someone who firmly believes in the right to self defense against threats to person or property, even if that involves terminating the existence of someone who in actuality is a victim of the same damn system I am trying to change as a progressive, I find myself VERY uncomfortable with the 'gun culture.
I'm a second generation San Franciscian, much more at home at the opera or an art gallery than a stock car race or country music concert, a Bernie supporter and hardly even know many Republicans. I quit the NRA after a complimentary free year after purchasing my .357.
The gun culture, I think, is fundamentally based on Christianity- as interpreted by the worst elements of that as distilled by the Evangelical movement that looks towards an 'end of times'. It is a patriarchal, fire and brimstone mental construct that still uses race and class identification, even if many POC have embraced the theological teachings through sheer indoctrination. It is based on insecurity, hatred of the 'other' and a tribal nationalist religious based insularity.
So I am NOT a 'gun control' advocate except in the sense of supporting background checks and a requirement to demonstrate proficiency and understand of safe handling. Gun control advocates do not understand that they are NOT trusted for good reason- more than once guns that WERE legal when registered were later declared illegal and required to be turned in (I know as a friend had to do so with an SKS here in California), so the paranoia and distrust have been somewhat earned.
Having zero desire to ever use a firearm against another human but I will if someone is threatening me or my family with violence, and no interest in shooting someone over mere property *but* I have to assume that someone trying to kick in a door or otherwise attacking my property would also be capable of doing me harm, at which point I believe that I have the right of self defense.
So I sort of see both sides. Loath the culture as representative of, indeed even a distillation of everything that can make one ashamed to be an American when talking to people in Europe but not willing to even acknowledge as anything other than idiocy those who would say that self defense is anything other than justified
I view my firearms much as I do my car's airbag or fire insurance policy, I will be very happy if never used (obvious exception of occasional practice to maintain proficiency).
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