Ignorance of anti gun folks: "You don't own a semi-automatic gun do you?"

Radny97 · October 1, 2015, 10:18 PM

Was in a meeting today in a large downtown office with a bunch of mucky mucks I don't know well and we ended up dealing with a question over an ammunition business that went belly up. Afterwards we had some down time between sessions and the topic of guns came up in connection with the ammo business we had to deal with.
Comments ranged from:
"They should have known better than to do business with anyone you meet at a gun show, those people are crazy"
To
"It's legal to make your own ammo?"
After being silent for a while I mentioned that I go to gun shows, load ammo and compete in some handgun competitions. The room got quieter and some eyebrows were raised. Then someone tried to rehabilitate me with questions like:
"Well but you don't own any semi-automatic hand guns do you?"
To which I said "Yes and most handguns are semi-automatic."
"No I mean like an Uzi."
"That's an automatic weapon."
"No I mean like an . . . Um . . . an AK-47."
"That's a rifle, but no I don't own an AK-47."

The ignorance of those who oppose gun ownership is just astounding sometimes.
I really wanted to say more but it wasn't worth the social awkwardness of alienating these people since I have to work with them for the next three years, but honestly.

rwilson452 · October 1, 2015, 11:15 PM

Why am I not surprised

9x18_Walther · October 1, 2015, 11:38 PM

These are the same people who probably don't realize the lack of practical differences between an AR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14.

That one is scary!, who needs that?

What's wrong with that wooden hunting rifle?

**44 AMP** · October 2, 2015, 01:06 AM

Pick a hobby you know little or nothing about, and you would be "ignorant" of the proper names and uses of the tools, or items used.

All I know about golf is that there are many clubs, some are woods, some are irons, and they are used for different shots. Beyond that, I'm pretty ignorant of the different clubs and uses.

Unlike guns, as far as I know, there is no one in the media lying about golf clubs. People who don't have an interest or experience, usually only know myths, rumors and lies gotten from various sources, including popular entertainment.

Some are outright haters, and some are just under informed, or misled.

I don't see a specific Law or Civil Rights issue here, absent one we will close soon.

Pond, James Pond · October 2, 2015, 03:14 AM

One of life's useful skills is realising that you are ignorant about something. From that point there are two wise courses of action to choose from depending on the situation.

One is ask smart questions to improve your knowledge.
The second is to shut the hell up and not advertise said ignorance.

Sadly most people in that situation chose a different approach: shooting their mouths off like there is no tomorrow.

How often is it that the most vocal have the least to say?

(notice I have not said which heading I fall under!!

)

**Tom Servo** · October 2, 2015, 06:37 AM

There really isn't a question or point for discussion here that concerns law or civil rights.

October 1, 2015, 10:18 PM	#1
Radny97 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2015 Posts: 1,021	Ignorance of anti gun folks: "You don't own a semi-automatic gun do you?" Was in a meeting today in a large downtown office with a bunch of mucky mucks I don't know well and we ended up dealing with a question over an ammunition business that went belly up. Afterwards we had some down time between sessions and the topic of guns came up in connection with the ammo business we had to deal with. Comments ranged from: "They should have known better than to do business with anyone you meet at a gun show, those people are crazy" To "It's legal to make your own ammo?" After being silent for a while I mentioned that I go to gun shows, load ammo and compete in some handgun competitions. The room got quieter and some eyebrows were raised. Then someone tried to rehabilitate me with questions like: "Well but you don't own any semi-automatic hand guns do you?" To which I said "Yes and most handguns are semi-automatic." "No I mean like an Uzi." "That's an automatic weapon." "No I mean like an . . . Um . . . an AK-47." "That's a rifle, but no I don't own an AK-47." The ignorance of those who oppose gun ownership is just astounding sometimes. I really wanted to say more but it wasn't worth the social awkwardness of alienating these people since I have to work with them for the next three years, but honestly.

October 1, 2015, 11:15 PM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	Why am I not surprised __________________ USNRET '61-'81

October 2, 2015, 01:06 AM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,824	Pick a hobby you know little or nothing about, and you would be "ignorant" of the proper names and uses of the tools, or items used. All I know about golf is that there are many clubs, some are woods, some are irons, and they are used for different shots. Beyond that, I'm pretty ignorant of the different clubs and uses. Unlike guns, as far as I know, there is no one in the media lying about golf clubs. People who don't have an interest or experience, usually only know myths, rumors and lies gotten from various sources, including popular entertainment. Some are outright haters, and some are just under informed, or misled. I don't see a specific Law or Civil Rights issue here, absent one we will close soon. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 2, 2015, 03:14 AM	#5
Pond, James Pond Senior Member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: Top of the Baltic stack Posts: 6,079	One of life's useful skills is realising that you are ignorant about something. From that point there are two wise courses of action to choose from depending on the situation. One is ask smart questions to improve your knowledge. The second is to shut the hell up and not advertise said ignorance. Sadly most people in that situation chose a different approach: shooting their mouths off like there is no tomorrow. How often is it that the most vocal have the least to say? (notice I have not said which heading I fall under!! ) __________________ When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.

October 2, 2015, 06:37 AM	#6
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	There really isn't a question or point for discussion here that concerns law or civil rights. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

October 1, 2015, 11:38 PM	#3
9x18_Walther Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2015 Posts: 500	These are the same people who probably don't realize the lack of practical differences between an AR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14. That one is scary!, who needs that? What's wrong with that wooden hunting rifle?