My Eight-Stage Journey of Gun-Rights Advocacy

Intro

Here are some of the mental and emotional milestones I crossed over the past nine years publishing TheGunBlog.ca.
These eight stages are one way to map my journey, but not the only way.
My hunch is that a lot of people have gone through similar stages, or are still going through them.

I believe everyone in the “gun debate” is acting in good faith, seeking truth, working for greater security, liberty, empowerment, prosperity, happiness, etc.
I do my best to act with respect towards anti-gun activists in politics and media.
Despite our differences, I believe we are united in wanting a better society.

I’m surprised to hear anti-gun activists say their plan to stop attackers is to crack down on me, my family, and our friends.
Authoritarian activists want to take away our guns, implying we are the “Bad Guys.”
Even top government officials and seasoned journalists portray gun users as wannabe murderers, a narrative that has nothing to do with my experience in the gun community.

I believe anti-gun activism stems from a lack of knowledge and education. I can’t believe anyone except a dangerous enemy would want to suppress good citizens and steal our safety and sporting gear, and I don’t view anti-gunners as a dangerous enemy.
I believe they simply need more facts and a reality check, so I step in to help.
I use my expertise to share data, info, and context via TheGunBlog.ca.

My efforts lead me to a disturbing discovery: the authoritarian prohibitionists have all the facts and data, and they know their policies would suppress honest people and violate basic principles of justice. They aren’t doing it by accident.
They’re deliberately distorting and misrepresenting the facts to push their authoritarian agenda:
- They make claims based on serious errors of reasoning and logic.
- They omit relevant details and context.
- They use highly loaded, targeted, and hostile language.
If they are acting in good faith and working to improve society, why the falsehoods, fabrications, and fallacies? Why the unsound, unjust, and dangerous policies?
I have another disturbing discovery: Many (not all) gun owners are anti-gun: They vote for prohibitionist politicians and copy their topics and talking points.

I realize that I was wrong. I was naïve.
The anti-gun activists aren’t pushing their messages and policies because they have good intentions and lack understanding.
I realize they are a hostile adversary committed to our extinction as gun users. Their tactics are deliberate, strategic, and targeted. They’re running a calculated, consistent, and coordinated campaign.

I research the motivations of anti-gun activists. I want to understand why they do what they do.
The best evidence I have suggests a mix of:
1. Politics/Electioneering: Exploit fear and ignorance to win election.
2. Ideology: “Guns bad!” “Self-defence bad!” “Personal empowerment bad!”
3. Hostility: Harass people they view as political adversaries.
I don’t have evidence for two other motivations, which some people believe are at work:

I step up my efforts to protect honest citizens from activists working to criminalize us and confiscate our precious belongings.
Their actions go way beyond issues related to guns and property. They are fueling hate against good people, destroying trust in political institutions, and undermining peace and social stability.
I conclude they are dangerous and we must stop them.

I no longer want to play the game of pro-gun vs. anti-gun.
I no longer want to play the game of persuading gun owners that our future as gun owners is at risk.
I no longer want to play the game of: We get licensed and register our guns, and the prohibitionists confiscate them.
If we want to keep our guns and get more, I believe our only real option is to go underground, go grey, go dark.
I want TheGunBlog.ca to advance my values in relation to gun ownership, such as personal empowerment, liberty, responsibility, good policy, good governance, and joy.