I'm into a lot of things and I don't tend to list of my possesions, interests, hobbies, to everyone I meet. At the same time when someone asks what I did on the weekend I tell them be it an art show or a range trip. That being said if common sense should always prevail.
How open are you about being a firearms owner?
- Thread starter subdermal
- Start date
I am pretty open about owning firearms but I don't go bragging about it or anything. I think it depends on the people you are around and what the situation is for me to talk about firearms or owning firearms. Most of my friends know I own guns but some of them own guns as well so it doesn't matter to much. There are deffinetly some friend that don't know that i owne guns and i intend on keeping it that way.
being open
Im open to my friends and to people that I know would be receptive to it. I definitely do not brag as we are constantly under scrutiny and microscope.
Unfortunately, all it takes is a single unsubstantiated call or complaint, and we are judged guilty immediately. Onus is on us to prove we are innocent.
We gun owners are a close knit community because of this insane and unjust rule.
Im open to my friends and to people that I know would be receptive to it. I definitely do not brag as we are constantly under scrutiny and microscope.
Unfortunately, all it takes is a single unsubstantiated call or complaint, and we are judged guilty immediately. Onus is on us to prove we are innocent.
We gun owners are a close knit community because of this insane and unjust rule.
Hahaha, ever since I heard that song "cleaning this gun" that is my plan for my daughter's future dates. I think a Rem 700 sniper set up on the kitchen table should make him sh!t his pants.
That and a swift kick in the nuts before the date begins. Hard to have ### with swollen balls.
I was told by my last girlfriends dad that "I wouldn't hear the head shot" It was just a joke, but it made me think twice when it came to his daughter.
dragansrbin
Regular
- Location
- Stoners Creek
well being a university student i have to keep it quiet around people i know,
but this past weekend 8 of my friends and cousins went to get their hunters and non res, i just told them that's good and I support it.
and now that hey passed it and learned about firearms and safety i called them over and showed them my rifles, shotguns, handguns
they were amazed that they knew me between 6-10 years and i had guns for the past 4 and not told them.
so i like to keep quiet
but this past weekend 8 of my friends and cousins went to get their hunters and non res, i just told them that's good and I support it.
and now that hey passed it and learned about firearms and safety i called them over and showed them my rifles, shotguns, handguns
they were amazed that they knew me between 6-10 years and i had guns for the past 4 and not told them.
so i like to keep quiet
here in new zealand we dont get treated like ciminals. its actually highly accepted. infact when i picked my friend up to go for a blast the other day he walked from his place, out to the street where i was parked ( 20m or so ) with his shotgun in his hands, no bag, no trigger locks.. and there were people out doing their gardening and walkin a dog past.. no one batted an eyelid.
so im very open about owning firearms..
so im very open about owning firearms..
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
I na give a #### pa what anyone else does with their fun time, so I want the same respect, and get it.
chrisward3
Regular
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
i dont go around broadcasting it...why would i? (for firearms or any other activity)...but if the issue comes up ill certainly voice my opinions and concerns and stand proudly as a firearms (R and NR) owner
Well, I can see both sides on this issue. I tend to gravitate towards the "need to know only" basis. I totally understand the need to educate people and break stereotypes and de-bunk myths, but at the same time, I am extremely paranoid about information falling into the wrong hands (unlikely, but still a concern for me). I like Fred Thompson's line during a Republican candidate's debate last year when he was asked if he has any guns - he said something along the lines of "I own a couple of guns...what they are and where they are is none of anyone's business."
That being said, I am caught in a bit of a bind. My wife is not crazy about guns but tolerates them (been working on her for a few years now - the fact that she willingly signed off on my PAL application a couple of years ago is a step in the right direction). She also runs a home-based academics/schooling business which has a lot of children come through - as a result of the licensing aspect of our business, we are legally obligated to divulge the fact that I have firearms in the house - she is not crazy about this and neither am I. Now, that being said, during initial screenings, potential candidates don't actually meet us at the house until they tell the screener that they are OK with the fact that one of the homeowners is a gunowner as well. I don't exactly live in the most gun-friendly area either, so it's been an uphill battle.
That being said, divulging one's interest in firearms has helped me to turn several people around to better understanding the thought process of a gun owner. My brother, who found out 3 years ago that I have picked up target shooting and general firearms as an interest, first reacted with disdain and the typical shock and awe that those who have been conditioned in an anti-gun environment tend to emanate. However, over time, he has asked more questions, some very pointed and perhaps argument-driven, but I have calmly answered them with supporting information and real-life examples. At the very least, he knows that I am an educated gun owner, and not one of the many left-wing-created stereotypes. I have even given him a tour of my gun cabinet. Him and my wife are the only ones who have seen what's inside the cabinet.
At work, it's a pretty white-collar office environment, and very, very few people are interested in guns, much less have a licence. Plus, with all the ridiculous laws that govern workplace co-worker interaction, I really don't say too much about anything to anyone, though I'm pleased to know that one of our executives is a duck hunter.
Some of it is also cultural as well. I imagine it would be far easier in a rural setting to discuss gun ownership. In my case, I live near the big city, and not only that, I am a "visible minority", so that in and of itself garners me some odd looks as a proud gun owner. I've had more than my fair share of, "what are you doing with guns - I thought only White guys own them." It's no different at my church, where I was an elder and my wife the children's program director - lots of people see guns and faith to be mutually exclusive. Well, at the very least, I am helping to chisel away at media-created stereotypes of gun owners.
Still, while it's great to discuss all things firearms, in the big city (especially), one has to be vigilant, since you never know who can be the unintended recipient of that kind of information. So I tend to temper my exuberance with a pinch of caution, and feel people out and vet them fully before even breaching the topic of firearms. But that's just my own humble two cents...
Now, to the original poster's situation, I have a daughter as well so I totally can relate (well, sort of, she's still a toddler right now) - as someone else has helpfully suggested, if the character is shady, my concern would be his intentions with my daughter rather than his intention with the guns. Unless I know him very well, I wouldn't divulge much information about the guns that I do have and what they are used for.
That being said, I am caught in a bit of a bind. My wife is not crazy about guns but tolerates them (been working on her for a few years now - the fact that she willingly signed off on my PAL application a couple of years ago is a step in the right direction). She also runs a home-based academics/schooling business which has a lot of children come through - as a result of the licensing aspect of our business, we are legally obligated to divulge the fact that I have firearms in the house - she is not crazy about this and neither am I. Now, that being said, during initial screenings, potential candidates don't actually meet us at the house until they tell the screener that they are OK with the fact that one of the homeowners is a gunowner as well. I don't exactly live in the most gun-friendly area either, so it's been an uphill battle.
That being said, divulging one's interest in firearms has helped me to turn several people around to better understanding the thought process of a gun owner. My brother, who found out 3 years ago that I have picked up target shooting and general firearms as an interest, first reacted with disdain and the typical shock and awe that those who have been conditioned in an anti-gun environment tend to emanate. However, over time, he has asked more questions, some very pointed and perhaps argument-driven, but I have calmly answered them with supporting information and real-life examples. At the very least, he knows that I am an educated gun owner, and not one of the many left-wing-created stereotypes. I have even given him a tour of my gun cabinet. Him and my wife are the only ones who have seen what's inside the cabinet.
At work, it's a pretty white-collar office environment, and very, very few people are interested in guns, much less have a licence. Plus, with all the ridiculous laws that govern workplace co-worker interaction, I really don't say too much about anything to anyone, though I'm pleased to know that one of our executives is a duck hunter.
Some of it is also cultural as well. I imagine it would be far easier in a rural setting to discuss gun ownership. In my case, I live near the big city, and not only that, I am a "visible minority", so that in and of itself garners me some odd looks as a proud gun owner. I've had more than my fair share of, "what are you doing with guns - I thought only White guys own them." It's no different at my church, where I was an elder and my wife the children's program director - lots of people see guns and faith to be mutually exclusive. Well, at the very least, I am helping to chisel away at media-created stereotypes of gun owners.
Still, while it's great to discuss all things firearms, in the big city (especially), one has to be vigilant, since you never know who can be the unintended recipient of that kind of information. So I tend to temper my exuberance with a pinch of caution, and feel people out and vet them fully before even breaching the topic of firearms. But that's just my own humble two cents...
Now, to the original poster's situation, I have a daughter as well so I totally can relate (well, sort of, she's still a toddler right now) - as someone else has helpfully suggested, if the character is shady, my concern would be his intentions with my daughter rather than his intention with the guns. Unless I know him very well, I wouldn't divulge much information about the guns that I do have and what they are used for.
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Seems to me that you should want him to know that you have guns in the house. Don't you know the Rodney Atkins song?
Seriously though, shouldn't you be more worried about this sketchy character dating your daughter than him knowing you have guns in the house?
i wouldnt say that i advertise the face that in into guns however most of the people im around at school know im into guns....i figured i could study for my RPAL one day at lunch...so they all know and think im a redneck...i dont really care, they arent far off the mark and thats fine. i dont however like the skew the media puts on things and it reminds me of the guy who i took my PAL with in the news " police siezed 3 weapons and 2,000 rounds of ammunition" but when you look at it, buy a brick of .22 ammo and thats what 500 rounds? have that many rounds for all your guns and wow, according to the media youre stockpiling ammunition. the instructors (an ex cop) response was "thats all the ammo he has? amature" it really is sad sometimes that people hear gun and the first thing that comes to mind is violence or crime...
i dont really much to say on the posted topic other than be aware of your gut instinct but give him a chance...had i seen that on my gf's table i would have asked also and im that age as well (20)...
i dont really much to say on the posted topic other than be aware of your gut instinct but give him a chance...had i seen that on my gf's table i would have asked also and im that age as well (20)...
