So, I've been called a gun nut in the comments to one of my articles, which got me thinking: “Am I a gun nut?” Well, I couldn't answer that question until I could come up with a definition for “gun nut.” The most objective definition I have is: a person whose views are considered extreme by the vast majority of the population. Next I considered the issues I have discussed recently – gun registration, private ownership of “assault weapons,” and using armed guards to protect students – to see if my views are extreme.
My article on gun registration indicates that I do not support passage of laws requiring gun registration. Is this an extreme opinion in our society? The ACLU – America's most prominent civil rights defender – does not support a gun registry because it infringes on individuals' right to privacy. Moreover, Americans do not support passage of stricter laws regulating guns and opposition to gun registration is mainstream.
My article discussing the lack of danger posed by “assault weapons” to society indicates that I believe civilians should be allowed to keep “assault weapons.” Again, opposition to laws prohibiting the possession of assault weapons is mainstream. In fact, the trend in polling indicates that people are growing more tolerant of firearms.
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Finally, my article discussing the tragic school shooting at Arapahoe High School in Colorado indicates that I believe armed guards in schools can save lives. This is an easy one – most parents of school age children believe their children would be safer attending a school with an armed guard.
In other words, the vast majority of Americans do not consider my beliefs to be extreme. Which means I am not a gun nut. Why then did a reader call me a gun nut? Although I can't be certain, I think the answer is that the comment reflects the reader's own ignorance and intolerance – the reader is blinded by preconceived notions and unaware of how mainstream guns are in our culture. So, if you find yourself thinking that I'm a gun nut, step back for a moment to consider the basis for your reaction.
