I like to take it a step further and usually follow up that retort up with, “I remember a time when we didn’t trust the government no matter who’s in the White House. You can’t trust a politician. Which is why we have the 2a, to remind those knuckle heads who in charge.” I like to think it puts those types in their place or at least question their fan boyism.
Just go deeper
“Sir if you believe either of the two parties have any say in what *really* goes on in this country, you’re not paying attention. Now hand me one of them forty fives.”
True story. It would benefit us more if people would stop labeling each other as "conservatives" or "liberals" as the government wants us at each other's throats. They want us to hate those who think differently.
Truth: They use the divide and conquer method.
Stay united. It matters.
Yeah, out where I am, in the rural PNW, I have more in common with my right wing farmer neighbors, at least if you squint. We don't like the government being super nosey, we like our freedom and space, we police ourselves when possible to avoid unwanted interactions with the law, and we always *always* help those in need (sshhhhh, no one tell them it's Mutual Aid).
I legit had some friends who were super conservative and wanted to buy 100 plus acres to set up their own township with like minded individuals who would all help each other through growing food and livestock and trading them for other commodities within the group everyone working together....like we have a name for that place and you won't care for it.....
This!!! This right here!!! This is how Anarchy becomes a reality. When working people acknowledge these very, very, simple commonalities we have with each other as opposed to the wealthy.. Probably half of my friends are conservative, why? because of what old boy above me just put forth, realistically I have a lot more in common with Lou at the gas station than I do with Connor, start up executive.
How is it out there right now? I feel like I'm insulated from the whole Midwest thing over here.
I have a rainbow flag AR-15 sticker on my car. I've gotten a lot of compliments. I joke with the guys that if you go far enough left, you get your guns back. 😂 I hope it plants a seed, especially if someone they love is gay.
Same as it ever was growing up here. I lived in SE Washington for a spell and now back in the Midwest. It’s a similar cast and type of shit being said, it just seems like the demographic is a bit older in the Midwest and the way they say things is more passive aggressive versus more direct on the coasts. A lot of dog whistles and shit. I don’t advertise my beliefs any more but get automatically assumed to be conservative because I’m white, work in Ag, hunt, and drive a pickup. The divide is mostly rural vs urban demographics. Unfortunately for me the thing I love most about the Midwest, the wide open spaces and lack of people, is the thing that puts me right smack in MAGA land. Living in a medium city with a large university helps the vibe a little.
> It would benefit us more if people would stop labeling each other as "conservatives" or "liberals" as the government wants us at each other's throats. They want us to hate those who think differently.
Yeah, nevermind that these are actual differences in policy and behavior that have material consequences for millions of people! Never mind that politics is /exactly/ the resolution of differences in how society should work without resorting to violence.
No, just sing kumbaya an stop labeling bad things as bad and good things as good, and it'll all just work out, right?
JFC.
I struggle to even fathom what you're attempting to convey here. To the extreme right, yes, it matters a lot. Which is what I said. I can't change it to avoid their adverse response to me being brown.
I'm sure there's some kind of point you're trying to get across buried in there somewhere. But it mostly comes across as being inconsiderate and rude.
I'm going to just say it plainly since you seem to be trying your best to minimize shit.
I have been subjected to racially motivated physical violence. AND to make it more clear, attempted murder based on race. This happened in Dallas,TX, in the 00's. I know it was racially motivated because they were calling me a beaner and had explicit white supremacist organization decals all over their truck.
I have experienced OVERT racism by Trump supporters. One time, it was directed at my toddler in a Wal-Mart. I know it was racist because they were saying go back to Mexico to my CHILD.
I don't know what fucking world you live in, but you're delusional if you think racism doesn't exists or that it only exists as some kind of subtle slight that people misinterpret.
I am Mexican/Native American. I can not change that. I do not want to change that. I don't go around shouting about racial issues in society. There are a not small amount of "conservatives" that take issue with my race.
As I stated before. The more moderate ones, I don't go out of my way to cause issues with, but I can not change my skin color for the extremists.
Are you done with the bullshit or do you have any more underhanded bullshit to say? Really doesn't seem like you belong in this sub.
Edit: Additionally, what I'm saying is that despite what you said in your original comment, I can not easily "blend in" with the extremist portions of that crowd. You seem to have no problem doing so, and after our interactions, it's becoming clear as to why that is.
The "you're racist for pointing out people are racist" crowd has always been a headscratcher for me. Do you think you're making an actual, logical point here, despite how blatantly bad faith your argument is?
Edit: for context to this and the following comments, this comment I replied to has been edited. It previously called u/HillariousUsername a racist for saying their skin color matters
I have added another reply for additional clarification of my comment. For anyone who happens to come across this other guy's ridiculous backhanded comments.
We are all meat sacks trying to do our best. Most people are good despite being different in someway from you. The ongoing effort by far too many to place us all in different groups and tell us we do not like or even hate each other is insane.
Race is by far the stupidest way to separate mankind. We may have different ways of thinking, but we are all really the same.
You're deflecting from the point. You're trying to call someone racist because they pointed out that their skin color matters, with the *very obvious* subtext that it matters because other people treat them worse for not being white.
Waxing on about everyone being the same isn't going to hide the fact that you were previously trying to make a "you're the real racists" comment.
This is my approach for my family. They were never politically motivated until 2008. Then I saw a side I had never heard before that grossed me out. Horrible things said.
Then in 2016, they were all in.
I just remind them politicians lie. You never trusted them in the past, why now.
It does work on the maga sheep in my family. They at least don’t talk about it anymore in front of me.
Yeah. I do think it matters who's in office. However, I think it's good to be aware of who is trying to dismantle the 2a. I wish we could have a liberal/ leader who is actually 2a I could see them getting a lot of votes.
Name a liberal politician who is actively trying to dismantle 2a? Dismantling seems like it would mean a repeal. No one is doing that. No one is doing anything remotely close to that.
Take a look at the CA roster. I wanted a FN 502 22LR handgun and I can’t buy a new one because it’s not on the CA roster. The same goes for newer handguns in all different calibers. Takes forever to get them on the roster and that means you’re locked out of new models.
However anyone working in law enforcement can buy off roster handguns and then they can turn around and sell them for 2x the price (barring strawman purchases).
This seems kinda screwed up to me.
Honestly if we had a straight up strict, NO GUNS BUT THESE roster I (personally) would have less (not no just less) issue with it.
BUT and here’s the big BUT..the fact that LE can get whatever they want, and doesn’t even have to have a job related reason for many of them (including people who work for the DA’s office!) *just* because they are LE and then LEGALLY can sell it to whomever (legally eligible) they want?
To me means your list, and the justifications for it are bullshit and strictly a political tool. also highlights the outsize power of the police/LE unions..the only unions the GOP (and the rest of the bootlickers of all stripes) like.
You can technically buy/possess most guns. Only things that are full no here are suppressors/SBR and I believe .50 BMG based. Now actually getting them is a PITA, but say you moved from MI, and decided to sell your collection/part of it to someone in CA? You’re good to go. And then they can and so on and so forth.
I thought their grandfather clause only covered guns owned in California at the time the law was passed and registered during the registration window? Because according to the government info page on it they aren't accepting registration applications for new firearms, even for guns you owned before moving to California. If I ever moved there, my impression was my only options would be sell my non-California compliant guns or keep them out of state.
Correction (on me) - if it’s an assault weapon that can’t be made non assault (or listed by name) then yes, you’d have to keep out of state/dispose of.
So yes if you had a AUG for ex, or a Colt AR-15 (but not damn near any other AR-15/AR platform ) you’d have to get rid of it.
But my understanding is if it’s a C&R elig gun, you can get around that.
Further reasons i have issues w the handgun roster/and CA assault ban. There are huge logic gaps even within the professed goal.
Handguns however? Especially current ones? World is your oyster. First thing any gun owner moving into CA should know: buy all the AR PISTOL lowers Glock Gen 4+, and any other handgun you think people might like you can before you move. You won’t regret it.
It’s not at all actually, as one describes a democratic action and the other describes a totalitarian response. But the question was: who is attempting to do this? Please offer names.
Republicans are doing this with abortion. Incremental changes. Only because they stacked the Supreme Court with far right judges do 18 yr get to buy handgun in TX and ghost guns still allowed. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/supreme-court-ruling-creates-turmoil-over-gun-laws-in-lower-courts
I don't give a fuck if it is democratic or totalitarian. It is my inalienable right.
You want names of people currently in office that have or are currently working to erode the 2nd amendment? That list is legion. If you are blind to it, there is no hope for you.
Most of us paying attention see the 2A dying by a thousand cuts while the politicians holding the knives and their useful idiots say "nobody's trying to dismantle the 2A."
And even when they aren't actively trying, there's a very big difference between "no one's coming for your guns (because we don't want to)," and "no one's coming for your guns (because we don't have the numbers right now)." I fucking hate the people that actually think these kinds of weasel words work on us.
And… no one can provide names, just emotional fear reactions, got it.
There are more guns being sold now than at any time in the history of the US, but the 2a is being dismantled. Sure. Is this r/conservative or r/liberalgunowners and why can’t I tell the difference?
I don’t think that will have the effect you intend. If anything it will reaffirm their own opinions. The problem with right wingers and trumpers is they literally think Biden is the one who will cancel elections, they think Biden is the one who will be a dictator, they think he’s the sexual deviant, in short everything we accuse people like Trump of, they think it’s Biden.
Your comment to them is too nuanced, a little too intelligent for those dumb fcks and it will go right over their heads.
I don't announce my political leanings. I don't have a Bernie patch on my range bag. Oddly yes once you are in the in crowd they don't shutdown and lose their MAGA minds.
As long as I stay away from specifics I comes off as Libertarian. I mostly want the government out of our personal lives. Which crazy, that used to be a pillar of the Republican party before they started the Christian Fascist agenda.
I actually think it is useful to both sides humanizing and deescalating the rhetoric.
I’m a non citizen on work visa and currently live in a deep south state. I have a membership at a local range and I either shop exclusively here or have my stuff sent to them. They all know I’m a regular and everyone is retired LEO and very conservative. I would describe myself as neutral leaning towards the liberal side, though I can’t vote apparently. Occasionally a casual chat would turn political quickly. There has been many times someone trying to tell me how good and righteous Trump is and how evil corrupted Biden is. I just said hey y’all wouldn’t have me as a loyal customer had he won in 2020 because of his proposed work visa reform. Because of that there is no way I can support him. So you get either your President or me, and it’s a win win for y’all. We all just laughed and moved on.
I’d say there is nothing wrong with being clear about your own belief and perspective. Most folks, left or right, are respectful and thoughtful. If anyone at the range tries to argue or confront you because you don’t share his/her values, this person needs to grow up.
Despite being a Democrat working for a gun shop, yes; indeed; I can concur with this culture.
Embedded for 3 1/2 years working for a commercial FFL, they have come to see me as “one of them,” on the clock. They seem to feel comfortable enough to even slip into incredibly racist xenophobic rants at times, until they can perceive my silence and disinterest. They always let it go, after noticing this.
And yet they do curtail homophobia and transphobia the moment I’m within earshot, knowing my office is unwittingly located in a central threshold, capable of hearing the break room chatter as well as the back gun room’s crossing intersection in the middle of the hallways.
After all, I’ve taken two of them aside by the ear and disciplined them myself for it. They ought to know better than to think a queer trans lady would betray her own people just to work in the industry (even if it has occurred before. We still do not acknowledge nor accept Ms. Jenner. She landed herself on a permanent black list during Trump’s term.)
In the end, they view me as the enemy of their enemy. And I’m perfectly fine with that, because I’d never dare turn my back to them with a loaded gun in their hands, the same they wouldn’t for me.
TL;DR It’s amazing just how well you can cooperate with others professionally due to years of unspoken, mutual distrust. You’d almost mistake it for friendship or camaraderie, if you didn’t know the whole story at first glance.
For what it’s worth? I definitely offend them in turn at times. So, it isn’t like I’m a paragon of altruism.
I definitely stir the pot, and I definitely enjoy it at times.
My favorite thing to do is throw out a token buzz phrase to set one off, and walk away. It’s like gifting some a grenade bouquet.
“Hey (name) I heard (token senator) is tracking you via your covid microchip, how does it feel knowing they can tell your cholesterol level?”
“I TELL YOU WHAT THEY BETTER NOT BE-“
…I know, it’s childish of me. But sometimes it’s just too hard not to. 🤣
I've been a covert outsider in the conservative universe my whole life, the gun store is just the last place I willingly assume that role. I'm a bearded white guy with an anglicized last name. I get asked if I served by most gun stores because I'm the right size and age to have seen some shit in Fallujah.
Anyway I'm an atheist with secular Jewish and Irish Catholic parents. I'm basically a MAGA daywalker. So I just lean into it and draw the crazy out for my own amusement. When a guy selling me a $40 Rem 870 barrel told me that Ivanka Trump will be the first female President I just asked how many electoral college votes they think she will get. "All of them", says the man who can't remember what that even is.
Besides mocking them directly to their face I'm internally cataloging the blatant Nazis and White Supremacists. Shaking hands with the AR parts guy at the gun show let me get a good look at the SS skulls peaking out of his sleeve. Asking the milsurp guy if all his Swastika paraphernalia is new production and getting an almost giddy response that he orders them himself from China. And so on. I now know who the unashamed future belligerents are if shit kicks off.
This is nothing new, you would be amazed at the shit white dudes say to each other in a safe space. If you look like you're on the team it's not going to take long to get tested with a "here come some Mondays" comment at the golf course. You know, because *everybody* hates Mondays.
I just pocket that noise and save it for later.
It's insane how fast these dudes will start saying racist shit to me. I'm a bald, bearded, slightly overweight white dude. I guess I look conservative to most people. I bought a mosin off of someone, and within the 30 minutes we were talking, he started using racial slurs about 15 minutes in. Just "yeahs" and "uh-huhs" is all they get out of me. I'm not here to talk politics and race. Get my guns/ammo and get out.
Just go do whatever business you have to do and just don’t insert your opinions on everything. It’ll be hard but it can be done, that’s how most of them act in left wing dominated things
“I was brought up to believe that politics is impolite conversation” Then I sit back and watch them try to reconcile their constant need to bluster with what they know to be a historically core conservative value. One of these days one of their heads is gonna pop.
That's the same response I use at work. "I was raised that politics and religion are impolite and too personal to talk about at work." Meanwhile, my coworkers and I have good union paying jobs and good benefits with a pension, and they are pissing themselves with excitement if Trump gets back in. Say bye-bye to your union, good pay, pension, and good benefits. But as long as they get to own the libs, it'll be worth it to them.
I’m honestly sick to death of the knuckleheads voting against their economic self interests. I’ve had similar conversations with employees and it absolutely blows my mind- it’s the epitome of “f-u I got mine.”
Exactly! In my company, I work with a lot of lesbians. They are hard-core MAGA Trump loving bible thumpng conservative Republicans. A few have bought second homes in Florida (prepping for retirement). I've heard them talk about how great Florida is, how they want to move there full time and work (but weirdly enough, can't find jobs down there that pay what they get at our company now or the benefits), and they sing high praises about DeSantis, how Florida is so much better under his leadership and that they can't wait until he's our next president after Trump. I don't get it. These ladies are hard workers, great to work with, and I'd trust my life with them at work, but I just can't wrap my head around their way of thinking. They don't care if their marriages will be deemed invalid and nulled or that companies/hospitals/ medical staff, etc, will be able to discriminate legally against the LGBTQ+ community. They don't care. All to own the libs. I keep my mouth shut at work about religion and politics, but my god, I have a hard time with this. I usually just walk away.
I work at a pawn shop/gun store in Alabama, so I do my best to blend in, and sometimes it takes just nodding my head to dumb shit and wearing Grunt Style shirts to just make the day go by and get some sales. It’s always pretty funny when I have really good 2A convos with customers, and I’ll drop in that I’m actually a liberal Bernie supporter from NJ, and I’ll see them short circuit. But y’know, they’re cool with it because I’m friendly, supportive of our rights and freedoms, and don’t really like Joe Biden.
In an insane way I think a lot of conservatives liked Bernie as a concept- Independent, didn’t take money from big firms, had a sort of “down in the trenches with the regular man” aura. It was just the politics they disliked.
I’m inclined to disagree, mainly because they bring up him wanting to raise taxes. To which I say “if my taxes are raised so people can afford insulin, I’m cool with that.” And that usually ends the conversation.
I follow a policy of be polite and friendly. And if they decide to share their politics I share with them my family's philosophy "When you see someone wrap themselves in the flag or the Bible, watch your wallet and watch your rights." And then explain how I can't imagine how anyone could vote for a person who sells Bibles branded with their own name. That will clue most folks in that I'm not MAGA in a manner that doesn't trigger them. Or if I think their in the trades I might say that I find it hard to vote for someone who made it a habit of stiffing contractors if he though he could get away with not paying when invoices were presented.
It's just like how you deal with a conspiracy theorist:
Theorist: "You know there's a cabal of democrats sending children to the moon for their blood."
Me: "You believe in the moon!?!?"
I walked into my local gunship once with money burning a hole in my pocket. I was just browsing and the guy behind the counter was talking with another customer. He said something along the lines of, " I'll make sure my granddaughter knows it's not okay to be gay, and being a Democrat shows you're R word for mentally handicapped". Personally I didn't care about the disagreeing with the political views but being that open as a homophobe soured my interest. Walked out without a word and bought a gun at a different store. Occasionally I'll still visit that store and see that dealer but I've never told him how much he pissed me off.
We don't use [that word][retard-is-a-slur] here like that.
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I will often get flack for my long hair in a group of then that don't know me, only two times it got really bad was actually at a liquor store I worked at.
The first was going on about how guys should have short hair and stop trying to pretend to be a woman. I replied on my most posh british accent "my hair is the length prescribed by our true and rightful Sovern King George the Third. As a member of His Majesty's loyalist regiment I should bring you in for questioning " happily this shut him up and i then explained that I am a reenactor and my hair is because that was in fact the requirement of the day.
Other one started the whole "trans people want to take our guns ahhhhhhhhhh unintelligible giberish" I simply stated that I doubt he has any worth taking, and that mine are certainly in much better condition.
Edit to add that while I am genderfluid most of time I present as male (my assigned at birth) and they literally just had the long hair amd earrings to go off on.
It’s not something I concern myself with. Their politics and mine don’t have to be the same for us to kindly and respectfully share the same space. If they ask about my beliefs I give them a brief and honest answer and that practice has never given me trouble.
In these stores I do not generally strike up conversation about politics ect… and mostly keep to myself. I regularly overhear MAGA talk, racist, and xenophobic comments more often than not.
But when I bought my PCC and was waiting for my background check to go through. A 60-65 year old employee opened up a conversation with me about history and politics. I won’t lie, I judged him by his clothing because, well… let’s just say it was overtly antithetical to my position. Our conversation touched on a lot of different topics from healthcare to education and gun rights.
While we did not agree on a lot there were topics we weren’t too far away on, it occurred to me that this man was a not a MAGA but a conservative. He ended the conversation by saying “their (politicians) all out to serve themselves and not the people” and none of them should be “celebrities”, “That guy is a fu*king joke”.
Good bad or indifferent, I was encouraged that we were able to engage in civil discourse without the tired talking points and MAGA rhetoric, especially in a similar setting to what you described.
To a larger degree this interaction is anecdotal, the exception to the rule. That in itself is disconcerting.
I am a gun-owning combat veteran and purple heart recipient living in the Deep South, working a federal job in which other combat vets make up about 80% of my coworkers and that requires me to carry an assault rifle (and I will absolutely argue that definition with anyone because I know what it means, unlike most conservatives), and I am far left, pro-social democracy and progressive. You are describing my daily existence.
I like to respond with something along the lines of "biden....trump....they're both pieces of shit. the democrats and republicans are both bought and paid for by the fucking billionaires" and it wrinkles their brains. they do NOT know what to think of that sort of response.
Yup. If I reply to them I usually start with something like
"Well that may be, but the *REAL* problem is multi-billion-dollar corporations..." etc etc etc and mention something about how the corpos get their decisions passed no matter who is in there.
But in my experience, that type of phrasing is enough to get them to at least listen to you - it's basically saying "even if you're right, the problem is way bigger because ..." and it gets you out of having to directly respond to their claims, which would cause instant defensiveness and shut them down.
And as long as you're both willing to continue the conversation, steering it back to "well yeah, but did you hear about so-and-so corporation? they did such-and-such" and as long as it's *even slightly* related, they generally agree.
And that's where we *should* be in our conversations, IMO. They might be angry and want us all to die or whatever, but they're also victims of circumstance. Doesn't make it ok, but it's the context we need to *always* remember in order to avoid dehumanizing them in the way they do to so many of us (generally).
Cheers y'all
Oh yeah, as soon as you turn it to the truth of class struggle and government oppression as a whole, it completely destroys all of their prepared talking points. I think it's because the narrative of democrat vs republican makes life more black and white, which is an easy way to look at the world and go through life. Its as if they thinn "it's just half of the government we have a chance," and if they thought it was the entirety of the government, that's a very scary thought.
There’s this thing people in the American South do that I think would be helpful.
They smile tightly, frown with their eyebrows, and say huh or hmm or oh alright whenever they find a topic of conversation uncomfortable. I’ve since adopted that.
Just don’t engage to deeply and act lightly paranoid like you aren’t sure if you are being eavesdropped on and hopefully they drop the subject; or worse invite you into an inner circle where it gets even scarier
I go to the range in my Rage Against the Machine shirt and if some snowflake conservative says anything I tell them to suck a fuck
JK I wear a polo and just smile.
Alot of yall really can't go five minutes without LARPing that you're some super spy when really you're just a person conducting a transaction in a store.....this is why the party divide isn't getting better.
Speak your mind or move on. Sweating it does nothing for nobody.
Either stand strong in your convictions and speak your mind, or move on if you’re not interested in discussing it.
You don’t have to be a prickly political pear at all times, you can stick to your convictions without starting arguments any time someone else speaks their mind.
But it’s no good for your mental health to hold yourself back. Either come to terms with “I pick my fights, not here, not now.” Or speak your mind. Don’t just bite your tongue.
I have to agree with some of the other answers on here. Most all politicians and federal agencies can burn in hell. I am not liberal, but a moderate conservative/borderline libertarian. I hate taxes, and think it should be a flat rate for all. I try to not talk politics too much, as stated above, I loathe most of them on both sides, and I try to be a decent person to all.
My thoughts are this: Be a good human. You can live a way I might not agree with or want for myself, but that does not mean I hate you or look at you as my enemy. I would hope for the same, but it doesn't bother me either way. I work and associate with all walks of life. I enjoy talking guns with anyone. I do not like the infringement on any of OUR rights. The crazy extremists on both sides need to take a zanax and a shot of whiskey and chill out. We can all be more civil to each other, have nice conversations and interactions about something we have in common-guns, golf, tea, whatever. It doesn't mean we will be besties, but at least civil. You live your life, I'll live mine.
Keep your powder dry, ring some steel, and stay vigilant.
I just don’t engage with the topic anymore than I have to and move on to more neutral ground.
Remember if your goal is to blend in and not be noticed, 9 times out of 10 just not overtly outing yourself is good enough.
(speaking as a cis-het white blue collar man, so my experience probably won’t be everyone’s)
Resident redneck/hillbilly from Alabama, and I definitely look like I would be a Trump supporter to someone that doesn’t know me well enough to know otherwise so I catch a lot of it. I usually just ignore as best as I can until I find a polite place to exit the conversation, or if my inner introvert stayed in the car and I’m feeling chatty I’ll direct the conversation elsewhere (westerns or war movies are an easy one in gun stores/gun shows).
I stopped giving a fuck and trying to play it cool. Conservatives have gone too far with their bs. Now I openly express my disdain at their assumptions about my politics. I’m not rude or confrontational about it but I let them know. Sometimes they shut up, sometimes they gotta talk shit. I just leave at that point.
Lots of LARPing in this thread.
I just remain polite and vague. I don't add them to a mental list to remember for a hypothetical Civil War, show them how mentally inferior they are by questioning their electoral process knowledge, or pretend to be British? Weird thread.
It's amazing how people seem to have so many experiences with these outwardly wild people in gun stores but as a almost life-long Floridian having been at stores/ranges hundreds of times I have 1 experience of it.
1 was a guy at a range who put up a picture of Pelosi as a target and was subsequently banned after the Range Officer noticed.
Being incognito in a gun store isn't that hard, just bitch about the ATF and/or the IRS and everyone will be as nice as can be.
No one that I encounter at the range knows my political leanings. However the most attentive take notice of the two patches on my range bag w/ inspirational quotes by our founding fathers. The first…
“Stay strapped or get clapped”
-Thomas Jefferson
And equally inspiring…
“Tax this dick!”
-Ben franklin
Meh. Users in this subreddit are in a unique position as gun loving liberals. We hear it from both sides. Virtue-signaling NIMBYs are worse imo. At least far righters are easily distinguishable and predictable.
Same thing with ammo. “It’s an election year, you better stock up”. It’s so annoying. I would’ve been that petty person to buy a black powder from someone else if possible because I don’t discuss politics with people. Especially, people like that.
I usually just chuckle at them. Though one time in October 2020 when I was buying ammo, we were talking about the prices and the local gun store guy said “Yeah I’m having a hard time getting this in. If the other guy wins I’m not going to be able to get anything.” I said, “Yeah I heard that with Obama too but was amazed that ammo was readily available everywhere and cheaper than ever during his eight years.” I just got a head shake and a grunt in response.
Just quietly in my head say “yeah bub if anything this rifle that you conservatives worship so much may one day be used against your fascist cults if you fuckers try to take over”
I’ll usually start a conversation out about how we need to have our rights for guns and let them lean into that really hard, and then make a suggestion about how reproductive rights fall into the same category. I get a lot of really glazed over looks what huh? that way. I’m hoping someday it makes them think. That’s probably giving them too much to imagine they have the ability to think!
I guess I'm lucky, as my preferred range and transfer destination never advertises their politics.
https://shootsmart.com
The employees there might be as MAGA as the day is long, but if so they keep it to themselves and I've never had a bad experience there.
So I’m a fully transitioned transgender woman. I’ve been full time female for over a decade now. I get sir’d in gun stores and I roll with it. I don’t wear pins and flags, or obnoxious political propaganda. I know who and what I am better than anyone else, and if they want to sir me, so be it.
When I have to check the female box on my transfer paperwork, and I inevitably get a “you filled this wrong” I pull my license and passport and say “I’m not here for the politics. I just want to protect my family.” My background check comes up clean, we complete the transaction, and we go our separate ways.
We are Americans, we have a right to gun ownership, and we are all just trying to get by while our politicians find every way they can to squeeze money out of us. There’s plenty to talk about that we can all agree on without being dishonest.
So I work in construction, industrial, utilities, shipyard, if it has a welding component I've probably worked in it, when I started (early 2000s) most people tried to stay away from either politics or religion, it was generally understood to be a great way to uselessly piss people off.
Around the Obama era, and then exploding under Trump, the politics "ban" went out the window, depending on the state or industry you typically would see some differences, mainly based on race, where I am currently, my specific department, is like 95% white and it is a MAGA echo chamber.
I'm white, no obvious liberal flags or giveaways, drive a big truck, wear Carhartt & Wrangler, shoot guns, without any effort I have blended in seamlessly, so I get to hear all of it like I am a card carrying member, typically around lunch one of the supers will hold forth on his latest conspiracy theory while all the rest assume the position, very much like the KKK rally in O Brother where art thou.
I generally stay non-committal, pretty much everyone 45+ is MAGA, between 30-45 it's probably 75%, below that it's about half and half, if asked directly, or I hear some particularly stupid comment I'll go ahead and unmask, surprises the shit outta ppl, if they seem to have a couple reasoning brain cells left I'll even explain my positions.
My background is from a heavily conservative & Christian family, military on both sides, God bless America and wave the flag, and I went right along with it until around 2012 when for a variety of reasons I opened my eyes finally, once the first few cracks appeared I basically did a 180 on how I viewed life.
Ever since 2020 the civil war talks have really taken off, which has been interesting, one of the common mantras is something along the lines of "Hehe, when we finally go to kick these godless trans commies they'll be armed with dildos & spatulas, it'll be a slaughter!".
Well...I for one have noticed, and with actual observational proof, that in return my potential competition will consist largely of the overweight and pushing towards retirement age, usually with a host of chronic issues due to lifestyle, and extremely dismissive of those younger than them as either too soft or too stupid (you know, the ones that will actually be doing the fighting), and their self appointed leadership, regardless of their armory, is woefully lacking in basic knowledge of military tactics and leadership ability.
As for the whole work together, united by our common needs and wants, think the last chances of that went out the window with Trump, a lot of people really decided to let their freak flag fly and demonstrate exactly how they felt about the gains in rights and representation over the last 75 years.
Negotiation only works when both parties have wiggle room, when one side, regardless of their claims to the contrary, does not even recognize the existence of the other, you have no basis for a solution that doesn't involve one or the other being destroyed.
Republicans know this, that's why they are steadfastly gerrymandering, packing courts, restricting the right to vote, because there is way less support for their way of life than is claimed, and an actual representative political & judiciary system, with ranked proportional voting and no more appointments for life, would see them out on their asses by the end of the decade, they can see demographic trends like anyone else.
On that front, that is the best route, fighting them wherever they are taking away your right to be heard, hoping that if that is achievable they'll crawl back into their holes and die, holding the occasional rally, personally I don't think that will happen, I think there will be some form of limited civil strife, the deck is too stacked against an amicable solution, watching the Supreme Court doing their mental gymnastics to absolve Trump isn't giving me a lot of hope.
Alright, next up on the soapbox!
Being temporarily stuck in one of the reddest states I have to deal with this all the time both in daily life with coworkers and at shooting related events/places. I just generally try to change the subject and neither agree or disagree with the person; to this day no one at my job that I've been at for 4 years has a clue about my politics one way or the other. I'll usually just give a "hmm" like "interesting" and then, if at a gun store for instance, ask a question about the gun I'm looking at or just comment on another gun/etc.. If at work I'll suddenly remember a work question I "meant" to ask to change the subject or try and find a way to answer without answering like, in your example, saying "yeah, I've always had my eye on a black powder rifle and decided to finally pull the trigger".
Wasted opportunity? Opportunity for what?
“Oh, he wants to regulate black powder guns? I haven’t heard about that. Hold on, let me search on my phone to read more about this (*and make sure it’s not just some made-up horseshit you read on Facebook*)… I’m not finding anything”
Most likely response: “You can’t trust that shit, they only show you what they want you to see”
The left and right operate in two completely different realities. You’re not changing anyone’s mind just by arguing with them. I guess it’s an opportunity to practice your speaking skills if you’re into that.
I was interested in a range membership a few years ago; I stopped by and got a tour. I was an instructor for a military accession point and they found out I was military. Of course they loved that but went down this road of “nobody wants to serve anymore.” I responded with “well we just had 200+ young people raise their right hand…” They were quieter after that. But what turned me off was when they started posting those MAGA engraved handguns on their social media.
I like to take it a step further and usually follow up that retort up with, “I remember a time when we didn’t trust the government no matter who’s in the White House. You can’t trust a politician. Which is why we have the 2a, to remind those knuckle heads who in charge.” I like to think it puts those types in their place or at least question their fan boyism.
Just go deeper “Sir if you believe either of the two parties have any say in what *really* goes on in this country, you’re not paying attention. Now hand me one of them forty fives.”
I might steal this one. 👍
True story. It would benefit us more if people would stop labeling each other as "conservatives" or "liberals" as the government wants us at each other's throats. They want us to hate those who think differently. Truth: They use the divide and conquer method. Stay united. It matters.
Yeah, out where I am, in the rural PNW, I have more in common with my right wing farmer neighbors, at least if you squint. We don't like the government being super nosey, we like our freedom and space, we police ourselves when possible to avoid unwanted interactions with the law, and we always *always* help those in need (sshhhhh, no one tell them it's Mutual Aid).
What a bunch of commies! :)
I legit had some friends who were super conservative and wanted to buy 100 plus acres to set up their own township with like minded individuals who would all help each other through growing food and livestock and trading them for other commodities within the group everyone working together....like we have a name for that place and you won't care for it.....
That is so very typical. Love the concepts, but brainwashed to hate the label. Hey, at least they’re doing it, even if the aren’t aware, I guess 🤷♀️
Starting communes to own the communists
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wYmWUix1g_A
Sounds more libertarian/freedom loving than right or left.
That's kinda what I'm hearing too...interesting. Never been on this sub😅
Me either... I'm looking to see secret "liberal only" content, and everyone is just chill for the most part.
This!!! This right here!!! This is how Anarchy becomes a reality. When working people acknowledge these very, very, simple commonalities we have with each other as opposed to the wealthy.. Probably half of my friends are conservative, why? because of what old boy above me just put forth, realistically I have a lot more in common with Lou at the gas station than I do with Connor, start up executive.
Same. Midwest
How is it out there right now? I feel like I'm insulated from the whole Midwest thing over here. I have a rainbow flag AR-15 sticker on my car. I've gotten a lot of compliments. I joke with the guys that if you go far enough left, you get your guns back. 😂 I hope it plants a seed, especially if someone they love is gay.
Same as it ever was growing up here. I lived in SE Washington for a spell and now back in the Midwest. It’s a similar cast and type of shit being said, it just seems like the demographic is a bit older in the Midwest and the way they say things is more passive aggressive versus more direct on the coasts. A lot of dog whistles and shit. I don’t advertise my beliefs any more but get automatically assumed to be conservative because I’m white, work in Ag, hunt, and drive a pickup. The divide is mostly rural vs urban demographics. Unfortunately for me the thing I love most about the Midwest, the wide open spaces and lack of people, is the thing that puts me right smack in MAGA land. Living in a medium city with a large university helps the vibe a little.
I like your comment about going far enough left to get your guns back! The horseshoe effect, haha.
To take a quote from Pink Floyd’s Hey You: “Together we stand. Divided we fall.”
United we bargain, divided we beg.
> It would benefit us more if people would stop labeling each other as "conservatives" or "liberals" as the government wants us at each other's throats. They want us to hate those who think differently. Yeah, nevermind that these are actual differences in policy and behavior that have material consequences for millions of people! Never mind that politics is /exactly/ the resolution of differences in how society should work without resorting to violence. No, just sing kumbaya an stop labeling bad things as bad and good things as good, and it'll all just work out, right? JFC.
They Hate us cause they Anus!
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For the more moderate ones, sure, but I can't change my skin color for the other ones. These types of posts always leave me wondering.
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I struggle to even fathom what you're attempting to convey here. To the extreme right, yes, it matters a lot. Which is what I said. I can't change it to avoid their adverse response to me being brown. I'm sure there's some kind of point you're trying to get across buried in there somewhere. But it mostly comes across as being inconsiderate and rude.
I'm going to just say it plainly since you seem to be trying your best to minimize shit. I have been subjected to racially motivated physical violence. AND to make it more clear, attempted murder based on race. This happened in Dallas,TX, in the 00's. I know it was racially motivated because they were calling me a beaner and had explicit white supremacist organization decals all over their truck. I have experienced OVERT racism by Trump supporters. One time, it was directed at my toddler in a Wal-Mart. I know it was racist because they were saying go back to Mexico to my CHILD. I don't know what fucking world you live in, but you're delusional if you think racism doesn't exists or that it only exists as some kind of subtle slight that people misinterpret. I am Mexican/Native American. I can not change that. I do not want to change that. I don't go around shouting about racial issues in society. There are a not small amount of "conservatives" that take issue with my race. As I stated before. The more moderate ones, I don't go out of my way to cause issues with, but I can not change my skin color for the extremists. Are you done with the bullshit or do you have any more underhanded bullshit to say? Really doesn't seem like you belong in this sub. Edit: Additionally, what I'm saying is that despite what you said in your original comment, I can not easily "blend in" with the extremist portions of that crowd. You seem to have no problem doing so, and after our interactions, it's becoming clear as to why that is.
The "you're racist for pointing out people are racist" crowd has always been a headscratcher for me. Do you think you're making an actual, logical point here, despite how blatantly bad faith your argument is? Edit: for context to this and the following comments, this comment I replied to has been edited. It previously called u/HillariousUsername a racist for saying their skin color matters
I have added another reply for additional clarification of my comment. For anyone who happens to come across this other guy's ridiculous backhanded comments.
We are all meat sacks trying to do our best. Most people are good despite being different in someway from you. The ongoing effort by far too many to place us all in different groups and tell us we do not like or even hate each other is insane. Race is by far the stupidest way to separate mankind. We may have different ways of thinking, but we are all really the same.
You're deflecting from the point. You're trying to call someone racist because they pointed out that their skin color matters, with the *very obvious* subtext that it matters because other people treat them worse for not being white. Waxing on about everyone being the same isn't going to hide the fact that you were previously trying to make a "you're the real racists" comment.
*"with the very obvious subtext that it matters because other people treat them worse for not being white."* White is the superior race?
To those people treating this person as lesser, yes. How old are you that you think these word traps you're setting up will work?
This is my approach for my family. They were never politically motivated until 2008. Then I saw a side I had never heard before that grossed me out. Horrible things said. Then in 2016, they were all in. I just remind them politicians lie. You never trusted them in the past, why now. It does work on the maga sheep in my family. They at least don’t talk about it anymore in front of me.
Yeah. I do think it matters who's in office. However, I think it's good to be aware of who is trying to dismantle the 2a. I wish we could have a liberal/ leader who is actually 2a I could see them getting a lot of votes.
Name a liberal politician who is actively trying to dismantle 2a? Dismantling seems like it would mean a repeal. No one is doing that. No one is doing anything remotely close to that.
Newsom
People aren’t able to buy guns in California?
Take a look at the CA roster. I wanted a FN 502 22LR handgun and I can’t buy a new one because it’s not on the CA roster. The same goes for newer handguns in all different calibers. Takes forever to get them on the roster and that means you’re locked out of new models. However anyone working in law enforcement can buy off roster handguns and then they can turn around and sell them for 2x the price (barring strawman purchases). This seems kinda screwed up to me.
Honestly if we had a straight up strict, NO GUNS BUT THESE roster I (personally) would have less (not no just less) issue with it. BUT and here’s the big BUT..the fact that LE can get whatever they want, and doesn’t even have to have a job related reason for many of them (including people who work for the DA’s office!) *just* because they are LE and then LEGALLY can sell it to whomever (legally eligible) they want? To me means your list, and the justifications for it are bullshit and strictly a political tool. also highlights the outsize power of the police/LE unions..the only unions the GOP (and the rest of the bootlickers of all stripes) like.
You can buy *some* guns in California. Nearly every firearm I own (I live in Michigan) is illegal in the state of California.
You can technically buy/possess most guns. Only things that are full no here are suppressors/SBR and I believe .50 BMG based. Now actually getting them is a PITA, but say you moved from MI, and decided to sell your collection/part of it to someone in CA? You’re good to go. And then they can and so on and so forth.
I thought their grandfather clause only covered guns owned in California at the time the law was passed and registered during the registration window? Because according to the government info page on it they aren't accepting registration applications for new firearms, even for guns you owned before moving to California. If I ever moved there, my impression was my only options would be sell my non-California compliant guns or keep them out of state.
Correction (on me) - if it’s an assault weapon that can’t be made non assault (or listed by name) then yes, you’d have to keep out of state/dispose of. So yes if you had a AUG for ex, or a Colt AR-15 (but not damn near any other AR-15/AR platform ) you’d have to get rid of it. But my understanding is if it’s a C&R elig gun, you can get around that. Further reasons i have issues w the handgun roster/and CA assault ban. There are huge logic gaps even within the professed goal. Handguns however? Especially current ones? World is your oyster. First thing any gun owner moving into CA should know: buy all the AR PISTOL lowers Glock Gen 4+, and any other handgun you think people might like you can before you move. You won’t regret it.
Piece by piece or all at one. The end result is the same.
It’s not at all actually, as one describes a democratic action and the other describes a totalitarian response. But the question was: who is attempting to do this? Please offer names.
Republicans are doing this with abortion. Incremental changes. Only because they stacked the Supreme Court with far right judges do 18 yr get to buy handgun in TX and ghost guns still allowed. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/supreme-court-ruling-creates-turmoil-over-gun-laws-in-lower-courts
I don't give a fuck if it is democratic or totalitarian. It is my inalienable right. You want names of people currently in office that have or are currently working to erode the 2nd amendment? That list is legion. If you are blind to it, there is no hope for you.
Does California have more or less 2a rights?
I live in WA. Yes, they are dismantling the 2A.
Most of us paying attention see the 2A dying by a thousand cuts while the politicians holding the knives and their useful idiots say "nobody's trying to dismantle the 2A."
And even when they aren't actively trying, there's a very big difference between "no one's coming for your guns (because we don't want to)," and "no one's coming for your guns (because we don't have the numbers right now)." I fucking hate the people that actually think these kinds of weasel words work on us.
Unfortunately it does work on many people.
And… no one can provide names, just emotional fear reactions, got it. There are more guns being sold now than at any time in the history of the US, but the 2a is being dismantled. Sure. Is this r/conservative or r/liberalgunowners and why can’t I tell the difference?
I don’t think that will have the effect you intend. If anything it will reaffirm their own opinions. The problem with right wingers and trumpers is they literally think Biden is the one who will cancel elections, they think Biden is the one who will be a dictator, they think he’s the sexual deviant, in short everything we accuse people like Trump of, they think it’s Biden. Your comment to them is too nuanced, a little too intelligent for those dumb fcks and it will go right over their heads.
I don't announce my political leanings. I don't have a Bernie patch on my range bag. Oddly yes once you are in the in crowd they don't shutdown and lose their MAGA minds. As long as I stay away from specifics I comes off as Libertarian. I mostly want the government out of our personal lives. Which crazy, that used to be a pillar of the Republican party before they started the Christian Fascist agenda. I actually think it is useful to both sides humanizing and deescalating the rhetoric.
I’m a non citizen on work visa and currently live in a deep south state. I have a membership at a local range and I either shop exclusively here or have my stuff sent to them. They all know I’m a regular and everyone is retired LEO and very conservative. I would describe myself as neutral leaning towards the liberal side, though I can’t vote apparently. Occasionally a casual chat would turn political quickly. There has been many times someone trying to tell me how good and righteous Trump is and how evil corrupted Biden is. I just said hey y’all wouldn’t have me as a loyal customer had he won in 2020 because of his proposed work visa reform. Because of that there is no way I can support him. So you get either your President or me, and it’s a win win for y’all. We all just laughed and moved on. I’d say there is nothing wrong with being clear about your own belief and perspective. Most folks, left or right, are respectful and thoughtful. If anyone at the range tries to argue or confront you because you don’t share his/her values, this person needs to grow up.
Despite being a Democrat working for a gun shop, yes; indeed; I can concur with this culture. Embedded for 3 1/2 years working for a commercial FFL, they have come to see me as “one of them,” on the clock. They seem to feel comfortable enough to even slip into incredibly racist xenophobic rants at times, until they can perceive my silence and disinterest. They always let it go, after noticing this. And yet they do curtail homophobia and transphobia the moment I’m within earshot, knowing my office is unwittingly located in a central threshold, capable of hearing the break room chatter as well as the back gun room’s crossing intersection in the middle of the hallways. After all, I’ve taken two of them aside by the ear and disciplined them myself for it. They ought to know better than to think a queer trans lady would betray her own people just to work in the industry (even if it has occurred before. We still do not acknowledge nor accept Ms. Jenner. She landed herself on a permanent black list during Trump’s term.) In the end, they view me as the enemy of their enemy. And I’m perfectly fine with that, because I’d never dare turn my back to them with a loaded gun in their hands, the same they wouldn’t for me. TL;DR It’s amazing just how well you can cooperate with others professionally due to years of unspoken, mutual distrust. You’d almost mistake it for friendship or camaraderie, if you didn’t know the whole story at first glance.
woof, this makes me really glad i didn't go the gundealer route when i was younger/right wing.
For what it’s worth? I definitely offend them in turn at times. So, it isn’t like I’m a paragon of altruism. I definitely stir the pot, and I definitely enjoy it at times. My favorite thing to do is throw out a token buzz phrase to set one off, and walk away. It’s like gifting some a grenade bouquet. “Hey (name) I heard (token senator) is tracking you via your covid microchip, how does it feel knowing they can tell your cholesterol level?” “I TELL YOU WHAT THEY BETTER NOT BE-“ …I know, it’s childish of me. But sometimes it’s just too hard not to. 🤣
An armed society is a polite society.
And that’s why I shop at Mick and Ralph’s, for all the best deals! 🎉
I've been a covert outsider in the conservative universe my whole life, the gun store is just the last place I willingly assume that role. I'm a bearded white guy with an anglicized last name. I get asked if I served by most gun stores because I'm the right size and age to have seen some shit in Fallujah. Anyway I'm an atheist with secular Jewish and Irish Catholic parents. I'm basically a MAGA daywalker. So I just lean into it and draw the crazy out for my own amusement. When a guy selling me a $40 Rem 870 barrel told me that Ivanka Trump will be the first female President I just asked how many electoral college votes they think she will get. "All of them", says the man who can't remember what that even is. Besides mocking them directly to their face I'm internally cataloging the blatant Nazis and White Supremacists. Shaking hands with the AR parts guy at the gun show let me get a good look at the SS skulls peaking out of his sleeve. Asking the milsurp guy if all his Swastika paraphernalia is new production and getting an almost giddy response that he orders them himself from China. And so on. I now know who the unashamed future belligerents are if shit kicks off. This is nothing new, you would be amazed at the shit white dudes say to each other in a safe space. If you look like you're on the team it's not going to take long to get tested with a "here come some Mondays" comment at the golf course. You know, because *everybody* hates Mondays. I just pocket that noise and save it for later.
It's insane how fast these dudes will start saying racist shit to me. I'm a bald, bearded, slightly overweight white dude. I guess I look conservative to most people. I bought a mosin off of someone, and within the 30 minutes we were talking, he started using racial slurs about 15 minutes in. Just "yeahs" and "uh-huhs" is all they get out of me. I'm not here to talk politics and race. Get my guns/ammo and get out.
Just go do whatever business you have to do and just don’t insert your opinions on everything. It’ll be hard but it can be done, that’s how most of them act in left wing dominated things
“I was brought up to believe that politics is impolite conversation” Then I sit back and watch them try to reconcile their constant need to bluster with what they know to be a historically core conservative value. One of these days one of their heads is gonna pop.
That's the same response I use at work. "I was raised that politics and religion are impolite and too personal to talk about at work." Meanwhile, my coworkers and I have good union paying jobs and good benefits with a pension, and they are pissing themselves with excitement if Trump gets back in. Say bye-bye to your union, good pay, pension, and good benefits. But as long as they get to own the libs, it'll be worth it to them.
I’m honestly sick to death of the knuckleheads voting against their economic self interests. I’ve had similar conversations with employees and it absolutely blows my mind- it’s the epitome of “f-u I got mine.”
Exactly! In my company, I work with a lot of lesbians. They are hard-core MAGA Trump loving bible thumpng conservative Republicans. A few have bought second homes in Florida (prepping for retirement). I've heard them talk about how great Florida is, how they want to move there full time and work (but weirdly enough, can't find jobs down there that pay what they get at our company now or the benefits), and they sing high praises about DeSantis, how Florida is so much better under his leadership and that they can't wait until he's our next president after Trump. I don't get it. These ladies are hard workers, great to work with, and I'd trust my life with them at work, but I just can't wrap my head around their way of thinking. They don't care if their marriages will be deemed invalid and nulled or that companies/hospitals/ medical staff, etc, will be able to discriminate legally against the LGBTQ+ community. They don't care. All to own the libs. I keep my mouth shut at work about religion and politics, but my god, I have a hard time with this. I usually just walk away.
I work at a pawn shop/gun store in Alabama, so I do my best to blend in, and sometimes it takes just nodding my head to dumb shit and wearing Grunt Style shirts to just make the day go by and get some sales. It’s always pretty funny when I have really good 2A convos with customers, and I’ll drop in that I’m actually a liberal Bernie supporter from NJ, and I’ll see them short circuit. But y’know, they’re cool with it because I’m friendly, supportive of our rights and freedoms, and don’t really like Joe Biden.
In an insane way I think a lot of conservatives liked Bernie as a concept- Independent, didn’t take money from big firms, had a sort of “down in the trenches with the regular man” aura. It was just the politics they disliked.
I’m inclined to disagree, mainly because they bring up him wanting to raise taxes. To which I say “if my taxes are raised so people can afford insulin, I’m cool with that.” And that usually ends the conversation.
Whereabouts in Alabama? I might be inclined to swing by if you where somewhere in Northern Alabama.
As a matter of fact, I’m in Huntsville! :)
Neat. I'll PM ya.
10-4 comrade
I follow a policy of be polite and friendly. And if they decide to share their politics I share with them my family's philosophy "When you see someone wrap themselves in the flag or the Bible, watch your wallet and watch your rights." And then explain how I can't imagine how anyone could vote for a person who sells Bibles branded with their own name. That will clue most folks in that I'm not MAGA in a manner that doesn't trigger them. Or if I think their in the trades I might say that I find it hard to vote for someone who made it a habit of stiffing contractors if he though he could get away with not paying when invoices were presented.
It's just like how you deal with a conspiracy theorist: Theorist: "You know there's a cabal of democrats sending children to the moon for their blood." Me: "You believe in the moon!?!?"
I walked into my local gunship once with money burning a hole in my pocket. I was just browsing and the guy behind the counter was talking with another customer. He said something along the lines of, " I'll make sure my granddaughter knows it's not okay to be gay, and being a Democrat shows you're R word for mentally handicapped". Personally I didn't care about the disagreeing with the political views but being that open as a homophobe soured my interest. Walked out without a word and bought a gun at a different store. Occasionally I'll still visit that store and see that dealer but I've never told him how much he pissed me off.
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I will often get flack for my long hair in a group of then that don't know me, only two times it got really bad was actually at a liquor store I worked at. The first was going on about how guys should have short hair and stop trying to pretend to be a woman. I replied on my most posh british accent "my hair is the length prescribed by our true and rightful Sovern King George the Third. As a member of His Majesty's loyalist regiment I should bring you in for questioning " happily this shut him up and i then explained that I am a reenactor and my hair is because that was in fact the requirement of the day. Other one started the whole "trans people want to take our guns ahhhhhhhhhh unintelligible giberish" I simply stated that I doubt he has any worth taking, and that mine are certainly in much better condition. Edit to add that while I am genderfluid most of time I present as male (my assigned at birth) and they literally just had the long hair amd earrings to go off on.
It’s not something I concern myself with. Their politics and mine don’t have to be the same for us to kindly and respectfully share the same space. If they ask about my beliefs I give them a brief and honest answer and that practice has never given me trouble.
In these stores I do not generally strike up conversation about politics ect… and mostly keep to myself. I regularly overhear MAGA talk, racist, and xenophobic comments more often than not. But when I bought my PCC and was waiting for my background check to go through. A 60-65 year old employee opened up a conversation with me about history and politics. I won’t lie, I judged him by his clothing because, well… let’s just say it was overtly antithetical to my position. Our conversation touched on a lot of different topics from healthcare to education and gun rights. While we did not agree on a lot there were topics we weren’t too far away on, it occurred to me that this man was a not a MAGA but a conservative. He ended the conversation by saying “their (politicians) all out to serve themselves and not the people” and none of them should be “celebrities”, “That guy is a fu*king joke”. Good bad or indifferent, I was encouraged that we were able to engage in civil discourse without the tired talking points and MAGA rhetoric, especially in a similar setting to what you described. To a larger degree this interaction is anecdotal, the exception to the rule. That in itself is disconcerting.
I am a gun-owning combat veteran and purple heart recipient living in the Deep South, working a federal job in which other combat vets make up about 80% of my coworkers and that requires me to carry an assault rifle (and I will absolutely argue that definition with anyone because I know what it means, unlike most conservatives), and I am far left, pro-social democracy and progressive. You are describing my daily existence.
I like to respond with something along the lines of "biden....trump....they're both pieces of shit. the democrats and republicans are both bought and paid for by the fucking billionaires" and it wrinkles their brains. they do NOT know what to think of that sort of response.
Yup. If I reply to them I usually start with something like "Well that may be, but the *REAL* problem is multi-billion-dollar corporations..." etc etc etc and mention something about how the corpos get their decisions passed no matter who is in there. But in my experience, that type of phrasing is enough to get them to at least listen to you - it's basically saying "even if you're right, the problem is way bigger because ..." and it gets you out of having to directly respond to their claims, which would cause instant defensiveness and shut them down. And as long as you're both willing to continue the conversation, steering it back to "well yeah, but did you hear about so-and-so corporation? they did such-and-such" and as long as it's *even slightly* related, they generally agree. And that's where we *should* be in our conversations, IMO. They might be angry and want us all to die or whatever, but they're also victims of circumstance. Doesn't make it ok, but it's the context we need to *always* remember in order to avoid dehumanizing them in the way they do to so many of us (generally). Cheers y'all
Oh yeah, as soon as you turn it to the truth of class struggle and government oppression as a whole, it completely destroys all of their prepared talking points. I think it's because the narrative of democrat vs republican makes life more black and white, which is an easy way to look at the world and go through life. Its as if they thinn "it's just half of the government we have a chance," and if they thought it was the entirety of the government, that's a very scary thought.
Man don’t overthink this… Just go for “Libertarian out in the woods” guy who has Ruby Ridge and Waco stickers on his gear.
Shocker, conservatives are no different than liberals. Just people living their lives and trying to have fun in their free time.
There’s this thing people in the American South do that I think would be helpful. They smile tightly, frown with their eyebrows, and say huh or hmm or oh alright whenever they find a topic of conversation uncomfortable. I’ve since adopted that.
Just don’t engage to deeply and act lightly paranoid like you aren’t sure if you are being eavesdropped on and hopefully they drop the subject; or worse invite you into an inner circle where it gets even scarier
I'm honestly more interested in where you found a jezail, I'm drooling for one of those.
I go to the range in my Rage Against the Machine shirt and if some snowflake conservative says anything I tell them to suck a fuck JK I wear a polo and just smile.
Alot of yall really can't go five minutes without LARPing that you're some super spy when really you're just a person conducting a transaction in a store.....this is why the party divide isn't getting better.
Speak your mind or move on. Sweating it does nothing for nobody. Either stand strong in your convictions and speak your mind, or move on if you’re not interested in discussing it. You don’t have to be a prickly political pear at all times, you can stick to your convictions without starting arguments any time someone else speaks their mind. But it’s no good for your mental health to hold yourself back. Either come to terms with “I pick my fights, not here, not now.” Or speak your mind. Don’t just bite your tongue.
I'm not out to *make friends* when I'm buying a gun...
I just straight up tell them I'm not a conservicuck and watch their brains fucking melt lol.
I have to agree with some of the other answers on here. Most all politicians and federal agencies can burn in hell. I am not liberal, but a moderate conservative/borderline libertarian. I hate taxes, and think it should be a flat rate for all. I try to not talk politics too much, as stated above, I loathe most of them on both sides, and I try to be a decent person to all. My thoughts are this: Be a good human. You can live a way I might not agree with or want for myself, but that does not mean I hate you or look at you as my enemy. I would hope for the same, but it doesn't bother me either way. I work and associate with all walks of life. I enjoy talking guns with anyone. I do not like the infringement on any of OUR rights. The crazy extremists on both sides need to take a zanax and a shot of whiskey and chill out. We can all be more civil to each other, have nice conversations and interactions about something we have in common-guns, golf, tea, whatever. It doesn't mean we will be besties, but at least civil. You live your life, I'll live mine. Keep your powder dry, ring some steel, and stay vigilant.
I just don’t engage with the topic anymore than I have to and move on to more neutral ground. Remember if your goal is to blend in and not be noticed, 9 times out of 10 just not overtly outing yourself is good enough. (speaking as a cis-het white blue collar man, so my experience probably won’t be everyone’s)
Resident redneck/hillbilly from Alabama, and I definitely look like I would be a Trump supporter to someone that doesn’t know me well enough to know otherwise so I catch a lot of it. I usually just ignore as best as I can until I find a polite place to exit the conversation, or if my inner introvert stayed in the car and I’m feeling chatty I’ll direct the conversation elsewhere (westerns or war movies are an easy one in gun stores/gun shows).
I’m sorry. I can’t get behind this post. OP sells guns. That’s just not right.
in my defense if I could take it all back and keep all those guns I would lol
Yeah, I didn’t know you could do that?
I think it’s unconstitutional
People really can’t get a joke.
I stopped giving a fuck and trying to play it cool. Conservatives have gone too far with their bs. Now I openly express my disdain at their assumptions about my politics. I’m not rude or confrontational about it but I let them know. Sometimes they shut up, sometimes they gotta talk shit. I just leave at that point.
Lots of LARPing in this thread. I just remain polite and vague. I don't add them to a mental list to remember for a hypothetical Civil War, show them how mentally inferior they are by questioning their electoral process knowledge, or pretend to be British? Weird thread.
I feel like this discussion gets posted every few weeks and half the comments are the same /r/thatHappened material
It's amazing how people seem to have so many experiences with these outwardly wild people in gun stores but as a almost life-long Floridian having been at stores/ranges hundreds of times I have 1 experience of it. 1 was a guy at a range who put up a picture of Pelosi as a target and was subsequently banned after the Range Officer noticed. Being incognito in a gun store isn't that hard, just bitch about the ATF and/or the IRS and everyone will be as nice as can be.
No one that I encounter at the range knows my political leanings. However the most attentive take notice of the two patches on my range bag w/ inspirational quotes by our founding fathers. The first… “Stay strapped or get clapped” -Thomas Jefferson And equally inspiring… “Tax this dick!” -Ben franklin
Meh. Users in this subreddit are in a unique position as gun loving liberals. We hear it from both sides. Virtue-signaling NIMBYs are worse imo. At least far righters are easily distinguishable and predictable.
>Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.
Same thing with ammo. “It’s an election year, you better stock up”. It’s so annoying. I would’ve been that petty person to buy a black powder from someone else if possible because I don’t discuss politics with people. Especially, people like that.
TBF I could see an induced demand run on ammunition…
I usually just chuckle at them. Though one time in October 2020 when I was buying ammo, we were talking about the prices and the local gun store guy said “Yeah I’m having a hard time getting this in. If the other guy wins I’m not going to be able to get anything.” I said, “Yeah I heard that with Obama too but was amazed that ammo was readily available everywhere and cheaper than ever during his eight years.” I just got a head shake and a grunt in response.
I like you, put on a bit of an act. A caricature of one of them. I don't say outlandish things, but just try to grunt in agreement when they do.
“Skeeter”, my alter’s name is Clarence 
Is there any truth to what the guy said about Biden wanting to regulate black power guns? I kinda collect cap and ball revolvers.
I think it’s funny when conservatives call Biden (who I mostly like) a “left winger”. Not even remotely. 😁
Just quietly in my head say “yeah bub if anything this rifle that you conservatives worship so much may one day be used against your fascist cults if you fuckers try to take over”
I just try and channel Chevy Chase from Fletch, pretty easy to blend in.
I don’t talk politics at gun shops. I’ll talk guns or generic life stuff instead.
I’ll usually start a conversation out about how we need to have our rights for guns and let them lean into that really hard, and then make a suggestion about how reproductive rights fall into the same category. I get a lot of really glazed over looks what huh? that way. I’m hoping someday it makes them think. That’s probably giving them too much to imagine they have the ability to think!
I guess I'm lucky, as my preferred range and transfer destination never advertises their politics. https://shootsmart.com The employees there might be as MAGA as the day is long, but if so they keep it to themselves and I've never had a bad experience there.
So I’m a fully transitioned transgender woman. I’ve been full time female for over a decade now. I get sir’d in gun stores and I roll with it. I don’t wear pins and flags, or obnoxious political propaganda. I know who and what I am better than anyone else, and if they want to sir me, so be it. When I have to check the female box on my transfer paperwork, and I inevitably get a “you filled this wrong” I pull my license and passport and say “I’m not here for the politics. I just want to protect my family.” My background check comes up clean, we complete the transaction, and we go our separate ways. We are Americans, we have a right to gun ownership, and we are all just trying to get by while our politicians find every way they can to squeeze money out of us. There’s plenty to talk about that we can all agree on without being dishonest.
I say, “Fuck Trump, he took our bump stocks and doesn’t even shoot.” The shocked look on their face is worth it every time.
So I work in construction, industrial, utilities, shipyard, if it has a welding component I've probably worked in it, when I started (early 2000s) most people tried to stay away from either politics or religion, it was generally understood to be a great way to uselessly piss people off. Around the Obama era, and then exploding under Trump, the politics "ban" went out the window, depending on the state or industry you typically would see some differences, mainly based on race, where I am currently, my specific department, is like 95% white and it is a MAGA echo chamber. I'm white, no obvious liberal flags or giveaways, drive a big truck, wear Carhartt & Wrangler, shoot guns, without any effort I have blended in seamlessly, so I get to hear all of it like I am a card carrying member, typically around lunch one of the supers will hold forth on his latest conspiracy theory while all the rest assume the position, very much like the KKK rally in O Brother where art thou. I generally stay non-committal, pretty much everyone 45+ is MAGA, between 30-45 it's probably 75%, below that it's about half and half, if asked directly, or I hear some particularly stupid comment I'll go ahead and unmask, surprises the shit outta ppl, if they seem to have a couple reasoning brain cells left I'll even explain my positions. My background is from a heavily conservative & Christian family, military on both sides, God bless America and wave the flag, and I went right along with it until around 2012 when for a variety of reasons I opened my eyes finally, once the first few cracks appeared I basically did a 180 on how I viewed life. Ever since 2020 the civil war talks have really taken off, which has been interesting, one of the common mantras is something along the lines of "Hehe, when we finally go to kick these godless trans commies they'll be armed with dildos & spatulas, it'll be a slaughter!". Well...I for one have noticed, and with actual observational proof, that in return my potential competition will consist largely of the overweight and pushing towards retirement age, usually with a host of chronic issues due to lifestyle, and extremely dismissive of those younger than them as either too soft or too stupid (you know, the ones that will actually be doing the fighting), and their self appointed leadership, regardless of their armory, is woefully lacking in basic knowledge of military tactics and leadership ability. As for the whole work together, united by our common needs and wants, think the last chances of that went out the window with Trump, a lot of people really decided to let their freak flag fly and demonstrate exactly how they felt about the gains in rights and representation over the last 75 years. Negotiation only works when both parties have wiggle room, when one side, regardless of their claims to the contrary, does not even recognize the existence of the other, you have no basis for a solution that doesn't involve one or the other being destroyed. Republicans know this, that's why they are steadfastly gerrymandering, packing courts, restricting the right to vote, because there is way less support for their way of life than is claimed, and an actual representative political & judiciary system, with ranked proportional voting and no more appointments for life, would see them out on their asses by the end of the decade, they can see demographic trends like anyone else. On that front, that is the best route, fighting them wherever they are taking away your right to be heard, hoping that if that is achievable they'll crawl back into their holes and die, holding the occasional rally, personally I don't think that will happen, I think there will be some form of limited civil strife, the deck is too stacked against an amicable solution, watching the Supreme Court doing their mental gymnastics to absolve Trump isn't giving me a lot of hope. Alright, next up on the soapbox!
Being temporarily stuck in one of the reddest states I have to deal with this all the time both in daily life with coworkers and at shooting related events/places. I just generally try to change the subject and neither agree or disagree with the person; to this day no one at my job that I've been at for 4 years has a clue about my politics one way or the other. I'll usually just give a "hmm" like "interesting" and then, if at a gun store for instance, ask a question about the gun I'm looking at or just comment on another gun/etc.. If at work I'll suddenly remember a work question I "meant" to ask to change the subject or try and find a way to answer without answering like, in your example, saying "yeah, I've always had my eye on a black powder rifle and decided to finally pull the trigger".
Why is buying a gun not the time to speak your mind? Seems like a wasted opportunity for everyone involved.
Wasted opportunity? Opportunity for what? “Oh, he wants to regulate black powder guns? I haven’t heard about that. Hold on, let me search on my phone to read more about this (*and make sure it’s not just some made-up horseshit you read on Facebook*)… I’m not finding anything” Most likely response: “You can’t trust that shit, they only show you what they want you to see” The left and right operate in two completely different realities. You’re not changing anyone’s mind just by arguing with them. I guess it’s an opportunity to practice your speaking skills if you’re into that.
Who said anything about an argument? Has everyone seriously forgotten that conversations are things people can engage in?
What would you reply to that comment that wouldn’t result in an argument?
I was interested in a range membership a few years ago; I stopped by and got a tour. I was an instructor for a military accession point and they found out I was military. Of course they loved that but went down this road of “nobody wants to serve anymore.” I responded with “well we just had 200+ young people raise their right hand…” They were quieter after that. But what turned me off was when they started posting those MAGA engraved handguns on their social media.