Clinotus
06-28-2008, 11:50 AM
http://230grain.com/images/articles/editorial.jpgThe loneliness of being correct(ly compliant and legal).
Unknown to many shooters and hunters (of paper targets) is a trend, they tend to follow certain migratory patterns blind to themselves but readily apparent to anyone with a keen eye. They move from having a piqued interest in firearms, into moments of study and research about firearms, into the acquisition of a firearm, and later into the enthusiasm of target shooting and mastery. Much like any hobby its fair to say that that pattern is not unique. Our lucky shooters sometimes branch into the ability to put food on the table with hunting or after realizing that there are indeed evils in the world, they desire to carry a firearms or keep a firearm for self preservation. These last two, hunting and preservation, seem to be the defining moments into the ascension of loneliness.
At some point our shooter realizes that most of the laws on the books about or against his hobby are outright silly. He realizes he has been fingerprinted and photographed. He has submitted letters to various federal, state and local agencies for what he believed was a right. He has endured background checks that would clear him comfortably to the point where he could work in Federal Banking. He has paid fees and taxes, and when he thinks about it, he has paid in hours for classes. It dawns on the gun enthusiast that all the time and money he has invested seems only to have culled him from the herd of polite society because of his love for the sport and due to their disdain of it.
Now you see it.
He gets angry. He puts NRA or other gun rights organization stickers on his car. He starts to wear attire with logos of firearms manufacturers or political sayings on them thinking it’s just a shirt but subconsciously using the clothing as a flag for conversation so that he can convert you or vent to you. He starts looking at the laws and researching items with the zeal of a freshman at his first keg party. He finds that his target audience of friends, family, and confidants, just do not care. They don’t care about the gun rights, the national rights, or any of the rights he tells them are under fire. All they care about is the right to the remote control after a long day at work. They cannot see it but he can.
Our shooter’s views change. He starts to look at the world differently. He starts to associate with people that share his main view points. He doesn’t always agree with the fringe enthusiasts who stockpile and fear government confiscation, but like the motto states “United we stand…”. He becomes well versed in the microverse of convoluted and obtuse laws that govern not just his lifestyle but that seek to define him.
And he is outraged.
He sees that the battle over the second amendment isn’t just about guns, it’s about freedom. He sees that the battle over an armed populace isn’t about public safety but about the ability for him to be controlled. He sees his God granted right for self preservation slipping away with each stroke of legislation by hypocritical bureaucrats that employ bodyguards and utilize armed protection.
He sees that the forefathers who wrote those “old, antiquated laws” wrote those laws in language that was plain as day. That he and others should keep and bear arms to keep tyranny at bay from home, hearth, and country.
And he is absolutely correct.
A pariah.
Unknown to many shooters and hunters (of paper targets) is a trend, they tend to follow certain migratory patterns blind to themselves but readily apparent to anyone with a keen eye. They move from having a piqued interest in firearms, into moments of study and research about firearms, into the acquisition of a firearm, and later into the enthusiasm of target shooting and mastery. Much like any hobby its fair to say that that pattern is not unique. Our lucky shooters sometimes branch into the ability to put food on the table with hunting or after realizing that there are indeed evils in the world, they desire to carry a firearms or keep a firearm for self preservation. These last two, hunting and preservation, seem to be the defining moments into the ascension of loneliness.
At some point our shooter realizes that most of the laws on the books about or against his hobby are outright silly. He realizes he has been fingerprinted and photographed. He has submitted letters to various federal, state and local agencies for what he believed was a right. He has endured background checks that would clear him comfortably to the point where he could work in Federal Banking. He has paid fees and taxes, and when he thinks about it, he has paid in hours for classes. It dawns on the gun enthusiast that all the time and money he has invested seems only to have culled him from the herd of polite society because of his love for the sport and due to their disdain of it.
Now you see it.
He gets angry. He puts NRA or other gun rights organization stickers on his car. He starts to wear attire with logos of firearms manufacturers or political sayings on them thinking it’s just a shirt but subconsciously using the clothing as a flag for conversation so that he can convert you or vent to you. He starts looking at the laws and researching items with the zeal of a freshman at his first keg party. He finds that his target audience of friends, family, and confidants, just do not care. They don’t care about the gun rights, the national rights, or any of the rights he tells them are under fire. All they care about is the right to the remote control after a long day at work. They cannot see it but he can.
Our shooter’s views change. He starts to look at the world differently. He starts to associate with people that share his main view points. He doesn’t always agree with the fringe enthusiasts who stockpile and fear government confiscation, but like the motto states “United we stand…”. He becomes well versed in the microverse of convoluted and obtuse laws that govern not just his lifestyle but that seek to define him.
And he is outraged.
He sees that the battle over the second amendment isn’t just about guns, it’s about freedom. He sees that the battle over an armed populace isn’t about public safety but about the ability for him to be controlled. He sees his God granted right for self preservation slipping away with each stroke of legislation by hypocritical bureaucrats that employ bodyguards and utilize armed protection.
He sees that the forefathers who wrote those “old, antiquated laws” wrote those laws in language that was plain as day. That he and others should keep and bear arms to keep tyranny at bay from home, hearth, and country.
And he is absolutely correct.
A pariah.