Celebrities and guns -- who cares?

[Old Dog]

This is sort of an offshoot of another thread, but since the question of which celebrities are pro-gun or shooters crops up regularly on THR, I had some thoughts. Here, paraphrased, is essentially what I posted on the other thread ("American Rifleman Blacklist"):

So what if Aerosmith members like guns? ...

While it may be comforting to think of one's favorite band's members or a favorite actor actually enjoying owning guns or shooting ... it must be noted that very, very few celebrities of any stripe ever "come out of the closet" as being gun-owners or shooters, much less ever make public statements regarding the right to keep and bear arms, carry concealed weapons or use firearms in self-defense. Tom Selleck, Chuck Heston, Hank Jr., The Nuge or the pitifully few others excepted.

This is inexecusable, folks.

So you may as well quit crowing about someone like Steve Tyler enjoying the occasional range session, 'cause he's done nothing to promote the cause of RKBA or shooting sports -- since apparently no one other than other gun-people even know that he enjoys guns and shooting!

I gain zero respect for any public figure or celebrity just because they profess to own guns or like shooting, if they do nothing to promote the movement or the shooting sports.

(I'm sure someone out there might be thinking, "Well, Hollywood is a liberal establishment, and these folks have to think about earning a living." I say to that: balderdash!)

Where are all the professional athletes, actors, actresses, authors, radio and television personalities, politicians, etc. who all own guns and shoot in their free time, but hide this fact from everyone? I'll tell you where: cowering from the liberal media, the liberal Hollywood establishment, the totally image-conscious league presidents and team owners, all worried that being known as someone who likes guns will have some possible effect on their horrifyingly obscene multi-million dollar salaries -- some of these folks make more money in a week than most of us make in five years -- and yet these hypocrites don't have the guts to to show their true character, only the aspects of themselves that keep them employed or in the public eye.

We have developed an absurdly ridiculous culture of celebrity worship in this country, yet these celebrities do nothing useful for our society as a whole (unless you count the entertainment they bring us -- but that's another subject open for debate).

 

[Henry Bowman]

Where are all the professional athletes, actors, actresses, authors, radio and television personalities, politicians, etc. who all own guns and shoot in their free time, but hide this fact from everyone?

If most any of them called a press conference to announce that they own guns and like to shoot, the MSM would simply not report it. It's not all their fault.

 

[Old Dog]

It's not all their fault.

Sure it is. Where's the paparrazzi when some actor is out at a public indoor range? People magazine when a famous actress talks about the importance of RKBA and CCW in an interview? Even a grocery store tabloid showing a rock star renewing his CPL down at his local country sheriff's office? Point is, most of the allegedly pro-gun celebrities routinely hide this aspect of their personality or beliefs --rather than allowing the public to see these beliefs as natural and righteous ... few have the convictions of a Tom Selleck or Ted Nugent to learn how to speak of firearms and the right to keep and bear arms ...

Yet, one sees the Fondas, the Baldwins, the Streisands, the Dixie Chicks, the Robbins-Sarandons, the Mike Farrells and other speaking out quite loudly on "acceptable" beliefs ...

 

[Rembrandt]

Big difference between a celebrity taking a public position and you doing the same.....for a celebrity to do so may affect their income earning potential.

I've had several conversations with Chuck Heston and he felt some of his public statements cost him work opportunities. Same can be said for Rosey O, Alex B, and the Dixie Chicks. When you're a celebrity in the fickle public relations arena, it's important not to mix business and politics. If a celebrity is a legend or "Superstar" it may have minimal effect on their careers. For those who have not achieved that point in their career...it's almost certain career suicide.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Where's the paparrazzi when some actor is out at a public indoor range? People magazine when a famous actress talks about the importance of RKBA and CCW in an interview? Even a grocery store tabloid showing a rock star renewing his CPL down at his local country sheriff's office?

That's my point. Even if they did these things in a "more than ordinary" way, the MSM wouldn't bother to report it, unless they could but a negative spin on it.

 

[Old Dog]

Big difference between a celebrity taking a public position and you doing the same.....for a celebrity to do so may affect their income earning potential.

Won't disagree with that. I guess one of my major points is then -- why should we care at all what any celebrity thinks? It is clear, and I said the same thing, Rembrandt -- these folks only care about their potential income and their images. Most of them already earn more in a year or less than most of us will make in our lifetimes. So why then, do so many here (on this forum and others) care which celebrity is pro-gun or not? Since the number of 'em that actually aren't hypocrites is so neglible to have no impact on public thinking.

This is the thing -- if it's okay for an actor, say, or a musician (Bono comes to mind) to be politically involved -- why is their message only heard coming from basically the liberal end of the political spectrum?

I could care less if a celebrity doesn't like guns, or likes Hillary Clinton. I simply think it's a bit silly for any of us to get so wrapped around the axle about whether or not an actor or a musician likes guns ... since we profess disdain and pontificate endlessly about the liberal celebrities.

And finally -- if more of these folks were more forthcoming (I'm talking specifically about the more conservative celebrities) -- they could help bring to the forefront more constructive issues -- rather than the typical celebrity causes (Chinese abuse of the Tibetans, save ANWR, fur is bad, gay marriage is good, Hillary for President, Tookie didn't do it and shouldn't be executed, ad nauseum) ...

 

[Tequila_Sauer]

It doesn't typically matter to me whether a celebrity voices their opinion or not because it won't really effect me either way, unless I'm engaged with that person in a debate.

Anti-gun celebs do annoy me, though, and I can't deny that my opinion of a particular celebrity is turned a bit more positive if I find out they're a gun owner, so on some level I guess it effects me, but not to an extreme extent.

Speaking of which, MTV has a new show out about Travis Barker from Blink 182, and they have bits of him on occasion shooting guns or purchasing. On a Christmas episode, (it might've been last Christmas, though), his wife got him a Desert Eagle as his "big" gift. In the show intro, it shows him shooting an M4 as well. It's just kind of strange seeing that on MTV, and from a punk musician.

 

[Henry Bowman]

This is the thing -- if it's okay for an actor, say, or a musician (Bono comes to mind) to be politically involved -- why is their message only heard coming from basically the liberal end of the political spectrum?

Media bias. Simple.

 

[tellner]

Hear! Hear!

Who cares?

 

[WillBrayJr]

Singer, model, and actress Milla Jovovich is very open about being pro-gun.

 

[BlackGold]

Perhaps athletes do not want to be in the same sentence as Brian Williams who thought he knew about guns.

Shaq wants to be a deputy when he retires from the NBA.

Oh, yea John Kerry is knows how to handle a shotgun too, see pics from the last election PR pheasant hunt.

 

[NineseveN]

Singer, model, and actress Milla Jovovich is very open about being pro-gun.

That's because she is the Goddess.

 

[1911JMB]

Singer, model, and actress Milla Jovovich is very open about being pro-gun.

I am embarrased to admit it, but I own Resident Evil on DVD. I was watching the documentary to this horrible movie, and while being interviewed Milla demonstated pure ignorance towards guns. She is safe with them due to training on movie sets, but she knows next to nothing about guns. In my opinion, anybody who is pro or anti-gun should know what he or she is talking about for credibility reasons, and she doesn't.

Heres an important point. Robert Deniro is progun and a CPL holder. He rarely even does interviews, because being political and showing your fans your personal life will alienate many of them, and further make characters in movies less believable to an audience.

 

[Tequila_Sauer]

"Oh, yea John Kerry is knows how to handle a shotgun too, see pics from the last election PR pheasant hunt"

True. A great sportsman all around. The pheasant hunt PALES in comparison to Snowboarding Kerry and football playing Kerry, though.

 

[Tequila_Sauer]

I've heard Deniro was into guns as well. There's a line in Ronin where Sam (his character) talks about liking the 1911. Maybe it was just this dialogue, but it got me thinking about other movies he's been in and I seem to recall he's wielded a 1911 on many occasions. It made me wonder if this line was a bit of an inside joke.

 

[Old Dog]

Media bias. Simple.

C'mon now. Let's quit using this old saw to excuse the fact that public figures seldom have the courage to give voice to their convictions. I'm sorry, this just doesn't fly anymore.

 

[Kurush]

"Oh, yea John Kerry is knows how to handle a shotgun too, see pics from the last election PR pheasant hunt"

True. A great sportsman all around. The pheasant hunt PALES in comparison to Snowboarding Kerry and football playing Kerry, though.

I win

 

[Henry Bowman]

The question was:

why is their message only heard coming from basically the liberal end of the political spectrum?

My answer, "media bias," was not to say that stars are equally pro gun and outspoken about it. It is to say that, even if they are, the mainstream media is not likely to report it unless it can be given a negative spin.

 

[akodo]

look, a celebrity endorsing a cause one way or the other isn't going to sway my opinion. I could give a rat's behind if the star in the current action blockbuster owns guns or not. I also don't care what his preferred breakfast cereal is.

If some celeb in his own personal life disagrees with some of the things i agree with, I don't care. Now, if the celeb gets on a bully pulpit decrying something i believe in, yup, they hit my personal blacklist. If some celeb in his own personal life agrees with my views on issues, but never mentions it, fine, no big deal. If, however, he does get on the bullypulpit in support of the issue, hats off to him. Of course, i am not going to say to an anti 'you should believe X because celeb Y does!' but i am going to be glad the celeb is outspoken in his support

 

[NineseveN]

I am embarrased to admit it, but I own Resident Evil on DVD. I was watching the documentary to this horrible movie, and while being interviewed Milla demonstated pure ignorance towards guns. She is safe with them due to training on movie sets, but she knows next to nothing about guns. In my opinion, anybody who is pro or anti-gun should know what he or she is talking about for credibility reasons, and she doesn't.

Heres an important point. Robert Deniro is progun and a CPL holder. He rarely even does interviews, because being political and showing your fans your personal life will alienate many of them, and further make characters in movies less believable to an audience.

I wonder what brought you to that conclusion?

 

[Old Dog]

It is to say that, even if they are, the mainstream media is not likely to report it unless it can be given a negative spin.

Ah, but Henry, I disagree -- I'd bet IF more celebrities were outspoken about gun issues, it'd force the issues into mainstream consciousness, thereby leading to more widespread acceptance -- much as many concepts became acceptable once celebrities and public figures came out in support of them ... For a time, musicians and actors almost made substance abuse favorable ... they've certainly popularized formerly unspoken issues or taboo behaviors such as sexual proclivities (Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, Paris Hilton), sexual preference (John, Bowie, DeGeneres, Jolie), practice of bizarre or cult-like religions (Cruise, Madonna) other political activism (Robbins, Sheen), single-parenthood, abortion, pot-smoking, etc ...

 

[NineseveN]

Ah, but Henry, I disagree -- I'd bet IF more celebrities were outspoken about gun issues, it'd force the issues into mainstream consciousness, thereby leading to more widespread acceptance -- much as many concepts became acceptable once celebrities and public figures came out in support of them ... For a time, musicians and actors almost made substance abuse favorable ... they've certainly popularized formerly unspoken issues or taboo behaviors such as sexual proclivities (Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, Paris Hilton), sexual preference (John, Bowie, DeGeneres, Jolie), practice of bizarre or cult-like religions (Cruise, Madonna) other political activism (Robbins, Sheen), single-parenthood, abortion, pot-smoking, etc ...

But the celebrities didn't cause those thing to become mainstream content, if you truly believe that the celebrities pull the strings of their media coverage, I don't think having this discussion will do us any good.

How many articles do you see in the MSM about Ted Nugent now that he's an overt out and out gunny? Unless it is to promote one of his shows for a network, it just doesn't get the coverage. The media decides what they print and air, not the stars...it just doesn't work that way.

Nearly all the examples you cite were due to the media's insistence in breaking and covering the story, not the star holding a press conference. In a lot of those examples, the celebrities hid from media coverage for the duration of the buzz about it. It's not like we saw Pam Ad Tommy doing infomercials for their video, nor did we see Tom Cruise holding press conferences about scientology before the whole scandal about the cult/religion came out and became mainstream.

I do see part of your point in your argument, but this part is way off base I'm afraid.

 

[WillBrayJr]

That's because she is the Goddess.

Dude, there is no such thing as a Goddess. Keep that up and you'll end up taking ride "Down South" when God calls for you.

1911JMB

Funny, I too own the Resident Evil DVD well both of them actually.
What is ignorant about this sentence: I get to do one of my favorite things which is to shoot a gun. I don't see anything ignorant about that.

 

[Rembrandt]

-- why is their message only heard coming from basically the liberal end of the political spectrum?

Just a theory....Liberals are emotional about their beliefs rather than analytical and factual. Most liberals are emotionally immature looking for gratification from their piers, will say what they think people want to hear to gain acceptance. These same people rarely have an understanding and knowledge of the topic....more interested in a quick sound bite to show others their shallow compassion.

 

[1911JMB]

I actually own both too for some reason. Actually, I mispoke. I was refering to RE 2. If you watch the documentary, she very clearly has no idea about guns. I remember specifically that she referred to Les Baer 1911's as "9mm's", and then went on to call mp5k's "uzi's". There was more, but I can't remember the details. Any time somebody calls any and all small SMG's "uzi's", I consider that a clear indication of ignorance. Think about it, most people reading these words know far more about guns than she does. The fact that she is hot and shoots guns on screen does not make her a "goddess" in my opinion.