This article by Dr. Sarah Thompson makes my Sad But Predictable post look like childs play. It's a long read, but essential information in my opinion. You won't be disappointed.
Given some of my personal experiences with vehemently anti-gun folks I think the title, "Raging Against Self-Defense" is unbelievably appropriate. Looking at some of the people I know who are extremely anti-gun, rage (or at a minimum, lack of emotional control) is a common trait.
I'll use my father as an example. I love the man, but the truth of the matter is that he's a narcissist and always has been. He exhibits all of the classic traits of narcissistic rage. If you're familiar with narcissistic rage you know that such a person probably shouldn't own and carry a firearm. You'll note that "shouldn't" does not mean "the government should prohibit." There are plenty of folks I don't necessarily trust with a firearm who are nonetheless legally able to own one. Rights are rights, they don't change or disappear based upon how I "feel" about a particular person exercising them. I can see eyes glazing over and the blank stare as liberals read that last sentence, as it doesn't compute for them.
Some people simply have a short emotional trigger, whereas others are far more rational and emotionally even keel. Personally, I do not want people with poor impulse and emotional control to be carrying firearms. Again, my feelings are not sufficient reason to deny anyone their rights. People with narcissistic rage do not respond to situations in the same way that you or I would. They will often act like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum, and it will often be in reaction to something simple and innocuous. The entire situation will then leave you scratching your head and going "what?! WTF just happened?!" Dealing with a narcissist is in many ways a lot like dealing with an unruly, petulant child (sounds like many anti-gunners you know, right?)
Luckily it just so happens that this is a self-correcting problem, since in my experience narcissists and those with narcissistic rage (see President Obama for a good example) tend to be solidly anti-gun and wouldn't want to carry one anyway.
Thompson's piece is one of the best views into the anti-gun psyche that I've ever read. In order to combat the anti-gun mindset we must first understand it. We must also, as Thompson explains, understand that there are different types of anti-gunners and some are simply too far gone and/or too close-minded to be reached.
Some people simply have a short emotional trigger, whereas others are far more rational and emotionally even keel. Personally, I do not want people with poor impulse and emotional control to be carrying firearms. Again, my feelings are not sufficient reason to deny anyone their rights. People with narcissistic rage do not respond to situations in the same way that you or I would. They will often act like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum, and it will often be in reaction to something simple and innocuous. The entire situation will then leave you scratching your head and going "what?! WTF just happened?!" Dealing with a narcissist is in many ways a lot like dealing with an unruly, petulant child (sounds like many anti-gunners you know, right?)
Luckily it just so happens that this is a self-correcting problem, since in my experience narcissists and those with narcissistic rage (see President Obama for a good example) tend to be solidly anti-gun and wouldn't want to carry one anyway.
Thompson's piece is one of the best views into the anti-gun psyche that I've ever read. In order to combat the anti-gun mindset we must first understand it. We must also, as Thompson explains, understand that there are different types of anti-gunners and some are simply too far gone and/or too close-minded to be reached.
2 comments:
Heard about this paper years ago. Thanks for publishing it.
But I don't have time to go one-on-one with an irrational Anti-Gunner. I just try to stay away from them whenever possible, because for the amount of time and effort that it requires to change their attitude, I can be doing more important things, like shooting. Or Opposing the those Heinous, Vile, Evil AntiGunner Politicians who allow American Citizens to be killed, crippled or wounded by Thugs just so they have Political Power.
But thanks for the effort.
I definitely appreciate her willingness to take that look into the minds of anti-rights cultists and explain to us just what is going on in there, but, to be perfectly honest, I do not really have the time to waste on them any more. Oh, sure, they were fun to engage once upon a time, and doing so definitely gave me the opportunity to expand and polish my information set, but, at this point, I definitely feel as though our time is better spent exposing those cultists for what they are, and letting the fence-sitters make up their own minds. Certainly, that would preclude recruiting Weer'ds from years back before he learned of the dishonesty of gun control, but if a person is genuinely interested in discovering the truth, they will do so whether it is being spoon-fed to them or not.
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