New Generation of Shooters

[photogpat]

Read the whole article:

https://blog.christopherburg.com/2014/0 ... -shooters/

...and discuss...

[LumberZach]

I like what he has to say... Though I will not be the first one going out of my way to get more anarchists into the shooting community. I do agree a little more work could be done to accept more young people in the shooting community. As much as I like country music, some more open events would definitely be welcome. The article did give me an idea: as much as I don't like the call of duty stuff it might be a fun theme for a range night to get parents bringing their kids in.

[Erik_Pakieser]

One thing is certain: these new shooters don’t like the NRA and they aren’t members. They don’t know the organization because the organization hasn’t taken the time to know them. What they believe they know about the NRA and its members comes from the mainstream media, because too many members have decided that these new shooters aren’t worth getting to know as human beings.

(Frankly, the organization’s social stances haven’t helped, either. Seriously, look at the major social activities planned for the NRA convention later this month: a country music concert and a prayer breakfast. Do you really think these people are going to be excited about either?)

Couldn't agree more!

[bensdad]

Garbage from a self-important twit. This idiot repeatedly uses derogatory words to describe conservatives, makes fun of their beliefs and derides religion. Oh, but then he condescendingly informs them that they are fools if they don't drop their guard a bit. "Childish" is about the kindest way I can describe that.

Also, at some point, the topic he THINKS he's writing about, is not the topic he's writing about. 20 % of an article dedicated to describing himself and his apparently amazing girlfriend (funky hair, big degree, govt. clearance - yeah, we're impressed already ) is enough to obliterate the substance of the message he thought he was sending.

[Erik_Pakieser]

Here's the article he was responding to:

http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_fil ... oting.html

Another take on "Gun Culture 2.0":

http://americanhandgunner.com/unlikely-allies/

[Shipyard]

Garbage from a self-important twit. This idiot repeatedly uses derogatory words to describe conservatives, makes fun of their beliefs and derides religion. Oh, but then he condescendingly informs them that they are fools if they don't drop their guard a bit. "Childish" is about the kindest way I can describe that.

Also, at some point, the topic he THINKS he's writing about, is not the topic he's writing about. 20 % of an article dedicated to describing himself and his apparently amazing girlfriend (funky hair, big degree, govt. clearance - yeah, we're impressed already ) is enough to obliterate the substance of the message he thought he was sending.

if anyones is this upset by the article - i'd ask you to think for about 20 minutes about WHY - you're probably exactly the type of person who inspired this article to be written. if you're feelign that challenged, i invite you to explore why...

point i'll concede: author of this article is a douche and a self-important vanity whore.

point i'llput out there as 100% legitimate: dude does a good point of illustrating how a LARGE portion of the new generation of shooters (20-35 yr old) are excluded from the "mainstream" gun rights community. i can identify a lot of what's in there. i'm tattoo'd as hell, grew up in the puck rock scene and i'm about as excited about the republican (or democrat for that matter) party than i am a swift kick in the nuts. and i love me some guns son.

i support gay marriage, heavy metal music, conceal carry, legal weed and assisted suicide.

i absolutely oppose expanded background checks, firearm registration, your church getting tax breaks and teaching any of that crationism and abstenance only garbage in schools.

i agree: i also want absolutely nothing to do with anything remotely associated with country music and prayer breakfasts. there is SO MUCH in the NRA magaizine that i could give two craps about every month. if you believe everything i nthere the south is the only cool part of the nation and if you ain't country you wnat Obama to kill babies.

forget about any douchey argeuments concerning anarchism and colored hair - the fact remains that most gun supporters and "conservatives" are doing a STELLAR job of making themselves irrellivent to the conversation and to new generations of people who support gun rights.

and just WHEN the **** did it become a pre-requisite to be conservative in order to support gun rights anyways?

[photogpat]

Garbage from a self-important twit. This idiot repeatedly uses derogatory words to describe conservatives, makes fun of their beliefs and derides religion. Oh, but then he condescendingly informs them that they are fools if they don't drop their guard a bit. "Childish" is about the kindest way I can describe that.

Also, at some point, the topic he THINKS he's writing about, is not the topic he's writing about. 20 % of an article dedicated to describing himself and his apparently amazing girlfriend (funky hair, big degree, govt. clearance - yeah, we're impressed already ) is enough to obliterate the substance of the message he thought he was sending.

if anyones is this upset by the article - i'd ask you to think for about 20 minutes about WHY - you're probably exactly the type of person who inspired this article to be written. if you're feelign that challenged, i invite you to explore why...

point i'll concede: author of this article is a douche and a self-important vanity whore.

point i'llput out there as 100% legitimate: dude does a good point of illustrating how a LARGE portion of the new generation of shooters (20-35 yr old) are excluded from the "mainstream" gun rights community. i can identify a lot of what's in there. i'm tattoo'd as hell, grew up in the puck rock scene and i'm about as excited about the republican (or democrat for that matter) party than i am a swift kick in the nuts. and i love me some guns son.

i support gay marriage, heavy metal music, conceal carry, legal weed and assisted suicide.

i absolutely oppose expanded background checks, firearm registration, your church getting tax breaks and teaching any of that crationism and abstenance only garbage in schools.

i agree: i also want absolutely nothing to do with anything remotely associated with country music and prayer breakfasts. there is SO MUCH in the NRA magaizine that i could give two craps about every month. if you believe everything i nthere the south is the only cool part of the nation and if you ain't country you wnat Obama to kill babies.

forget about any douchey argeuments concerning anarchism and colored hair - the fact remains that most gun supporters and "conservatives" are doing a STELLAR job of making themselves irrellivent to the conversation and to new generations of people who support gun rights.

and just WHEN the **** did it become a pre-requisite to be conservative in order to support gun rights anyways?

+1 I agree.

Shippy is case in point an anachronism to the stereotypical gun owner!

[xd ED]

Re appearances: The situation/ phenomena/ behavior is far from unique to the shooting community. Insert a person of the physical description typified in the article on a golf course, or into the position of bank officer and get a similar result.

Not unlike Beatle haircuts of my youth, or long hair / afros of my adolescence.

As to the political end of things: decide what your cause is and focus on that.
If you're a gun advocacy .org- do that. If you're a small .gov political party- do that; stay away from the endlessly broad quagmire of social conservatism.

As to the author, I don't often read or listen to him, but recently caught his radio program at a gun event( Bill's Shooter Show, perhaps?)
maybe it's a radio persona thing- because others in that medium do the same, but to me , when he talks guns it sounds like he tries way to hard to prove he's one of 'us'.

My $00.02

[photogpat]

I guess I posted this because it illustrates two things.

1) Gun Control is a single issue political topic for me -- independent of any political party or other topic.
2) Gun owners are a wide variety of people. Don't automatically assume you get their support for topic just because they happen to own a gun.

Actually, those two go together.

Carry on.

Word!

[xd ED]

Garbage from a self-important twit. This idiot repeatedly uses derogatory words to describe conservatives, makes fun of their beliefs and derides religion. Oh, but then he condescendingly informs them that they are fools if they don't drop their guard a bit. "Childish" is about the kindest way I can describe that.

Also, at some point, the topic he THINKS he's writing about, is not the topic he's writing about. 20 % of an article dedicated to describing himself and his apparently amazing girlfriend (funky hair, big degree, govt. clearance - yeah, we're impressed already ) is enough to obliterate the substance of the message he thought he was sending.

if anyones is this upset by the article - i'd ask you to think for about 20 minutes about WHY - you're probably exactly the type of person who inspired this article to be written. if you're feelign that challenged, i invite you to explore why...

point i'll concede: author of this article is a douche and a self-important vanity whore.

point i'llput out there as 100% legitimate: dude does a good point of illustrating how a LARGE portion of the new generation of shooters (20-35 yr old) are excluded from the "mainstream" gun rights community. i can identify a lot of what's in there. i'm tattoo'd as hell, grew up in the puck rock scene and i'm about as excited about the republican (or democrat for that matter) party than i am a swift kick in the nuts. and i love me some guns son.

i support gay marriage, heavy metal music, conceal carry, legal weed and assisted suicide.

i absolutely oppose expanded background checks, firearm registration, your church getting tax breaks and teaching any of that crationism and abstenance only garbage in schools.

i agree: i also want absolutely nothing to do with anything remotely associated with country music and prayer breakfasts. there is SO MUCH in the NRA magaizine that i could give two craps about every month. if you believe everything i nthere the south is the only cool part of the nation and if you ain't country you wnat Obama to kill babies.

forget about any douchey argeuments concerning anarchism and colored hair - the fact remains that most gun supporters and "conservatives" are doing a STELLAR job of making themselves irrellivent to the conversation and to new generations of people who support gun rights.

and just WHEN the **** did it become a pre-requisite to be conservative in order to support gun rights anyways?

Pretty much what he said. . . .except that part about heavy metal being music

[Rip Van Winkle]

My thoughts echo Bensdad’s. While I won’t go so far as calling the self important darling’s opinion garbage, I will say he needs to grow up. Too many of the “Millennial Generation” seem to think all they have to do is show up somewhere and when acceptance, respect and love isn’t showered upon them they get their delicate little feelings hurt.

I remember in my misspent youth, back when I knew everything, not being accepted by my father’s generation. The difference between then and now is I knew I had to earn their respect, it wasn't just going to be bestowed upon me.

[Erud]

My thoughts echo Bensdad’s. While I won’t go so far as calling the self important darling’s opinion garbage, I will say he needs to grow up. Too many of the “Millennial Generation” seem to think all they have to do is show up somewhere and when acceptance, respect and love isn’t showered upon them they get their delicate little feelings hurt.

I remember in my misspent youth, back when I knew everything, not being accepted by my father’s generation. The difference between then and now is I knew I had to earn their respect, it wasn't just going to be bestowed upon me.

Well said.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[yukonjasper]

I don't disagree that it is foolish to force everyone into a single box and assume they will conform. The reality is that the only groups that have stepped up to openly and actively support and promote the shooting sports and the right to carry and own guns has been conservatives. That is rooted, mostly I believe, in the strong allegence to constitutional pricipals. The rest of the trappings of the conservative movement just come along with the people who are most engaged and most active and most vocal about the rights. I'm not naive enough to believe that they are the only ones that care about those issues, but the polarization that occurs on the other issues (religion, abortion, size and role of government etc.) precludes those who are not supporters of the conservative movement, from wanting to be included or participate. I agree that a broader tent is the way to go, however you can't expect people to stop being who they are or stop believing what they believe just so those who believe differently will feel comfortable. I do think the civility, honest discussion and less crumudgeonly behavior would be helpful. Keep the other stuff to yourself. The analogy is the USA of the past. Lots of diversity, but the core priciples were shared.

[JustinPo]

This kind of thinking (that gun people need to be more open) is very important right now, more new shooters have bought more new guns in the last few years than ever before. If we want to help ensure our rights and pastimes we must embrace this new wave of shooters with open arms and help them when they want it but recognize (just like most of us) they need to learn some lessons themselves. We also have got to ditch old school fud mentalities, if all my shooting gear is black it doesn't mean i'm some CoD idiot who thinks hes getting a call from SOCOM any minute just that half the stuff they sell at Fleet Farm now is black. We need to open more events to beginners and rethink the way we handle people coming into our events, we need more information on the web and help to help people when they don't get it the first time.

Also never ever make fun of new people at the range or at an event, help them when they need it and/or give them time to work things out for themselves. I almost gave up on shooting early on after an incident at a steel shoot: I was struggling completing a stage and couldn't hit the darn target plus I was having feeding issues. As I went for my third run through I was trying to clear my head and focus when the RO chose that moment to make this comment "how do you like dropping all those $45 dollar mags in the dirt every stage?" implying heavily that I was an idiot with too much gun and not enough skill. I was too stunned to ask how he liked going through life as a rear facing orifice. It turns out my problem was the mag springs were shot from several years of use causing feeding issues and that led to me getting flustered and that led to horrible accuracy. If someone is having issues help them or just stay silent.

[jgalt]

For the folks who had a problem with the article - is it just the tone of it / way it was put, or do you think he said something that doesn't describe reality?

Other than his description of the reasons the folks who replaced the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution wished to do so, the post looks pretty dead-on to me...