I saw this little segment on NBC Tuesday. Surprisingly, it was relatively unbiased — somewhat fair and balanced one might say. It highlighted the next generation of “young guns.” Basically, millennials who exercise their Constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms.
The main point of the piece was to shatter the stereotype that all gun owners are old, fat white guys. Clearly, that’s not the case. The gun community is growing increasingly diverse, as illustrated in the video.
Of course, NBC also tried to make the case that the gun community is shrinking and that fewer young people are interested in firearms, a claim that is undoubtedly culled from anti-gunner think tanks. Oh well, I guess one had to expect a bit of the network’s gun-control bias to poke through.
But overall, it wasn’t a horrible piece. I like the way it ends with the notion that non-gun owners should get to know us before they make judgements about who we are and what we stand for.
I have three siblings in the under 35 age bracket and it amazes me to see just how effective the propaganda they have been raised with has been. All three have unexamined negative feelings for guns, which I believe to be the result of years of conditioning by the hollywood/media/education machine. I know, it sounds all conspiracy theorist but I’m just trying to make the observation that this campaign is working, and it would not surprise me in the least if the numbers of younger people joining shooting sports declines as a result. I would like to see some real data showing the trends if anyone knows of a reliable source.
I wonder if the presenter thinks about the constitution or the coolness when he utilizes his first amendement rights?
The men and women in the clip spoke very well, and will make great ambassadors for the future of our Second Amendment rights. At some point, the baton needs passed and if this is who is on the receiving end, I feel confident that the charge will continue. At 50+ I’ve raised two daughters who both have their License To Carry along with a respect and understanding of the rights that we have. We must do all that we can to mentor our youth and to foster a passion for what’s been passed down through the generations.
All three of my sons own guns, all three DILs own guns, my oldest grandson just bought his first (long)gun. More than 50% of my large extended familly own guns. Five proud American citizens who emigrated from strict control dictatorships own guns. I was the first, all have come to that decision on their own with little or no push from me.
If the gun owning population in the US is shrinking, you can’t tell it by me and I haven’t seen it. It may be true in some blue/anti-gun states, but the majority of America is buying, owning and training more, not less.
Hey Matt: The Constitutional side IS the coolness side.
I’m In my 50s. Have many 20-somethings as friends. They ALL have guns. AND their wives.
went to the local range ( in s. fl.) during spring break 2015 ! us old farts were out numbered by the young by about 5 to one ! many had weapons i’d never seen before ? many weapons , i’d have to sell the wife to afford ? ammo was ‘ no ‘ problem ! they went thru box after box with out flinching , while i’m shooting 22’s , because of the volume and affordability ? i packed up my 22’s and shrank into the sunset , waiting for them to go back to living in their parents basements , as the media reports !
Glad to see you are so ‘open minded’ about those who choose to participate in our freedom & sport. How old were you when YOU started shooting?? Where you in your 20’s? Your teen’s? Did you go to a range or out in the woods & there were older shhoters ? Did they have the same attitude towards you that you’ve just displayed? Instead of ‘complaining’ about the next batch of shooters, we’d all be better served if you had bothered to intruduce yourself & let them know that you were happy to see that they were there, engaged & interested in our 2nd rights & our sport. You remind me of the old bastard when I was 9 years old & my my older brother took me to my first Turkey shoot contest. A few old geezers were busting my brother’s balls about the 12 gauge I was about to shoot in the match…”Hey, he need a crane to hold that thing up!?”, “That damn thing’s bigger than HE is, yuk yuk yuk!!”…..guess who won that match? This ‘lil old 9 year old did. They didn’t discourage me then, I’ve been actively shooting ever since…..I hope you didn’t discourage any of the shooters you just complained about. We don’t need to bash our fellow shooters, buddy……we have more than enough of that from the grabbers.
Bryan didn’t bash anybody. He was just making observations. I’m 30yo and it amazes me how other 18-30 year olds take offense at the smallest things. They seem to have a militant activist attitude, like they’re being oppressed and they need to fight back. People need to calm down and try to be civil to one another.
I HAVE been shooting since I was in single digits. My son has been shooting since he was 5-6. Growing up he would ask if his friends could go and naturally I had to get consent from the parents. Which in turned out more times than not the other family joining us to learn how to shoot. I have turned on several new families to the joy of target and trap shooting. It has turned a many otherwise boring camping trips into friendly competition, in which we would practice for the next summer as well as buy and upgrade our guns and rifles. The gun culture had been one of the best experiences in my families life (though I am a single parent(father) ) to meet others and share weekends of fun and laughter.