Guns & Cigars: Two Industries Intertwined

[Markspring1978]

As an active competitive shooter, and an avid CC lover, I do find myself in similar situations in defending both hobbies. That’s where some of the points in the article ring true. I’m constantly defending firearms and trying to articulate facts that are counter to a political narrative. Same with cigars. I love it when people start coughing and give me the evil eye, as if I am releasing sarin gas in their presence and literally shaving minutes off their lives when they smell cigar smoke. The societal challenge we seem to face today in a social media driven, 24 hour sound bite culture, is that most people are too galvanized in their opinions to even consider that an opinion opposed to their own, might be reasonable. It just requires thoughtfully listening for a moment.

And yes, I’m guilty as charged.  

[BoliDan]

They banned smoking indoors a long while ago, here in Colorado. but B&Ms were exempt. They are now talking about removing that exemption. The bill is by two Democrats and two Republicans, so both parties are sticking it to small business and voting for one party or another seems worthless. I went to the town hall with my B&M guys, and the legislators ignored all we had to say,  didn't even respond about people with children losing thier livelihood. It's getting bad. I dont expect oz/EU taxes, but am fearing the bans.

[luckme10]

In California, both gun and cigar groups feel heavily marginalized. I have a condo. I can not smoke inside or within 25 feet of my own residence per city laws. There are no designated smoking areas provided by our complex, indoor or outdoor, yet there are plenty of none smoking signs everywhere around the premises. Smokers would be left to walk out to the sidewalks to smoke, only to find newly placed no smoking signs out there as well. Currently, the only nearby place that it is legal to smoke is on the sidewalk a 5 blocks down in front on other people's houses, for now.  If they actually made policy that they would mandate smoking areas every x feet, I really wouldn't mind, but it can be pretty frustrating when you legally have to walk 5 blocks down just to enjoy a smoke. With the rate it's going, I suspect smoking will only be permitted in designated tobacco shops.

Likewise California has this thing called the hand gun roster. Basically any gun that hasn't been grandfathered as of 2001 will not be available to purchase in California unless that gun has the ability to uniquely micro stamp their bullets, a technology that is arguably not even possible yet for manufacturers. As manufacturers change their models or don't pay the reapplication process fees, their handguns drop off the list. Every year we seem to lose a hundred or so guns. Hence there are really no more new handguns in California. To be honest, I really can't understand how the state can pass such an act. Though, it is what it is.

Sadly since there seems to be a seemingly restricting pattern for policy makers to enact laws that forbid and stop usage of some of these activities, it makes it more and more difficult for people who are trying to follow the law. In an ideal world, Gun policy would be made by gun users, and smoker policy would be made by smokers. Instead it seems to be made by the people whose ultimate goal is to outright ban their uses.

 

Rule 8 No Discussion of Guns

There is to be no open discussion or inflammatory imagery/ commentary of firearms. Such topics have invariably led to unwanted US political discourse.*

Posting a stand alone photo of a bison on the bonnet of a dodge is inflammatory imagery

Posting a thread stating that they are going to an pro or anti-gun rally is  inflammatory  commentary

Let your benchmark always be "does this post Enhance the FOH Community" and you won't go wrong.

* if there is an article written about Guns and Cigars then Rob is entitled to post it without inane complaints from the professional whingers on the subject.  

 

LOL, this is why I love this place.

[bpm32]

You know, somehow it doesn’t surprise me that the SEALs smoked Gurkhas after shooting Osama bin Laden.

 

[Colt45]

Interesting for me as I've never really considered a connection between the two. From a sport / activity standpoint, I'd consider golf to have a greater connection - at least on the surface. But I think the article is touching on a kind of deeper connection / mindset.

[PigFish]

Viewing this a bit more philosophically, there are rituals that surround the 'rites of manhood.' Simmer down snowflakes... this is not a misogynistic piece!

Think of smoking a cigar at a wedding, or at a child birth, with your dad at a certain age, or with other soldiers in the barracks. Firearms, often integrated with hunting, are often viewed the same way. To some males, smoking, shooting, hunting, sports and even drinking represent these traditional behaviors. And while not exclusively male, they are still considered by some, rites of manhood.

-Piggy

[Puros Y Vino]

It was an OK article. I think the chances of linking the two by asking questions at gun shows or cigar events isn't too far fetched.  If the author had picked a neutral event, like a Comic Con, etc.  There'd be very little to suggest they are linked.  With that said, I do see one similarity.  Both hobbies have staunch opponents and both have lobby groups; thought the gun one definitely has more momentum, mind share and strength.  I always felt that cigar lovers could benefit from an NRA type group for cigars. And Cigar Rights of America fills that void.  There's a Euro centric one now too.  Not any in Canada though; as even advertising a cigar rights group would be against the law.   

[bwgan]

 

 

 

In California, both gun and cigar groups feel heavily marginalized. I have a condo. I can not smoke inside or within 25 feet of my own residence per city laws.

 

 

You can't smoke in your own house???????? The place you own???????

 

Good God

 

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

[Bucky McSwensen]

HOAs are the worst

 

[bpm32]

33 minutes ago, FatherOfPugs said:

I think you sum it up perfectly. The first shooting I did with my dad, my first hunt with my dad and uncles, my first cigar, yep, good ole dad gave me one, first time having a beer, throwing a football, throwing a baseball, the list could go on. All of which I hope to be able to do with my son someday. Those are great memories I will have forever. Almost every guy at the range, smokes cigars. I definitely see how the two are tied together. 

Yeah, I think people who didn't grow up with these sorts of things might not see how we could view them as entirely positive and wholesome. All of my childhood memories or impressions of smoking (in my dad's case a meerschaum pipe) or firearms have been happy.

[cmbarton]

If the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ever adds barbecue to its oversight authority, it will confirm that it’s not so much a governmental agency as it is a personal attack on me.

Add football and they’ve got a straight flush of all my vices.

[Nino]

Quote

... to one friend pointing out that ”smoking a cigar and shooting guns are both Zen-like experiences."

I fully agree with that sentence from the article.

Stopped going to a range here many moons ago but still consider recreational shooting a feat of concentration and discipline that ends in relaxation.

Similar to smoking a good cigar imho.

 

[hodgegoblin]

Okay, I'm with you fellas!

[The Squiggler]

"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is equally hard on the "Alcohol" and the “Tobacco” part of its name as well as the "Firearms" part."

Some of the solidarity among cigar smokers and gun lovers must surely come from the oppositional organization that lumps these hobbies together.  If there were a 'Bureau of Fast Driving and Cliff Diving" to collectively regulate and politically manage racing and extreme sports, it would probably create some solidarity between those two groups as well... not that the cliff divers would necessarily start racing or vice versa

[Chibearsv]

On 5/27/2019 at 10:45 PM, Markspring1978 said:

As an active competitive shooter, and an avid CC lover, I do find myself in similar situations in defending both hobbies. That’s where some of the points in the article ring true. I’m constantly defending firearms and trying to articulate facts that are counter to a political narrative. Same with cigars. I love it when people start coughing and give me the evil eye, as if I am releasing sarin gas in their presence and literally shaving minutes off their lives when they smell cigar smoke. The societal challenge we seem to face today in a social media driven, 24 hour sound bite culture, is that most people are too galvanized in their opinions to even consider that an opinion opposed to their own, might be reasonable. It just requires thoughtfully listening for a moment.

And yes, I’m guilty as charged.  

You’re right on. I read an article in the paper here showing people gathered to protest a local church that opened for services yesterday that was following proper Covid precautions.  I’ll repeat the part about “gathering” to protest. I just don’t understand the mentality of protesting an activity that causes you no harm that you have no desire to ever participate in. 

[hodgegoblin]

@cmbarton
As long as there aren't any flavor explosions your BBQ is still outside their jurisdiction.

[cmbarton]

Just now, hodgegoblin said:

@cmbarton
As long as there aren't any flavor explosions your BBQ is still outside their jurisdiction.

Yes ... but what about my “License to Grill?” 

[DaBoot]

I was wondering why he was in a hurry to get to the ghurka booth?? Was it to collect his check for mentioning him in the article ?