The problem with the gun culture being virtually underground in some places is that whenever anybody in those places sees a gun that is not attached to a uniformed hip, they tend to flip out and assume the worst, since they've been conditioned by popular culture that anybody with a gun and no badge to go with it is about to set off on a cross-country killing spree with Juliette Lewis.
Or, as it was put more succinctly at
Random Nuclear Strikes:
One of the biggest reasons to promote the awareness of the gun culture in the media is that when it vanishes under the radar, as it has in California, you get government regulators, census workers, and cops who all think that if you have a gun, that’s a bad thing that needs to be Reported to Someone.
Another bad thing that happens is when a culture gets marginalized (severely beat down) they begin to get... punchy. Ten years ago my home range was a sanctuary of good cheer. Nowadays we're a pretty grim bunch.
ReplyDeleteA couple weeks ago me and my pal Vic stopped at WalMart on our way up to the range to buy some ammo. Vic was upset that Wally World had limited all purchases to 6 boxes max.
Vic got a bit loud with the poor lady behind the counter (he can be intimidating) he thought it was some new form of oppression mandated by Sacramento. It was just simply store policy and the visibly frightened lady told a story how she was actually injured when a fight broke out between two guys over the last few remaining boxes of .40 S&W.
I apologized to the lady on behalf of responsible gun owners everywhere but Vic was still uttering slurs against Obama, Pelosi and Schwarzenegger...
At the range that day walking out to change targets another filled me in on the the real reason .223 ammo is in such short supply. The government wants to get all the old stuff off the shelves so we'll have to use new "encoded ammo"
Later on him and Vic quit shooting entirely and started talking about Glen Beck.
Reno in California
The article (NOT the behavior noted in the commentary above) makes a pretty good case for Open Carry Events - even for those of us who have CCW permits.
ReplyDeleteI've been considering going "open" more as the weather warms and cover garments get to be too much bother. The wind out here in the West is also making it difficult very difficult to keep my gear concealed.
"Underground" gun culture? Why, I have no idea what you're talking about!
ReplyDeleteI mean, it's not like I hide my Guns & Ammo and American Rifleman magazines whenever someone comes to visit...
My sister has decided after 50 years to take some responsibility for her personal safety. Her beloved NY makes it extremely difficult to purchase a handgun or get training until she has jumped through hoops for the machine.
ReplyDeleteShe was stunned to find that in KY, the people have not gone postal with open carry, concealed carry and no waiting periods.
The short solution is she will come down and spend a couple of days on the range with me learning safety, marksmanship and gun handling, then go see Vicki Farnam or Gunsite for more training.
God help anyone there who was under an immediate threat. She had a real tough time finding out anything. In her country club crowd the only firearms are for trap and sporting clays.
Gerry
Tail of Two Cultures:
ReplyDeleteWas in Montgomery Co., MD. Bluest of Blue. Had a cap with Browning Buck logo. "Oh, it's a deer!" said my waitress. "Yup, logo of the Browning Company."
"What's Browning?" she asked.
"They make guns." I said.
She was so rattled that she had the male manager deliver the order.
In the Shenandoah Valley, VA off Rt. 11 I was hitching up my belt in a men's room. Guy walked in, noticed my 1911 in its holster and said "Nice piece." (The only time such a phrase is good to hear in a men's room).
"Gift from my wife." I told him.
"Sweet." Ah, life is so much better in Virginia.
When the wave goes the other way, however, you have a " preference cascade," a useful term I recently learned.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly all the people who thought they were a tiny minority of gun-owners or whatever realize that "there are many more like me," and they become more outspoken and visible.
And they get more respect in the news media, sometimes.
"Women learning shoot" is starting to develop a preference cascade
I'm still at a loss as to why the guy was arrested for answering his door with gun in hand in his own home. I wonder if he actually POINTED the gun at the census worker or simply had the gun in hand at the door.
ReplyDeleteI would have made damn sure the census worker was SURE about the difference between "pointing" and "holding" as relates to police response to the situation and how it was incumbant upon her to tell the truth as it could drastically change the situation and the possibility of someone getting hurt or killed.
Gerry - encourage your sister to take up trap. Then she will have a reason to carry her "sports" equipment everywhere she goes. Where ever she is, she is on the way to the range. Everyone knows a shotgun is the best all around self defense weapon.
ReplyDeleteHigh five for the Kalifornia reference. Seriously underrated movie if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteLabRat,
ReplyDeleteHeh.
Actually, it was a Natural Born Killers reference, although I suppose Kalifornia works, too.
Next topic: "Is Juliette Lewis typecast as a serial killer moll?"
Montie - I wonder if he actually POINTED the gun at the census worker or simply had the gun in hand at the door.
ReplyDeleteYou give the media credit for having the least interest in his apparent intentions? I don't.
Jim
A census worker myself, I'm more interested in how the piece handles, ie, is it reliable, etc. Even in CA. However, please don't point the business end at me. I just want to count live people, not dead ones.
ReplyDeleteNow, don't get me started on RUDE people ....!
Census worker in CA.