Coming from a extremely anti-gun household, how should I present an interest in firearms?
Posted by Holiday_Fee_3443@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 21 comments
While I don't currently know much about guns other than the basics, I'm very fascinated with the inner workings and the technology related to it.
While I will pursue my interests whether my family approves or not, I was wondering if anyone has already gone through a similar experience and has any way to respectfully say "fuck everything you've told me about this, I like it".
FortunateHominid@reddit
If you live with your parents, you don't. Respect their wishes and beliefs. When you move out, no need to even bring it up. Chances are you'll never change their minds at this point, why introduce possible relationship issues when there's no need to.
If you live on your own, you don't present anything. Live your life.
Holiday_Fee_3443@reddit (OP)
Yeah, this seems to be the best course of action. I respect my parents enough to think that they should know about things that I'm interested in, even if they are against it.
So far I'm just going to give it a little time to think about it,
ThousandWinds@reddit
Do you mind describing the nature of your parents dislike of firearms?
Political ideology? Religious objections? Fear of guns in general?
Depending on how deeply they hate weapons, there might be one or two “outs” for you if you played your cards right:
They might just hate guns that they consider particularly warlike and scary.
Expressing an interest in a bolt action .22 because you saw target shooting in the Olympics isn’t going to set off alarm bells for most liberal parents like talking about an AR-15 would.
I actually talked my very anti gun father into buying me my first rifle for Christmas because it was a single shot blackpowder gun and that didn’t bother him to nearly the same degree.
JoeHardway@reddit
If THEY pay yur bills, they hava say, if not, it's none'a their bizzness.
If tha latter, I'd prolly keepit ontha D/L, ifu thinkit's gonnabe a prob, but, ultimately, yura grown-ass (Or, whenu become 1...) American man, n they don't hafta agree w/your life choices...
No-Performance37@reddit
I find it’s just better to keep those kind of things to myself. Most of the time you aren’t going to change people’s mind that are already made up.
ThousandWinds@reddit
How old are you roughly if you don’t mind me asking?
If you’re still living under a family member’s roof, and they have an aversion to firearms then you’re in a difficult position. You could rent some at a local range although many ranges will require instructor supervision if you haven’t brought at least one firearm of your own.
It would be somewhat disrespectful however to go behind the homeowners back, although there are some scenarios where I would advocate a single pistol secreted away in locked container if safety is truly on the line. I would recommend moving out as a much more preferable alternative.
If you are living alone already, then what your family thinks is really just something to take under advisement. Be polite but firm and lay out some well reasoned rebuttals for why you feel differently. Don’t get mad, just apply logic. This only truly works if you are independent of them financially however.
Holiday_Fee_3443@reddit (OP)
Just hit Junior year, but with the current price of a lot of stuff I'm not sure if I'll be able to be fully financially independent for a good bit.
General consensus rn seems to be "Wait it out" so I think that's my best play.
CAD007@reddit
Learn and watch what you can. Just ride it out until you turn 18 AND can support yourself or your own place.
If your high school has a Jr ROTC or Sea Cadets style program, that might be a way to get some exposure and training without alarming the parents. It also gives you an advantage if you decide to enlist to get out of the house when you turn 18.
-WinterBeard-@reddit
Number 1, welcome to team firearms, we have all the cool stuff. Number 2, I feel your pain. My parents never owned firearms and didn’t understand them. However, I didn’t get into firearms until my 30s and at that point was well on my own. They don’t like that I own them but at least don’t bother me about it. All that to say, do your research, learn and practice it’s a fun hobby and right.
Sliced_Orange1@reddit
Are they anti-gun by principle or for lack of experience/knowledge/interest? I guess what I'm trying to ask is are they politically biased or simply ignorant?
If they aren't politically biased or motivated to be anti-gun, it will be significantly easier because you have a great opportunity to explain to them how they work, demonstrate proper safety, and generally set a good example for what a responsible gun owner looks like.
If you're dealing with political motivations, I'm not sure how to handle that. It's likely they've made their mind and won't change it because they believe whatever they've been told to believe and won't hear anything else. That's a very complex can of worms.
Holiday_Fee_3443@reddit (OP)
It's not political for the most part, while my family and I lean left we still believe in the constitution and it's principals.
The aversion comes from cases of suicide (mostly by firearm) with both my mothers and fathers side.
That's mostly why I want to actually talk to them about it, to display that if in the future I own or get involved with guns they wont have to be scared to death all the time.
deadwood76@reddit
You live at home I assume?
Holiday_Fee_3443@reddit (OP)
Yes. I'm still in high school. I have unfortunately very controlling parents who monitor me and my sisters closely so my only option forward seems to be waiting it out or just confronting them.
blacklassie@reddit
I hate to tell you but their roof, their rules. You may have to just wait this one out. Once you’re on your own, you can do as you please.
deadwood76@reddit
I mean, in reality, you're in one of the best places here to learn, etc. YouTube channels if you can, etc. The more info you consume, the more you learn.
treeofliberty-1776@reddit
You pretty much nailed it. You can love your family but this is most likely something that will be nothing but a pain point. I personally wouldn't discuss it with them. If you want to, i would wait until you have more knowledge.
Novel_Comparison_209@reddit
Tell them to suck it up. If they don’t like them then they don’t have to get one.
danjustchillz@reddit
What he said.
Same-Possession1405@reddit
Sounds like you’re fairly young. If I was a wee 18-21 y/o again in the same situation, I’d maybe consider just keeping quiet and confining my interests to Reddit, YouTube, etc. It wouldn’t be worth starting my collection until I’ve moved out and what they think no longer matters and you wouldn’t risk a confrontation. Truthfully, they’d never have to know. It’s a good rule in general to keep those things private and not flaunt them online either. That’s neither here nor there, however. Just remember that you don’t really HAVE to bring it up ever to anyone unless you trust them or they share your interests. Get a good backpack with a concealed carry compartment and keep it to yourself if you want something before moving out, maybe? So long as you can legally buy one without drawing attention to yourself.
LifeAdhesiveness8071@reddit
It depends on how old you are. When I graduated highschool and moved out on my own I stopped paying attention to what my family thought. My dad was scared to death of guns and would have never allowed one in his house. The topic never came up when I was older and obviously owned a number of guns.
goathead9bathory@reddit
“Yeah, this is fun. I’m gonna keep doing it. Want to get a beer tonight?”