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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:05:32 AM EDT
[#1]
It has been my experience that every interest, hobby, culture, etc. attracts it's own share of idiots.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:07:02 AM EDT
[#2]
I think you may want to attend a few shows in other states to get a better perspective.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:07:02 AM EDT
[#3]
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:07:07 AM EDT
[#4]
You meet the best and the worst kinds of people at gun shows.When the doors open at 9:00 A.M.and the public begins to enter the building the cornucopia of humanity is truly expressed.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:07:41 AM EDT
[#5]
Skydiving attracts more than its fair of nerds. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:09:01 AM EDT
[#6]
+1 |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:15:04 AM EDT
[#7]
The gun show attendees here are mostly normal working class folks, some die-hard hunter types, a few LEOs, the occasional white trash looking fella and even more rare is the gang banger. Too many of the dealers act like thier other job is being a used car salesman, especially the ammo dealers! for 10 years I've been hearing; "we are running out of military ammo, get it NOW!, dont walk around I'll hold it for you! it'll be gone in 30 minutes!" .
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:16:50 AM EDT
[#8]
Here's a hint: Dumb people like loud noises. I can't count the number of times I have seen people out at the range with no targets set up. Just there to hear the noise and feel the recoil, I guess.
But seriously, the club I now belong to has a decent representation of intelligent people with good careers who are competition shooters. The last club I belonged to was nearly all "we like when it go boom" rednecks. Certain venues attract certain demographics. For example, gun shows attract crooked, clueless dealers and slack-jawed yokels like flies to manure. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:17:03 AM EDT
[#9]
I've talked to assholes at gunshows that tried to convince me that a CZ-52 with the same size bore as every other CZ-52 I've ever seen was really 9mm. I've talked to freaky people who shout their support for the Nazis. I've talked to cranky, cantankerous people who just want you to buy something or get out.
At the same time, I've talked to kindly old gentlemen who are quite eager to discuss the pros and cons of various firearms, and whether or not I ought to buy a certain type. I've talked to intelligent dealers who are genuinely happy to clear up any questions. It really depends on who you talk to. P.S. Yes, I've worn camo, too (hey, I'm a teen, it's what's in right now). |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:21:55 AM EDT
[#10]
You can buy 9mm barrels for CZ-52's., as well as .22 Reed caliber barrels. The 7.62x25mm round is roughly the size of a 9mm. I think it might be a bit difficult to eyeball the differences if you didnt have 2 side by side to do a comparison to. It may have been a modifed CZ, but chances are it was a poorly educated fellow selling it. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:25:06 AM EDT
[#11]
Why does a democratic convention attract so many idiots? Tell me that!!
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:31:22 AM EDT
[#12]
I hesitate to call anyone low class trailer trash just based on their appearances any longer.
And I would hate to make judgment calls on anyone who was at a gun show, gun shop, or at the range. They might not be your cup of tea, but I didn't know that we were supposed to discriminate among those who supported the RKBA. And simply by being there at gun shows, gun shops, and at the range these low class trailer trash folks ARE supporting the RKBA whether you or they know it or not! Eric The(ClassDistinctionsAreUniquelyUn-American)Hun 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:34:25 AM EDT
[#13]
I don't, they smell bad also ..... j/k, I agree ... Ive met some very decent folks that didnt look the part .... |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:41:19 AM EDT
[#14]
Because society as a whole has SO MANY idiots to offter!! The pool is endless.
It has been my experience there are fewer idiots in the gun culture than in society as a whole. That makes the idiots more apparent among us. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:41:39 AM EDT
[#15]
Yup. Here in PA there are definately some weirdos at the gun shows and what not but I wouldn't say that they make up more than maybe 10% or so of the attendees. Unfortunately, to someone from "outside" of the "gun culture" those 10%ers have an impact that makes their numbers seem much larger. And as has also been stated, every hobby has its "whackers", motorcycling, model railroading, even plastic model kit building come to mind. 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:46:57 AM EDT
[#16]
Right on the money. Try running a camera shop and seeing all the smelly people coming in, all wearing black, all would-be war correspondents and aesthetes....  As for gun shows, normal people with jobs, educations and futures eschew gun shows. Camera shows are like this too- some real freaks. Who wants to be part of the freak show? 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 5:56:26 AM EDT
[#17]
In any hobby there are a few groups of people that are constant;
The rich asshole that buys all the most expensive gear and can use it. The rich asshole that buys all the most expensive gear and CAN'T use it. The disgruntled Old timer who thinks he knows everything. The disgruntled Old timer who does know everything. The clueless newbie. The straight up LIAR who pretends to have a professional background but doesn't The quiet professional The supper geek, who knows every stat but, has little "trigger time" The overly helpful guy that wont leave you the fuck alone at the range. The condesending asshole store owner that treats everyone like an idiot. Then there is the rarest type of person in any hobby, the normal guy that just wants to learn somthing and have a good time. feel fee to expand apon this list there are plenty i left out. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:07:27 AM EDT
[#18]
Guess you've never seen what kind of nutjobs Jerry Springer attracts. I think we're pretty mild in comparison.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:09:57 AM EDT
[#19]
I was at a show last year, and a pair of gangbangers were next to me talking about some pistol, I couldn't help but hear one of them say "Damn, My 9 would kick this gun's ass bro. " or words to that effect. Funny thing was that the pistol they were talking about was a S&W Model 29. . .
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:11:36 AM EDT
[#20]
I wholeheartedly AGREE, AvengeR15!!!
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:20:18 AM EDT
[#21]
G's 9 owns Model 29. Everytime. You didnt know this bro? 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:22:51 AM EDT
[#22]
As oppossed to 90% of the people I see out in the general public that I would not hang around. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:25:26 AM EDT
[#23]
Whenever you are dealing with something of value, such as collectible firearms, "assault weapons", Magic the Gathering cards, baseball cards, beanies, antiques....etc, you run into the morons that give value to these objects. Somewhere among them are the few who know what to buy and know how to find it.
Me, I'm one of the morons. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:28:04 AM EDT
[#24]
 What are you saying, exactly?
+1.5 |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:28:37 AM EDT
[#25]
+1 I just replied to a thread on the AR forum about bumpfiring, typical yahoos spraying rounds wildly into a berm. When I pointed out that alot of ranges are getting shut down for that type of activity and it isn't practicing legitimate marksmanship anyway, I was ripped as some sort of gun grabbing moveon.org type. These trailer park yahoos reflect badly on the gun culture. I hate the thought that my ability to continue a pasttime that I've always done in a safe and responsible manner is at risk because of "slack-jawed yokels" who are attracted to loud noises and bright shining objects. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:30:39 AM EDT
[#26]
Seems to be the same crowd that ruins off-roading events as well. -Z |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:33:51 AM EDT
[#27]
I think I completely agree. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:36:18 AM EDT
[#28]
Because we have made society so safe, they live beyond the age of 12.
 I agree with the Hun. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:41:36 AM EDT
[#29]
I think the, for the lack of a better term, "glamour" of shooting a deadly weapon attracts a certain class of escapist, develepmentally arrested rambo wannabes who lack the intellectual capabilities to do much of anything in a reasonable manner (including shooting at the range).
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:43:58 AM EDT
[#30]
I have a real answer. It was stated I think over 100 years ago or more. " God created man. Sam Colt made them all equal. " Now this means that firearms enthusiasts come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and unfortunately, levels of decorum, personal hygene and intelligence.
This is why the Kerry democrats don't mind $1500 + shotguns, but can't stand the SKS. The former requires a degree of effort and perhaps intelligence to be able to afford. The latter, well, anyone can go scrapping on garbage night and come up with enough junk to sell to buy one. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 6:50:21 AM EDT
[#31]
Every hobby does have its share of weirdos, check out a Sci-Fi convention sometime and you'll know what I mean. As for the gun culture, yeah there are some rather strange characters, but what's wrong with that? do you really only want "respectable, middle class suburban types"(nothing wrong with them either)? A gun show is a market place for guns and ideas, you can choose to buy or not! Caveat Emptor!
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:02:31 AM EDT
[#32]
What do I think? Nope and no way Jose!
The vast majority of people that own guns seldom if ever go to ranges nor do they attend gunshows. They are the invisible majority. A good gun will last a family generations which puts those who buy and sell regularly into two distinct catagories, the collector/dealer and the down on their luck. At the range it's typically three catagories, the avid shooter, the zero this deer rifle in once a year, and the I want to try this baby I just bought out. The latter one in each group tends to scare the shit out of me sometimes. Tj |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:06:28 AM EDT
[#33]
Muahaha, you ever been to a Roleplaying Convention  .'twas best summed up by a very good friend of mine, upon meeting half of us for the first time: "Well, at least we're not a bunch of freaks like that guy over there" <points to 30 stone guy dressed as Luke Skywalker in Orange X-Wing jumpsuit> Every hobby has it's idiots, it's just that the ones who turn up to meetings of any sort always seem to be the freakier ones. Odd like that. /Phil "Relatively normal" |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:10:25 AM EDT
[#34]
every hobby has idiots...
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:28:38 AM EDT
[#35]
Power, Equality, and Glamour.
These tend to be separate groups but feel free to mix & match. Power: It goes boom. There's also an element of "outsider"ness to it, "I love shooting, you don't, that makes me an extremist" Equality: Many of these people are true outsiders and/or downtrodden types... Guns are the great equalizer. 'nuff said. Glamour: Too many of them are into guns because of the crap you see on TV and the movies. I knew a dork in high school whose entire knowledge of guns came from "Lethal Weapon" which had just come out... He could repeat the lines from that movie at will (and had a jones for Berettas as a result), but ask him about any other firearm and he thought they were crap... This is just one case, but there is so much "gun junk" pushed by Hollywood that people will be attracted to it... and want to "recreate" it. At least, these are the reasons *I* like to shoot, I don't know about yours.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:33:55 AM EDT
[#36]
Muahaha, you ever been to a Roleplaying Convention .'twas best summed up by a very good friend of mine, upon meeting half of us for the first time: "Well, at least we're not a bunch of freaks like that guy over there" <points to 30 stone guy dressed as Luke Skywalker in Orange X-Wing jumpsuit> Every hobby has it's idiots, it's just that the ones who turn up to meetings of any sort always seem to be the freakier ones. Odd like that. /Phil "Relatively normal" Must have been in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago. 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:35:44 AM EDT
[#37]
What macman said. Those who otherwise feel powerless get a sense of power when they have a gun.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:41:52 AM EDT
[#38]
Every hobby has its minor share of fools. Try going to a Nascar race at Talladega, or even better a local dirt track. The vast majority of gun owners are regular folks.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:45:11 AM EDT
[#39]
I went to a bird show one time here Vegas and I saw some real freaks there so I don't think it is strictly gun related. For instance, there was a lady there with a few different Macaws, very large birds with huge powerful bills. Her face was literally disfigured and scarred everywhere. We got to talking about something or the other and she told me to be careful around these birds, they can do a lot of damage. (no shit, I thought, just look at you) She showed me her latest "kissing accident" and basically her lip was hanging half torn off of her face and the doctor just stitched it back in place. It looked horrible. She had another scar from where a bird had actually bit clean through her cheek tore quite a bit of flesh in the process.
Do you have any idea what she was doing the whole time were talking??? She was letting a Macaw "kiss" her on the mouth. The point being, every hobby attracts idiots. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 8:35:47 AM EDT
[#40]
Myself and another member here tend to make several shows (12 or more a year) and
I'll agree that (gun) shows spawn their fair share of freaks. We are on first name basis with alot of folks as we tend to spend more $$$ than we should. Most folks tend to be nice but the weirdos are easy to spot (look at me ).....There was a handgun dealer talking to this guy one time and I happen to be standing at his table(s) and looking at the spread. He was engaged in a conversation with this guy about various handguns on his table. When the guy pointed to Glock, he pulled up his size 31 belt around his 56 inch waist and said "Glock is hands down the best combat handgun money can buy"....... I almost fell down and started snickering (choking on my own spit).....I didn't wanna fuck up the guys sale or anything but felt really compelled to set this commando straight (all the while trying to contain my methodical laughing)......I just moved on. The NAZI Memorabilia booth always gives me a chuckle. Then theres a total Fuckin looser with one hand ( If your in the Houston area shows you've seen this dirtbag before). Be on the lookout for the backstabbers out there, they know who they are....  |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 9:01:47 AM EDT
[#41]
I only take targets about 50% of the time. At the range I go to there so much trash and crap you really don't need targets unless you want to see how you 're grouping or sight something in. Half the time I just go and shoot al the cans, rotting fruit, misc furniture, and whatever the hell somebody felt like hauling out there. I find it more entertaining to shoot reactive targets over paper. That said I do punch paper about half the time to work on my groups or to sight something in. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 9:17:16 AM EDT
[#42]
How does John Kerry attract so many idiots?
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Posted: 8/30/2004 9:25:27 AM EDT
[#43]
His perspecitve on the shows matches mine in WI... |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 9:36:37 AM EDT
[#44]
The IDIOT ATTRACTION THEORY is proven by those who like to bump fire.
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Posted: 8/30/2004 9:40:30 AM EDT
[#45]
Oops, thought this was a comment about a Harley gathering. INCOMING!!!!! 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 10:15:34 AM EDT
[#46]
You, sir, are a beautiful person. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 10:16:11 AM EDT
[#47]
You, sir, are also a beautiful person. |
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Posted: 8/30/2004 1:54:26 PM EDT
[#48]
Be patient folks, nature/karma has a way of filtering slime out of lifes gene pool
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Posted: 8/30/2004 1:56:01 PM EDT
[#49]
Ditto Were just more closely scrutinized than underwater basketweavers, or skulling folks 
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Posted: 8/30/2004 7:41:19 PM EDT
[#50]
I only take targets about 50% of the time. At the range I go to there so much trash and crap you really don't need targets unless you want to see how you 're grouping or sight something in. Half the time I just go and shoot al the cans, rotting fruit, misc furniture, and whatever the hell somebody felt like hauling out there. I find it more entertaining to shoot reactive targets over paper. That said I do punch paper about half the time to work on my groups or to sight something in. +1 roy |
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