Antigun think tanks and politicians push narratives that private citizens don’t “need” firearms for self-defense…so they shouldn’t have them. That narrative has fallen apart over the past two years of rampant rioting and civil unrest as the same groups called for the defunding of police.
Now the same antigun collectives are pushing a new narrative to dehumanize new gun owners with the tactic of shaming Americans into not exercising their Second Amendment. New gun owners have their own thoughts.
New Antigun ‘Science’
Researchers from Rutgers University, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, saw the historic surge of firearm sales over the past two years and had to do something. They slapped together a behavioral study on 2020 – 2021 first-time gun buyers.
“What we’re showing is that these people who are purchasing firearms during the 2020 surge are different from typical firearm owners,” wrote Taylor Rodriguez, one of the study’s authors. “There’s something unique about this group of people.”
According to Rodriguez and her colleagues at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (NJGVRC), the Rutgers study showed that millions of first-time gun owners from last year and the first half of this year were reported to have the most “disinhibition” and thus be more sensitive to perceived threats and have less control over their emotions and impulses.
Rodriguez is also a partial member of the NJGVRC, a state taxpayer-funded group affiliated with Rutgers that routinely vilifies gun ownership. In a blog post about her “findings,” Rodriguez had more to say about America’s new first-time gun owners. “People who are sensitive to threats such as these and who have difficulties with impulse control are buying firearms at a greater rate during this unprecedented time.”
‘Threats Such as These’
Record numbers of law-abiding citizens witnessed rising crime rates over the last 18 months. NSSFestimated that there were 8.4 million first-time gun owners in 2020 and an additional 3.2 million in the first half of 2021. Gun ownership also grew more diverse.
A retailer survey by NSSF in 2020 showed African American gun buyers increased by over 58 percent in 2020 over 2019, Hispanic-American gun buyers increased by over 49 percent in the same time and Asian-American gun buyers also increased nearly 43 percent.
The Rutgers report doesn’t address these safety concerns. Instead, researchers feign ignorance and focused on broad-stroke, biased and arbitrary psychological analysis designed to demonize lawful firearm owners.
Training & Education
Gun buyers are bucking Rutgers’ “impulsive” and “undisciplined” stereotypes. Ranges and classes have been filled across the nation.
First-time buyer Nay Gargano of Tampa, described the first time she squeezed her new firearm’s trigger. “The first shot, it felt like so much power. I finished firing the rest, and the instructor was just like, ‘You’re a natural at this.’” She added, “It’s not just for protection. I go to the range, and that’s one of my stress reliefs.”
Gargano’s not alone by any measure. Geneva Solomon, owner of Redstone Firearms, described the scene at her store as new first-time buyers flocked to safety and training courses. “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in the class options we offer,” Solomon said. “Before they would never sell out. Now they sell out two days after we post them.”
Rogers Anderson of the Bay Area chapter of Black Gun Owners Association leads training and safety courses at local shooting ranges and described why first-timers were flocking to his group. “June 2020 – when the riots were hitting different cities – my students increased.”
That was the same experience for Robin Lewis, who opted for firearm training. “I didn’t know shooting could be a hobby, but it’s all about learning. The less you know the more you fear it,” she said.
Rutgers researchers would be better off concentrating on ways to support new gun owners instead of vilifying them. NSSF does this through safety initiatives like Project ChildSafe and a number of suicide prevention tools.
Education is paramount for all firearm owners and new Second Amendment participants alike. It’s far more productive and beneficial to promote safe firearm ownership nationwide than to label and finger point from an ivory tower.
I guess you can’t win. If you’re an old fat white guy, then if you buy a gun you’re a racist homophone militia member – who shouldn’t have a gun. But if you’re a non-woke Millennial who recognizes that you are your own best defense, you are now “impulsive” and shouldn’t buy a gun, either.
The alternative answer is something like, “Let’s Go, Rutgers”
“What we’re showing is that these people who are purchasing firearms during the 2020 surge are different from typical firearm owners,”
– When did they gather psych information about “typical firearm owners”?
– Interesting that Rutgers never revealed the “study” used as the baseline comparison between then, and now.
“Gun ownership also grew more diverse.”
– This is what frightened Ruggers most.
Of course they’re different: they bought their guns AFTER leftist politicians goaded their constituents into burning down America’s cities.
“Ordinary” gun owners bought their guns beforehand, probably to, like, shoot at paper or something.
When I read “impulsive” I thought it was more they bought their first gun and then in a short period bough another five or six.
I’ve been impulsive since I bought my first gun in 1982 after I received my first reenlistment bonus.
Well most of the new buyers are female so ………
Well personally I think any individual who feels comfortable owning and using a firearm should do so. I don’t think someone who is uncomfortable or doesn’t think they could use it for self-defense should own one unless they simply want to target shoot or hunt with them. The bottom line with having a firearm for self-defense is if you don’t think you can use it in that situation you are a danger to yourself because a perpetrator may take it from you and use it on you or just call your bluff. I also think that those who have them should not be afraid to use them whenever you think your civil rights are being violated by anyone civilian, law enforcement or military. The reason we have laws are to protect all members of society not just criminals, law enforcement or military all of whom have in the past violated people’s civil rights and broken the law themselves. You simply have to make the decision ahead of time if you are willing to pay the consequences, if any, of doing so. You must decide if you prefer to be Free or Subjugated.
being subjugated involves a steady food supply ….
“People who are sensitive to threats such as these and who have difficulties with impulse control are buying firearms at a greater rate … African American gun buyers increased by over 58 percent in 2020 over 2019, Hispanic-American gun buyers increased by over 49 percent in the same time”
(nods) sounds about right.
“(nods) sounds about right.”
It would, to a racist like yourself. It’s called “confirmation bias”, look it up…
It’s also Rodriguez’ conclusion, so can she be racist, too?
Yes. Yes she can. There is no left any more. The movement was bought out by corporate billionaires and the folks that think they are leftist are actually serving fascism.
Just stopping by to remind everyone that Geoff is a loser.
*Yawn*.
Really, little boy, you’re gonna have to to better than that… 😉
Geoff is correct, rant7 is a known racist through out the interwebs.
the “study” (rant” does nt rovide any supporting data to establish their wild claims about the cnaracter or perwonality of the newgun buyers. I call foul.. this stuff is made up out of the smoke left in the air after whatever she was smoking. A paid shill bloviting thoughtlessly and being paid overwell for it. A “write to order” piece.
I will go with the comments by the store owners, range teams, etc, about the huge numbers of folks signing up tolearn abut their new possessions how to use them safely and effectively. THIS is what is needed. The militia, to be effective, must be “well regulated” that is trained, equipped, versed in the many aspects of using their tools properly.
“What we’re showing is that these people who are purchasing firearms during the 2020 surge are different from typical firearm owners,” wrote Taylor Rodriguez, one of the study’s authors. “There’s something unique about this group of people.”
Yeah, Rodriguez, they’ve looked around and seen that ordinary citizens have been abandoned by their own government in favor of coddling a violent underclass. People have gotten that great big middle finger their “representatives” have sent them. The word from government is: “You’re on your own.”
Screw all these anti gun zealots.
Hows the skateboard sales doing?
fine, there’s been an uptick in skateboard sales to BLM supporters. More BLM supporters than ever before are buying skateboards. A historic surge of skateboard sales to BLM supporters over the last month. More BLM supporters are saying they will be using their skateboards during their peaceful marches for activities such as ‘smash n grab’, ‘dumpster fire tango’, ‘run n whack’, ‘turnaovadcar’, the classic popular game ‘beat a bro’, and some magic tricks like the ever popular ‘disappearing window glass’.
Researchers from Rutgers University did a study of new BLM skateboard owners, the result was that new BLM skateboard owners are “impulsive” and “undisciplined” and not too smart.
“hit that guy with your skateboard and take his rifle.” -darwin
Sounds Iike a group of citizens that thugs shouldn’t “thug” with. Or they might be a ded muthathugger.
Why should it matter to me if someone else is an ‘impulsive’ buyer…of anything?
Now as to Rutgers:
Democrats and any other politician are not kings and this is not a monarchy therefore they shouldn’t be treated as such by any citizen of this great nation.
Went shooting 2 day’s ago at Point Blank,Merrilleville,IN. Fairly crowded with a lot of “new shooter” types. Black & white. It ain’t a surprise with the scamdemic & extreme violence nearby…Rutgers be damned.
This “research” is as bogus as a three dollar bill. How do they come up with their conclusions? Did they interview anyone who was a first time buyer of a firearm? Doubtful at best.
This New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center is also a fraud. They don’t do any research. They pontificate.
I might not agree with her gun politics but I’d sure like to Taylor her Rodriguez if you know what I mean….
I like her puppies.
whenever i type a certain word my phone suggests “puppy.”
New, first time gun buyers are more impulsive? Or perhaps are just now realizing the truth behind the old line of how when seconds count, Police are minutes away. Or understanding the fact that government has no reason or responsibiblity to protect you from anything as an individual. As well as they have seen the cops stand down and allow the mostly peaceful protests turn into full on riots with no intervention.
So, I would say many of the first time gun buyers are impulsive. There is a huge impulse in the human mind to preserve their own lives. Usually called the survival instinct.
As I have said before, every healthy and law-abiding American should buy as many guns and as much ammunition as he or she can afford and safely store.
We’re all first time gun-buyers at some point. Guns are the gate-way drug to conservatism. They know it, and that’s what upsets them.
I’ll bet that most of the purchases Rutgers thought were “impulsive” were a combination of what was available, what they could afford, and what had any ammunition available.
Wife and I fit that category by misfortune of timing. We applied around the fall of 2019 and were given our restricted license (basic rights most other states have if not constitutional carry) a few months into the lockdown. We had choices including Smith and Wesson (no revolvers) Ruger (same) H&K (great selection oddly) Taurus (everything but g3c) and HiPoints. We may have been a bit impulsive but have expanded since.
“I’ll bet that most of the purchases Rutgers thought were “impulsive” were a combination of what was available, what they could afford, and what had any ammunition available.”
Being “impulsive” fits the narrative that the campecinos/proletariat/incompetent classes, who need full-time government keepers, are seduced by guns into making unthinking decisions; the prudent people know how to reason through the rising crime numbers and realize guns, not criminals are the problem.
Same story. Different day. They’re looking down on people different from themselves.
I had to stop buying handguns and ammo when my storage system was too full to hold anymore revolvers, semiautomatic pistols and ammunition
Favorite semiautomatic pistol is a Ruger SR 22lr,
It’s just a really fun handgun to fire.
I’m scary accurate with it and some doctors hate that round due to tendency to tumble around
I have more powerful rounds but just not as fun to fire
Really good for recoil adverse shooters
Rutgers also found that long time gun owners were older than first time impulsive buyers… there was no explaination from the researchers.
“Rodriguez is also a partial member of the NJGVRC, a state taxpayer-funded group affiliated with Rutgers that routinely vilifies gun ownership.” As opposed to an “impartial member?”
I’m doing my best to keep that trend line flat…
I was impulsive when i started buying guns 20 years ago, and i’m impulsive now.
Fortunately, i’m only impulsive about buying guns. everything else is fairly calculated.
For instance, I impulsively bought a keltec ks7 and a tristar 12ga bullpup this month… and i impulsively bought a walther 9mm in november. and a different walther 9mm in october…
I can’t help it when people keep offering me good deals
I bought a Ruger 10/22 and Remington 870 in 2004. Then my best friend gave me a Glock 19 as a wedding present.
Since then….well….at least half my gums have been impulse purchases. The “oh…sale? I’ll take 2…” I am finally actually thinning things out. I don’t NEED double digit AR lowers for a family of 3. That being said I haven’t bought a gun since the freak out because prices suppress my impulse.
I have seen my LGS offer more training classes, and when they never filled before you know need to reserve weeks ahead. I see lots of new people coming in, asking a lot of newb AND good questions and I see the staff selling not just a firearm, but also range memberships, training and safety accessories. These are not spur of moment purchases.
I make sure to welcome anyone at the range or store so they know the bullshit stereotype that the press pushes is wrong. Gun owners are everyone, not white supremacists only. Same as my gym (old school rusty, dusty iron gym), welcome the newbs, teach them, but DON’T be condescending….
I want to see responsible, safe gun owners creating mutually respectful polite society.
“First time buyers” are more impulsive with:
Cars
Knives
hammers
or even the opposing sex.
“Impulsive” is the key word, this isn’t rocket surgery.
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