"Are you a gun nut?"

[LAYGO]

This isn't a specific story, but more of a reaction to seeing this question posted in different forums or encounters with civilians or LEOs.

Seems to me the proper response would be:
"If exercising my federal and state rights and protecting my family is a gun nut, then __________."

I had thought "guilt as charged" or "so be it" might be appropriate. I'm sure better wording could be agreed upon.

Just started bugging me seeing this question posted over & over . . .

[RPB]

Which kind?

[Dave2]

This isn't a specific story, but more of a reaction to seeing this question posted in different forums or encounters with civilians or LEOs.

Seems to me the proper response would be:
"If exercising my federal and state rights and protecting my family is a gun nut, then __________."

I had thought "guilt as charged" or "so be it" might be appropriate. I'm sure better wording could be agreed upon.

Just started bugging me seeing this question posted over & over . . .

I think my answer would be, "Not really. It brings me and heavy burden and no joy to be carrying around something that's really only good for killing people. I just want a chance to defend myself, my friends, and my family against armed assailants, and where I live it's illegal to carry around 15 + 1 swords."

[Barbi Q]

No. I prefer pecans.

[10Shooter]

I would answer something along the following.........

The decision to carry a concealed firearm for protection is a very personal one. It was for me. It is a decision that puts you within a split second of the ability to take a life or disfigure another human being for the remainder of theirs. It is a decision that requires you to make profound changes in the way you conduct yourself while going about your daily routine if armed, and forces you to act more responsibly than you may be capable of. It is one of, if not the most important decision you will ever make during your lifetime. To exercise this uniquely American right, the right to keep and bear arms… requires you to make an unbridled commitment to carry your firearm with you everywhere you go, every single day.. Mark Walters http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/index.htm

[wninja]

I spend an obscene amount of time on the internet researching and reading about guns I would like to own some day, so I think I am a gun nut in that sense.

However, I think it is reasonable and prudent to take a proactive approach to defending yourself and your family. We don't live in some utopian society where people hold hands and sing love songs instead of rob, rape and murder. This is the real world. Some people might go their entire lives without ever becoming a victim of a violent crime, and in a perfect world, we would all be so lucky. But I'm not gonna leave my life or the lives of my loved ones up to chance.

[wally775]

I have been asked on numerous occasions,” are you one of those gun nuts?"

This is my standard reply.

"We prefer the term Enthusiasts."

[Purplehood]

I would answer something along the following.........

The decision to carry a concealed firearm for protection is a very personal one. It was for me. It is a decision that puts you within a split second of the ability to take a life or disfigure another human being for the remainder of theirs. It is a decision that requires you to make profound changes in the way you conduct yourself while going about your daily routine if armed, and forces you to act more responsibly than you may be capable of. It is one of, if not the most important decision you will ever make during your lifetime. To exercise this uniquely American right, the right to keep and bear arms… requires you to make an unbridled commitment to carry your firearm with you everywhere you go, every single day.. Mark Walters http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/index.htm

I agree, but don't believe that it is a uniquely American right.

[VMI77]

This isn't a specific story, but more of a reaction to seeing this question posted in different forums or encounters with civilians or LEOs.

Seems to me the proper response would be:
"If exercising my federal and state rights and protecting my family is a gun nut, then __________."

I had thought "guilt as charged" or "so be it" might be appropriate. I'm sure better wording could be agreed upon.

Just started bugging me seeing this question posted over & over . . .

The term "gun nut" is intended to dismiss and disparage people of a certain political and philosophical persuasion (I'm not talking left-right or Republican-Democrat, just advocates of traits like individuality, independence, and personal responsibility). My impulse is to take the philosophical offensive against people who use this terminology on the basis that they are intentionally disrespectful --along the lines of, "oh, I'm a nut because I'm interested in different things than you are?" I think that once you start trying to explain and justify yourself to such people you reinforce their biases.

Of course, my response is going to be different with people that I perceive as being open to persuasion by evidence, or who seem to be seeking genuine understanding, but generally speaking, I don't think such people are going to start off by calling the other person a nut.

[Purplehood]

I think my normal response to such comments is usually along the line of, "well I don't have to guess where you stand on the issue" and dismiss them.

[The Annoyed Man]

Them: "Are you one of those gun nuts?"

Me: "Well, I have a small firearms collection. Are you saying that makes me some kind of nut? What do you collect? Hummel figurines? What are you, some kind of figurine nut?"

The term "gun-nut" begins with the assertion that owning a firearm is nutty, and that balanced people don't own them. But the reality of it is that people who choose not to own one, also choose not to be able to defend the ones they love. They choose to not be able to do anything about evil when it confronts them in the nitty-gritty details, where the rubber meets the road. They deliberately choose to be blind to the possibility of a predator in their midst. They live in denial.

Gun owners, on the other hand choose to recognize that, in the animal kingdom, every living creature is either predator or prey - and humans are included in that dynamic. It doesn't matter whether, like me, you believe that we live in a fallen world, or like an atheist, you simply believe that some people are bad. Both understand the reality that human predators exist, and we choose not be be victims.

Who is the nut? The realist, or the person who lives in denial?

[PUCKER]

Firearms enthusiast.

[SpringerFan]

Honesty is the best policy..........................yes I am.

[RAM4171]

YES

[Commander Cody]

No.