develping new respect for Americans

M

mikthestick

New member
I think Doc Hoy mentioned shooting alone and accepting the risks. I think the risk is lowered not increased. Among my friends it is a generally held belief that Americans don't treat guns with the proper respect. Some don't seem to realise how dangerous guns are. FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT I used to agree with the above statement but recently have had a change of heart.

GUNS ARE NOT DANGEROUS: Take a new loaded revolver put it in a drawer. Take an old worn out black powder SSA with a worn trigger sear, load with smokeless rounds place in another drawer. The Black powder gun is a potential disaster which can only happen when you go to pick it up.

It only takes 1 man with a gun to behave like a clown, then suddenly all gun owners are clowns.

Carrying 5 in a 6 shot SAA revolver is safe even if I think it unnecessary. (let's not discuss that again) CAS use a deflector plate for safety if a mistake is made the bullet defects away from the shooter. SAFE FOR HIM NOT FOR OTHERS.

Shooters should be trained to DRAW THEN COCK THEN SHOOT. A man shooting alone is in far less danger than if he shoots with 3 friends who are careless of basic safety. I have been a spectator at a clay shoot watching my friends shoot. They never lay their guns on a table, shotguns are carried breech open and empty. Much as I love guns I never ask to touch them.

When it comes to guns Americans due to their laws are going to have the knowledge. This site has made me realise AMERICANS DO HAVE A PROPER RESPECT FOR GUNS any who don't soon learn it.

Not sure I want/need replies just needed to have a rant.
 
Guns have been part of the American culture since you and yours first landed here in the 17th century. I know, the Spaniards brought guns here in the 15th century, but it's not the same. ;)

The vast majority of us have a deep respect for firearms, and many are very knowledgeable about them. But just like everything else in this media-crazed sound bite society, one or two idiots make a bad name for many.
 
Firearms in our heritage

Americans are not alone among cultures in which firearms played a big part. But I think it is safe to say the our relationship with a handgun or a rifle as a tool is fairly well established.

I shot an awful lot in the Navy for training and familiarity and there was always someone there who had no knowledge or experience, nor any desire to build that experience. These sailors required careful monitoring. The range master/range safety officer' lead gunner's mate or whatever, spent most of his time keeping others in the group safe.

I witness this often enough post Navy with other shooters that I have developed what I consider to be a healthy respect for others when they are shooting.

I have no idea about the statistics, but I would venture to say that more shooters are injured or more potentially dangerous situations arrise at shooting events which involve multiple shooters than when shooting alone. Even so, I think the number is small because of the almost maniacal pursuit of a safe shooting environment. (Here I use the term "maniacal" as a positive adjective).

I used to ride motorcylces as well and avoided riding with other riders because it always seemed to be the case that there was a show-off in the group. As you say it only takes one to:

a) create problems
b) give shooters a bad name (Unlike lawyers in which case 99% of lawyers give the remainder a bad name.)

I will go one step further as I posit that our laws about firearms are by-and-large well presented.

The right to keep arms is important to us. "Stand your Ground" and the "Castle Doctrine" are good laws.

In the recent unfortunate case is FL "Stand your Ground" has been blamed for the death of the innocent lad. Totally inaccurate. "Stand your ground" appears to play no part in the tragedy. In fact we are not even certain yet that the shooter is claiming his right to shoot under that statute. We are assuming he is and the media was, until recently, reporting that he was.

Abe Lincoln said, "The best way to overcome a bad law is to enforce it strictly." Enforced strictly, "Stand your ground" and the "Castle Doctrine" work as they were intended.
 
Doc, I would say that America is probably alone, in that we were probably the first nation on Earth to trust every man with arms, no matter his "station." Most peasants were not allowed arms in Europe- that was reserved for the nobility and possible merchant class.

Our nation was literally born from gunpowder. It is ingrained in our soul, as a symbol of freedom. It's why we love the automobile and pretty much ignore public transportation. We don't want anyone telling us where to go, how to get there and when we can leave! :D
 
Agree

In your explanation we are unique.

But there are indeed other cultures in which farearms played a big part.
 
Yeah, most of us are okay with the firearms. We, Americans in general, with proper tutelage, are very capable with firearms.
After all, we're your cousins and are genetically endowed with an equal level of potential.
Or maybe a greater level, since only the heartiest of Englishmen endured the journey and settling of the colonies.
 
Denis
If CAS don't use deflector plates someone does. I thought it was a CAS someone on this site definateley posted they were trying to get one.:)
 
It's some of the quick-draw people who use a deflector plate at the bottom of the holster.
Those who use live ammo.
The wax shooters typically don't.

The Cowboy Action Shooting sport is not based on a fast draw, as such.
Quick-draw is done by thumbing the hammer back while the gun's still in the holster as the draw begins.
CAS shooting is not.

Two quite different sports. :)
Denis
 
I have new respect for shooters under the crown.

So long as they aren't wearing red coats and shooting at me like they did my ancestors. :D ;) :D
 
We have NRA youth small bore rifle shooting programs here in the U.S. that teach children of all ages how be safe marksman prior to competing with small bore position rifles. The level of safety and respect for firearms that these kids have is simply amazing and often surpasses the level of safety that some adults practice.
But most adults are also very competent and practice safe gun handling even if they haven't completed the same training program when they were young.
The NRA hunter safety certification programs here universally require that basic safety skills be learned prior to obtaining a hunting license.
And an NRA pistol safety course is required to be completed in many states before becoming licensed to carry a handgun.
So there are some basic training requirements here that while they may not be absolutely required to be passed by everyone in every state, generally most folks do have some kind of basic firearms safety training in their background.
Those who don't are often closely observed and/or given training when they join their local gun club.
Anyone who exhibits alarmingly unsafe gun handling skills will either be offered help, put on probation or kicked out of a gun club if they don't learn and practice the basic safe gun handling skills.
Most folks are more than willing to learn, even if they're starting out at square one at a much older age. And most gun clubs have volunteer instructors who are willing to work with them and to teach them the basic skills.
 
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Doc Hoy, I was a Navy Gunners Mate, and helped a LOT of non-shooters try to get it together. The captain drew the line on one RMSN who closed his eyes and squeezed 6 rounds of 45ACP ball into the non skid on the flight deck. I got to watch him re do all the non skid by himself...or like the idiot who dropped an entire web belt, 1911, two spare mags, etc., into the drink in 118 feet of water. EOD fished it out, he cleaned it, and we ALL got to wear lanyards from that day forward.
I am very lucky to live in Arizona from day 1, with a strong firearms culture, and had safety instilled in my from the first day I laid eyes on a firearm, same as I am doing with my son, who has his own 22lr rifle at 11, and just got his first 22lr pistol.
 
AM

Yes....In 26 years I was never stationed in any ship larger than an LPD. (I spent 4 days on U.S.S. America which were the worst four days of my life.) We did Fam fire and shooting for quals on the fantail and there were patchmarks on the non-skid after every event.

Had a second class signalman on the quarterdeck drop a .45 over the side in Oslo, Norway. He was clearing the weapon to receive it from the offgoing watch. He let the slide go forward and the action took th pistol out of his hand.

We called in Navy divers to look for the pistol but never found it.

The Captain made the gunners mates put a piece of cord on the ring of the .45. The other end went onto the belt. The signalman's name was Hudson. That piece of cord was dubbed...You guessed it....a Hudson Lanyard.

True story.
 
When I was a firearms instructor, I spent the first four hours on safety and handling. A written test was administered to ensure that the student knew and for me, that I was communicating with the student. The more gun handling followed until the next day whe we were on the range. I built up my student's confidence and proficiency before the first shot was fired.
 
Speaking from personal history here, in the Army. I'm not sure about other branches or other programs, but safety was strictly enforced. If proper safety protocols were not followed, you were kicked off the range. No tolerance policy, if not worse.
 
I have watched much Utube on guns hunting etc. Noticed hunters wearing orange jackets instead of camo gear, then read an article about a hunter unhappy cause his buddy nearly shot him. Orange jackets seem like a good idea. It doesn't enhance the American hunters reputation. I believe you have conscription(its a shame but we don't). I am confused because some American hunters are not behaving as trained military personnel. Perhaps these guys managed to dodge the draft.
 
Andy Griffith
Our respective countries have not been at war since 1776 ish. You have not had much reason since the Union beat the South. Perhaps the Union should have declared war on the UK for selling Whitworths and Enfields to Johnny rebs. Regardless of Holywood, Mel Gibson(the patriot) and tons of Black powder substitute the Brits aren't the bad guys anymore.:D:D
 
Mik,
We haven't had conscription (the draft) since the end of the Vietnam War but we have a fairly large number of veterans and National Guardsmen plus a widespread hunting tradition with the spare land in which to do the hunting.
 
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