Do all these covid19 gun purchases make you personally feel more or less safe?

I have a quick feeling on the subject. Its great more people are exercising there rights. And im thinking after this there will be more “new” used guns at good deals to buy up from people thinking after covid19 what do we do with this? Another part of me wonders, will they take the time to know,learn, and understand what they bought? Will there be more accidents poss. Due to negligence maybe? Whats your thoughts?

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Neutral, I see no significant immediate effect from these purchases. Long term, hopefully people will get some training to match their tools, and will vote to keep what they own

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Same as @Alexander8 neutral from my “personal” safety perspective (although I will be looking for and monitoring first timers at the range in my RSO role)

Hopefully a National organization or two focused on gun education and safety will engage in campaigns and offer no/low fee opportunities for those new firearms owners to take a safe handling/shooting course.

Like USCCA!! :slight_smile:

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Those who were against guns and suddenly ran in a panic to purchase a firearm are in no hurry read the manual, learn the 4 basic rules, regulations or safety precautions. They will no doubt be putting themselves and us in real danger.
Trust me when I say, watch the people on your favorite range for the first few weeks after we are bailed out and aloud to resume normal living conditions.
Personally, if I go to the range it will be in a bulletproof vest. Half of those new purchases will be looking down the barrel to fix a malfunction and incurring slide bites and the other half will be swinging that brand new shiny muzzle in your direction (I recommend you duck).
Worst of all the other half won’t want to listen to you because they learned how to shoot from television or Xbox and are to arrogant to understand general guidelines, in addition the other half will still be on their phones while pulling the trigger!
So, how can I possibly expect them to understand a simple command to “ceasefire”, when they couldn’t understand “shall not be infringed”!
I truly believe that only 1% will be willing to train and learn and will come over to our side.
The good thing right now is no ammo is available. As soon as ammo is available, I expect as many negligent discharges as there will be babies born, due to all this house arrest.
This decade will be known as the Boom, Boom, Boom generation.

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Not to be elitist about CCW citizens, as in “we are the only ones serious enough to carry…” But slightly less safe unfortunately.

CCW Guns are like flying airplanes and driving motorcycles. High risk, high reward. Doing it well and safely is much more demanding than, for example, driving a car. Some are really good at it and do it well, and others are just gonna fail, because they don’t give it training, thoughtfulness, or respect.

Reality is likely that most new guns will never leave the bedroom, it takes real effort and money to get a carry permit, so prob not an issue out and about in public in Calif anyway. Other 2A states not so sure…

But like Scott indicated above, I’m going to stay away from organized ranges for a while (I do generally anyway, but definitely now), and train out in the hills, alone.

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Unfortunately from some new bills trying to get passed, that training will be considered “paramilitary” training and as soon as the MSM gets a hold of the numbers of new gun owners “training”, they will literally spin out of control. Then by coup-de-grace, the will INSTALL their Socialist president. Boom, Boom, Boom

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I hope you’re wrong @Scott52

For those not moved enough to take the time to go to a range and practice and learn, or take some type of safety course, I hope they take their weapons back to sale on the previously owned market. But maybe a little wiser to the importance of the 2nd amendment.

I truly hope the mass majority do come out to the range and have an open mind. That’s where experienced shooters like those here can come in to play. There’s a couple of ways to offer up advice on the range (even as an RSO)…you can take the Lee Ermey Full Metal Jacket drill sgt approach…….or you can take more of a coaching approach (e.g. asking if they mind you offering a suggestion or two).

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for that drill sgt approach (e.g. someone being unsafe on the range), but the other approach tends to be received better and yield better results.

You’ve got to keep in mind, we were all new gun owners at some point with no/minimal experience and a brain full of misconceptions around proper shooting methods. Try and think back to that time and empathize.

Again, this is a great opportunity to convert these individuals into pro-2A responsible gun owners if we take the right approach.

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Totally agree, I have always offered suggestions and safety options especially because, on my range there are quite a few kids on the range
Actually he was the kindest gentleman I ever met.

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Excellent picture!!! How cool to meet the man the myth! :+1:

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That was just for you guys on this post, hence it’s disappearance. He was a great guy we were exchanging challenge coins.

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By the way, awesome question and even better conversation!

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I think that if we were being honest, people on this forum and others like it are not the middle of the bell curve for people before the Corona buying spree. I suspect that most will sell, give away, or melt down what they bought. it won’t take long to forget…

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Personally, I think it is great new owners are purchasing firearms. I would be a hypocrite if I bantered against it. With that said, I hope they understand their firearm(s) mechanically and understand the discipline it takes to be a responsible firearm owner. And in no way, should they have to have ‘government’ mandated training, but most ranges will require them to be knowledgeable and that is a very good thing. Private and public ranges can and should require competence in safety. Much different that government oversight!

In addition, I’ve never met a first time shooter that didn’t want to be trained. I’ve trained many and have seen many trained. It’s fantastic to see the light go on. Help out the new shooters folks. Take ownership!

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I agree, when we have a thread running with hundreds of posts about whether we that train should carry with one in the chamber, I suspect most are sitting locked up, empty, and maybe a loaded “clip” beside them.

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My feelings haven’t changed. I don’t trust folk any more today than I did before this covid19 stuff. Sin & rebellion are still running amuck in this :earth_americas:. SAFETY… :thinking:… STAY VIGILANT. :v:t5:

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I feel more safe for the most part, because the people I know who suddenly went out and bought guns are not idiots. With one (very liberal) couple I offered to train them and it turned out they already had training. I think it was largely a procrastination thing for people, and Covid-19 got them past procrastination. Former gun owners, and others with experience but no firearm at home. People who had their .22 for plinking and realized that wasn’t going to cut it if things went bad. People who kept waiting until they had the money and finally realized that giving up lattes and meeting friends for drinks for a few weeks solved that problem. Etc.

Mostly I feel safer because there are now a lot more people who have skin in the game when anti-gun proposals come up.

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Great point.

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Many depts have been on lockdown hold. I wonder if any of the post March 15 new weapon buyers in California and other check states have even been able to pick up their new piece? Many may never get delivered, but instead re inventoried…

I’ve been waiting for sheriff’s office to approve an added weapon to my existing CCW for over a month, after range qualification. Would’ve normally taken just a day or two. I missed their shutdown date by 2 days. Arghh.

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I am concerned with the number of new gun owners who have had little or no training, coupled with lack of practice due to range closure and ammo shortage.

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We all started somewhere and had a catalyst to purchase our first firearm. I have numerous friends who have purchased their first firearm in the last month - but not because they never wanted to purchase before. They had other priorities before, but now purchasing a firearm feels more urgent.

I’ve also talked to numerous brand new shooters who purchased a firearm. A lot of them have never shot a gun or only rented, shot and purchased the same day.

My first firearm was purchased when political tensions were high. It stayed in the case on the top shelf of the closet for a couple of years before I did any additional training. A couple of trips to the range a year at that point.

I hope they all get training. But even if they sell their firearm after all this is over without even shooting a round through it, they now understand the importance of being able to defend yourself and that getting a firearm isn’t as easy as placing an order on Amazon.

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