Does an interest in firearms lead to paranoia?

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For some reason, as I get older, I'm more interested in news and politics, and less interested in other stuff.

I've heard that statement made in various ways, and, having lived it, have to agree. When you're young, it's normal to be liberal, when you're older, it's normal to be more conservative.

Got my first BB gun at ~8 years old, first shotgun at ~12 years old. I've had at least one gun ever since then.

It wasn't until I was 40ish that I started to really pay attention to politics & those that would take away my/our hobbies for whatever reason. I'm not talking just guns; There are those who would take away motorcycles (street & dirt), RC model airplanes/cars, knives, plastic model glues, etc. etc. etc. All in the name of safety. Before that time, even though I did own guns, I really wasn't worried.

Over the years, I've noticed that the crime rate seems to be increasing. It may just be that the news media has grown and/or more crimes are being reported, but either way I've become more aware of what's going on in the world and becoming more worried about my & my families safety/freedom.

I'm also not as self-absorbed as I used to be.

So, I'm thinking that it's not paranoia, it's simply a better awareness of what's happening in the world around us.

Then again, I may just be justifying my paranoia :D
 
I assumed when you asked your question that you meant does owning a gun make one paranoid about their safety. To that I answer no. A gun is just a tool and I do not see how it can affect your mental health. It may make your already existing paranoia more noticeable but not create it.

As far as the becoming more interested in the news and politics, I say that is always a good thing. People should be aware of their govt and what it does as well as the world around them. Whatever causes this to happen is fine by me.

This being said, do not fall into the trap of caring so much about gun issues that you allow yourself to be led like cattle by any politician that says he will allow you to carry a gun. Always remember gun rights are one factor but there are others. Pay attention to over-all platforms and do not fall for bait tactics. Too many politicians count on you being so feverent about gun issues that you will ignore all else as long as they appear to be pro-gun. Remember that the same guys who claimed to be pro-gun and attacked Kerry as anti-gun have shown exactely the opposite since they were in office. Look at what Gonzalez did to imports and what Bush is doing now with his task force on gun control.

What good does it do in the end if all you have is an unfulfilled promise of better gun laws when you have no job due to outsourcing and immigration, are paying $4.00 a gallon for gas because of lack of oversight of big business, loosing hunting lands to big business, fearing that you can be aprehended and detained without charge, having your private lives spied on, and so on and so on.
 
Hmmm, something doesn't feel right here.

FTF,

I'm not sure if you're serious or not, but there are several statements and questions within your post that are worthy of discussion:

First off, I'm an average THR member. Gun owner, both traditional and 'assault' weapons, CCW permit and carry regularly, newly minted "cruffler" working to support my milsurp habit as well as an active letter writer to any person/representative/business that I think goes against my beliefs on gun control.

This is quite a generalization: what data do you have to support this claim?

I'm so damn fast to jump on anything and think they are 'coming after me'
.
and
I'm fixing to buy a few thousand rounds of ammo and a couple more guns "just in case" they try to make them illegal again
.
and
I think it's good to be paranoid when it comes to safety, but now I'm just paranoid over the entire system.
and finally,
Is this normal???

:scrutiny: I'm not sure I'm buying your story: your language is rife with value-laden phrases that have something of a sarcastic overtone. Maybe it's just my interpretation.

However, it's THR, so here you go: while paranoia may still be used in everyday language, from a psychological perspective it's outdated. You may want to read up on delusional disorders to see how many of your symptoms are present and under which category(ies).

Based on those findings, you can choose your next steps, which may include seeking help outside of an Internet forum.

Good luck,
DFW1911
 
CliffH said:
When you're young, it's normal to be liberal, when you're older, it's normal to be more conservative.
I've heard that. That must mean I'm gonna be ultra-conservative when I'm a geezer. I've been a conservative since I was about 12. And my daughter is more conservative than I am!
 
The way I figure it, preparedness looks like paranoia until something happens, then you're the astute fellow that saw it coming while everyone else is scrambling. With any luck we'll just go through life looking paranoid. That's fine with me.
Do take time to relax and enjoy things though.
 
Are your personal relationships with others ok?
Are all your bills paid on time?
Can you hold an intelligent conversation on a subject OTHER THAN guns, or the 2nd amendment?

If so:

Do what you want. More guns? more ammo? Fine.

Some people may think I have too many guns. SO WHAT!! It's my money.

Now if you put off paying the electric bill so you can buy that ammo that's on sale right now, you may need to reorganize your priorities.
If you consistently lose sleep over it you may need to calm down as well.
 
I think the definition of "Paranoid" has changed just like "homophobe" or any other word people use to describe people that don't agree with them. If you don't appreciate the merits of homosexuality (what ever they may be) and you think it's wrong, people call you a homophobe (which has nothing to do with fear, and more to do about objection). If you are concerned about the safety of your self and your fellow man you are "paranoid". I think anyone who calls you paranoid say's so because they (honestly) can't fathom the task of being concerned/responsible for their families safety, and because they can't handle the fact that they are not prepared to protect ones love ones, they think "surely it's not that I'm not man enough" but instead they say you are insane. Typical childish pass the blame business.

As far as I'm concerned, there's a lot to be worried about on this planet, but finding a balance where you are aware of the real day to day troubles you might face and living a normal life is the key. If balance is hard to find, I'll error on the side of "concerned for my safety"
 
Eyesac,

Why would you disagree with someone else's lifestyle. It is not for you to agree or disagree and since you have no reference you cannot judge. And why even bring that up in a gun chat...looks like you are just wanting an oppotunity to bash people.
 
I don't know if firearms lead to paranoia. I think reading a newspaper and staying up with politics makes you paranoid. I have been staying up with politics and the news for a couple of years now (I am 17), and I am more then worried about a lot of what is happening to our rights. When your government can both label you a "terrorist threat" for owning firearms or criticizing the administration and arrest "terrorist threats" and ship them off to be unlawfully held (and "interrogated") without knowing the charges against you, then I think you are justified in being paranoid.
 
Yes it does. Paranoia that we will indeed turn into an authoritarian state. It's not about firearms, though, it's about the laws you learn about when you want to make sure you're on the up-and-up, should you ever need to defend yourself.

Gun legislation is a microcosm of our political system. Once you've seen more of how things work in our capitols, you can never see our politics in the same light again.
 
Articfox said:
BTW, what is this talk of 'zombies?' What IS a zombie supposed to be? Are there people out there that think the dead are going to walk the streets? Or are there some sickos trying to classify people as "non-humans" so they can justify a twisted fantasy of killing people? Just like fanatics label infidels as 'sub-human' so it's ok to kill them. Could somebody help me with this please?
It's "the bad guy". It's a generic term describing whoever is out to get us in this imaginary scenario. The scenario could play out to be UN forces under European control, USSR Comunists, the government, or most likely, it will never happen. It's used to let people know that the writer isn't paranoid about the US Gov trying to kill us tomorrow, or some crazy thing like that.

The fact that you jumped to twisted fantasies of labeling others as non-human and killing them distubs me. Not that I fear you have those thoughts, but that you likely distrust a number of gun owners to the point that you'd propose quite a morbid and extreme rationalization rather than the more apparent and rational one.
 
a friend, who also happened to be a phsycologist and gun owner, gave me the following phrase. In this case insert "paranoid" into the blank.

"If you are aware enough to wonder if you are _____________ then you aren't because if you were you wouldn't be able to think about whether or not you were."

I agree the line is slim between awareness and paranoia. As the holder of a concealed carry license I am more aware of situations bc I hold myself to a higher standard of care.
 
Did I bash anybody? I was talking about how definitions have changed. Who did I bash? Hmmmm? Looks like someone is looking for an opportunity to call someone a basher...
 
I don't think Eyesac was trying to bash anyone, he was using a common everyday life example of how terminology has changed. Maybe you should read his first post a little more closely...:scrutiny:

Anyway, I have noticed within myself that as I've learned more of how in danger my gun rights really are, I have gotten more paranoid. It's not that gun ownership makes you paranoid, it's the gun-grabbing liberals that make you paranoid.
 
Sola,

The term paranoid has not changes and neither has the term homophobe. There was no reason to bring it up. he simply tried to create a situation where he could spew his belief without it seeming negative. Guys like him are the reason gun rights are slipping. Whenever someone who would not usually be considered a gun owner comes into the fold they are quickly offended by some small minded bigot and decide to distance themselves.
 
Where is there a misuse of the terms? I do not see that actually hppening. You are either paranoid or you aren't. You are either homophobic or you are not. Nothing anyone says will make it different. I still see no reason to relay his dislike of gay lifestyle in a public forum where people can be offended.. If I said something like "I believe being a christian is a sign of a weak mind but that doesn't make me anti-religion" I would be jumped all over...and rightly so.
 
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