For a period during my childhood, my family owned an antique shotgun that had once belonged to my great-grandfather. Ironically, that gun was stolen during a burglary when I was just 11. This experience marked the extent of my childhood exposure to firearms. Growing up, I didn’t have friends who frequented shooting ranges or engaged in hunting activities. My family didn’t own any guns, and if we had friends who did, discussions about them were rare. Personally, I’ve never owned a firearm, nor have I ever felt the urge to.
I was raised in northern Idaho, a region where people often take the “militia” aspect of the Second Amendment quite seriously. Because of this, I frequently associated gun ownership with paranoid individuals hoarding weapons in anticipation of government intervention. This mindset admittedly fostered some biases.
However, during college, I joined some friends for a night of “coon hunting” in rural Iowa. This peculiar tradition involved traversing bumpy fields in an old pickup truck, shining a massive flashlight into trees, and attempting to shoot raccoons out of them with shotguns. The friend who led this adventure was the son of a pig farmer and one of the brightest individuals I’ve ever met—an exceptional math and computer science major who graduated at the top of his class. Although I still find the practice of coon hunting unsettling, that experience opened my eyes to some of the complexities surrounding gun ownership.
Since then, I’ve actively worked to challenge my biases and understand different perspectives in the ongoing American gun debate. While I’m not an advocate for hunting, I acknowledge the various motivations behind it. I don’t see the need to own a firearm, but I understand why some people do. I also disagree with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment, yet I respect individuals’ rights to own guns for personal use. There are many viewpoints I may not agree with or fully comprehend, but I strive to remain open-minded.
Nonetheless, there’s one facet of America’s relationship with firearms that continues to elude me: the culture of gun enthusiasm. Owning guns is one thing, but developing an emotional attachment to them is quite another.
To me, guns exist mainly to inflict harm or kill. Sure, they can be used for sport, and there’s a certain skill involved that some take pride in mastering. Nevertheless, the fundamental purpose of guns is lethal. They serve as the primary weapon for military personnel and law enforcement. While some consider firearms essential for personal defense, I view this reality as a tragic truth, not a cause for celebration. Given the immense suffering and destruction associated with gun violence, I struggle to understand how anyone can view guns as something to be celebrated.
For me, a respectful attitude towards firearms begins with recognizing them as deadly weapons. Loving guns feels comparable to cherishing explosives—it simply doesn’t make sense. I can appreciate the technology behind them and understand the benefits some feel they gain from ownership. I can even admire the freedoms our Constitution grants us. However, the cheerleading for guns seems disconcerting. Bumper stickers proclaiming love for firearms often catch me off guard. Take, for instance, the “I Love Guns and Coffee” campaign at Starbucks a few years back—it struck me as unnecessary. “I Love Freedom and Coffee” would have conveyed a similar message while feeling less unsettling. I’ve also seen professional photo shoots featuring firearms, which I can only describe as odd.
Too many individuals have endured gun-related trauma for the phrase “I love guns” to resonate positively with me. When I hear it, I’m reminded of the twenty first-graders and six teachers tragically taken in Newtown. I recall a shooting spree that occurred just two years ago in the seemingly safe town close to where I live, claiming the life of my sister-in-law’s neighbor. I remember my best friend’s stepfather, who attempted to shoot her mother while intoxicated, thankfully missing her during her childhood. I envision the endless cycles of war, terror, and senseless violence. “Love” is not a term that fits into this narrative.
I understand the argument that it’s not the gun itself that’s the issue, but the person wielding it. Guns lack free will, and yes, knives and vehicles can also cause harm. Yet, I don’t have the same gut reaction to those items because their primary functions do not revolve around inflicting death.
As I mentioned, I can grasp the idea of gun ownership. What I cannot comprehend is the notion of loving guns. Firearms have roles within law enforcement, the military, hunting, sport, self-defense, and even in the homes of responsible owners. They hold a place in our history and our Constitution. However, I firmly believe they shouldn’t occupy a space in our hearts.
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In summary, while I can understand the rationale behind gun ownership, I struggle to fathom the emotional attachment that some individuals have towards firearms. Guns serve significant roles in various capacities, but their primary purpose is often destructive, which makes the culture of gun enthusiasm perplexing to me.