Altering views on guns

[Brynja]

I was never a huge fan of guns, they made me nervous and I disliked them instinctively. Kevin has a permit for handguns, and owns two shot guns, both are 20 guage and he is looking for a .410. Anyhow we went skeet shooting this weekend.

The day before he practiced how to handle the shot gun with me, how to load and unload it, where the saftey was, how it should be carried etc. Stuff I didn't want to have to learn the first time with live rounds. So I was confident I could manage it. I knew and understood all of the mechanisms, I cleaned it the day before etc.

So the day of we got our earplugs and glasses etc. I was nervous as hell having never fired a gun before. Firstly - motherfucker my arm hurts- right in the shoulder. So anyhow- we go to a practice area so i can get used to how the shotgun works and get used to its aim. I am pleased to say I got 16/25 I am on first go out :) Yay.

Anyhoo I think as a result of education, proximity and use I may be altering my views on guns. I feel like a traitor to the democrats :(

[Lady Fury]

That's really good for a beginner. I haven't shot a gun in years. I use to go hunting with my dad growing up then I worked at the local gun club for a few years while in school.

[Brynja]

To be fair it was a practice skeet area- it came from the same angle each time. I didn't have to do much compensating.

[Lady Fury]

Give yourself some credit. Half the battle is getting use to the kick of the gun and not flinching before the gun goes off. It takes most people a dozen or so times before they get a feel for the gun let a lone hit a stationary target.

[DarwinOfMind]

Don't worry I'm a democrat myself and pretty liberal and I own guns and I'm against gun control, you can still be a good liberal. I've never done skeet, so I'm sure your doing better than I ever could.

[Harry]

You can know how to handle a gun, how to shoot a gun, and how to kill the ever loving hell out of a skeet - and still be against guns.

I'm against handguns and think they need to be removed from the population at large. I think machine guns, automatic rifles and handguns and semi-autos and assault rifles and all that NRA loved shit should be out of the hands of the general population. I believe that rifles and shotguns are just fine - hunting guns only [with an exception for collectible antiques]. And I think those hunting guns should be very well regulated.

You can enjoy the hell out of a gun in certain scenarios, and still be against them in the sense the NRA wants them unleashed.

hth

[Hatter]

Likewise you can be like me and be in favor of private citizens having firearms whilst not having one myself. In fact, it's only recently that I've considered having one and only that at my boyfriends insistence.

[Harry]

Just an aside:

My father, who favors the NRA, and I, not a supporter of the NRA, have a general agreement on guns.... That most folks have no business owning one, or two or three or a dozen, even if they have every right to own one. I'd love to see some documentation, but it appears based solely on newspaper and television reports and the news I hear in the very conservative circles I often dwell in that the vast majority of guns are either A. stolen and used for crime, or B. used for suicide, C. used to knock off a dozen family members, or D. and most tragically, picked up by some kid who then blows off his brother's head by accident. It's a rare, rare case when you hear that some old granddad or defenseless mother successfully used a gun in self defense. And more and more and more, I hear "I shot him because I felt my life was in danger...." blah-blah-blah. And in 100% of those cases, the guy doing the alleged endangering was unarmed.

[Pigs in Space]

You can know how to handle a gun, how to shoot a gun, and how to kill the ever loving hell out of a skeet - and still be against guns.

I'm against handguns and think they need to be removed from the population at large. I think machine guns, automatic rifles and handguns and semi-autos and assault rifles and all that NRA loved shit should be out of the hands of the general population. I believe that rifles and shotguns are just fine - hunting guns only [with an exception for collectible antiques]. And I think those hunting guns should be very well regulated.

You can enjoy the hell out of a gun in certain scenarios, and still be against them in the sense the NRA wants them unleashed.

hth

When I went breifly skeet shooting, and fired a shotgun for the first time, I did not miss.

Did not miss. Call me Deadeye.

And I still think people don't need to own guns.

Also, I don't think hunting is cool either, so neener.

[Harry]

Also, I don't think hunting is cool either, so neener.

Yer critters don't run so fast, dingoes excepted, so it's of course much manlier down yonder to tackle the wildlife in hand-to-hand combat. Much more sport keeping the 'Roo and dropbears in check that way.

[AZRogue]

Good for you, Brynja. I've never gone skeet shooting myself, but I've thought about it, considering the price of shotgun shells compared to the price of other ammunition. Also, those who do it make it sound like fun. You make me want to go out and give it a try.

Of course, if i don't do as well as you I'll have to throw myself into traffic. Not to be chauvinist or anything, because I'm not, but I couldn't live with myself if I was beaten by a girl. ;)








As for altering your views on guns, it's not something to worry about. You'd be surprised how many Democrats love firearms and believe that we, the citizens of the United States, should own them if we choose. They're not going anywhere in the foreseeable future. Just look at the fact that now, with the Democrats in control of both Houses and the White House, we have passed more PRO gun laws than during any recent Republican administration.

There have been some significant ones, including some local legislation, such as:

1. Firearms to be carried, concealed, in bars and restaurants. If a bar or restaurant wants to NOT allow armed citizens inside, they must post a sign and provide storage for their customers' firearms.

2. No employer or place of business is permitted to deny a person the right to keep a firearm inside his vehicle, even if you're at work; each vehicle is treated like a little pocket of private property, even while it is parked on someone else's private property.

3. Firearms are allowed in both our State and National parks.

4. And, the last one that I've noticed because it can impact me (there are more, smaller, legislation changes across the country), is that the law has been changed to allow for a gun owner to be able to "display" his firearm, as in tell someone you're armed, let them see the gun, or put your hand on the weapon, whenever you feel you are threatened with physical force.

5. An honorable mention: The national CCW bill nearly passed, and I would be surprised if we don't see it come around again and pass very soon.

All in all, the Democrats have done more for gun owners than anyone else lately, other than President Bush's very small act of not renewing the extremely misguided and silly "Assault" weapons ban.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Well, I am fervently anti-gun possession, but that doesn't mean that I can't understand shooting a gun at nonliving targets for sports can be fun.

[AriesOmega]

I think for us American's gun ownership is a looked at a bit differently. It is a heritage thing, and it's is in our Constitution to bear arms and all that.

I think people should be allowed to own a reasonable amount of firearms...what constitutes reasonable is up for debate. I don't think private citizens should be armed better then the military or SWAT teams. You want to shoot a M16, M4, a M240B or something...join the military.

The current gun laws from what I have seen I think are fine...except that whole gun show and private citizen selling to each other part. That kinda bothers me. I don't own a firearm, but that is MY choice. My choice should not limit another person's choice.

I do go to the range with my wife's cousin (Alex) every once in a while. In Virginia they have a law that if you do not have a concel carry permit you are limited to purchasing one handgun a month from a store. I don't think there is a limit in regards to longarms. That I feel is reasonable. Most stores will let you hold a handgun until your 30 days has passed.

[Harry]

1. Firearms to be carried, concealed, in bars and restaurants. If a bar or restaurant wants to NOT allow armed citizens inside, they must post a sign and provide storage for their customers' firearms.

That right there is a fine, fine example of a law that the NRA had shoved down the throats of the citizens, forcing it through the state legislature and shouting down any and all opposition, and refusing to hear the input of the people affected the most by it - the bar and restaurant owners. There was hardly a huge hue-and-cry from the public asking for guns to be allowed in establishments that serve alcohol, which is what the bill was written to accomplish. In fact, last summer when this was being pushed there were highly publicized incidents here where drunken white, middle class male yahoos blasted others over cars parked too close in bar parking lots and such.

Yeah, it's a Tennessee law, so I know it. I also have a good friend from high school who has run a midtown bar for years who thinks this law was written and designed in such a way that any bar owner who refuses to allow handguns is setting themselves up for major liability. It also means I can no longer tell people who are packing heat to LEAVE MY OWN STORE. And it also means that people who have no right to be my "protector", due to their congenital mental defect otherwise known as dumb fuck rednecks, are waltzing around many places I frequent with their semi-automatic pistols strapped to their legs.

Oh yeah, this made my life TONS safer.