I think I am burnt out....

[NeckBeard]

I find that chest thumping hyper masculine mentality in most any hobby. Stop by the local race track, golf course, RC club or bowling alley and youll find the same. Surprised you havent seen that with the cyclists crowd as well.

Just got to find the well adjusted folks who dont have their egos tied up in possessions or their "image".

i see the "im better then you" crowd in biking, but i choose to ignore it because they're not parroting 2A nonsense, platitudes and general stupidity - that frankly pisses me off. Im a realist and many gun owners are not.

I think i'll give 3 gun a try. Just dont wanna deal with the egos and tactical timmy's ya know?

 

[rushthezeppelin]

i work with a guy who heads up a huge 3 gun match in the austin area. he's invited me out a few times. I have never competed with guns so i am a little "nervous" about sucking at it.

Don't worry about sucking. Remember for a good while, just compete against yourself. You might find you aren't half bad (I placed almost middle of the pack my first IDPA, still waiting on 3 gun results) right off the bat or you might see some areas you clearly need improvement and thats obviously a good thing. Don't be surprised if you forget all your fundamentals once that buzzer sounds, or even not get a sight picture at all. Just remember to focus first and foremost on muzzle safety and follow the ROs commands. Try and be slow on the first match so you are focusing as much as you can on safety. Did I mention safety first?

 

[SR9TEX]

I can relate, I worked at a automotive shop and off the clock my cars/drag racing was my hobby. Sold my car a few months back to try different things and clear my mind and although I want another car I'm enjoying the time off.

The burned out feeling sucks but from my experience it feels great to take some time off to do more of the other fun things life has to offer.

 

[jparks54]

Iv been having a problem with nonstop politics too enough were I have gone the last 2 months without any gun forums. Its been crazy but its good to stay informed.

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[NeckBeard]

Don't worry about sucking. Remember for a good while, just compete against yourself. You might find you aren't half bad (I placed almost middle of the pack my first IDPA, still waiting on 3 gun results) right off the bat or you might see some areas you clearly need improvement and thats obviously a good thing. Don't be surprised if you forget all your fundamentals once that buzzer sounds, or even not get a sight picture at all. Just remember to focus first and foremost on muzzle safety and follow the ROs commands. Try and be slow on the first match so you are focusing as much as you can on safety. Did I mention safety first?

me? reckless and dangerous? nawww.... i wont be a speed demon. i dont even own a shotgun!

Iv been having a problem with nonstop politics too enough were I have gone the last 2 months without any gun forums. Its been crazy but its good to stay informed.

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same here. its pretty thick on gun forums and often times i wind up facepalming a lot. Quoting the founding fathers then going to do something the founding fathers roll in their graves over just rubs me the wrong way.

 

[breakingcontact]

same here. its pretty thick on gun forums and often times i wind up facepalming a lot. Quoting the founding fathers then going to do something the founding fathers roll in their graves over just rubs me the wrong way.

What do you mean by this? Owning a gun is a political act.

 

[jparks54]

What do you mean by this? Owning a gun is a political act.

To me thats like saying owning a power drill or a car is a political act.

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[Texan2]

To me thats like saying owning a power drill or a car is a political act.

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+1

 

[Younggun]

+3

 

[breakingcontact]

I know thats not the popular view so bring on the criticism...but i would like to know what the OP finds so abhorent about having to deal with the politics around the gun culture?

 

[Younggun]

I do t think it is the fact that politics are involved, but how some go about it. I have taken myself out of certain aspects of that conversation also.

I'm curious why you believe simply owning a gun is a political act.

 

[Shorts]

I know the feeling Stewie. The egos, drama, etc. in this industry get to be a bit much. What helped me was realizing that all of that is a completely separate thing from shooting. You don't have to have one if you have the other. It just takes some effort to learn to tune out all of the other stuff and focus on SHOOTING. I try to look at it from the perspective of, how can I better myself and how can I improve my proficiency/performance? The rest is all nonsense to try and tune out. There's not really an easier way to say it so I'll just say it. You don't have to look hard in this industry to find a limitless amount of bullshit, enough to drive a person insane. The trick is to learn to stop looking and stop caring about all of that nonsense. Easier said than done of course.

Yessir. That's good perspective right there.

I know thats not the popular view so bring on the criticism...but i would like to know what the OP finds so abhorent about having to deal with the politics around the gun culture?

I highlighted it for you

I've removed myself from social networking sites when I got tired of dealing the BS politics for issues popping up in the news - guns, marriage, abortion, religion - everything was an argument and a headache. Never any peace. While I miss seeing my friends on there since we live far away I don't miss the political postings one bit. I'm much happier for having removed myself from feeling constant conflict and complaint. Some folks thrive on it, need it and must do it. Others don't. I'm one that doesn't. I don't need that crap. My happiness is dependent on my actions. And if it means recognizing I don't like to be surrounded by politics all the time then I'm removing myself from the situation.

What do you mean by this? Owning a gun is a political act.

I remember when it wasn't. I remember a time when Dad grabbing .22lr from against the tv to shoot the coyotes that were attacking our cats. Or to get rid of the possums that ate up all the animal food. Or when he pulled the .308 out of the closet so we could go deer hunting. I remember grandma pulling out her 12ga on strangers after they'd driven up the 1/4mi drive to the house and wouldn't take no for an answer. We never had handguns but it was the coolest thing the first time I saw one when my uncle pulled out his .357 revolver at the farm to show it off.

Perhaps these things weren't political to me because I was too young to know what politics was. Now in this age of technology, cable news, media and constant contact & networking, politics is in everything. If someone else is able to see what you do, someone will complain about it.

 

[jparks54]

your right many people are making it a political act but many of use true gun owners look at it like you described a tool protection and a way to bond.

 

[breakingcontact]

Im glad you remember some kinder gentler time when you could partake in your hobbies or lifestyle in a different political and cultural climate.

I dont like the pointless back and forth from left and right so i certainly understand if you shy away from that. Im not a blind Rush Limbaugh devotee. I read Fox news and listen to NPR. I dont yell at the leftists and try to convince them to believe like me. I do try and prompt the undecided or non-political into proper belief and action.

So if youre against the folks who recreationally argue and like to instigate...i get that. If you dont see gun ownership as a political act that puts you on one side of the political spectrum, i dont understand that. Should it be that way? No. Its a constitutional right and shouldnt be "owned" by one party.

Im not that tac vest wearing range loud mouthed know it all though. If i talk to someone on the range it will be more about what sights you have on your gun and not a rant against Obamacare. Why mess up a good range day?

 

[Shorts]

BC, then are you saying that the political climate today is so skewed that general the act of owning a gun paints one to be in a certain political party or area of the political spectrum?

If that is what you are saying, sure, I see that.

I also know full well there are individuals and groups on the left that are progun too. ETA: so I don't interject my personal opinions (which are subjective) to a transaction or interaction that can be done friendly and generic.

 

[breakingcontact]

BC, then are you saying that the political climate today is so skewed that general the act of owning a gun paints one to be in a certain political party or area of the political spectrum?

If that is what you are saying, sure, I see that.

I also know full well there are individuals and groups on the left that are progun too. ETA: so I don't interject my personal opinions (which are subjective) to a transaction or interaction that can be done friendly and generic.

I hear that a lot. Problem is..."we shouldnt be yoked unequally with non believers". Im actually somewhat non right wing when it comes to helping the poor, homeless and so on. But i cant vote for democrats because then i would by default be helping them do so much which i dont believe is moral.

To stick to the OPs point...find those who are like minded and you enjoy shooting with. I dont want to hang out with gun guys that are wannabe snipers...so i dont. Dont let others disallow you from enjoying your sport or hobby.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

Gun control has effectively become a hate crime. Perhaps even more evil than traditional discrimination based on ethnicity, as it seeks to create a defenseless person of ALL people, subject to the will and force of others.

We are, that we exercise our basic human right to life as free human beings. Nothing is more basic than the defense of life, not even the right of free speech. They are, that they would take that freedom from us through the discriminatory act of regulation, legislation, taxation, and prosecution.

 

[breakingcontact]

^Well said. Im not the radical. I didnt make gun ownership political. The left has brought the fight to us. They arent going to go away if we close our eyes.

 

[Shorts]

I hear that a lot. Problem is..."we shouldnt be yoked unequally with non believers". Im actually somewhat non right wing when it comes to helping the poor, homeless and so on. But i cant vote for democrats because then i would by default be helping them do so much which i dont believe is moral.

BC I realize we don't see eye to eye on things and therefore you find fault in everything I type. This time don't read what you wanna read. Read what I typed. You don't have to compromise yourself, as you suggested. Again an interaction or transaction can take place friendly and in a generic manner.

Political gun purchase at the gun store counter:
"I wanna buy this gun because I can't stand those DemoRats and they're trying to take them all away!"

Generic gun purchaseat the gun store counter:
"I've been chasing after this model for a little while. I am excited to finally buy it."


You see how I said nothing about voting? Or morals? That's how I meant it.

Don't twist my words man. Take them as I gave them to you.

To stick to the OPs point...find those who are like minded and you enjoy shooting with. I dont want to hang out with gun guys that are wannabe snipers...so i dont. Dont let others disallow you from enjoying your sport or hobby.

Yup

 

[breakingcontact]

I dont understand your point. Im not disagreeing with all of your points. Find friends, ranges and gun shops where you dont run into the rhetoric if you dont like it. I dont go to this creepy local shop with Nazi stuff and terrible customer service.

Its a big sport/hobby/lifestyle, find your niche and dont demand or opine how everyone should participate in it as you see fit. I dont like how hunting is here in Texas, pay big money to hunt if you dont have land, so I dont currently hunt.

We are in a fight for our rights whether you want to talk about it on forums or at the shop or range or not.

Our side hasnt made things ugly, theirs has.