Originally Posted by
Esq.
First I would make a distinction between shooters and gun owners. There's a difference as Straight Shooter alludes to above.
My opinion is that "gun owners" are nothing more than a subset of the general population. I don't have much faith in them quite honestly. That, is my opinion based on several observed facts and considerable experience. Serious shooters are generally another sort of individual and I'll leave them out of the discussion....
The "experience" first--- My parents met at an ammo factory. I have been around shooting and hunting my entire life- my mother was shooting pistol competitively while I was in the womb. I've hunted and shot competitively all my life- smallbore, trap and skeet, IDPA, IPSC, 3 Gun, High Power, Silhouette, PRS, Run and Gun....I've trained under some of the finest instructors this country- and others, have ever produced. I've put animals in the record book as a hunter. I've hunted with dogs, from helicopters, on skis, by horse.... I've been on the gunshow circuit, worked in gunshops, worked with gunsmiths, ran a 400 member private shooting range for 25 years....I've been a Regional Friends of NRA Director and helped raise well over $1 million for the NRA. Life member of just about every Pro 2A organization you can name. I've helped write pro 2A Legislation and testified on both legislation and as an expert witness in firearms cases, I've defended police officers in use of force proceedings. I've lectured on various firearms related issues many times. I'm a board certified trial attorney by trade and "judging" people, is my business.
Most "gun owners" are certifiably ignorant (not really open to debate) and borderline stupid when it comes to firearms. They don't know much about their firearms- their history or specific design features, how to operate them, safe gun handling principles, ballistics, proficient use.... They don't belong to any organizations that supports their right to own guns or that promote firearms ownership and competency- they often don't think it's important because they are completely ignorant and cannot articulate the history of human oppression and how firearms (the right of self defense) are integral to the republican form of government. They don't seek out advanced training to better their skills nor do they regularly practice to attain a high level of proficiency. Owning guns is a small part of their lives and often very compartmentalized.
That doesn't make them evil people, ignorant and borderline stupid in many cases, yes.
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