Gun owning liberal and watching Baggars shoot at a range [View all]

I'm not going to lie. I own three - two 38 snubbies (1 SW 19 and 1 SW Centennial) and one 12-guage. The 12 and 19 are at my parent's home locked away and the Cent is in a combo lock box underneath the bed for home defense. Have taken the CCW course in my area, 12 hours, but have never concealed due to being uncomfortable doing so.

My son, age 3, has never been shown it, nor do I ever intend on showing him it. I don't even like having it all that much, however, our home has had two attempted break ins over the past 10 years, an alarm has been installed and the police when contacted, when those two attempted break ins occurred, seemed rather indifferent about both instances. So, I found myself in between a rock and a hard place.

Now, I know that gun ownership CAN - I didn't say is - but can be seen as taboo by fellow liberals. And, they do have the full right to see it as such. But, I am curious about what others do say about it in regards to food for thought and not a means to argue, flame or go all wingnut on.


To watching Baggars...

Ranges absolutely love the Baggar bunch. Most of them are either young guys or cranky old boomers where they act like their piece is a trophy. It's an object to shine ass and they use it like it too. Also, there are far more customers using the range now than there were ten or fifteen years ago, so you know they're loving it.

I also find ranges interesting in the sense of what Baggars are really talking about in real time - body language, their condescending attitudes and clearly rehearsed swaggering. Know thy enemy. The internet is far too limited, reduced to what you'd expect - slogans, regurgitated talking points, insults and that's about it.

My god, the paranoia of them is absolutely astounding. Posted in printed paper in various places on the walls is all from the wingnut sites I've never heard of or read about - stories and claims so insane, you'd swear it's from a different planet. None of the math adds up, no sources are listed, it's purely emotional fuel on steroids.

Now it comes to take my turn. I do fairly well. 2 or 3 out of five are on the 8 and 9 areas of the target. Then, I watch these Baggars with their DTOM and other wingnut shirts on take their turns. They move their pieces around like it's a child's toy, almost no care of where it may be pointed while handling and it's as if their peripheral vision is completely absent. One would think people with such paranoia of Obama, roving invisible gangs of hillbillies and minorities would be careful. No dice. It's a trophy and they are there to smack their units together with their fellow "treaders". People with experience do not do this sort of thing - they always have it pointed down and only raise to discharge.

After a few more turns, where the success rate is same each time, I decide to leave. I feel my skill is plenty. Then I get into the car, turn on the ignition and have this incredible sadness and worry. And it's fueled by the same question I've always had, but this time it's more intense. The question is, "What in the hell is WRONG with these people?"

I don't ever expect them to become democrats or liberals or anything like that - and I'd never ask of it or try to persuade any of them to consider it. But, this isn't the republican banter I've grown up around. Something's much different now and it's very disturbing. It's not just only when these folks listen to the Conservative Media Complex - they seem like making it a way of life is not good enough - they want it to consume them completely. Watching them carelessly handle their weapon was almost more than I could take.

I just don't get it.