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I’m a millennial. All the people I know from my generation (and younger) have guns. Some of them are quite adamant about their guns. Some of them like hunting. Most of them own (and shoot on a semi-regular basis) an AR. All have at least a handgun or an AR (most under 21 just have the AR).
Most of the people I know who don’t own guns are Boomers or Gen X. And except for my father and one of my uncles, I can’t think of any of them who are particularly excited by guns.
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Correct, which is why I disagree with putting laws on ballots to be voted on by the masses. That is the cry of the modern Leftists - “But the majority voted for…” .
Both of my sons have shot and killed a Elk. One son took to firearms big time. Other not so much. I’m happy to be 50%. I’ve taken so many of their friends I can’t count. Bird hunting and target. This is what we must do to preserve. I also talk to them about it, so media does not.
PB
Thanks?
My dad bought me a 10/22 with a Eagle smoke 30rd magazine, however I can assure you he never had the toys you have…your sons or at least the one who really likes firearms hopefully realizes how lucky he is then to have you as an old man:p Same goes for Mark’s kid IIrc…he posted a pic of him, and his son shooting together.
You a big Elk hunter? My dad never got to kill one, but he went on a couple trips in his 30s…and he talks about those trips with a smile that few other stories get. I’ve thought about trying to find a place to take him, but some of the places I know are tough getting into and out of. He recently turned 70.
This. Millennial as well, 30 years old. Counter strike got me “into guns”. My father was not a gun owner or hunter for personal reasons (not political or ethical, wanted us to have “outdoorsman” experience though he could not do it).
We went on an organized camping trip where I shot a 22 for the first time (10 years old?)and saved the casings for years.
He had my uncle (avid firearms enthusiast and hunter) really introduce me to shooting when I was 14 with safety being HUGE.
22 on reactive targets hooked me.
I think that one of the things we can do is make our events more family friendly. If we did things like offer classes on firearms safety, firearms safety in the home, firearms care and cleaning, pistol, rifle and shotgun marksmanship in a low key, non-threatening environment we could probably accomplish a lot.
There are a lot of fun rim-fire programs out there, they are a good way to get entry level shooters into the sport - but we need to advertise to those in our communities who have no connection to the shooting sports.
Hard to get accomplished when club leadership doesn’t share the vision.
JMO
Out of 5 or so younger guys at work I believe 2 definitely own firearms and the other 3 I just don’t know. One guy is 22 and when he turned 21 he had me help him buy “good” guns! He’s got a bunch now. hKs, AKs, ARs, Glocks, SW. Another guy has a Shield 40 but never shoots it and doesn’t carry. Just keeps it in his desk.
As an immigrant kid to parents who were never into guns I couldn’t wait to turn 18 to buy a rifle. My parents were never against it, they just never understood why someone needs so many. And at this point even my dad has 2
I think there’s a lot of owners, just not a lot of shooters. In my family my dad and two uncles own guns. In the last 20 years each one of them has been to the range between 1 to 3 times. They don’t shoot and don’t participate in anything firearms related
Mentioned in another post - we need to use social media better to alert folks to opportunities to learn and experience shooting - even just to see if they feel it is a fundamental right.
Being a gatekeeper has consequences. Like guns or not, a Right is a Right.
Bingo. Most folks don’t willingly put their egos at risk. We need to make it as easy and risk free (to the ego) as possible - I know that sounds SJWish, but folks really take things to heart that we wouldn’t expect them to get so upset about.
The Constitution was meant to be whatever a majority of Supreme Court Justices interpret it to be, or whatever “we the people” vote it to be. Second Amendment appears to be safe…for now. The trend, however, does not suggest a rosy future.
Gun ownership per household has remained virtually unchanged since 1972. That is pretty much my entire lifetime. I can remember going to the range in the late 70’s with my dad and never waiting for a bench to shoot at. That same range, today, even though it has doubled in size and the population has doubled in size, there is now often a waiting line to get a bench on busy days.
There is plenty of enthusiasm for shooting across all age groups at the range I help run. We don’t keep stats on age groups other than youth members, adult members, and senior (60+) members. Adults make up 50% of the shooters. Youth and Seniors are about even at 25%. We offer free shooting for anyone 17 our younger, so we attract a lot of parents bringing their kids vs. other ranges in Alaska.
I realize Alaska is a small part of America, but we are doing pretty good up here.
I think there are a lot of younger folks that enjoy firearms, but are pretty discreet about it.
Last weekend, I took two of my nephews to a defensive shotgun class, taught by a pair of excellent instructors. I paid the class fees, bought ammo, set up a pair of 870’s for them, and was their own personal AI.
They loved it. Neither one can wait for the next range trip. Another pistol class is next, then a medical class from either Dark Angel Medical or Lone Star Medics. Then a carbine class, and probably ECQC.
BUT - both of them are very discreet about guns. No mentions on social media, no bragging to friends, etc. They are considering a BJJ class as well.
So yeah, there are plenty of low profile young people out there who enjoy guns. We do need more of them, of course.
I have always put great intention on being an ambassador for firearms ownership.
Several years back I made a goal of reaching across the political isle and getting those who were either on the fence or anti gun to accompany me for a range day.
I have been successfull on 7 occasions. Unsuccessful on 2.
Each person that has gone with me has gone several times and has a greater understanding and a perspective shift ranging from a small increase in acceptance of firearm ownership being reasonable, to some having an outright appreciation for the 2nd amendment and really changed their minds about firearms and firearms culture/owners in general, a few are outspoken advocates now.
Only 1 person that has gone to the range with me has yet to purchase a firearm, he still goes shooting with me, but isn’t quite comfortable with owning and keeping a firearm of his own yet. It’s been about 2 years with him.
Some of them are to the point they own AR’s/AK’s and some don’t think people should be allowed to have those evil assault rifles. I am patient. I don’t push. I just discuss things logically and give examples; many of which you fine gents have supplied me with.
If each gun owner made a point to be an ambassador, keep the elitist machismo BS out of it and just show people how safe and fun and important firearms are- we’d be so much better off.
If each one of us here on M4C spent half the time trying to get folks on our side as we do complaining about the people who aren’t on our side- we’d have a lot less to complain about.
Definitely not going to change everyone’s mind, but that’s not my goal. I just want to change 1 mind at a time and as many as possible to gain more 2A friendly folks.
The thing about enthusiasm is that it is contagious. Don’t hide it. Share it!
I’ve adopted the “everyone reach one” policy of the enemy.
Whenever I find a suitable candidate with an interest in hunting, airsoft or gaming I ask them if they’d like to shoot a REAL machine gun. And assuming I have a suitable rapport with the family I start with the basics of safe gun handling and if they work well they move on to station to station shooting.
I have taught kids as young as 12 how to responsibly run a MP5 or a multiple station course and I have trained kids who were well into their 30s who had never fired a real gun before. Responsible mentoring with no Yeagertard nonsense or programs with the expectation they will be going to Afghanistan with NSW usually result in a genuinely interested shooter.
I’m a Xennial in my 30’s, we were born in an analog world that went digital and I was born and bred on firearms to include military small-arms. The pop-culture of my formative years help shape an interest in firearms for a many a young lad; G.I. Joe cartoon/action figures, television shows like The A-Team, films like The Terminator, etc. I have one cousin and a BIL who are Millennials, they both own an AR.
NFA items have never been as popular as they are now. I have a friend who is an SOT who regularly post videos of his adolescent children and their friends both boys and girls shooting beltfeds and suppressed firearms at the range. Social media is a humongous draw for firearms, everyone who is anyone in the industry has a YouTube channel, FB page, and an IG account, etc.
The fastest growing demographic for shooting sports is females of all ages.
Like most gun guys I started out as a kid with a single shot bolt action .22lr, my sons have Colt rifles put away for when they are old enough and will be introduced with Nerf, then Airsoft, then BB, then rimfires.
IMHO the thing that has changed is the political climate, as some others have touched upon. There has been a disarmament agenda in full swing since I was a kid but we’ve seen a huge uptick recently of their media apparatus’ campaign to criminalize/demonize personally owned firearms in the court of public opinion. Combine that with the militant environmentalists who doxx hunters who post photos of their kills online that result in some people having to go into hiding due to receiving death threats, a high school cheerleader and a dentist come to mind as the most recent victims of this bullshit. So the enemy have their sights set on hunting as well.
You are damn right it does…been sayin that for decades.