Why must the general public be so woefully uneducated about guns?

[Viper GTS]

Initial Story

The REAL Story

:roll:

Media fueled paranoia FTW!

Viper GTS

 

[nakedfrog]

Because guns are bad, I'll bet.

 

[FoBoT]

unlike 100 or 200 years ago, most kids today are never taught/exposed to guns as kids

they just see stuff on TV/movies and hear the liberal "guns kill people" stuff from teachers and media

so they have no basis for understanding

 

[antyler]

Guns dont kill people, people kill people!

 

[DeadByDawn]

Wow, talk about an over reaction!

 

[Stuxnet]

... because a story about a man with a pellet gun is boring.

Never let the facts (or total lack of information) get in the way of a good story.

 

[imported_Tick]

My god people are stupid sometimes. At least THINK before calling the police. I mean come on, people these days think gun=criminal. For one thing, if he was a sniper, would he be WALKING IN PLAIN SIGHT?

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
... because a story about a man with a pellet gun is boring.

Never let the facts (or total lack of information) get in the way of a good story.

Yeap. "We don't report the news, we MAKE the news."

 

[notfred]

Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

Yah i agree. If I saw someone with a friggin pellete gun that looked like a sniper rifle, walkin around into a building in camoflauge, i wouldn't sit and think "oh yah ... that's probably the local pigeon pellet gunner guy" and get on with my day. I'd be like ... uuuhh, wtf is that guy doing with a gun that size going into that building?

 

[Mursilis]

The better question is, why must the general public be so woefully uneducated?

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

I think his point was that it's a new thing for guns to not be part of the everyday lives of Americans. Being able to tell the difference between a pellet gun and a real gun is like being able to tell the difference between a screwdriver and a power drill. Most people can tell the difference.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Initial Story

The REAL Story

:roll:

Media fueled paranoia FTW!

Um, because in the first link, it was a breaking story. In the second, they had more information. If you can't accept that breaking stories may contain incomplete or inaccurate information, then don't pay attention to those, and wait until the next morning so you can read it in the papers.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

While the differences between a "high powered rifle" and a pellet gun are glaringly obvious, I don't expect people to know.

I do, however, expect a minimal level of rational thought before dialing 911. Having a gun does not make you dangerous (nor a criminal), and in many places open carry is perfectly legal.

Viper GTS

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: Mursilis
The better question is, why must the general public be so woefully uneducated?

Good question... Our schools seem to do a good job at teaching them things that 90% will never be brought up or used again in their lifetime...

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

I think his point was that it's a new thing for guns to not be part of the everyday lives of Americans. Being able to tell the difference between a pellet gun and a real gun is like being able to tell the difference between a screwdriver and a power drill. Most people can tell the difference.

there are PLENTY of bb/pellet guns that are produced to replicate the actual real gun that look pretty damn good, i don't buy that for a second. as the other dude said, just because you know these things doesn't mean everyone does.

hell, i know parents that dont know the difference between XBox, PS2, and XBox 360. They just call it all Nintendo. It's the same thing, it's all about what you are into and are knowledgable of.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

While the differences between a "high powered rifle" and a pellet gun are glaringly obvious, I don't expect people to know.

Then you must be really good. Because even the cops often can't tell the difference between some of these 'pellets' gun and the real thing... especially when you start getting into the airsoft ones.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: Mursilis
The better question is, why must the general public be so woefully uneducated?

Good question... Our schools seem to do a good job at teaching them things that 90% will never be brought up or used again in their lifetime...

Yep, that's right. Instead of teaching folks biology if they never intend to be a biologist, we should teach them how to identify various guns.... because that will be so much more useful to them.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

I think his point was that it's a new thing for guns to not be part of the everyday lives of Americans. Being able to tell the difference between a pellet gun and a real gun is like being able to tell the difference between a screwdriver and a power drill. Most people can tell the difference.

No, most people can't.

Pellet Gun
Real Gun

I'd bet good money that the percentage of Americans who could tell them apart from across the room is under 50%.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

While the differences between a "high powered rifle" and a pellet gun are glaringly obvious, I don't expect people to know.

I do, however, expect a minimal level of rational thought before dialing 911. Having a gun does not make you dangerous (nor a criminal), and in many places open carry is perfectly legal.

Viper GTS

I still don't buy your argument. The person saw this guy in the middle of a city (atleast from the picture it looks like an office building) carrying a big gun. I would see if it was in the middle of a farm they saw a guy or something, yah then calling the police is overboard i agree.

Also no one said just because they had a gun they were dangerous (or a criminal). If anyone over-reacted, it was the police department.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

While the differences between a "high powered rifle" and a pellet gun are glaringly obvious, I don't expect people to know.

I do, however, expect a minimal level of rational thought before dialing 911. Having a gun does not make you dangerous (nor a criminal), and in many places open carry is perfectly legal.

Viper GTS

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that downtown Pittsburgh isn't one of those places.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: notfred
Just because you can tell a pellet gun from a real gun on first glance doesn't mean everyone else can. Many people have other hobbies and interests. You have elected to learn about guns, which is fine, but they'd rather learn about gardening, or cars, or guitars, or whatever.

The numbers of guns most people see in the average day is 0, that doesn't really help them to learn the difference between different types of guns.

If you can expect everyone else in the country to learn your hobby, you're going to have to learn to differentiate between a gibson les paul and a fender stratocaster from across the room. And you have to be able to tell what year a particular Honda Civic was manufactured just by looking at it. And you need to know what kind of fertilizer to use on turnips. etc.

Well said! :thumbsup:
Finally put some of this ATOT biggoted attitude to rest.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

People have come to assume:
Rifle with scope=sniper
Semi-automatic rifle=assault rifle
Shotgun=going to knock someone back 20 feet
Pistol=should be aimed in a way that makes the window washers laugh
Revolver=44 magnum from Dirty Harry

Just like stickers+wing=FAST!

The public only knows that things come out of the opening, and I'd put money that a majority of the population couldn't safely unload a gun if thier life depended on it. Rather than teach people how to use the tools society has chosen abstinance. If they don't know how to use them, they won't use them, right? There are honestly people that think that a revolver sitting on a table can kill someone because they see gun and think "death, murder, violence!" rather than think it out.

 

[alien42]

if there were no guns to begin with then this would never have happened

 

[Viper GTS]

The article specifically said a "high powered rifle." Would I expect people to be able to differentiate a pellet gun and a .22? No. But nobody in their right mind would refer to a .22 as a "high powered rifle."

And yes I most definitely do fault the police department (and the idiot mayor showing up in his bulletproof vest) but the initial over-reaction that started the whole thing was someone calling 911.

It could have been stopped before it even started if people hadn't been so paranoid.

Viper GTS