Things that a lot of people say about guns that ticks you off

[Colvin]

We all feel it. Most of us, at least.

At least me. I don't mind those who are uneducated about guns, but there are many who think they are and end up making fools of themselves.

Add to the list:

Misuse of the word "Clip"
Assuming that everything is a Luger
When people cite Call of Duty as a legimite source of gun knowledge

[Stressfire]

Misuse of the word "Clip"

What's the difference?

Assuming that everything is a Luger

There are other kinds?

When people cite Call of Duty as a legitimate source of gun knowledge

This I disagree with, Medal Of Honor is far more authoritative

And yes, I am kidding

[Mike Irwin]

People who get upset too easily and miss a chance for a teaching moment...

[Legionnaire]

Assuming everything is a Luger? Try Glock!

"It just went off!!"

[pelo801]

for me, it's usually about 80% of the stuff coming from the salesmen's mouths.

[Chaz88]

The only one that bothers me much is when people talk about guns being dangerous and killing people in such a way as if they think they are evil demon possessed objects that can jump up and kill someone at any time.

[Buzzcook]

"Wheel Gun" imho if you use that phrase you should dress and look like Gabby Hayes.

"Shotie" That's the kind of word I expect from a peroxide blond in a bad 1930s movie when she's asking for a jigger of rye.

But the absolute worst is at the beach, when those young girls in bikinis keep asking me if that's a gun in my pocket! I mean how do they know I'm carrying?

[aarondhgraham]

But the absolute worst is at the beach, when those young girls in bikinis keep asking me if that's a gun in my pocket! I mean how do they know I'm carrying?

I really did snort coffee out my nose.

Now I hafta sit here for another 90 minutes with a wet shirt front.

Aarond

[BarryLee]

I agree about being patient and using these situations as teachable moments. Also, I believe if we take a moment to explain things to folks it ultimately presents the shooting world in a positive manner.

However, one area that does bother me is the false statements made by the news media. I wonder sometimes if they do it from journalistic laziness or if they maybe have an agenda. The local TV Channels constantly makes the statement that the police found someone with an unregistered gun. Well, the funny thing is guns do not have to be registered in Georgia. So, why do they say this? I doubt the Police are going out arresting folks for non-existing laws, so is the media trying to push the idea that all guns should be registered? Sorry, a little off topic and a long rant, but I feel better…

[ripnbst]

People who say "it's MOA at X distance."

MOA is independant of distance. It either is MOA, or it isn't.

[riggins_83]

Working at a gun store for years I've heard so much few things upset me anymore unless it's a legal/injury risk or they're acting anti gun etc.

[Chaz88]

statements made by the news media.

That reminds of something else that bothers me. When the media, and local gossips, report on some kind of incident and go on and on about how the person had a small arsenal in the house. Just seems like another guns are inherently evil kind of mindset, or that people that have a few are somehow inherently unbalanced. I do not know about the rest of you but it doesn't matter how many more than two I have because I can not shoot more than two at a time.

[Major Dave (retired)]

that irritate me includes:

"...high powered ...pistol, assault rifle, shotgun, et. al."
EVERY WEAPON is high powered to the media.

"...police found 7 rifles and 3 pistols in the house" SOOOOOO WHAT? Half the people I know have at least that many "in the house". Me too. DUH!!! It's TEXAS, for crying out loud!

And the "unregistered" thing, too - Not required in Texas, either.

The local NRA chapter ought to have a "media liason" person on call 24/7 for media types to call before airing/printing any firearm news content.

[603Country]

Don't waste too much energy on the folks that feel like guns are the root of all evil. You are just wasting your time. Happily, every now and then someone (usually a single woman and usually a coworker wondering if she should have a gun for protection) will ask about pistols and have a real need for information. Those are the folks that I'm extra nice to. They get to learn to shoot, so they can decide for themselves if they need a pistol or not, and they'll pass the word to other folks that all gun people aren't crazy and that pistols are not the tools of the dark side.

But...ya gotta be careful. Years ago we had guests over for dinner. They were from the UK, and we guys and boy children went into the den while the wives camped out in the kitchen. The young son, since we were in Texas, wanted to know if I had a "cowboy pistol" and could he see it. Dad was Ok with his seeing it, so I went and got my Python (Ok...it's not a cowboy pistol, but the kid would not know that). After making sure it was unloaded and safe, I let the kid handle it. He was fascinated by it. Unfortunately, his Mom walked into the room at just that moment and screamed at the top of her lungs. Man, she hit a high note that could shatter glass. That sure put a damper on the evening that even good wine couldn't fix. Some folks are actually terrified of guns, as if the gun could jump on them and bite them, or worse.

[Colvin]

I find that women, when asking about guns, legitimately want to know. Men usually just want to show you (if you're a knowledgeable gunowner) that they know what a 9mm is.

Women usually don't care about guns. They use them for purely utilitarian purposes, so they don't try to make idle conversation and ask substantive questions. My mother is good with that, she asks questions. My father, who knows extremely little about guns, will often try to make conversation instead of listening when he asks a question.

I learned all about guns by myself, with a bit of help from my grandfather who started me on it. Maybe that makes me less tolerant since I'm self taught.

[Darren007]

Really the only thing that really "boils my blood" when it comes to guns are people who talk about things as though they are an expert when its painfully obvious they have no clue.

Case in point, I had an old Walther P1. A few years ago I thought I would put it up for consignment at a local gun shop. When the owner of the shop looked at it he said, "Well, your probably not going to get much for it. Those Lugers are worth anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 dollars (yes, he actually said that) but it looks like you refinished it and installed a cheap aluminum aftermarket frame making it practically worthless. Too bad, you could of sold that for a small fortune if you had left it alone."

Oh dear...sigh.

I ended up selling it to a friend of mine instead.

[hardworker]

People who make it a point to tell me that it's "magazine" and not "clip", or "rounds" and not "bullets". Most people don't know the difference or care to and therefore it's not important.

[markj]

People who make it a point to tell me that it's "magazine" and not "clip", or "rounds" and not "bullets".

Yep, mostly young know it alls that jump on ya so others will think they are smarter....but it never works like that, only makes the youth look foolish IMHO.

any anal thing ticks me off, knitt pickers looking for an oppourtunity to jump in and ......

I can tech speak with the best of them, talk in a language 99% of the population just cant answer too, but to do so makes me look foolish....

[Indi]

Im a pretty passive person when it comes to people who dont know about guns, I dont really hold it against them when they dont know somethng really simple or say something not to inteligent. But man do i hate it when anti gun people say that the guy with the gun is paranoid. O gosh that boils my blood!!!!!!!! GGRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!


great now im upset! 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1- better :

[Bud Helms]

Let's get a couple of things out of the way before this goes where it shouldn't.

Most people don't know the difference or care to and therefore it's not important.

That simply is not a logical conclusion. Not knowing or caring about the difference does not make it unimportant. It makes it unimportant to those who don't know the difference or care to know. A slight difference with huge meaning. Also, I suggest that most of those that don't know the difference do care, and once they know they are incorrect appreciate being told about it.

I will never quite understand how we got to the point that correct terminology is anal. That is like saying, "Some people just don't know how to act."

Waitaminit! That's actually true!

Perpetuating false terminology is perpetuating ignorance and sloth. It also condones the attitude that it doesn't matter.

If terminology doesn't matter, then drive your shirt to work. Then tell everyone how good it drives.

Some teaching moments are also learning moments. Some are assuredly not.

(Edited to add: Some people are indifferent to their ignorance because they are unaware of any effect on them. Some people are sensitive to details, including terminology. Calling someone who is detail-oriented, anal, is reverse snobbery. It also does nothing to eradicate your own ignorance. Remember, the truly ignorant person is unaware of their ignorance. All this has nothing to do with those that harp on a simple detail that is of no consequence. The trick is to know the difference. Handloaders learn the importance of these details right away.)

[briandg]

Any use of the word "accident" in any context. "Unintended event" does not equate to "accident."

Struck by Lightning? That's an accident. In most cases there ain't squat that you could have done to prevent it, and you had nothing to do with the cause and effect. an unintended discharge, striking an unintended object, a miss, drop, or any other thing that wasn't meant to happen but did anyway means that did something that you could have prevented by strapping your holster, use of a safety, line of sight awareness, awareness of load status, etc, there is practically no such thing as an accident in any aspect of life. you can't accidentally cut your finger in the kitchen; nobody put your finger under that cleaver but yourself, and saying "gee, it slipped" is just an excuse.

[briandg]

In all seriousness, I am not one to suffer fools. Every conversation I have somedays are nightmarish events during which I want to mace the person I'm talking to.

It doesn't matter who I'm talking to, so many people who know a little bit about a lot of things learned that little bit in comic books and third grade, and they feel qualified to talk to anyone on a peer to peer basis.

knowing that there are .22, 32, 38, 357, 9mm, 10, 40, 44, and 45 caliber pistols is enough for a lot of people, and they will know what they think is best, and will undoubtedly say so, with no real need to understand why.

Same thing applies to cars, fly rods, even chili peppers. "the chipotle is the best.!!!!"

A "little bit of knowledge" should be a source of embarrasment, not a license to expound.

[mitchntx]

As a reletive newb to both this forum and shooting, but having a passion and an internet forum to discuss that passion, how about a different perspective ...

I'm a racer and fabricator.



It annoys the crap out of me when some one refers to a shock as a strut, an anti-sway bar as as sway bar and ask "what will it do in the quarter"?

After reading about the buttons the OP has, it dawned on me that the buttons are directly related to that passion.

And since none of us have identical passions to a common degree, one person's hot button is the next person's ... whatever.

[hardworker]

If terminology doesn't matter, then drive your shirt to work. Then tell everyone how good it drives.

That's an example of a time when it does matter. If you told someone that they'd have no idea what you were talking about. If I told someone that I bought a clip for my pistol, they'd know what I was talking about and probably not even know it was incorrect terminology.

I grew up saying "clip" not knowing the difference, and now that I've learned differently I still use "clip". Mainly because it's easier to say and conveys the same message to 99% of people.

When I find myself around people who actually do know the difference, I'll use correct terminology if it is technically-speaking.

[federali]

I hate the term "high-powered." Even gun buffs use it. Does it really mean anything? Of course, the media, in trying to demonize everything, have created high powered assault rifles, High powered 22s, etc.