Thread: Public perception of rifles

I can say I run into a lot more hunters with visible rifles here than I ever did in Canada, and that's a good thing - well worth NOT hiding what you're doing, just to make sure it remains normal and accepted. It goes a long way towards eroding fear of the unknown to just see people out on the tracks with a rifle over the shoulder - something that Canada has sadly lost (though I have noticed more than a few suspiciously long backpacks with familiar shapes poking through the fabric on Canadian trails).

Yeah, people may look at you oddly or go quiet, but when you fail to grow horns and turn into the devil in front of them they end up starting to wonder what the big deal is. Saying hi as you go past and asking how the track is ahead completely messes with their worldview.

Originally Posted by canross

I can say I run into a lot more hunters with visible rifles here than I ever did in Canada, and that's a good thing - well worth NOT hiding what you're doing, just to make sure it remains normal and accepted. It goes a long way towards eroding fear of the unknown to just see people out on the tracks with a rifle over the shoulder - something that Canada has sadly lost (though I have noticed more than a few suspiciously long backpacks with familiar shapes poking through the fabric on Canadian trails).

Yeah, people may look at you oddly or go quiet, but when you fail to grow horns and turn into the devil in front of them they end up starting to wonder what the big deal is. Saying hi as you go past and asking how the track is ahead completely messes with their worldview.

Well said, @canross.

Anti gun mania seems to be hitting most 1st world countries now. When I grew up we had kids bringing 22LR rifles to class for show and tell, the teacher once even let us have a few shots down the back waiting for the bus.