@Legalize @A. Spader @uncephalized Here is my hyphothisis. "This is mostly based on my experience and what I’ve observed regarding my mom and step-dad’s raising of my little brother. I wasn’t exposed to firearms beyond tv, movies, and toys until I moved from my grandma’s house to live with my dad. While living with my dad I shot various firearms, was given bb guns and taught gun safety using bb guns. I middle school for christmas I was given a russian bolt action rifle. He let me keep it in my room. When I moved out of my dad’s house to my Mom’s house I had to let my Uncle hold on to the rifle for me. At the time my brother was 2 years old, so fair enough. Since moving to my Mom’s house I have had no exposure to guns beyond either friends with guns or an organization that I was in during high school had a shooting range at their summer camp. My mom and stepdad have made no effort to educate me or my little brother on guns. Most of my firearm experience is either from my dad or self taught. Other than going shooting with my grandpa and uncle once or twice, my little brother, who is in middle school now, has had no exposure to firearms beyond tv, movies, toys, and video games. I’ve taken him to a gun store once, and plan on taking him to a range. I’m sure I will double his practical exposure to guns on my own. I want to know is my experience representitve or not. Btw my mom and stepdad are middle class suborbonites."

One of the hidden problems in there is D I V O R C E

but yes I'd say your experience is not unusual.

My mom and dad never married.

Sorry, not trying to be insensitive. Just the rise of single-parent households is one of the big problems.

Yah, I'm right there with you. And your not. It's fine.

I don't think a lot of single moms are teaching their kids to shoot.

Well, my mom had my brother after she married my stepdad.

His parents are still together.

@CritterKiller I can give you how I got into guns and my background, if that's what you're asking

And I didn't move into my mom's house until I was in high school. @A. Spader I was more wanting to know about how common is my story. And if the lack of practical exposure to guns is contributing to the gun control advocacy. Matt has said that those that advocate for gun control are usually uneducated about the subject. More go off their feelings.

In my experience they are also mostly women and beta males

yeah, I'd say that's largely true. I and my friends all grew up in center-right households, where religion meant something and was treated with some degree of reverence and respect, but none of our parents owned guns. I got into them basically through the internet, more or less. I started following politics at 13, and by the time I was 17 I had come to the conclusion that since guns were a reality it was my job to understand them. I watched countless youtube videos, I poured over the work of John Lott and CDC statistics, and of course the history of the founding of our country

I came to the conclusion it was my duty to arm myself, and the day I turned 21 I did so

I'd say gun culture is alive, but substantially different than in the past. I know quite a few guys who's parents were never into guns, but who played video games and then someone took them to a local range and sent them a few articles, and they were converted

"today's" gun culture is almost completely divorced of hunting/the outdoors, and far more connected to say, the conceal carry movement

My little brother has expressed interest in hunting.

I can concur. I was largely ignorant as a youth, and I did not care about guns, nor politics and history. It wasn't until the last year or two that I have started ramping up my knowledge, and becoming more involved. I'm only 23 years of age so I'm lacking the vetted experience and time that perhaps some of you have invested over the course of your life yet my frustrations don't quell. I believe that we are losing culturally speaking, and many people are ignorant. However, I think our image is largely negative because of gun toting Alabama fuckers, and so many people aren't willing to have a conversation with one another and default to being enemies. I'm trying to figure out how I can make a difference but it feels both Democrats and Republicans don't care about us, the citizens. I'm going to continue to train, purchase gear, and reach Goon levels so if shit hits the fan I can live.

Perhaps today's gun culture being more towards concealed/open carry is more due to the urbanization of America than anything else. Along with the crime rates in said urban areas.

That's my take

Im enjoying this free exchange of ideas

fewer gun owners 'per capita' but the gun owners you do meet are huge second amendment guys and own to protect against two legged predators, not four legged ones

Yah, I currently don't own a firearm, still live at home and mom doesn't want one in the house. But any I am looking at is mostly for cc/oc.

For what it's worth, I have a 6 month old son and, as soon as we move out of California LOL, I'm going to buy one and teach him about guns hands on

lucky......open carry is illegal in my state

Agree with you guys. I also didn't grow up around guns. My parents were immigrants and owning a gun was unthinkable to them. I started getting interested in guns relatively recently. Friends and co-workers invited me to shoot with them at the range and I found it fun, and since I got into politics I've become convinced that I should own a firearm, not because I need it for hunting, but because it's my right as a citizen.

yuma, have you tried to convert your parents also?

It's a great privilege that I wouldn't have if I lived in other countries.

Honestly hunting is more fun with a bow or crossbow

@CritterKiller I walked my parents through my reasons for wanting a gun, and the research I had done, and despite both of them being nominally anti gun they let me have em in the house

@A. Spader open carry is iffy. It's baned in the denver metropolitan area. not sure about the municipalities I live/work in.

Nice. Document, and report. Prove your case.

@CritterKiller Yes. I've converted my mom lol. She used to be really anti-gun. She now understands why Americans have a 2nd Amendment. I haven't really spoken to my dad about it, but he might come around with time.

And fair point Spader. Congrats yuma!

^^^^^^

I don't think my parents are antigun, however I'm not sure my little brother is quite responsible enough to be around a firearm unsupervised. I was always a bit more mature for my age. I think that's why my dad was fine with me having a gun in my room at his age.

It's a bit of a long read (that I shared elsewhere on social media), but y'all care if I post what my thoughts on this issue?

I'm fine with that

Should see the pos I had to read earlier from MC. I doubt your's is longer.

Dope.

Point of sale?