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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 10:34:54 AM | I've been invited out by a gentleman who seems like a really nice guy. He's employed, has his own home, is always polite on the phone, sex isn't even brought up at this time.
But he mentioned that he collects guns, he hunts and he just finished a course which will allow him to carry a concealed weapon. He works at a bakery and he lives in a decent area. He said he just wants to be able to have a gun on him if he wants to.
I've agreed to meet him for dinner tonite and I'm trying to be open minded and give him a chance. But I am not a fan of guns, they do not interest me at all.
What I'm wanting to know is those of you that have guns or know gun nuts, what your take is on the personality of that type of person. Do average people have guns around "just because"? Is there anything I should be worried about dating a guy who is into guns? | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 10:43:12 AM | "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." Robert A. Heinlein
That is my view on it. As long as he's safe with his weapon I would not worry about it at all. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 10:48:42 AM | Hey Morning Glory,
Girl, I don't know how you do it, but I've read allot of your posts and I got to hand it to you, got them coming at you left and right, ha, ha....
Unless it's his profession that requires him to carry a gun, such as a cop, security guard, FBI, etc... Other than a professional, someone who carries guns other than during hunting season and the above mentioned.. I'd say the guy is a little gun happy, HELLO!
This type of guy would mean to me that he needs to carry a gun to make feel like a real man! Without it? Repeat, without carrying a gun and not needing it at the time he's carrying it, is a little off the beaten path, if you know what I mean? 
That's my opinion,
Cheers!
Chela | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 10:51:17 AM |
What I'm wanting to know is those of you that have guns or know gun nuts, what your take is on the personality of that type of person.
Many of us grew up with guns and have no fear of them whatsoever. Collecting guns (for a gun collector) is no different that collecting baseball cards (for a baseball card collector). But there are paranoid, delusional people who are unable to see that reality.
Do average people have guns around "just because"?
Well, yes they do. Although, besides the collection thing, guns are obviously useful for hunting. And target shooting is lots of fun. Different guns/different type of shooting. And I'd much rather point my Anaconda at an intruder as a broomstick.
Is there anything I should be worried about dating a guy who is into guns?
Only if you're a card carrying member of the paranoid, delusional, brain-washed "guns are evil" group. Actually, you shouldn't be worried then either.
It makes more sense to pay attention to his words and actions and see how well they go together...not just "gun" talk, but everything he says. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 10:53:19 AM | | He collects guns . It's his thing and what he is into . So what . I really wouldn't worry about it. If you are worrying some day he could flip out and shoot you ,well if someone really does flip out then gun or no gun they can still kill you. After all they just have to go to the kitchen and get a knife or a hammer .You're being slightly paranoid. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:07:54 AM | Nothing to worry about. A lot of hunters and history buffs collect guns. Many don't even have the ammunition for most of the guns they own, as they are just meant for show.
As for carrying a gun: I'm in Texas, so that may be part of it.....but it seems like those who carry do so as sort of a patriotic "I'm an American and we have the right to bear arms" kind of thing. I don't know any that legally carry with the hope of actually needing to use it.
He's taking the classes and sounds responsible. The only thing to worry about is that they are kept secure and the ammunition is locked up separate from the weapons (especially if children are around). | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:11:48 AM | Morning Glory,
Each gun owner is different, just as each person is different.
That being said, in my experience as a gun owner, certified instructor and holder of a carry permit, if he had to take a course for a concealed carry permit then he is pretty serious about protecting his rights to carry. These courses usually require a time investment as well as a monetary investment and a permit is issued only after a background check. If he gets the permit you will at least know he has no felony convictions.
Most people who have concealed carry permits are responsible individuals and will not jeopardize their right to carry.
Instructors never encourage, and always discourage, the use of firearms with alcohol and/or drugs, even OTC medicines which may cloud ones abilities to safely handle a firearm.
I am sure that if you asked this gentleman, he would be happy to tell you why he wants or feels he needs a carry permit. Gun owners are always willing to talk about their guns and gun issues.
You should worry as much with this guy as you would with any other man you are meeting for the first time. Always keep it safe and make sure someone knows where you will be.
If you are not comfortable meeting him because of the firearm issue, perhaps you could discuss this with him before hand.
Good luck to you and let me know how it turns out. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:11:49 AM | Meh, I don't blame you for being a little uneasy about him carrying a gun. That's a personal choice for you to make.
As far as him collecting them, you're probably being a little paranoid, as long as he is safe and they are kept away from children (locked up, not just in a closet).
A friend on mind probably has about 20-30. He is an absolute gun nut. He is also one of the most law abiding people I know. I once kidded around with him about what it would take to make one of his semi -automatic rifles fully automatic (more or less wondering how hard it is to do), and he looked at me like I was crazy. Then he proceeded to lecture me about how serious that was, and that I shouldn't even joke around about it.
Personally, I fear for my safety far more when it comes to idiots behind the wheel of a car, than I fear law abiding gun owners. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:20:01 AM | Although I'm not a Guy... I do have a few guns myself, partly for Farm & Livestock protection, partly just because I can... I do applaud your feller because he has chosen to demonstrate Responsible Gun Ownership, and take classes, and learns the proper handling, storage, and safety... There are a lot of us, including myself, which may let good judgment lapse in some of those areas...
I understand that Guns 'just aren't your thing...' Just as much as he might find that 'shoe-shopping' might not be his... He sounds like a decent guy, and you are very considerate for keeping an open mind.
If he knows your feelings about having guns around, perhaps you can ask him politely, just for the evening, to leave the gun at home? He doesn't sound like the type of person who would get mad and go on a shooting spree, and he definitely does sound like hes doing his part...
Perhaps time will shed more light on the relationship subject, but for now, I wouldn't jump ship, just because of something he has an interest in, that 'just isn't your thing'. If the situation were different, where something bad had happened to you in the past with a gun, or if you were Anti-hunting, Anti-Firearms, then I can understand it.
But for now, enjoy his company, and theres nothing wrong with asking him to be gun-free for an evening. Think of it like tobacco use, or if he chose to wear obnoxiously Loud Neck-Ties...
CowTrucker
Chapman, Kansas | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:20:01 AM | Have you seen the news lately? Mall shootings. Church shootings. School shootings.
Like being hit by lightning it's still uncommon, but violence can find you wherever you are. If a man has the ability to defend the lives of innocent people he is an even better candidate than someone who can only offer sharp words and dirty looks.
Did you know that in Ohio, if you pay the NFA tax (National Firearms Act of 1934) , you can purchase machine guns, silencers, and sawed off shotguns. If Ohio's legislature trusts it's citizenry with this stuff then you should too.
Ask him to take you out shooting. How he guides you through the process is a good measure of the kind of man he is. If he's gentle, patient, and understanding it will show in the first five minutes. If he isn't, that'll be just as obvious. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:21:05 AM | Be happy that he is concerned enough for his safety and yours to want to carry concealerd legally.
Being in law enforcement for over 20 years and having a lot of guns myself, I wouldn't worry about it. If he's responsible enoough to go through a concealed carry course and get his permit, at least you know he hasn't been arrested for domestic voilence or assault. Count your blessings girl!  | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:27:47 AM | | Nothing wrong with gun enthusiasts at all. If you are conserned that a guy has something in his home that could kill you perhaps you should confine your dating to those under state supervised lock up as everyone has sharp knives, deadly poisons and all manner of items that could be misused to kill someone. That is unless the State is preventing them from having such items. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:28:47 AM | | Excellent answer, Canonista. I am personally not fond of guns, but I have heard the arguments for and against. I haven't changed my mind. But I wouldn't brush a guy off just because he likes to collect them. I have seen many responsible guys and they are not scary gunshooter types. I would be very interested to see how he handles himself out on a shooting date. Go with the gut.......again. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:29:18 AM | MOST, and note I said MOST, serious gun enthusiasts are also very responsible firearm owners. This is quite different from the punk that keeps a 9mm in his waistband at all time because he is insecure about his manhood.
Gun nuts shoot at anything that moves out their back window. Serious gun enthusiasts fire at the range, hunt in designate areas, license and register their weapons.....
I doubt this is a problem. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:37:08 AM | Wow. Just, wow. Honey you should split up with him. Honestly it sounds like you are just not right for him. I legally CCW and always inform my dates. It is a good way to weed out the ones that won't make the cut. Several dates, I have taken them to the range with me, and they absolutely loved it. Of course we sat down and had the safety talk first, but once they knew what and how to do, they were comfortable, confident, and disturbingly good on the range.
There are many reasons to CCW, but the first, and foremost is that we can. It is our right, and duty as spelled out in the Second Amendmentto our Constitution. An armed citizenry is essential to a free and open society, and without them, those societies will fail, and fall to tyranny. The second, is self defense. I sincerely hope that I never, ever have to use a firearm to defend myself, or a loved one. Only once have I drawn my sidearm and thought I might have to use it. I was actually on a date, and some guy tried to mug us. He did a 180 and ran like the wind whenever I drew down on him. I never had to even put my finger on the trigger, and for that, I am grateful. There are those that will lambaste me for defending my date, and myself in this way, but I didn't have time to ask him questions. "Say do plan on knifing me and raping and murdering my date after you have our wallets?" Also, he is the one who decided what his life is worth, not me. My dates life, and well being are far more important to me than that of a thug. I will defend my home just as I defended her. Thank Congress for the Castle Doctrine.
/rant
DPR | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 11:39:33 AM | I would consider him to be a safer bet than most. To get a permit, he had to come up clean with the FBI. And to keep a permit, you keep out of trouble, cause the first thing a judge will do is lift that permit and you have to surrender your weapons. So consider him "pre-screened" for you.
I got my permit to carry concealed this past summer. I havent even bought a pistol at this point, but i can tell you, i was kind of uneasy going to the mall this weekend. So i'm considering making it my merry christmas to me present and start carrying it in circumstances like that. And people that know me consider me safe to be around. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 1:02:00 PM |
An armed citizenry is essential to a free and open society, and without them, those societies will fail, and fall to tyranny.
many "free and open" societies with very strict gun laws are doing quite well and in no danger of falling... the uk, canada, japan and new zealand all come to mind. on the other hand, some societies with the highest rate of violence also seem to have the most guns. does this mean there are a lot of guns because the of the violence, or there is a lot of violence because of the number of guns?
op- your date seems to be a fairly responsible and reasonable sort, have you told him your feelings about this? knowing you're uncomfortable with the situation, is he willing to go out without it when he's with you? | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 1:49:05 PM | .
Back when I was just a young man the local police department had part time openings for college students. That is, we were beat cops and filled in for vacations, holidays and weekends. What I didn’t know when signing up was that once you receive that badge and gun you are required to carry both 24/7.
That last thing I wanted was to carry a stupid revolver with me everywhere I went. But, I wanted the job and those were the rules. Later, that became a full time position for me, but that’s a different story.
When I graduated from school I went into my chosen profession but the gun thing was, by then, a habit. And it still is today.
Few women I have been with over the years ever knew that I had a handgun with me. Why even mention it? It’s legal and licensed. There is no reason to talk about it and a few good reasons to insure it stays hidden.
And, yeah, I even have a collection here. Years ago I became interested in the little “hide out” guns that were popular in the 1800s. I’d buy most any I saw and repair them. Today, there are over two dozen that will be displayed if I ever find a suitable cabinet. They all work perfectly, but they are a collection, not for shooting.
Some pointed out above that anyone with a CCW license is already proven to be a law abiding member of society. In my case, I must qualify twice a year and I practice combat style shooting a lot. Except for family, I no longer teach shooting, but many I have taught over the years are now ranking police officers.
Of course, I’m not the only one like me. I happen to know quite a few good Americans in similar situations -- armed citizens, one and all. The interesting point is that not even one of these folks has ever been accused of using their weapon inappropriately. And, when I add it up, we’re talking about a total of hundreds of years of citizens carrying handguns in public.
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 1:52:28 PM | ..."Many of us grew up with guns and have no fear of them whatsoever. Collecting guns (for a gun collector) is no different that collecting baseball cards (for a baseball card collector). But there are paranoid, delusional people who are unable to see that reality..."
She summed it up right there...dont go out with him then, let someone else enjoy him...lot's of chicks are gun enthusiasts as well. | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 3:06:02 PM | | Yes, average people own guns and have guns around to secure their safety. I've been around gun owners and have owned guns all my life. There is no "personality" to that "type" of person, anymore than certain skin colors have "personalities" or "types". Maybe it's time to do some soul-searching? | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 3:23:06 PM | Biketrvlr I won't debate this here since it is somewhat OT, but for sure leave the UK out of that list. The things that the British government do to their people in the name of "security and safety" are enough to make GWB and****Cheney giggle like giddy little schoolgirls. A better argument would be that even though we are armed here, politically it has given us no advantage. All the Canadians that I've ever known were better armed than I am, and I can't say about Japan and New Zealand. I'm not sure how Japan regulates giant robots, and I haven't heard anything since the proposed ban on boomerangs in NZ after that drive by school boomeranging in Wellington. I sure hope that poor kid got his eyes uncrossed.
Cheers
DPR
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 4:46:45 PM | I am not a gun enthusiest by any means... nor do I lothe them... I was raised with a healthy respect for them though...
My father is a hunter... he also used to pin shoot for recreation during the off season... I grew up in a house with alot of weapons... He also has a conceal carry permit...
Do I love him any less because he feels the need to carry a weapon around? No...
Would I love another man any less because he has similar qualities to my father? No... (well maybe... but not for the gun issue... lol...)
As long as you feel you are safe around him and you both respect one another's limits, then go for it... if you are that uncomfortable with it at first you could always ask him to please not bring it on a first date... (or choose a place he can't take the gun with him - every state has restrictions to the conceal carry permits)
just my two... but no one wants that anyhow... lol | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 4:56:15 PM | Thank you for voicing your observation Chela,
Morning Glory seems to have men crawling out of the woodwork for her. (Perhaps it's the "Submissive Sex Slave" implication in the profile) 
Morning Glory,
If you are so worried about a gun enthusiast, do not see him. I grew up around guns and my Dad and brothers hunted to provide for theit family. Personally, the more enthusiastic about the arsenal, the more respect you have for weaponry. Why not play dumb and ask how you can take a Hunter's Safety Course to share his enthusiasm. If he retorts "I don't need to stinkin' Hunters Safety Course", then you know there may be a problem! | |
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| Gun Enthusiast - Should I worry?
Posted: 12/10/2007 5:46:56 PM | OP, dproberts and dbndon both are spot on in their responses. They both obviously know what they are talking about and are well-informed. I also hold a ccw permit and I enjoy target practice. I carry because it's my right and privilege and because of the way society is today (just read the paper or watch the news any given day). I'm not physically strong but I am empowered because of my Second Amendment rights. And guess what, we're not "gun nuts". We are law abiding, respectful citizens and we don't all fit into a "personality type". We are the ones who will defend you if the situation so merits.
As others advised, if you have serious qualms about this issue (thus this guy), then maybe you should seek out someone else.
Good luck to you.
JMHO | |
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