TN, I think you might want to give this a read:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friend.../dp/1439167346
What you're doing so far isn't working real well for 'ya. Not trying to be an ass, but there are better ways to carry on a conversation with a complete stranger. You never know, if you and Spook had met at the range, you might have been good friends given the common ground (shooting) you share. Nobody here is a jerk from what I've seen with my time here, but you can't expect people to get defensive when you start calling them out...
Remember, in the end, we're all on the same team.
Respectfully,
The guy who doesn't want to make enemies from allies...