Gun Shaming

[IVC]

yeah i had something like that happen once. it was at my apartment had a few friends over and one of them brought some guy i don't know it was all good and he seemed cool until he spouts off with his "hate for all gun nutters". i calmly walked back to my room got a 1911 locked the slide back and walked out and placed it on the table in front of him. told him this is a pro 2A house and if he was interested in learning how to shoot i would gladly teach him. then i told him if he continued with his misplaced hatred he would be asked to leave. he never said another word for the rest of the afternoon. he just kept looking at the 1911 like it was going to load itself and start shooting.

Now that's funny. Radical, but funny. Well done.

[sl0re10]

and someone brought up gun control and how only "crazies" would want to own a gun.

I remember a lot of this type of behavior back in 03ish about Bush. Opinions about him aside; some DB would feel like bringing him up at dinners, parties, gatherings, et cetera and recite lefty talking points and claim he was an idiot.

Anyway; then he got reelected.

So; my point is the DB with the gun owner attacks might not be convincing anyone and an eye roll might be enough.

[sl0re10]

Our country is full of people who do not understand that our 2nd amendment protects the 1st, and all 27 after it. They don't understand what countries like Cuba, Venezuela, etc are like.

or they do understand it all... and they sorta like Venezuela.

[mcisniper]

The last time some one tried, I lifted my shirt, properly cleared my 1911 and set it on the counter warned everyone not to touch the evil gun and told it to behave. Came back later in a panic and made sure the evil gun did not hurt anyone. After the snickers, I had a very intelligent conversation and even showed off a few ARs. I then invited the offender to the range. they replied it was just not for them.

Ended it very quickly

[HPBrowningMK3]

Here is my thing: I can be friends with a person who dislike guns, for whatever reason, as long as they don't get stupid and irrational with me. We can argue, agree to disagree and still have a glass of beer or two. No problem there. I can show them by example that we are some of the most law abiding and responsible people around and hopefully get them to realize that guns are not the problem.

What I have a problem with is the irrational brain dead anti gun zealots, who abuse emotional appeal and frequently use "it's for the children" crutch. No matter how hard you try, you can't convert them. Ask me how I know :-) Nowadays, I refuse to engage them, but will do so if pressed and then the gloves will come off.

[blackrat]

I honestly feel like these people being up this stuff like taking about sports. They figure since it's California everyone agrees with them and it's just a segue into a conversation they think they know something about and can spit some rhetoric that everyone will agree with.

I very very rarely get into conversions about guns with people that aren't into them to begin with. Maybe the company I keep or the fact I don't really have any reason to bring it up in everyday conversion. The last thing I would do would be to concede to someone badmouthing me though, they need to figure it out that their opinion is not the only one. Like someone prior mentioned, do your homework and read up on the facts that way you have the responses necessary to counter the usual things they say.

Of course if it's just not their thing then that's their business. I don't go trying to spread the gospel or whatever, they mind their own business and I'll mind mine.

[John Joseph]

Being calm and respectful is best. There are no points to gain in rhetorical dialogue but there is respect for your views to be gained from those listening in on the conversation.
Try to identify why your fried feels the way they do. Did they have a friend or relative killed or crippled during crime or accident? Or are they parroting back liberal propaganda? Each requires a different approach.
For someone to buy the lie, I order for them to be 'right' you have to be 'wrong' and not just you, but everyone who has similar points of view has to be enemies to their "Society" Once they define society's "new" truths you can be shamed.
If you get into a heated debate, you'll only bore your other guests. I'll usually just offer to take them shooting and leave it at that. Make it fun and win them over. Gaining a convert is a victory while an embittering an anti gunner is merely another pita.

[MisplacedTexan]

Ask them how they feel about fire extinguishers.
I bet most people like them.
Then ask them do you ever expect a fire in your home?
Most will answer no.
Then why is it ok to have a fire extinguisher if you admit you will probably never use it.
It's there just in case I need it.
(you can be a lot more elaborate - but the basic premise is there)


If you want to give them food for thought.

[stormvet]

The only "gun shaming" I can think of is when your shooting a Hi Point and the guy next to you is shooting a Wilson Combat.
People without guns are victims and I tend to look down on them. It's pretty shameful to be a human sheep.

[BHPFan]

The one who chooses not to be armed is the one who should be ashamed, not you. That person is failing to be responsible for himself. He is failing his civic duty. He's failing as a parent if he has kids.

He sounds like someone with little life experience, or someone who hasn't ever given it any serious thought.

This.

or they do understand it all... and they sorta like Venezuela.

Or... in the case of anti-gun immigrants, whatever repressive society they come from where they are taught that guns are wrong.

I know I have a lot of relatives who are anti-gun as they live (NYC and the NE) in or come (South American sh*tholes) from places that forbid possession of firearms and are taught that guns are evil

None of them dare to gunshame me because they know it won't work and I know the ones from NYC won't even dare to go there on the subject of 2A as they know how long I owned firearms and how I've been safe and sound all that time.

I even proved an aunt wrong by taking her son to the gunrange for the first time in his life and he came back safe & sound with a perspective on what type of shooting he likes more (Long Range Precision rather than Black Rifles) that I don't hear a pipsqueak on the subject from her.

[SharpAsABall]

You guys are a tremendous help. I've asked two people to go shooting with me, and it all boiled down to a trust issue. They trust (for now at least) that I'm responsible and safe, so they should be okay with my 22.

As far as the particular individual who instigated the "emotional exchange," I went out to lunch with him and a few mutual friends. I remembered what you guys have been saying, and while I'm not comfortable yet arguing statistics, I tried to remember what you all have said, and help that give my own personal and honest answer.

Right off the bat I told him I wasn't going to argue about guns, and the only reason I'm talking to him about this now is because I wanted the party to run smoothly. Basically, it all boiled down to aside from it being fun, in terms of protecting my home, I only get one life that walks on this Earth, and if it's gone, it's gone. Regardless of whether there's an afterlife or not, I've made physical and emotional attachments to the people and things in my life, and God forbid something bad happens, I only get one shot at keeping it. He's known me for a few years and I remember a few of his compliments on my work ethic and "chill" personality. Owning a gun doesn't change that.

Excuse me....but how on earth can anyone "shame" someone else in the first place regarding their gun ownership? Operative words.....How and Can.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

I can't speak for the others on this board, but for me it all comes down to being singled out, part of a minority that is crazy, wanting to keep a seemingly dangerous item for absolutely no valid reason. In fact, it feels like they believe there is NEVER a good reason to own a gun. Protection? That's what cops are for. For fun? Pick up a target sport that you can't sneak equipment into the schools. Everyone's just a little bit more scared of you when they find out you own a gun, disregarding everything else they know about you. While I do have a few friends who don't mind me having a gun, and even fewer who own guns themselves, the majority of friends who know I own one would prefer I didn't. Not because of a criminal record (clean), or mental health issues (none), just because...it's a gun.

I'll say in their defense though, we still hang out and have fun. They've been good friends to me (most of them anyway). I just avoid seeing them when I see a bad story on the news.

[CAL.BAR]

Usually better to share what you own with friends that own or only with nonowner friends willing to go to the range. Friends that fear guns will just blab what you own.

And THAT kids is the "gun shaming" that we are talking about. As long as WE are too scared/ ashamed (whatever) to even acknowledge you have gun(s) we will always be a "fringe" element. That's how we get to the "I don't even KNOW anyone with guns" mentality. Sort of like the 1950's when no one even KNEW a gay person. - and even if you did - you didn't discuss it in "polite" company.

The gays did not overcome their stigma until they became "load and proud" etc. The first step to acceptance is familiarity. If we stay "in the closet" - we will never get anywhere politically.

[Merc1138]

And THAT kids is the "gun shaming" that we are talking about. As long as WE are too scared/ ashamed (whatever) to even acknowledge you have gun(s) we will always be a "fringe" element. That's how we get to the "I don't even KNOW anyone with guns" mentality. Sort of like the 1950's when no one even KNEW a gay person. - and even if you did - you didn't discuss it in "polite" company.

The gays did not overcome their stigma until they became "load and proud" etc. The first step to acceptance is familiarity. If we stay "in the closet" - we will never get anywhere politically.

Me having friends that don't discuss guns I own, has nothing to do with me being ashamed of being a gun owner.

It has everything to do with having friends that respect my privacy and don't go blabbing to random people I don't know describing valuable things that are in my home while I'm at work 5-6 days a week. It's the same reason I didn't move my expensive electronics into my place when a bunch of nosy neighbors were outside watching me moving crap and discussing the furniture I was moving. Not wanting strangers to know the size of the TV in my living room isn't because I'm ashamed of it.

[dyson]

Me having friends that don't discuss guns I own, has nothing to do with me being ashamed of being a gun owner.

It has everything to do with having friends that respect my privacy and don't go blabbing to random people I don't know describing valuable things that are in my home while I'm at work 5-6 days a week. It's the same reason I didn't move my expensive electronics into my place when a bunch of nosy neighbors were outside watching me moving crap and discussing the furniture I was moving. Not wanting strangers to know the size of the TV in my living room isn't because I'm ashamed of it.

Exactly. You wanna go around telling everyone what you own, you are just asking for it.

[RedFord150]

It appears to me that many of you guys have been involved with firearms shooting, activism, learning, teaching, etc. I wanted to hear about your experiences with "gun shaming."

...How did (or do) you guys handle that? I imagine it gets easier with time. I just don't know if time allows you to gain some epiphany, or you just learn not to give a damn.

I let it go. Very few people know that I even own guns. Well, except for every boy that has dated my daughter.
Forget the argument. Most of these people are ignorant. You will not change their mind. You will only ruin your party.