I'm naive.

K

Keiller TN

New member
I was not expecting a negative response when I pulled out my (unloaded) revolver to show my son at a family gathering. When I handed it to him, someone beside me uttered God's name in vain while another person fled to the opposite side of the room. You would have thought I fired a shot or pulled out a Diamond Back Rattle snake. Why this response? Is it because I'm a mad man? Is it because I can't be trusted with a gun around people? The people who had the shocked response know me. They know I'm not a criminal and I don't shoot people. I mentioned to them that the gun was no different than a garden hoe. It would no more hurt someone than a garden hoe would (less so).
I think the problem is the indoctrination of our society with false information that guns are bad/evil things. People are being conditioned to revolt against the right to keep and bear arms. I think it is time for the gun owners of America to start a campaign to clean up the besmirched image of gun owners and their guns. Surely there are enough gun owners who could contribute to financing an ad campaign to show America what decent people their fellow gun owners are. Are the NRA or others working on something like this? If this bad image of guns and gun owners is not changed, I think our days are numbered.

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Alexander Solzhenitzyn:
"Freedom is given to the human conditionally, in the assumption of his constant religious responsibility."
 
It's only because they aren't comfortable around firearms. I've seen it too, so I'm not surprised at the reaction you got. I like to announce something like "I want to show so-and-so a gun I own. Anyone interested in looking at it?" With any luck they all say yes. If anyone frowns, curses or has a heart attack I move to another room. Some people just plain view gun owners about like snake handlers. My mother isn't that bad(she sits in the car at the outdoor range and reads and then we go out to eat), but she doesn't usually tolerate passing guns around the living room either :) John
 
Keiller,
you hit a nail on the head. We gunners can educate the neutrals one at a time. The media and universities can miseducate by the tens of thousands. The editorials of the New York Times and my local paper are good examples.
 
Keiller,

Did the people present know that the weapon was unloaded? If I'm showing someone a revolver, I have the cylinder open and my fingers sticking through the frame (assuming it's a double action). In showing a pistol, I have the silde locked open. The gun is also pointed in a safe direction.

In general, I would not show any of my guns to a large group of people since I don't want someone who knows nothing about them to be playing with them. One on one is another thing since I can give my undivided attention to the person handling my weapon.

I'm not saying that YOU were violating any safety rules, but if someone were in my presence, family or not, and violating any safety rules, I would get upset too!

It could be that the person complaining did not know the gun was unloaded and may have been swept by the muzzle!
 
Place: Queens , New York . In a bar 2 guys are arguing about some guys getting rowdy in a bar . One guy tells another that someone should tell them to keep it down . This other guy says he's a cop and pulls his shield and weapon out while saying it . Kinda like as to prove it . He says he don't need the grief if it gets physical .
Another patron sees the weapon and calls the local precinct and reports "man with a gun " . Beat cops show up and the off-duty cop is in deep doo doo . He faced internal charges for pulling his weapon for no reason .
I think the same applies in the scenario described . Treat any weapon as if it's loaded . Anyone seeing this weapon out must ( and justifiably ) assume it's loaded . It was a poor judgement call .
I've been asked to show a weapon and this is what I did . Right or wrong . You decide . I tell the person or persons let's go into the other room and ask anyone you might think interested to join us . This way everyone present is an interested member of the group . Then as the center of attention I clear the weapon , hand it to someone known to me to be knowledgable and ask "check it ." They double check the status and for their services get to be the first to ooh and aah over it .
I know it sounds corny but it saves a lot of grief in the long run . If you show someone your weapon they will remember it for a while . If it goes off OR you start a stampede no one will ever forget .
Remember there are people that crave attention and the sight of a gun will give them an opportunity to open their faces .
I've been to wedding receptions where at least 30 people were "on the job" and carrying . Everyone knew it and it was no big deal . Let's just say " You gotta know your audience ."
I'm sorry that happened to you .

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TOM
SASS AMERICAN LEGION NRA GOA
 
Remember, this was a family gathering. The women were the ones with the negative response. I would not have pulled it out if it had been loaded. I only brought it to show the guys in the family. My sons, and father-in-law are pro-gun. None of them thought anything of it. I'll have to be more discreet in the future. Thanks for the advice, guys.
 
I react the exact same way when some woman decides, unanounced, to start breast-feeding in a crowded room. "Ahhhh! Put that thing away or take it in the other room!" At least give me some warning first ;).
 
I just do not understand why one would have to show one's son his revolver at a family gathering.
If he was the one to ask for this, just tell him no next time.
Do you expect people to just go on eating Fritos and dip as the see someone pull out a weapon?

[This message has been edited by Herodotus (edited July 23, 2000).]
 
Wonderful analogy JJR; I've gotta remember that one. I've known some women guilty of this sudden brandishing who are also leery of guns. If I'm ever in Keiller's position, I shall have to draw that parallel.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Keiller TN:
I think the problem is the indoctrination of our society with false information that guns are bad/evil things.[/quote]
Pretty well sums it up.
 
This was a family gathering at YOUR house?

No apoligies necessary on your part as far as I'm concerned, unless this happened at the dinner table. The reaction of the "wimmen sheep" deserves an apoligy to you, assuming your wife wasn't one of the dammers.

Let's put this in perspective. Your house, your gun, ok. Gathering at your son's or other family members house, MAJOR breech of ediquite (sp?)

I refuse to be PC on this issue. Yes you could have gone in another room but you didn't, SO WHAT! You had no idea these "family members" would react so, especially as you stated that the "men folk" all were ok with guns. The only reason you're upset now is you have been conditioned by the PC Police to be so.

Don't give in and be afraid in your own home!
Save the PC Crap for when you're out and about and then be as minimal as possible with the PC Crap.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JJR:
I react the exact same way when some woman decides, unanounced, to start breast-feeding in a crowded room. "Ahhhh! Put that thing away or take it in the other room!" At least give me some warning first ;). [/quote]

Wheather its a gun or a breast I am going to want to look at it. ;) However, its a lot easier to load a gun then it is to unload a breast. ;)



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ALL CRIMES ARE HATE CRIMES.

SGTAR15
 
I don't see the problem here. I could see if you were in a room full of strangers, but surely your family members know you're not going to freak out and start shooting at them? (well, OK, if you have really awful in-laws, maybe not ;) )
Anyway, I don't see why someone who knows you would freak out and run across the room. That sounds kinda batty to me. :rolleyes:

(apologies in advance for this :o )
BTW, sgtar15...
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>However, its a lot easier to load a gun then it is to unload a breast.
[/quote]um, you have obviously never breastfed. :D

[This message has been edited by CindyH (edited July 24, 2000).]
 
If it's a family gathering, I don't see why it's such a big deal, especially if they know you're a gun owner. Some time back, I went to a neighbor's Halloween party as Al Capone, and took my full auto Thompson. It generated a lot of interest, and gave me a chance to do a little educating.

Last spring I did a photograph for Operation Ceasefire, for which I had to photograph a gun. The BATF agent brought along some Ravens and Jennings, which the folks from the ad agency didn't like. So I brought out three pistols for their perusal. Everybody backed off, even the agent, and even though I had opened the actions with the guns pointed away from everyone. Nobody ever touched them, but it was another chance to educate the uneducated.

Would these same people run if you pulled out a chainsaw?

Dick
Want to send a message to Bush? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and forward the link to every gun owner you know.
 
The family gathering was at my daughter's house. She carries a Glock, and she was not one of the ones who freaked. I think, in the future, I need to follow a more discreet way of showing any gun as some here have suggested. Thanks for the suggestions. If I act more prudently in the future maybe I can have more opportunities to leave a positive image of gun owners.
 
Now, Cindy, you don't know for sure which side of the breast he was talking about....
-----

You folks, (sigh)

I'll never "wear out" a keyboard. I have to keep replacing them due to "waterlogging".
(Okay, so it ain't water...
Ya know what fish DO in water? Bleah!) :Mister Yuck:

:D
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I react the exact same way when some woman decides, unanounced, to start breast-feeding in a crowded room. "Ahhhh! Put that thing away or take it in the other room!" At least give me some warning first ;). [/quote]

Ummmm. You would rather she stood up and announced, "I'm going to feed the baby now, everyone please look at me!"? Discreetly nursing a baby -- I don't mean ostentatiously flashing the room, note the word discreetly -- should not cause this kind of reaction.

I'm not exactly a radical feminist, but ... *sigh* ... I've spent enough time "banished" to the back room while everyone else visited in the front room to last me a lifetime. What is it with this culture that thinks the normal way of feeding a baby is something shameful?

***

johnbt's method of dealing with showing off a gun sounded wise, and I'll use it if I'm ever in a similar situation. :) Good post.

pax


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"Is there anything wrong with a woman preferring the dignity of an armed citizen? I don't like to be coddled and I don't like to be treated like a minor child. So I waive immunity and claim my right -- I go armed." -- Longcourt Phyllis in Beyond This Horizon by Robert Heinlein
 
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