The New Gun Culture (Human Events Magazine)

[Fred Fuller]

A little navel-gazing never hurts, I suppose... just a sample here, see the full article at the link, please. There's a picture too (a tattooed rifle?) and some interesting comments.

Gun Culture 2.0 has arrived...
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http://www.humanevents.com/2012/09/21/the-new-gun-culture/

THE NEW GUN CULTURE
By: Richard L Johnson
9/21/2012 11:14 PM

The gun community has forever changed. Once in a supposed slow decline, the popularity of shooting and gun ownership has come roaring back during the past couple of decades. Sales of firearms are setting all kinds of records, and gun ranges are frequently packed with people.

Michael Bane calls the latest generation of gun owners “Gun Culture 2.0,” which I find to be an exceptionally apt description. Much like the move from the “old” internet, to the current generation of interactive and social web sites was called “Web 2.0,” the Gun Culture 2.0 is a similarly remarkable change in our own community.

But the new generation of gun owners no longer fit the old-school sportsmen look of yesteryear. The new generation of gun owners are fiercely independent, yet socially active – especially in the online space. The new generation comes from urban centers as well as middle America. New gun owners are of all genders, colors, creeds and social strata. They are not Elmer Fudd.

Unlike the reserved approach to politics that the traditional firearms lobby has taken, the new generation is outspoken, unashamed and willing to fight for what they believe. They are educated on the origins of the Second Amendment and the fundamental right to be free. They do not advocate for the Second Amendment as a right to hunt, rather they perceive it as a guaranteed ability to resist an oppressive government.

But, why the shift? There are a variety of reasons, but I contend the internet is the primary reason for the revolution in the gun culture./////snip

http://www.humanevents.com/2012/09/21/the-new-gun-culture/

 

[Big_E]

I would say that the internet and video games have had a huge impact.

Forums like this one and many others come up in numerous search results when searching for various things like ".308 vs .30-06" or "M&P vs Glock." These sites also have numerous opinions and information about the RKBA. All it takes is a little reading to help understand that the politics and "info" from the media has been wrong for years.

Video games, especially with games like Halo, CoD and other games have started exposing guns to the youth and young adults in a new medium. Eventually, they say, "Hey, I want to try shooting a gun since I spend hours each day on war games." I was surprised that some of the new shooters I have taken out have a good understanding of how iron sights work based off of just playing video games.

I think the most important part comes down to "us". We have to display a rational view of firearms and help instruct those whom are willing to try shooting. Even if those that we take out to have some fun on the range don't become gun owners, they still take an understanding that firearms are fun, aren't limited to a particular cultural stereotype, and if handled correctly and safely aren't crazy murder machines. As long as private owners, the NRA and events like Appleseed help reach out to instructing others we can have a winning side.

However, there will always be those that cannot be unswayed on their political views or hoplophobia. As long as we reduce their numbers and bolster ours and continue to in the SCOTUS and Legislative branch, we can help secure our freedoms for a long time.

 

[Cosmoline]

they perceive it as a guaranteed ability to resist an oppressive government.

I don't think the main impulse is to "resist an oppressive government." In fact that sort of talk alienates a lot of gun owners from the old and new guard alike.

From all I've seen, the main growth spurs have been personal protection and straight-up interest in firearms. Very few people are buying firearms because they imagine some kind of Red Dawn or Turner Diaries situation.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

There was professor out of Harvard who covered this in the book "Rise of the Anti-Media" and how it relates to the rise of the new gun culture. Nice work, but a little late.