On Target

As a white, heterosexual male, I don't get discriminated against much, and that's kind of nice. Ideally, I would like to live in a world where nobody is. That seems pretty unlikely, though, because, as I am constantly reminded, people aren't logical. I study slavery and race, and I can tell you that without a shadow of a doubt that racism is illogical. First off, race isn't even real. There's no so thing as race from a biological standpoint. Look it up. Yet, as humans, we not only see race, but act differently sometimes based on a person's race. And we shouldn't. Believe it or not, I've actually been discriminated against due to my race. Luckily for me, that's extraordinarily rare because we happen to live in a country were white people are privileged. But while that's kind of convenient for me, it's pretty crappy for a lot of people, and not good for anyone in the long run, so I'd like it to change. However, just because I rarely get discriminated against for my race, gender, or sexuality doesn't mean that I don't get discriminated against, a fact I was very much reminded of today when I was treated differently than your average person simply because I made the decision to own a gun. Disclaimer time: I am NOT equating this experience to the experiences of those who have suffered due to racism etc. That would be silly and offensive. Being judged for what you buy and for what race you are are fundamentally different things. I did, however, use that particular segue for a reason. In case the recent news from Missouri and other areas of the country hasn't made you aware already, sometimes black people get treated like criminals just because they're black. And that's stupid. Certainly some black people commit crimes. So do some white people. We don't think it's ok to go around treating all blacks as criminals, however. Nor should we. So why do we do it to gun owners? The obvious reply would be because being black doesn't make you dangerous or more likely to commit a crime. Well here's an interesting fact for you: neither does being a gun owner! Some people like golf or tennis. You know what I like? I like guns. I like shooting guns. That picture I chose for this post? That was a five-shot 100 yard group I shot last week. Anyone who shoots regularly can tell it's not perfect, but it's not terrible either. And I'm proud of it. And it was fun to do. Here's something else: if you've never shot before, I bet you couldn't do better. I bet you wouldn't even know how to load and fire the rifle I used, let alone understand zeroing, body position, and breath and recoil management. Even if you read about all that stuff on the Internet, that isn't the same as actually taking the shot and you'd find that out pretty quickly. In fact, I do have shooting experience, but take a look at that shot on the right. That happened because I flinched, anticipating the rifle's recoil. Just a tiny little common mistake, a slight muscle twitch at the wrong time, and look how far off the bullet goes. That's what's so great about the sport. It's all about form, technique, precision, and consistency. And math. If you're thinking that none of that sounds super criminal or threatening, and in fact sounds downright nerdy, you're right. And yet you'd be surprised how I get treated by some people when I casually mention my hobby. Today I was told, by someone who was clearly uncomfortable with guns, that I should change my profile picture on Facebook to attract more employers. My profile picture is me at the range. I am wearing protective goggles and hearing protection. I am pointing the gun in a safe direction. I am properly executing a supported shooting stance. To me this photo depicts an able, component person exercising his skill and knowledge in a disciplined way to achieve his desired aim and doing so in a safe, responsible way. 

To someone who doesn't like guns, it's scary. Because, gun.

Of course, I gently mentioned that, yes, I target shoot as a hobby, and I've never even shot an animal. I was told that that may be true, but there had been a lot of shootings in the news lately, and people were uncomfortable with guns. Maybe. There have been a lot of black people rioting in the news lately. You know something? I still don't find black people scary. Because that would be stupid.

I don't mind if someone doesn't like guns, but it's time this ridiculous stigma about them goes away. My hobby is legitimate, popular, legal, and, yes, even safe. I am not a criminal, nor should I be treated like one because I choose to participate in a sport shared by millions of others. That's not fair, nor does it even make sense. Linking a responsible, safe shooter with a criminal gunman is like linking a safe, responsible driver to a drunk driver because they both have cars. It needs to stop.

Incidentally, while I'm happy to make my picture private (frankly, I thought it already was), I'm not going to change it. It says a lot about me as a person, even if people who don't know anything about me or my hobbies aren't capable of seeing it. That rifle was a graduation gift from my parents. It's a beautiful and well-made piece of equipment. Shooting it relaxes me and makes me proud that I can achieve technical proficiency in a sport that demands it. I like that picture.

This is something I can't retreat from because it's personal to me. I can shrug off someone not liking computers, cars, or beer because when they tell me they don't like computers, cars, or beer, they just don't like them and that's ok and hardly offensive. With guns, though, there's often a judgement attached. If there wasn't, I wouldn't even mind. I have lots of friends who are for gun control, and while I disagree with them, they don't treat me personally like a criminal, so it's not an issue. It's not people who don't like guns that bother me, but people who act like I'm a bad person because I have this hobby I like, especially when that hobby is legal and safe. And I believe that all gun owners should be open and proud about their hobby.

Yes, I own a gun. Yes, I shoot my gun. And yes, I absolutely love it. If someone has a problem with that, the problem is theirs.