Seems there's a new reality show on cable that uses footage from security cameras in a gun shop. Or it could be a regular TV show made to look like it's a reality show...or something. I'm so far out of the TV loop that I wouldn't possibly be able to tell the difference. But, what the heck - I can review a TV show even though I don't own a TV!
Anyway, "Lock 'n Load" focuses on the interaction between customers and the "star" of the show, an actor working at the shop to make extra money, who strikes up conversations with them, attempting to suss out their reasons for wanting to purchase a gun. (I'm assuming that the customers are real, not actors. Kind of like a "Hey! You're on gun shop candid camera!" thing.)
I have mixed feelings about this - on one hand, it could be another example of entertainment (or art, or design) trying to use guns to be "edgy." For instance, people who are in no way related to the gun culture think that if you take a plain white t-shirt, adorn it with an image of a gun, it will suddenly, somehow, become a T-SHIRT. Unfortunately, if that's sort of thing the producers of the show were aiming for, they've completely missed their mark. (heh - gun pun)
The show has been called "boring" - a fact that might be a bad thing for the series' future but is, in fact, a really good thing for us.
"Lock 'n Load" proves that gun owners are just folk and that buying a firearm is frequently no more exciting or controversial than a trip to the shoe store. Imagine that.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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13 comments:
You know, if I were buying a gun because I had a stalker, or a violent ex I was hiding from, or something like that, and after buying they came up to me and said "Hey, we've been filming you for a TV show", I'd probably get really freaked out before they got around to asking if they actually had my permission to show it. Threatening with lawyers freaked out. I hope nobody gets caught like that.
And I hope they're actually asking, too, instead of just putting it on national television (I'm pretty sure they're supposed to, but not absolutely positive). I don't really trust the media that much.
There are, after all, some people in gun shops who aren't just buying for a hobby, or "general" personal defense - they're buying for specific personal defense, and they really, really don't want their images broadcast all over the world. Because it could get them, you know, dead.
I believe the "star" of the show is the 3rd generation of a family owned shop and range in Colorado and the series co-creator and co-producer.
I have not seen the show (no cable) but the previews (showtime.com) did make it look like they were showing gunnies as just normal people and not all beer bellied, gap toothed hicks. i think it will be very good for us in it's aim the "demystify" gun ownership.
Wow. I'm so far out of the loop I hadn't even heard of this show...
If it shows anything like my experiences with gun stores it'll be mostly a bunch of well spoken, generally knowledgeable, neatly dressed folks conversing on a wide variety of topics with occasionally a firearm or ammo changing hands.
That being the case, I would say it's far more controversial than a visit to the shoe store, at least one of my visits.
While the show may portray folks as run of the mill ordinary folks I can't help compare that to the many ...uuum, not so run of the mill folks that frequent gun shows. I shoot competitively so frequent the local gun shows; and it is plain scary to see who is doing most of the buying there. Just step up to the "survivalists" tables for instance and it just gives you the willies knowing those people can already outfit a small army and are still buying more.
Almost makes me want to watch TV...almost.
Joel, I'm kind of counting on those "small armies" to be the last line of defense in protecting the 2nd Amendment.
it just gives you the willies knowing those people can already outfit a small army and are still buying more.
Why does it bother you? Why would how much they have be of any concern to you at all?
I mean what's "too much?" 1000 rds? 10,000? 20,000? 2, 10 or 100 guns?
In a SHTF situation I'm loving the guy who can outfit the entire neighborhood with rifles and ammo.
Heck, if it weren't for the fact that most of my neighbors are far better armed them myself, it'd be a goal of my own.
Joel, why do I have a hard time believing that you "shoot competitively"? How many rounds do you go through in a month?
Why do you believe it's ok for *you* to have a gun, but not ok for *them*?
- Texas Mike
Kind of lame if you ask me. I like the version of Lock 'N Load with R. Lee Ermey (Gunny) that is on the History channel.
The Real Lock 'n Load
At least you get to see some real action and hear some history about all kinds of guns from an old marine instead of some bunch of yokels at a gun shop.
Joe
Assrot,
If only Gunny didn't put out so much incorrect information at the same time.
I gave up watching the show after wincing every couple of minutes.
You're right Rick but at least Gunny is funny and he is actually a Vietnam vet not just a gunshop or range warrior wannabe.
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