this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2026
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Several niche, left-leaning gun advocacy groups said that since the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, they can hardly keep up with the surging demand for firearms training.

With Donald Trump sending armed federal agents into communities around the country, even more once gun-shy liberals and leftists are considering getting armed.

And while Americans tend to think of gun owners as leaning more Republican and male, already more women, gay people and people of color have taken up arms in recent years, particularly after 2020.

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[–] daannii@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I think I'm going to ask my grandpa to teach me about guns and how to shoot. He's on a farm and has a gun for protecting his chickens.

Lucky for me, my grandpa hates Trump. He's always been democratic. So I think he will understand why I'm asking.

I'll probably get a rifle. Maybe if grandpa has an extra I'll just borrow it. Practice at a local range.

I feel like this is a skill I need now. Never thought I would unless I got my own farm and chickens.

Owning a gun isn't good enough on its own tho. I need to know how to use it. And how to be accurate with it. How to maintenance it.

But part of me is like. ... If I ask grandpa to teach me. I'm admitting something about this country and myself that I don't want to admit.

  1. That I need to protect myself/others because bad armed people are coming for us. -Thats terrifying

  2. That I am preparing to kill someone if need be. -equally terrifying.

There is a responsibility here that I'm not sure I'm ready to take on. But it's better to be prepared than not to be prepared.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago

I’m admitting something about this country and myself that I don’t want to admit.

Don't feel bad, a lot of us have been down this road. I've done it several times.

We never stop learning difficult truths about the world around us.

I think the day you stop having these shifts in your attitude is the day you've finally stopped caring enough to actually self-examine, so it means you're still alive and conscious if nothing else.

I hope if nothing else, you and your grandfather make memories together. We don't always get to choose how and what kind of bonding memories we make with family, but take what you can when you can. It will be over soon enough.

[–] Seleni@lemmy.world 9 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

They are terrifying things to admit to yourself. Hold on to that feeling, but train anyways. Because those thoughts will keep you from becoming like those republicans who gleefully wave their guns around and talk about shooting all the people they don’t like. And the training means you can protect yourself and others.

Guns are a tool that kills things, and so you never pick one up unless you intend to kill. But sometimes, regrettably, you have to.

[–] btsax@reddthat.com 4 points 14 hours ago

and so you never pick one up unless you intend to kill.

This is a bit overdramatic as many gun owners have only ever shot at targets on ranges

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl -4 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Using a gun to protect chickens is about as dumb as using a gun on peaceful protestors.

[–] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 1 points 6 hours ago

You know what they mean by it. Firearms are useful tools on farms.

[–] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

Sure, I'll just let the foxes eat them. Any other hot tips from the guy who definitely owns chickens!?