering involved my brothers and me putting holes in something. I’m not the most vocal “anti-gun” person, but I suppose I’m “anti-gun” by the OP’s defintion.
I wouldn’t say that I’m anti-gun, although by certain standards I might be. I don’t have a gun, don’t want one in my home, and don’t like the idea of guns in my workplace, school or social gatherings I might happen to be at. However, I don’t care if other folks have guns for hunting, recreational shooting, or home defense.
MacTech, in answer to your questions, I’ve never fired a gun, nor do I have any desire to do so.