Inside the head of a typical "gun rights wacko"
You see them here and there. They're on TV, Facebook, and even sometimes on the street in your community. They're out there strutting their stuff and looking tough. They're armed and ready for anything, right. Well, no, not really. It's a magic act, really.
The majority of gun rights nutcases think that guns have magical powers or something. When they're carrying a firearm, they feel somehow invincible, instead of feeling their usual abject fear of everything and everyone. That's the power of guns. More guns; More power. Uglier guns; scarier guns. When you are visibly armed, you can feel invulnerable and maybe even fearsome. You're not scared, because you think you're scary to others. It's way freaking cool!
Most gun owners would have no idea about what to do if an emergency actually occurred that would require them to actually use their weapons. That's not the point, really. The point is to have one available so people can see it and be fearful of you. If you can get some other people to walk around with you, armed to the teeth, you can feel even less fear. If you wear what you think looks like military clothing and accessories, those make you even more scary. If people are scared of you, you don't have to be so scared of people.
That's why you see groups of guys here and there, all dressed up their camo, with ammo pouches, ballistic vests, and maybe even a gas mask hanging from a loop on your uniform. Accessorizing is crucial. Even if you're scared to death, when you put all that stuff on and get together with others who are like you, you're bound to feel powerful, right? You can even say racist or other ugly things, if you want, without worrying about someone taking offence and standing up for themselves, OK?. They're BAD, and everyone knows it, they think.
Today's gun and "militia" culture is all about not feeling afraid all the time. "Look at me! I'm bad! See how I'm dressed? See my gun? See my buddies? Don't mess with me! Keep your distance!" That's what they're saying. You're laughing at them, but they think you're frightened of them. They want to think you are, anyhow...
For most rabid gun owners, it's the symbolism that matters. It's the sense of security, of powerful manhood, reinforced by powerful weapons that could kill anyone they wanted to kill. Of course, they're not going to kill anybody. They just want people to be afraid that you might. They think You can be the baddest guy on the block if you have the right gear. You don't have to say anything. People can instantly tell that you're nobody to be messed with, they think
Not everyone is like that, of course. Some are actually dangerous psychopaths, but most are frightened men who feel powerless in their own lives and don the pseudo military gear and carry the firearms to let them feel powerful for a little while. It's important, too, to have friends who share this hobby. If they go out by themselves, dressed like a toy, cartoon soldier, people will just think they're weird. If they go with your buddies, all dressed up in motley camo gear and carrying a black gun, though, people might still think they're all weird, but the people they're scared of keep their distance, which was the idea in the first place.
People are scary. So, if you can look scarier than the people you're afraid of, you can hide your fear, especially if you go in a group, they think. It's an illusion, of course, but living an illusion is better than cowering in the basement, they believe.
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