"but why do you have guns?"

AngelKing

AngelKing

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I hate this question. When Im asked, its usually by someone, who in their own mind, determined that they don't need a gun, to carry a gun etc and have therefore determined that I (or anyone) simply doesn't need to own firearms.

So this came up a few days ago at a party. A friend of mine was asking when I was going to find a range since I moved and when could he come out and shoot. His co-worker overhears me and immediately starts grilling me.

"well why do you own guns?"

- I collect. I like shooting and I like being prepared.

"prepared? for what?? the british aren't going to be coming knocking at your door, you know." (I hate that line)

- prepared. in the sense of being ready in case something happens - you know, those things that go bump in the night or for someone who decides that his/her fix is worth more than my or my family's life.

" well, you could always get a dog for that. did you know that you're more likely to shoot someone you love than an actual intruder?" (um, here we go)

- well, I have 2 dogs, one of them being a pit mix. but I can't bring her everywhere and as to your statistics, I dont buy them. You're a female, you have the equipment to be a high class escort (to be fair, she was gorgeous), but I see you prepared yourself for life by getting a degree and going on to pursue your Masters. Thats great preparedness - that's all I'm doing, being prepared so I don't have to suffer the consequences later.

Now, Im amazed she missed the escort line, I really am.

"What do you mean you can't bring your dog everywhere??? you mean you actually carry a gun?!? "

- Not that its any of your business, but I am a permit holder.

"tell me you arent carrying a gun now"

- OK, Im not carrying a gun now. (my .38 was in a OWB holster, beneath a t shirt).

"I just don't understand the mentality. We have police for a reason."

- Thats assuming you're able to call them.

"What's that supposed to mean."

Well, your average criminal isn't going to give you the luxury of dialing 9-1-1. Assuming you DO get them, you still have to wait upwards of 5 minutes in the best of circumstances.

"So you're going to kill someone over property? What about trayvon martin?"

What about him? Some googan shot some kid and it may or may not have been justified, Im not passing judgement til it plays out in court. As for property, no - but if they pose a threat to me or my loved ones, yeah, Im willing to do what needs to be done.

Im not noticing her friend standing next to her the whole time.

"Lydia - you know I've had a permit for years, right. Everything he's saying is why I have one."

The woman's jaw dropped. She kind of gave us both a dirty look and walked away.

Not that I wanted to know, but the second woman tells me her life story - when living in Seattle, her and her boyfriend were victims of a home invasion - they were both beaten up, tied up -- she was nearly raped, except the neighbors heard the commotion downstairs and stopped the attack. Since then, she went full on, applied for the permit, classes etc and was quite proud of the little LCR she had in her purse.

I know this is a point of contention with the antis, but this is why I rarely get into these conversations anymore. The first woman likely wouldnt care as to why her friend carried a gun -- even given her experience. Is educating them pointless? I really don't know anymore - I do know that it can be an exercise in futility.
 
AngelKing said:
Is educating them pointless? I really don't know anymore - I do know that it can be an exercise in futility.
Click to expand...
Someone that is on the fence about owning guns can usually be convinced, but someone like your friends co-worker is too far gone and have next to 0% chance of converting them. I don't debate anti's to try to convince them, but because I find it fun to debate them and point out how stupid they are to the people around them.
 
Tell em because you don't like to argue with people and would rather force your opinion on the unarmed around you.[smile]
Or just say something flippant - Why do you use birth control? You can always get an abortion.[laugh]
 
Yes, it is pointless, as their myopic viewpoint will likely not change, yet, I still try as well when this idiocy presents itself. The whole Trayvon comments says it all, meaning that now that it seems like shootings are covered daily in the national news since then, and it must be all gun owners are nipple necks and googans.

The antis are typically the same that think .gov should solve all issues and handle all problems. Sheeple incarnate they are and always will be. They have no clue how fast a bad situation goes down and how little time one has to react appropriately. Try explaining the 21 foot rule to folks like this and it really gets them cranked as these same idiots have the mentality that it could never happen to them.

They think we are paranoid preppers (OK, I prep, but far from paranoid) waiting for the worst to occur, when in fact, those of us who choose to train with our firearms, ensure preparedness for multiple scenarios, and act responsibly may be the few who manage through the many negative possibilities we are faced with.
 
Angel,

Understanding your audience is critical for this kind of discussion.

Some people are curious and don't have strong convictions either way, they're asking out of genuine curiosity.

Others are asking because they're fearful. they're asking in the hopes of challenging and changing your own beliefs.

The prior group IS worth talking to, explaining and holding a meaningful conversation about firearms, firearms ownership, how, why and even "what if" senerios. The later group is preaching. These conversations are at best, a waste of breath and more likely to create additional tension rather then relieve it. Some people are simply so convinced that "firearms are evil" or "only a criminal has need of a firearms" that the conversation will only convince the person that you're evil, an unstable mass murderer just waiting for a hat to drop to spark off a shooting spree.

Anyone who brings up Trayvon Martin / George Zimmerman as an argument not to carry a firearm needs to be politely told to go read up on the case.
 
that was some extreme sheople talk right there. "that's what the police are for" oy vey!!
good call though, you engaged her intelligently and she had no where to go but away.. I like how her friend spoke up.

Most of the people I work with know I have firearms, oddly because of my influence, there are 4 new shooters here and a fifth on the way. More people come up to me now at work asking me about the license process and how to do it. I always tell them how to do it and from that point it seems they are follwoing through.
 
To answer the original question:

I own firearms because they're they're fun. They present a complicated marvel of mechanical presision. Shooting quickly, smoothly and accurately presents an issue of balance that requires concentration, relaxation, focus and practice. A personal challenge. I own several firearms because each is different, mechanically, astestically, funcatinoally and in the feeling they provide while shooting.

I carry a firearm because, shoot a situation arise where no other options are available to protect myself, my family or even a complete stranger from physical bodily harm and or death, I feel it is better to be able to make a choice to help them or not based on the situation rather than capability. Because we live in a world where people hurt each other, and sometimes deadly force is the only thing that will protect the lives of good people.
 
ShadeWPI said:
Angel,

Understanding your audience is critical for this kind of discussion.

Some people are curious and don't have strong convictions either way, they're asking out of genuine curiosity.

Others are asking because they're fearful. they're asking in the hopes of challenging and changing your own beliefs.

The prior group IS worth talking to, explaining and holding a meaningful conversation about firearms, firearms ownership, how, why and even "what if" senerios. The later group is preaching. These conversations are at best, a waste of breath and more likely to create additional tension rather then relieve it. Some people are simply so convinced that "firearms are evil" or "only a criminal has need of a firearms" that the conversation will only convince the person that you're evil, an unstable mass murderer just waiting for a hat to drop to spark off a shooting spree.

Anyone who brings up Trayvon Martin / George Zimmerman as an argument not to carry a firearm needs to be politely told to go read up on the case.
Click to expand...

Yep

With the former group, I do my best to be a good ambassador and bring them to our side.

With the latter group, GFY is my stock answer.
 
If the individual is truly interested I explain why I own guns. If they are pushing their anti agenda, I tell them either to shoot people or because I can and move on.
 
jamesvt said:
Someone that is on the fence about owning guns can usually be convinced, but someone like your friends co-worker is too far gone and have next to 0% chance of converting them. I don't debate anti's to try to convince them, but because I find it fun to debate them and point out how stupid they are to the people around them.
Click to expand...

but liste, at least good part is when SHTF happens those who are 'too far gone' make for a perfect distraction to perps and give us valuable time to do what needs to be done.
 
i see this woman gave you every cliche the anti-gun crowd likes to use. I just love how they think they know everything and then when you ask them if they have ever been present in a situation where a firearm could of been used to deter a crime or save a life.....They always have the same answer.......NO
 
Seriously, the first question I ask when asked is "have you ever shot a gun?" if they say no say I can't explain it, you need to experience it for yourself and then I offer to take them shooting. if they say they have I then say if you didn't understand why I own and shoot firearms after shooting there is no way I could explain it to you.
 
Good tactic- remind them of keeping an open mind and trying new things, make em think or piss em off.
Boghog1 said:
Seriously, the first question I ask when asked is "have you ever shot a gun?" if they say no say I can't explain it, you need to experience it for yourself and then I offer to take them shooting. if they say they have I then say if you didn't understand why I own and shoot firearms after shooting there is no way I could explain it to you.
Click to expand...
 
Pilgrim makes a good, though joking, point.

I'va actually had that conversation with a person much smaller than I (not hard! [laugh])

I said, "If I wanted to do you harm, right now....what could you do?" Of course, they understood that this was rhetorical, not an articulated threat.
 
One time a girl asked me a similar question, if I'd shoot to defend property. I told her that using lethal force in that situation would be because of the threat that was paired with the robbery, not the robbery itself. If you stick a knife in my face, I'm not going to wait for you to demand my money. You've already made a deadly threat and use of force is justified. I also told her I would shoot to defend other people. She said she didn't understand why I would risk going to jail to save not just a friend, but a stranger. I asked her, "If someone was raping you, right now, would you want me to shoot them?" That was the end of the conversation. She just looked at me in shock.

She clearly has no grasp of imminent danger, never thought about it because she lives a safe, sheltered life. I would do the unfathomable to protect a stranger's sheltered life. That's why I'm a sheepdog and not a sheep.
 
whatluck said:
...

She clearly has no grasp of imminent danger, never thought about it because she lives a safe, sheltered life. I would do the unfathomable to protect a stranger's sheltered life. That's why I'm a sheepdog and not a sheep.
Click to expand...

This makes me want to jump up and cheer, "Yes, yes!"

AC
 

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