There must be a certain disposition to those people who are all out against guns.
Having no qualifications in psychology does'nt mean I cannot make a direct connection between those who like and those who detest guns.
Recently, I was pondering about the issue and looked closer to home for answers.

In my own family there were only two us (out of 9 siblings) who did what most healthy and normal naughty (not malisceous) little boys would do. Now that's funny, considering we all had the same environment. I suppose that the same could be said for education. There are those who achieved poor results, those who achieved average results and those who shone. Trends and individuality develope indenpendant of the same environment.

Getting back to the subject, what was it that two of us did that the others didn't? What were these pastimes that the others didn't do, that later on in life reflected their pro or anti gun stance?

Well, the things that Peter and I did were what most boys at certain ages tend to do:-

1. First there was the  "Biro" ball point pen that was used as a "pea Shooter", where chewed paper or rice was used as the projectile.
2. This was followed by the elastic band, that was a rudimentary caterpult, with paper or cardboard pellets.
3. Then came the home-made caterpults made out of a "y" shaped twig from a Peach tree. Pellets were sourced from the lead found in the old wiring discarded from upgraded elctricity poles.
4. Meantime, small experiments using match sticks and tinfoil to produce little rocket projectiles ensued. This was complimented by being dazzled by the petards as they were let off.
5. The next "quantum" step was the aquisition of an "airgun". Those days a Daisy or Diana comes to mind.
6. The influence of the classic cowboy and war films only made one wish for a real gun. The next best alternative was a "CapGun", that at least gave some simulation with it's bang and lovely smelling smoke.
7. Then came phases of "Bow & Arrows" or "Swords and Javelin", where we used "Bamboo" and wood to make our weapons and cut our knuckles.
9. One must not forget the treks to the Shooting Ranges, where we used to find live 303(unused rounds). These were deftly collected and taken home. Once home, the mad ritual of putting the rounds into a fire, then hiding behind a wall was put into action.

The infuence was further strengthened by our immediate surroundings:

Having a Father who was in the RAF, meant that he had a Rifle on top of a cupboard when we were posted in RAF Idris. This was protect us against  "Piards". These were some sort of wolf with a white coat. Peter and I would droll over it when we once got it down from the cupboard when our parents were out. Living on Military Bases, one was continually surrounded by armed gaurds that one secretly wished could go up to and ask to see his gun.

In the 60's my Father used to be away alot on "Desert Rescue" training or flying somewhere in a Shackleton or Canberra. Meantime, since we lived on the outskirts of Mosta, my Mother had a "Beretta" 9mm short for protection. Having a cousin in the British Army, found this gun being used in our field behind the house quite regularly. Of course, one would find only Peter and myself as loyal enthusiasts and participants.

As one went into the teens and twentys phase, meeting up with like-minded madmen as Vincent (yes our very own RCO) only fueled the imagination more. His innovation for bigger and louder sealed the freindship.

So what are my conclusions?

Most normal and healthy boys have an inherent need to throw something from "A" to "B". Be it a stone, a caterpult pellet, a home-made arrow, airgun pellet a bullet, a rocket or a model aircraft. This I can understand since it probably comes from our ancestoral past where as hunters we threw stones or Spears at our Prey or attackers.
What I cannot understand are those boys (including my own brothers) who showed absolutely no desire to be creative or join in. As they grew up, their lack of enthusiasm was reflected in their stance, that was "not interested" at best or "anti" in the extreme.
Perhaps, someone can enlighten me on this one?

Rgds,

DG

Yes agreed.

Accept it or not there are basic animal instincts in each and every one of us and these are reflected in the behaviour or many.

To sidetrack a little - Male hominids were the hunters, and female, the stay-at-cave with the kids type. Essential, since human and  primate young are highly dependent for a number of years.

Hunters require particular skills, one of which is increased spatial awareness.

Spatial awareness is also very important in modern day activities, such as driving. Without being sexist, but rather fact-of-life-ist, the difference between the sexes  in driving styles due to the difference in levels of spatial awareness is rather obvious.

So we may rant on and on about how we are civilised and all of that but in reality we are just highly intelligent animals.

There are a zillion other behavioural differences and urges between the sexes, which all are coming from our not too distant past as we have evolved to survive, and which are still hard coded into each and every one of us.

Conclusion - more females instinctively don't like guns;
The males that don't, are pussies.   

RB

LOL DG  , your list reminded me of some things I did myself. I must say that I never found the 'Biro' pea shooter to be very effective. I normally used a longer barrelled version by means of a long glass pipette purchased from the school chemistry lab. I also dabbled in chemical warfare, pouring hydrocloric (or was it sulphuric ) acid on limestone to see the latter fizzle and dissolve. Then there where the stink bombs made from the trees and bushes in the school grounds... and the list goes on.

LOL!!! 

It sure looks like Anti gun persons have one thing in common :
"a lack of common sense".

The answer to the question.  Make your pick !
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35234742/ns/today-today_people/

Two-inch LEGO gun gets 4th-grader in trouble
Parents left fuming after principal threatens the boy with suspension

A tiny toy led to big trouble for one fourth-grade New York City boy.

Patrick Timoney, a 9-year-old student at PS 52 in Staten Island, N.Y., was in the school cafeteria Tuesday playing with LEGOs when he was taken to the principal’s office and threatened with suspension. One of his toys was a LEGO policeman that holds a 2-inch plastic gun. The school has a no-tolerance policy when it comes to toy guns.

“[The gun] was so little,” the boy told WNBC. “I wouldn’t really think that the principal would cause a lot of commotion just for a little gun.”

The boy’s mother, Laura Timoney, 44, was fuming over the issue.

“You don’t traumatize a child who loved to go to school, who wanted to be early every day to school, you don’t make him cry, you don’t make him fill out statements,” she told WNBC, holding back tears. “You don’t do it.”

Pat Timoney, the boy’s father and a retired police officer, was also upset, saying that he’s dealt with people who use imitation weapons as a way to threaten others and commit crimes, and that this situation is different, considering the pinky-size gun in question.

The toy was confiscated by principal Evelyn Mastroianni, a conference was held with the boy and his parents, and ultimately, no further disciplinary action was taken.

Department of Education policy states that there can be no imitation guns on school property, and a representative said that the principal has ultimate discretion, and this one felt there was reason for “concern.”

“You need to exercise good judgment,” said Laura Timoney. “In my opinion, this was the wrong call.”

She says she may sue over what she calls “a lack of common sense.”

Let me also contribute about what makes an antigun moron.
It really all starts from the illogical attributes that have spoiled our society under the farse and false idea of political correctness, tree hugging, etc.... which unfortunately starts at the very schools that our children attend.

My son is also 9 years old and loves planes.  He somewhat has a fascination with Water Bombers and the only aircraft that interests him during the annual airshow is this slow but highly manoeverable yellow Water Bomber.  Consequently he's at most times drawing this plane colour pen on paper to near perfection.  Prior to this year's parents day each grade student had to each make a drawing for pinning on the Grade's displays including a caption and a short description.  As expected he drew a near perfect yellow Water Bomber and obviously named it The Water Bomber.  Guess what ?  My son came up complaining that a teacher had messed up his drawing by vehemently crossing over with a pen the word "Bomber" and instead wrote the word "Plane".  What a moron !  I took up the matter there an then during the parents day and the teacher just stared at me uncomprehensive of what I was making a fuss about.  I have now reached a conclusion that my son is wiser than his moron teacher !

The intersting thing is that many countires that have experienced the most atrocious of atrocities or dictorshipships never had western TV and the access to "War" Toys prior to their dire experiences.
Contrary to this, most of those who are around my age grew up around all sorts of Toy Guns and War Planes. Besides the occassional lunatic, the crime in the West is no worse than the crime elsewhere, especially where it is "State" sponsored.
Our Western Poilical Correctness and equal rights will be the downfall of the good old values we grew up with.

Todays western children are spoilt silly and are not growing up to be Physically and Mentally healthy citizens. I don't think that I'm far off track to state that the typical young boy's practical experience in self created entertainment is close to zero.
The closest they get to "action" is a video, a Play Station game or some film. The real adventurous ones get to play "organised" football at their local Parish Club. Even the Boy Scouts aren't the same as in my day. At 12~13 we went off on Hikes or Camping alone, without the need for an Adult or Toilet nearby. One doesn't see kids playing in the streets anymore.

For sure, today's parents, teachers and Politicians are totally responsible for tomorrows citizens and it's spineless society. Everyone want's "rights" without sacrifice or responsibilty. What was normal is now incorrect or totally wrong. What was wrong is now a right to be given.

I'm from being a Homophobic, but I can't get around to accepting that sodomy between two males is suddenly correct. In my "old School" of basic thought and upbringing, the anus was for defaecation and the Vagina was for Copulation. Go figure that I was wrong all this time.

The same goes with everything else that has been twisted around, leading society to become ultra paranoid and afraid of even a tiny Toy gun or a Plane being called a "Water Bomber".
Ignorance is bliss, the learned will have to suffer.

DG

Where the hell are those days?    We used to spend practically the whole weekend (during the day) outside playing. Move around with the old Raleigh Chopper and shoot my FN FAL That was a nice toy made by air fix. It shot plastic bullets a bayonet that could be attached like the real thing. Then I moved on to the Mattel M16 with a large mag like the AR10. Do you remember those? I had countless pistols and revolvers. Society doesn't allow kids to have realistic guns and have fun any more. Plus all the video games and computers took enough time from their outdoor time and now they are used to the  lazy life. 

Last week there were 3 kids that ware shooting air soft guns behind my place. I was super surprised to see this. (BTW our air soft have to be transparent and with an orange barrel.) I wanted to go out and join them but with today's mentality their parents would likely think that I'm some sort of pervert.

Regarding the Water Bombers, don't let it bother you - hanzir jitwieled tghond ma jmutx kwadru. I doubt that you will be able to educate some one with that mentality. Tell your son to search The Canadian Water Bombers. There is a good concentration of them in British Columbia (on the west coast). We have a fleet in Northern Ontario as well because every year we get forest fires. I'm not sure if they are built by Dehavilland or Bombardier. I heard that they are produced for many nations though.

errrr..does this count ?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/tEVyDmcF7u0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/tEVyDmcF7u0</a>

Well Dirty Gonny and Quantum .... I bet you've really hit the nail on its head, prosit .  It's definitely true how society in general is becoming 'sterile' with respect to normal enthusiasm and joie de vivre.  The way I see it; only the genuinely honest can be (truly) happy, and people who don't expend themselves in some worthy cause, doing something they really love to do (things that would help them develop their character), will live (waste) their life in denial.  Consequently, they will try to impose their boredom onto someone else.  They would start off by living their life on the defensive edge and owing to their general lack of assertiveness; they reach out for their 'rights' far more than for their 'duties'.  When you have a society which is after its 'rights' rather than 'duties', then you're faced by egocentricity at its best, and egocentricity and respect cannot co-exist.  The sister to all this is 'relativism', a truly malignant disease which is eating out the life and spine of our system -> take a look around you ... where have the values gone?
Many non-gun owners classify themselves with the anti-gun lobby; why? Example... Ask the spear-fisherman armed with a harpoon ‘gun’ ... is he regarded by society the same as any other rod-holding angler?  Or the fact that he carries a gun classifies him with the violent? ... won’t he be catching the same types of fish? (probably he’s even more selective in his fishing AND whomever tried spear-fishing in free-diving knows that it’s a 'BIT' more than just a trigger pulling exercise) .... just food for thought.
Guns DON’t KILL, it’s people who CAN KILL, and sometimes they do use guns, other times they use other means ... and killing does not necessarily mean physically killing someone; killing the principles of leading a good life, and fooling people into thinking that happiness lies in faux places (as many ads, and the consumerist approach in general  does) is another form of KILLING.
A very famous person once said “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Guys (and gals) do cherish this shooting hobby, at least you’ll keep the little enthusiastic child in you alive, it’s VERY IMPORTANT – remember that we have a DUTY to help those around us ... one way is by being of good example.  Each visit to the range/this forum, instantly shows what great things a sport like ours can do to people.

9x19 - true.

But I will just pick on something you mentioned, harpoons and of course their usage.

On our licences we read: can't use at night, can't use with diving gear, bla bla bla.

Let someone tell me - are there any restrictions on FISHING at night?
Are there restrictions on how deep fishermen can fish and for how long, the "equivalent" of a ban on use with diving gear...

Yes this is very typical of "gun attitude".

It's perfectly OK (in fact governments assist/subsidise, etc, and the public generally views extremely positively) that commercial fishing is undertaken with the latest most efficient equipment and boats, hauling in TONS of fish, but an individual with a (harpoon) GUN taking an infinitesimal fraction of a fishing boat's catch?

No, that's evil...

RB