I'm an Albuquerque local who's into firearms but doesn't really fit the typical "gun culture" stereotype. Politically I lean left / progressive, and I've noticed there aren't many obvious spaces to connect with other gun owners who see things similarly.
Looking to maybe do a meet up is there is enough interest.
I think a lot of the reason there aren’t many obvious spaces is because while many liberals own guns and enjoy shooting, it really isn’t part of their identity.
Exactly, I grew up around them and was handling them as a child, but I’ll never going to be the open carry guy or the mounted rifle on the mantle person.
I just like to practice on the mesa and occasionally go to the range.
I think this about sums it up. I (32 m) have lived here my whole life, and basically everyone I know owns at least one firearm. I think there’s a silent understanding in this city that most people have a firearm, but unlike other parts of the country, people here don’t make it their entire identity. Moreover, I think anytime you get a bunch of people who are interested in firearms, even if they are left leaning and not politically extreme together, there are certain assumptions made about what those groups are planning/doing, so most people who are reasonable gun owners are quiet about it.
This. I have a couple for home defense and personal protection, but I'm trained with them and they sit in cases and one or two strategic locations in the house. But I don't kit them out like a gravy seal and I don't hoard them like some people I know and am related to. I also believe in the "well regulated" part of the 2a and think we fall so short of that it's laughable. We'll literally blame shootings on anything other than mental health and easy access to guns (like blaming video games). Laughable.
Same. Combat vet and former cop here. Although I own firearms and am highly proficient with them, they’re not my identity. There’s a handful of muppets where I work that are really into firearms; I generally don’t talk to them about firearms because they don’t seem like the types who should own them.
"gravy seal"; tasty bit of rhetoric! I will try to remember that one.
If you live in New Mexico, your political leanings aren’t as much of a factor as to whether or not you have guns. Red or blue, most New Mexicans like their guns.
NM Gun ownership is around 46% of the population. Texas for comparison is 36%.
Is this true? I don't doubt you, just curious about the source of the info.
I don't know if those numbers right or not, but any survey asking if someone owns a gun is going to be incorrect. A lot of people that own guns, including myself, are going to say no when some rando asks them if they own any guns.
Exactly
This but its crazy, Texans are crazy with their guns. Their 36 percent dwarfs numbers in terms of how many guns each of their 36 percent owns. Texas largely makes up the statistic that there are 1.5 guns for every 1. American (including children) haha. New Mexicans are way more moderate when it comes to this number as they might own one or two as opposed to a Texas gun owner owning 5 to 10.
Cleaning out my dad's place (in TX) and not only did he have 23 guns stashed around the house, he died with a pistol in his sweatpants pocket. Like dude wtf
Not only is that the most gangster thing ive heard, sell the 23 and let him stay in the grave with the one he had, he had it for a reason. We dont judge, we just let them rest.
I just ran the math: on my block there are 24 houses, if we assume an average occupancy of 3 and apply the 46% statistic (And let's just say that 46% only has one gun each)... if I play the role of quartermaster... we're going to come up 5 guns short.
Sorry kids, you gotta be 10 yrs old to get a gun. (That should leave me a main, a sidearm and a holdout) 🤗
However if I get into the workshop and get busy with some projects I haven't started and begin sifting through spare parts... the threshold will drop to the ability to wipe their own ass.
But please... don't make me move to Texas. 🙏
Came here to say that. This is a largely Democratic state but it is also a well armed one too, in part because of so many rural areas and also hunting is big time here.
Because for so many of us, we own guns as the ownership of guns was intended. We own them as tools. For hunting as a way of life. for personal protection in the home.
Exactly.
But the majority still vote to lose their right to own them.
No matter how many Democrats pose holding a 12ga in their campaign photos, they vote against gun rights every single time.
🙄 We've had several attempts to bring mainstream dem gun restrictions here and they always get shot down, so I don't know what you are talking about.
There's a decent size chunk of LGBTQ+ folks who also don't fit the typical gun culture crowd. My husband and me included. We decided to arm ourselves because of where we lived before we moved here in the Spring. We felt very unsafe so we took classes, armed ourselves and eventually took our concealed carry classes. You'll find there are more like-minded folks here than you ever imagined.
Had my wife's female coworker's wife ask me about gun ownership because we all had dinner and I was pretty open about exercising my right, and she asked what I'd recommend for home defense.
I went to Shotgun because most things will get hit by a bunch of pellets getting blasted out, but I was clear that this isn't like most other purchases. If you're gonna own it for that purpose, practice and training are important to ensure you don't hurt yourself or someone else in the vicinity. Taking a class is a good idea. All the gun safety stuff.
Where did you live?
Would you be interested if I setup some sort of meet up?
Yeah, if you don’t mind OP as a fellow liberal gun owner myself, I can attest knowing others like myself we don’t bond over guns. It’s just something we own, occasionally take to the range, but don’t rally behind. It’s just an unspoken subculture and sure if you find friends by all means hunt, shoot, defend in the unfortunate scenario. You’re not going to see the blatant out and out show of pride about it. I feel others echo this in other comments.
NC and yes, I would.
Where is NC did you feel that unsafe? Well outside of the triangle?
In the mountains.
Don’t you remember their “whole bathroom thing” from a not too many years ago? They seemed to be the first state to codify trans hate.
That is true, but it is also gerrymandered to the point that the population votes a majority democrat, but the state legislature is like 80% republican. The local government is infuriating, but the day-to-day in most of the state is quite welcoming/inclusive.
A democrat hasn’t won the popular vote there since `08 obama.
The governor is literally a democrat. Who won the popular vote.
Yes, that is how governors win elections.
Out of curiosity, why do you have so much skin on the line in this? Did you go to one of the big schools there?
You didn't specify the presidential election .-. Democrats have won the popular vote in NC multiple times recently.
I grew up and my family lives in NC. I moved around a bunch as a kid in the state and got to experience both the rural shitholes and the much better towns as an openly bi kid. NC is not the kind of place where you would flee the state because you feel unsafe. Like NM, yes, get out of dying rural towns because you will run into bigots, but even Charlotte is becoming a better place to live for the LGBTQ community.
I have lived in ABQ for 10 years now, travel the state for my job, and consider this place my home, but it doesn't mean I also can't defend somewhere I lived in my past.
I’ve learned that A LOT of the people who go to the local ranges are liberal/left leaning.
Just speak up
Hey friend, shoot me a PM and I can introduce you to a group of like minded comrades. We have monthly range days where everyone is welcome
You mind if I tag along too?
The more the merrier
Can I come too?? I met my husband through the hobby in a very liberal city, on reddit of all places and have had great times meeting awesome folks (and like 3 weirdos) through meetups!
Going to DM you as well!
Awesome. Where do you guys usually meet?
Shoot me a PM, not something we put out there publicly
I have plenty of firearms, but definitely not a “gun guy”.
I shoot and compete at Legacy Ranch out in Edgewood. Based on some patches and stickers on my gear and gun case, and conversations I’ve had with staff and participants, my politics are pretty obvious. However, we don’t talk politics because we’re there to shoot and have fun. I won’t speak for everyone, but I have yet to encounter anyone there that made me uncomfortable or seemed dangerous or bigoted. They’ll be more excited that you actually showed up to shoot more than anything.
Most people you might consider dangerous or a threat or just nasty typically don’t actually shoot anyway. Their poverty-spec ARs sit in the safe all year and only ever see the benches at the city range maybe once or twice a year. They’re all bark and no bite.
I 100% agree with you. I’m not at the range to talk politics I’m here to train with my weapons, I recently moved to Edgewood and would love to be more a part of the community. I love the shooting range and want to get to get to know more people who want to better themselves and train.
r/LiberalGunOwners
r/LiberalMindedGunOwnersLookingForLikewiseLiberalMindedGunOwnersInAlbuquerque
Yes
Also, depends on where you live. If you are rural, you almost definitely own guns.
Hey. Grew up in ABQ. Moving back after 30 years in Seattle in the next year and a half, hopefully. Would love to meet up when I do. And as someone else pointed out, r/liberalgunowners is a good start. You are not alone.
Nice try, Director Patel.
Check out r/LiberalGunOwners
I’m mainly libertarian leaning, but I can’t stand MAGA and its cult of personality which has infested too much of mainstream gun culture (also my anti Cop views puts me at odds with them too)
If you go far enough left, you get your guns back. Just ask the Black Panthers
Most liberal gun owners don’t need to wear it on the sleeves (literally) like micro penile right wingers. So we don’t really need to show off. Bit we do shoot together sometimes.
A while back I was working an event, and the owner of workhorse armory came and spoke with me about his business. From what he described, it's like a gun shop and cafe. But he was sure to stress that it's "Not a right-wing space". I'm pretty visibly queer, so him going out of his way to approach me and mention this could be an indicator for his leaning.
It may be a goo place to look
small place, but concur with this assessment.
Or, hear me out, hang out in the conservative spaces and show them guns aren't just a conservative interest and they, too, can be liberal without losing their guns
Heard
Hit me up. I’m a Bernie Bruh that got into guns during covid. Just moved here from Austin
I am a liberal gun owner. As most have stated I don't identify with it but I hunt and like shooting for fun.
Me
commenting cuz i wanna know too
I want to buy one of those easy to access guns
On one hand I despise the current gun culture in America however I am guilty of ownership of a small gun collection. (9 to be exact) But it is a small collection (they are all derringers).
There’s a whole lot of us. Check out r/liberalgunowners
Liberal/Libertarian; 25 years military and LEO.
We exist. Very few of us.
You get to hear humans say the most horrific things about each other in these careers.
Remember, the further left you go, you get your guns back. But yes, the places you hang out as a gun enthusiast, are still right wing.
Why does someone’s political affiliation affect connecting with other gun enthusiasts?
I worked for a local store for ~9 years, mostly during Obama then a bit under Trump's presidency.
Firearms tend to attract very vocal conservative people. It may be an age thing (Boomers tended to be the most vocal). I'm liberal leaning myself and I couldn't count the number of times I just had to just smile and nod while someone was going off about the "damn limberals ruining this country". These people turn EVERYTHING political, and it is always the other side who is at fault.
As a side, the number of "Things would have been different if I were there" people that came in just after a major incident (Sandy Hook, Aurora, etc.) is extremely frustrating and they were all conservative.
At the end of the day, people tend to organize themselves into tribes and OP probably just doesn't want to deal with arguments.
I suppose I just don’t care enough about the political opinions of others enough to let it bother me when coming together for a hobby.
I am one of these peeps
Your political views shouldn’t deter you from practicing and knowing your weapons. I’d consider myself someone who’s in the center of political stuff but I think everyone should exercise their rights to the full extent and part of that belief is everyone (who is responsible) should own and carry a gun for self protection. The streets are crazy and I just want to protect myself and my family. Not all of us are here “hoping someone breaks in” that’s my worst fear but I think if push comes to shove I will do what I have to do. Not all maybe more right leaning people are extreme. I don’t own weapons to hurt I own them to protect what I love.
Same. Went to Caliber's thinking to try a couple of rentals and they have that extremely gross "biological sex" question on their release form. Fuck off with that transphobic (and plain irrelevant) shit. Walked out.
I'm with many other commenters - I have guns and such but I also have other things like kitchen appliances and yard tools. I don't identify enough with any of these things to want to spend time with others talking about them, really.
If youre American you fit the culture, it has been the second amendment for as long as I can remember.
I have shot at many USPSA matches around the country, including ABQ, and politics is not a part of the day. It is just enjoying some shooting and competition. I don't think you need to be concerned about cultures. If you want to discuss politics while shooting, I'm out. 😁
it kind of is important, i certainly dont want to shoot guns alongside racists, pedophiles, bigots or fascists.
only the privileged can ignore politics
This is (mostly) anecdotal but those people generally don’t tend to shoot very much. Maybe a bench day once or twice a year, but never in any competitive environment with any frequency. They’re all bark and no bite and half the time don’t even have their optics zeroed.
yeah, i'd believe it. i can't imagine most of them are practicing regularly, but to add my own anecdotal evidence, i've seen a few ads and like FB pages from the east US encouraging right-wing people to practice with their guns, and salivating at the idea of killing us
im hopeful that it's a small group, i haven't seen much about it, but the fact that they exist really scares me. it feels like i've gotta train and practice or else, y'know?
Lol trust me, anyone becoming inspired to train via Facebook ads still isn’t going to be training either.
My litmus test for whether someone is actually going to train and take it seriously is what inspired them to begin with. If it’s anything political, the chances of them making it past 3 range days are near-zero.
Besides, training only works if you properly train. Their idea of training is usually not efficient nor practical, and they gain nothing from it.
Me neither. Those things are not politics.
they are politically topical, especially nowadays. our president is a pedophile, he's unleashed ICE which is an organization disappearing people based on race, and we've also seen a LOT of political officials try to dismiss/outright condemn trans and queer people. I mean fuck, we recently had the supreme court review the case that allowed legal gay marriage, and if they had overturned that? i wouldn't be allowed to fall in love in the eyes of the state
so, i would argue that those things are political
Well, arguably fascism is. I agree about the other three.
I just don’t talk politics while shooting seems to work fine have no clue how these guys feel about anything because I don’t ask or entertain it frankly I don’t care about shit while I shoot besides shooting.
But that’s not what this person wants to do. They’re asking if there’s a group of people they can engage with who aren’t trash. Your habit of not engaging with anyone isn’t within the scope of the question. It’s like if they asked for good Thai restaurants and you let us know you personally like Italian food.
Just go to competitions and make friends. Ive never seen anyone talk about politics while shooting other than people who are very clearly on the extreme right or left, and they just get made fun of.
I lived in the heart of 2 of the US's largest cities (31 years total); took public transportation, had a business on one transitional neighborhood; never owned or felt I needed a gun.
It’s not our entire identity…
The fbi making lists. Oh of course ur all answering wtf guys
Seriously I don't understand this rhetoric. The feds already know who you are, they don't need to make a list off of reddit
My guns are registered and I had to have a federal level background check for my concealed carry permit. They already know who I am.