Ignorant People Scare Me...

[IndyGunner]

Its sad and ridiculous how many people I've met in the past 24 hours who are vocally scared and against guns. Of which none have any experience.

" I'm not scared of guns, at all. Fast moving bullets... now that's another story."

When has a bullet decided to kill anyone? I dont need protection from bullets, I need it for criminals, psychos, and politicians. Thats what was so funny, everyone I talked to either completely believes the fallocy that removing guns from the general populous will somehow eliminate crime. If we outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns. The other hilarious part of this was the NO ONE that gave their .02 of **** had any experience whatsoever. "My brother and dad shoot and im so scared of the guns. They are loud. What if my brother shot my dads head off." Was her argument.

I truely am scared for the future of this country and the rights of lawful citicens who carry daily, like me.


Granted, I am on a college campus, the most liberal area save for cali NY and MA, but still. Its so hard to even have a decent conversation about firearms without having 18 people come up and tell you youre a paranoid toolbag, or something. Where are these people coming from!? I just dont understand how anyone can think like this, let alone SO MANY people thinking the same.


Do you think my generation will be stupid enough to eliminate the second ammendment? (im 21)

 

[Kitty]

Let's hope it's just where you are at (college). Attitude was fairly similar in the late 80's, early 90's. Many college students change their attitudes when confronted with the real world.

 

[IndyGunner]

I really freakin hope so. Thanks!

 

[EvilElmo]

I just dont understand how anyone can think like this, let alone SO MANY people thinking the same.

That's just it - they're not thinking. They feel afraid because they're not thinking. If they took the time to think it through and learn something many would change their tune.

I'm also guessing the reason so many say the same thing is because they all read the same anti-gun talking points. They're repeating them, again, without thinking.

 

[Kitty]

I looked this quote up for you:
[FONT=&quot]
Any [/FONT][FONT=&quot]man[/FONT][FONT=&quot] who is under 30, and is not a [/FONT][FONT=&quot]liberal[/FONT][FONT=&quot], has no [/FONT][FONT=&quot]heart[/FONT][FONT=&quot]; and any man who is over 30, and is not a [/FONT][FONT=&quot]conservative[/FONT][FONT=&quot], has no [/FONT][FONT=&quot]brains[/FONT][FONT=&quot].
- [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Winston Churchill[/FONT]

I'm not saying I agree with him 100%, but it does show these types of attitudes (and adjustments with age) have been around longer than you or I. Be true to who you are and it will be good.

 

[IndySSD]

Do you think my generation will be stupid enough to eliminate the second ammendment? (im 21)

I'm not scared of your generation eliminating the second amendment, I'm scared of them allowing the next generation or two to eliminate it after I'm dead and gone...

 

[Mordred]

I get that too all the time. Im a computer programmer and the only experience any of my peers have with guns is on video games. They think im some kind of red neck at first. You have to just break the stereo type of they think you are and be yourself. Once they get to talking to me, they find out that i studied literature at Trinity College in Ireland. Not your stereotypical gun owner.

 

[eldirector]

Many college students change their attitudes when confronted with the real world.

^^^^ This.

I've worked in Education for a while now. Its funny talking to students a few years after they graduate. I think something happens when you see the deductions and taxes on your first few real paychecks. Add in the responsibilities of putting roof over your own head and food on your own table, and maybe even a family, and BAM - you've got yourself a fiscal conservative!

 

[rugertoter]

Its sad and ridiculous how many people I've met in the past 24 hours who are vocally scared and against guns. Of which none have any experience.

" I'm not scared of guns, at all. Fast moving bullets... now that's another story."

When has a bullet decided to kill anyone? I dont need protection from bullets, I need it for criminals, psychos, and politicians. Thats what was so funny, everyone I talked to either completely believes the fallocy that removing guns from the general populous will somehow eliminate crime. If we outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns. The other hilarious part of this was the NO ONE that gave their .02 of **** had any experience whatsoever. "My brother and dad shoot and im so scared of the guns. They are loud. What if my brother shot my dads head off." Was her argument.

I truely am scared for the future of this country and the rights of lawful citicens who carry daily, like me.


Granted, I am on a college campus, the most liberal area save for cali NY and MA, but still. Its so hard to even have a decent conversation about firearms without having 18 people come up and tell you youre a paranoid toolbag, or something. Where are these people coming from!? I just dont understand how anyone can think like this, let alone SO MANY people thinking the same.


Do you think my generation will be stupid enough to eliminate the second ammendment? (im 21)

You know what? Just watch how fast some of the "enlightened" and "feel-good tree huggers" grab for a gun when their butts are on the line. They do this stuff because its trendy for the time in their lives, but as they age their "big pie in the sky" ideas start getting jaded and they usually, if they are ever seriously threatened, change overnight. I have seen this many times. You have just to put some more years behind you and you will see it too. Stupid silly idealistic morons these people.

 

[Lucas156]

I just turned 23 and I believe one of two things are inevitable in this generations lifetime. It will go one way or the other to the extreme. Either guns will be completely outlawed in this country, or guns will become the social norm and everyone will carry them. I predict one of these two to happen within the next 100 years.

 

[Bill of Rights]

I looked this quote up for you:
[FONT=&quot]
Any [/FONT][FONT=&quot]man[/FONT][FONT=&quot] who is under 30, and is not a [/FONT][FONT=&quot]liberal[/FONT][FONT=&quot], has no [/FONT][FONT=&quot]heart[/FONT][FONT=&quot]; and any man who is over 30, and is not a [/FONT][FONT=&quot]conservative[/FONT][FONT=&quot], has no [/FONT][FONT=&quot]brains[/FONT][FONT=&quot].
- [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Winston Churchill[/FONT]

I'm not saying I agree with him 100%, but it does show these types of attitudes (and adjustments with age) have been around longer than you or I. Be true to who you are and it will be good.

I quoted this some years ago and the point was made to me that Churchill was being a bit sarcastic. Mind you, in many cases I agree with his thought, I'm just not so sure he completely agreed with it (and for the record, I was a liberal through most of my 30s.

)

Blessings,
Bill

 

[Kitty]

When speaking of Churchill - sarcasm goes with the territory (ever see some of the stuff he said about dogs and pigs?). Point is, there is some truth to it somewhere (why I tend to love British sarcasm).

Also, the original poster is dealing with college kids. A good quote or two form someone considered "historical" goes further than any of the meaning behind it. IME

 

[spencer rifle]

The phrase originated with Francois Guisot (1787-1874): "Not to be a
republican (in this case in France, a Liberal) at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head."

It was revived by French Premier Georges
Clemenceau (1841-1929): "Not to be a socialist at twenty is proof of
want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head."
(all this from Google Answers)

Part of this comes from the post-modernism rampant on college campuses. They firmly believe that their "feelings" and "clever thoughts" equal my experience. Maybe because it requires risk, work and time to get experience.

Thomas Sowell said it better:
Many crucial things in life are learned from experience, rather than from clever thoughts or clever words.

To which I say in conclusion:

“No matter how cynical I get I just can’t keep up.” - Nora Ephron​

​

 

[gunowner930]

Those kids are just parroting what they've heard and they're trying to fit in. Protesting is cool, big government is cool, socialism isn't so bad, and guns are bad. Some of them will come around. Taking somebody like that to the range goes a long way.

 

[IndyGunner]

Fortunately ive recruited several bleeding heart liberals in my neighborhood. They made me proud last night, telling the anti-guns some things I had told them. Doin the best I can.

 

[jayhawk]

As an enlightened, tree-hugging liberal (god I love trees), I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this topic.

The problems here are ignorance, fear and generalization...on both sides of the fence. It's not necessarily a conservative/liberal issue either. I've met plenty of conservatives who fear guns as much or more than any liberal. I work at a very conservative place, and the same "gun control" rifts exist there as anywhere else.

The first problem is that the "gun culture" (the vocal fanatical gun culture IN GENERAL) is paranoid. Read some of the threads on this forum, and if you can see the forest from the trees you should be able to understand this. "They're going to take our rights." "They're going to invade my house." "The country is doomed." Perceived dangers are often over-hyped and over-analyzed...paranoia.

The second major problem is that people who do not own guns, generally do not have much knowledge about guns and do not have any desire to gain knowledge about guns. They are afraid of guns because guns and bullets DO kill people. That is why we carry them is it not? We are much more lethal with our guns, they are tools for killing or maiming when carried for self defense. This rational fear turns into paranoia when amplified by lack of knowledge and perspective. Non-gun owners do not have enough exposure to rational gun owners and measured rhetoric. But what can gun owners do to communicate the message? That is a huge problem. Simply going about your day responsibly (as a gun owner) is not very sensational and does not speak very loudly. Taking someone to the range is a great idea; one step at a time. As more and more people carry, this may change, but it's too early to tell.

The debate on both ends is far too emotional for either side's good. It's unfortunate that our political system is such that these "societal" issues must get played out in the courts, because then we end up in these situations in which the law has become a patchwork of inadequate and oft misunderstood regulations and rulings. There is the general problem that each side is somewhat ignorant (or in denial) of the other and that there are valid points on both sides. It's highly unlikely that gun control will ever be resolved via legislature, but will always be bounced around in the courts.

 

[LegatoRedrivers]

My response:

 

[IndyGunner]

^ cant see your picture...



Jayhawk- I agree, its not a liberal vs conservative issue. No argument there. However, the vast majority of the liberal party *in my lifetime of experience* is primarily pro gun-control.

 

[Denny347]

 

[jayhawk]

Jayhawk- I agree, its not a liberal vs conservative issue. No argument there. However, the vast majority of the liberal party *in my lifetime of experience* is primarily pro gun-control.

My advice is that you simply shouldn't let ignorant people scare you. That's complete bs, and in a way...it is ignorance. It's rhetorically no different than saying that guns scare you.

Be willing and happy to confront ignorance, and be willing and happy to "lose" an argument. Once people start arguing, they tend to close their minds. You just want to get in there and plant a seed of thought. You're obeying the law, exercising your right, and you've educated yourself on how to handle yourself in a safe manner. You're not a violent person. Demonstrate that you are part of the silent majority.