Gun Owner Bias

I wasn’t born a gun enthusiast. My views and attitudes about firearms throughout my twenties were leftist.

I credit this to growing up in Canada. My socialization from elementary school right through university was the epitome of liberal.

My beliefs shifted soon after the bullshit in Iraq unfolded.

Until then, I was naive enough to believe in D.C. and those sworn into public office. The controversy surrounding that invasion was the beginning of my awakening. Our subsequent loss of privacy due to The Patriot Act was the last straw.

After the war, there were mass shootings. Politicians called for new gun restrictions. Far too linear to be a coincidence even to my rookie eyes.

At the time, I was hesitant to share my growing distrust of those in power.

We tend to spend time with individuals with similar belief systems, hence my trepidation.

My social circle was overwhelmingly liberal with left-leaning political allegiances.

Individuals that never question anything the mainstream media reports.

Smart money is on half of their profile photos on social media as the Ukraine flag at present – cringe.

In the U.S., attitudes concerning gun owners are biased and seep with misinformation.

It is an unfortunate reality that anyone with a shred of critical thinking can discern.

Gun owners get pigeonholed as conspiracy theorists to discredit them. 

Take January 6th, 2021.

The media framed this day with one takeaway; gun owners are a threat and should be dealt with accordingly.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Most gun owners tend to be responsible members of our society.

They champion less government and more freedom, something we all could use more of after the past two years.

Some cold hard facts about gun owners in the U.S.:

A 2020 survey found that 42 percent of households in the U.S. reported owning one or more firearms.

Gun ownership is more common among men than women, and white men are particularly likely to be gun owners.

There are significant differences across parties, with Republican and Republican-leaning independents more than twice as likely as Democrats to own a gun (44% vs. 20%).

For many adult gun owners, exposure to guns happened at an early age; about ⅔ of current gun owners report there were guns in their household growing up.

Protection is the main reason individuals own guns, with hunting second on the list.

The bottom line: whether it be protection from criminal elements or Draconian governments, owning a gun and not needing one beats the alternative.

If a threat presents itself, having a firearm and knowing how to use one is as close to bulletproof as possible. 

Despite how guns are depicted, they remain the last vestige of freedom in an increasingly uncertain world.

Let’s see CNN or MSNBC say the same. Don’t hold your breath.

“Firing a gun is an art form. Much like mastering a serve in tennis, it takes practice, persistence, and patience.”

                                                                                                                                                                                  -Anonymous