Thread: Public perception of rifles

I used to carry my shotgun in a Pelican case.

Since I had it modified to meet the capacity requirement, I carry it (wrapped) to and from the range in a length of open-ended PVC drainage pipe to avoid attention.

There are a lot of hoplophobic busybodies about.

Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin

It really concerns me too. Far too easy to prosecute someone and put the burden of proof on them, even if innocent. The cost of defending the charge will never be fully recovered. It stinks of lazy policing and prosecution. The erosion of citizens rights is happening under the nudes of a liberal media.

Yessir. The process is the punishment...

Originally Posted by Rushy

She's fucked Mikee. I blame my father in law and all of his bunny loving, tree hugging, trendy lefty school teacher mates that promoted socialist ideals.

I know, sadly I was born 100 years too late, if I had been I would have missed this constant rolling fucken shambles #metoo/#wetoo shambles /#auntie cindyandthebluegang areperfect/#dowhatyouaretold we have now.

Originally Posted by mikee

I know, sadly I was born 100 years too late, if I had been I would have missed this constant rolling fucken shambles #metoo/#wetoo shambles /#auntie cindyandthebluegang areperfect/#dowhatyouaretold we have now.

the problem is that the americans used to refer to # as "pound" before it became "hash"
so #metoo is pound me too.

Originally Posted by muzza

guitar case.

Have you seen “The Jackal”?


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As a 16 year old in the 90's I used to bike down the road with gun on my back heading off to a local farm to shoot bunnies and never ever got a bad reaction and the same goes about 15-18 months ago walking along a gravel road with rifle while locals and tourists drove past after I came out from a farmers bottom paddock and was wanting to walk back up to the house.

A few years back I did a bit of hunting in "Austria" of driven boar and pheasant shoots. Quite often we would as a group... for pheasants there would be 15-25 guys with shotguns and dogs. We would have to walk from one side of the village to the other side to hunt on different fields.

Walking through the village we would bump into the locals, say hello and even stop for a brief chat. Not one person batted an eye lid as it was perfectly normal behavior... even saw a woman pushing a pram and she wasn't fazed one bit. At the end of the day it was off to the local pub to have the end of the hunt celebrations and a few drinks... just a few!

Even the driven boar hunts. 100 plus people show up, an array of firearms and again, no locals batted an eye lid.

In the states in Texas I was having dinner with a big group of people when talk got onto guns, everyone starts pulling out what they had from guys with 9mm's to 45's and women with revolvers and little .380's in their hand bags.

Besides me a local didn't have anything and everyone was like... WTF no gun!... they did have pepper spray!

Different countries, different cultures, different expectations and different reactions.

The best way to overcome people who have ill conceived perceptions of firearms or hunting is to talk to them, show them your friendly and not this crazed loony that the antis like to portray hunters/shooters as and even if they still disagree or turn nasty then you still walk away politely.

I have neighbours on either side of me who don't hunt or shoot, they know I'm a hunter and I've dropped off venison, sausages or salamis and even fish that we've caught. Sometimes its the little things that have the bigger and wider impact.

I remember seeing that youtube video made by "Toa Hunter Gatherer" a few years back where he dropped of wild meat to random elderly people. I can't find that video to link but what an amazing thing to do!

Im lucky to live in a small town where this sort of hysteria can still be laughed at

Originally Posted by Tentman

I've just recently been "out and about" in public areas with a couple of rifles, both in bags, from Wellington to Invercargill without a second glance from anybody. Generally I'd be wary of cities and the really popular walking tracks start/finish carparks etc.

I'd say "body language" has a lot to do with it, I can think of a guy who always walks like he's gonna kill something and I think he'd quickly be potted if he was seen walking with a gun bag (like the poor bugger in Chch some years ago who somehow got the full AO response when walking down the street with a firearm in a bag). A nod, eye contact and a smile solves a hell of a lot of problems.

If I was doing a lot of it I'd also invest in a rectangular gun bag that doesn't give away/advertise its contents.

A base guitar case is usually long enough, normal guitar case not, at least for a full length rifle.



Remember to attach Forest and Bird, gay pride rainbow stickers, etc.

Originally Posted by Cordite

A base guitar case is usually long enough, normal guitar case not, at least for a full length rifle. Remember to attach Forest and Bird, gay pride rainbow stickers, etc.

How very droll...........

A guitar case isn't practical as I'll be walking very long distances and covering all sorts of country.

Cheers for the insight, guys. I'll just throw the rifle in a scabbard - and perhaps leave it uncovered in rural areas.

If the rifle becomes a talking point, all the better. I love meeting new people, and spreading the shooting/hunting love.

As some of you have rightly pointed out, the most reliable way of soothing any negative sentiments pertaining to firearms/firearm use is to maintain a friendly and approachable persona, and be openly proud of what we stand for and the tools we use. Being sneaky and anxious about it won't do anything for our cause in the long run. At the end of the day, we're our own ambassadors and we should remain confident.

Originally Posted by Frodo

A guitar case isn't practical as I'll be walking very long distances and covering all sorts of country.

Cheers for the insight, guys. I'll just throw the rifle in a scabbard - and perhaps leave it uncovered in rural areas.

If the rifle becomes a talking point, all the better. I love meeting new people, and spreading the shooting/hunting love.

As some of you have rightly pointed out, the most reliable way of soothing any negative sentiments pertaining to firearms/firearm use is to maintain a friendly and approachable persona, and be openly proud of what we stand for and the tools we use. Being sneaky and anxious about it won't do anything for our cause in the long run. At the end of the day, we're our own ambassadors and we should remain confident.

@Frodo better pack a small mirror so you can sort yourself out once coming out of the bush
If you look like a complete vagrant you might be spreading that love from behind a few bars I hope they have good spuds in there so you feel right at home

Originally Posted by Sideshow

@Frodo better pack a small mirror so you can sort yourself out once coming out of the bush
If you look like a complete vagrant you might be spreading that love from behind a few bars I hope they have good spuds in there so you feel right at home

I'm definitely going to bring some deodorant and a clean change of clothes for whenever I come out lol. Only problem is my facial hair grows at an alarming rate, and it doesn't take long for me to look like a billy goat.

Lol, I'm never touching another spud in my life.

When I pass trampers/family's etc on a track with a rifle slung over my shoulder, I shouldn't have to be the first to say hello every time (although it seems I do) to invoke a calming affect and justify my being there. I have every right to be there doing what Im doing just as they are.
Sometimes I feel it is needed in order to prevent a panic attack by some track users and I don't like that I feel I need to do it for that reason.

I agree nobody should feel anxious carrying a rifle or being around them. A discrete solution I accidentally found some years ago when mountain biking into a hunting area was carrying my rifle in a "sack ups", which is basically a giant sock, I got it from Reloaders supplies. I had it mostly to keep mud from flicking onto the rifle from the bike but even other hunters were asking if I'd forgotten my rifle

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Originally Posted by Frodo

I'm definitely going to bring some deodorant and a clean change of clothes for whenever I come out lol. Only problem is my facial hair grows at an alarming rate, and it doesn't take long for me to look like a billy goat.

Lol, I'm never touching another spud in my life.

Just a note on deodorant. I’ve never been a fan of any deodorant with a scent ie the Linux stuff been using the “invisible dry” by dove it’s got no real scent as such. Give it a go. Keeps hut mates happy too @ Frodo you can also get it in small travel cans so lightens the load.