Freedom Forged
Regular Member
Having been around guns my whole life like others here, I have been in my share of gun stores and ranges. Even after all these years it's still somewhat intimidating to visit either for the first time. I have never liked nor understood why "the usual crowd" that hangs around the LGS feel the need to try to be the dominant male. I know all of you have seen it. I've witnessed it ad nauseam. These guys either seem to not talk to you at all or without invitation tell you what to buy, how to shoot and otherwise try to build themselves up by making you feel ignorant, misguided and submissive to their vast knowledge of the gun world. 99 times out of 100 you know that what they are saying is total bullshit and they mostly regurgitate the crap that they have heard on the web.
" why do you want a gun with 15 rounds, you only need 1 if ya know how to shoot"
Or my favorite.
"9mm! Those bounce of windshields! You need a real gun, get you a 40!"
When it comes to guns let me say right away, I don't know much. If I did I'd be teaching classes not taking classes. But, you don't have to know it all to help someone.
I go out of my way not to be that guy. I was at the range yesterday and two guys beside me had recently gotten their CC permit. It was clear to me by overhearing their conversation that these guys had not been around guns very much. They rented a couple of different guns each to try before they buy. Very smart I thought. After they shot for a few minutes I congratulated them on getting their CC and asked if they had tried a Glock yet. One said no and the other said he rented and shot a 43. I replied; I have a G19, you're welcome to shoot it if you want. These guys looked at me like I had two heads. Really? One guy asked.
Cutting to the chase here, these to guys had a hard time believing someone was actually being kind and helpful and not making them feel like dumbasses. I answered their questions as best I could about CC. After about 15 minutes I had to leave and they thanked me multiple times for helping them out. I am sure they had run into the puffy chested, been there done that, self appointed know-it-all many times.
We are ALL ambassadors of our sport/hobby/business. If we want to engage more men and women in what we enjoy we have to be like one section of the Scout Motto; Helpful, Courteous and Kind. We need to strive to not be "That Guy"
My 2 cents.
FF
" why do you want a gun with 15 rounds, you only need 1 if ya know how to shoot"
Or my favorite.
"9mm! Those bounce of windshields! You need a real gun, get you a 40!"
When it comes to guns let me say right away, I don't know much. If I did I'd be teaching classes not taking classes. But, you don't have to know it all to help someone.
I go out of my way not to be that guy. I was at the range yesterday and two guys beside me had recently gotten their CC permit. It was clear to me by overhearing their conversation that these guys had not been around guns very much. They rented a couple of different guns each to try before they buy. Very smart I thought. After they shot for a few minutes I congratulated them on getting their CC and asked if they had tried a Glock yet. One said no and the other said he rented and shot a 43. I replied; I have a G19, you're welcome to shoot it if you want. These guys looked at me like I had two heads. Really? One guy asked.
Cutting to the chase here, these to guys had a hard time believing someone was actually being kind and helpful and not making them feel like dumbasses. I answered their questions as best I could about CC. After about 15 minutes I had to leave and they thanked me multiple times for helping them out. I am sure they had run into the puffy chested, been there done that, self appointed know-it-all many times.
We are ALL ambassadors of our sport/hobby/business. If we want to engage more men and women in what we enjoy we have to be like one section of the Scout Motto; Helpful, Courteous and Kind. We need to strive to not be "That Guy"
My 2 cents.
FF
