I've been called a gun fanatic, I explain that I'm just well educated; if they understand that great, if they don't, well I'm a big boy and I've got a thick skin. Everybody has their own interests, and for the most part I am very willing to accept that. But I do caution you, you are a teenager, the context in which you display your interests may raise concern with those who's lack of context, understanding or misperception of intent or context; could very rapidly make life very difficult for you do to being at what is considered an impressionable and volatile age. Monitor your own behaviors and make sure that it's not other behaviors that also trigger such responses. I hear so often from others the "oh the line at the grocery store is so long I'm gonna shoot myself" and such flippant hyperbolic comments, not only have the ability to carry serious consequences, but there is a certain development to the understanding the weight of those words for those that understand the power and access to the means. Awareness of such word selection and tempered demeanor are something that developed with age exposure and practice of carrying a firearm at all time. Consequences and responsibilities so immense, that many have a hard time grasping and understanding; that to reach a point of comfort with them is hard for some to understand let alone reach; and it is my personal belief that there are people out there who fear that, and in turn the people who have reached that point of acceptance of responsibility, consequence and totality of actions.
When it comes to people that I interact with under any regularity there are those who I will discuss firearms with, and that list is fairly short; and are all people who I know how they will respond before the issue is raised. I have no problem if a stranger sees me OCing in town, I will not however bring up firearms with friends, co-workers, professors, family members who I know oppose them, nor do I make any efforts to force my position onto them, however if they raise the issue I am well educated and polite. A pragmatic and factual approach has helped me open the eyes of several individuals, to look at and consider the events of the world surrounding them, to at least open their minds to it being a matter of individual choice (from the no guns= no gun violence stance). Discretion can be your friend, and save you frustration and trouble. It is not up to me to make the world think exactly as I do (it would likely be boring anyways).
I have also found it very important to make the abstract talk of firearms very logical and factual, not emotional, not personal; in normal discussion this helps portray a very rational position, so that if someone does choose to press the issue with me they are at "guns scare me" long before I've exhausted a fraction of statistics relating to crime, gun use, and gun control. To be called a gun nut, gun fanatic, etc and be the most level headed person in the room can do wonders to dispel the claims made against responsible citizens and enthusiasts. Keeping things logical and not personal also helps me separate the attack on the image portrayed to them from an attack on myself as an individual; this prevents me from getting mad, angry, offended and a whole long list of adjectives, so even when I am around many individuals that do not share my points of view, I am not in a world that hates me.
When it comes to people that I interact with under any regularity there are those who I will discuss firearms with, and that list is fairly short; and are all people who I know how they will respond before the issue is raised. I have no problem if a stranger sees me OCing in town, I will not however bring up firearms with friends, co-workers, professors, family members who I know oppose them, nor do I make any efforts to force my position onto them, however if they raise the issue I am well educated and polite. A pragmatic and factual approach has helped me open the eyes of several individuals, to look at and consider the events of the world surrounding them, to at least open their minds to it being a matter of individual choice (from the no guns= no gun violence stance). Discretion can be your friend, and save you frustration and trouble. It is not up to me to make the world think exactly as I do (it would likely be boring anyways).
I have also found it very important to make the abstract talk of firearms very logical and factual, not emotional, not personal; in normal discussion this helps portray a very rational position, so that if someone does choose to press the issue with me they are at "guns scare me" long before I've exhausted a fraction of statistics relating to crime, gun use, and gun control. To be called a gun nut, gun fanatic, etc and be the most level headed person in the room can do wonders to dispel the claims made against responsible citizens and enthusiasts. Keeping things logical and not personal also helps me separate the attack on the image portrayed to them from an attack on myself as an individual; this prevents me from getting mad, angry, offended and a whole long list of adjectives, so even when I am around many individuals that do not share my points of view, I am not in a world that hates me.
This excellent advice. 
