Why is my dad so closed minded?
THIS WILL BE LONG. I APOLOGIZE!!
So, I am 19, and I live at home with my parents. My dad is a hunter, and is really big on self-defense and very much supports concealed carry and things like that. It's almost as if he is too afraid to live his life without being prepared for a terrorist attack. He always brings his gun in the car when we travel, and has been caught bringing his knife into federal buildings at the metal detectors because he has forgotten to remove it. That being said, I am pretty much the opposite. I completely understand being prepared, but I also don't want to live my life in fear. I'll give you an example of what my dad's mentality is:
One night, a couple of years ago, I was at dinner with my parents. A group of Middle Eastern men walked in, and were simply enjoying their meal. Upon walking back to the car, my dad made some comments that I found very offensive, saying how he knew they were Muslims because they smelt awful and that Muslim men don't shower. I don't know if that's true, but I found it very rude for him to comment on it regardless. Then we mentioned how they had been a bit rowdy, and he replied that "He didn't see any weapons." It just REALLY pisses me off that he automatically assumes that a group of people who look different than him could be potential terrorists. My mom and I both explained to him how rude it was, (If anything I said it's way more likely for an attacker to be white) and he went off saying how "You always need to be prepared."
While I agree that there's nothing wrong with being prepared, you shouldn't let it overrun your life or make you afraid to do things. The thing that bothers me the most is that he absolutely REFUSES to let me spend the night at home alone because I don't know how to shoot a gun. He also claims that he will prevent me from moving out until I learn how to shoot one. (Which he can't legally do.) In my opinion, I think that I would be more harm to myself if someone broke in, or that someone would simply use it on me, as I am small and weak. My main reasoning against it is that I would harm myself, as I have a history of suicidal thoughts, and I don't trust myself. Like I said, I have no issue with being prepared, but I think he should respect my wishes. Am I in the wrong here? Or should I try to see it from his side as he only wants me to be protected?
So, I am 19, and I live at home with my parents. My dad is a hunter, and is really big on self-defense and very much supports concealed carry and things like that. It's almost as if he is too afraid to live his life without being prepared for a terrorist attack. He always brings his gun in the car when we travel, and has been caught bringing his knife into federal buildings at the metal detectors because he has forgotten to remove it. That being said, I am pretty much the opposite. I completely understand being prepared, but I also don't want to live my life in fear. I'll give you an example of what my dad's mentality is:
One night, a couple of years ago, I was at dinner with my parents. A group of Middle Eastern men walked in, and were simply enjoying their meal. Upon walking back to the car, my dad made some comments that I found very offensive, saying how he knew they were Muslims because they smelt awful and that Muslim men don't shower. I don't know if that's true, but I found it very rude for him to comment on it regardless. Then we mentioned how they had been a bit rowdy, and he replied that "He didn't see any weapons." It just REALLY pisses me off that he automatically assumes that a group of people who look different than him could be potential terrorists. My mom and I both explained to him how rude it was, (If anything I said it's way more likely for an attacker to be white) and he went off saying how "You always need to be prepared."
While I agree that there's nothing wrong with being prepared, you shouldn't let it overrun your life or make you afraid to do things. The thing that bothers me the most is that he absolutely REFUSES to let me spend the night at home alone because I don't know how to shoot a gun. He also claims that he will prevent me from moving out until I learn how to shoot one. (Which he can't legally do.) In my opinion, I think that I would be more harm to myself if someone broke in, or that someone would simply use it on me, as I am small and weak. My main reasoning against it is that I would harm myself, as I have a history of suicidal thoughts, and I don't trust myself. Like I said, I have no issue with being prepared, but I think he should respect my wishes. Am I in the wrong here? Or should I try to see it from his side as he only wants me to be protected?
