Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Wolf14 on May 01, 2004, 09:02:18 PM
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Found this while looking for information on what came first the G3 or the CETME........
The Anti-Gun Male
by Julia Gorin
LET'S be honest. He's scared of the thing. That's understandable--so am I. But as a girl I have the luxury of being able to admit it. I don't have to
masquerade squeamishness as grand principle - in the interest of mankind, no less.
A man does. He has to say things like "One Taniqua Hall is one too many," as a New York radio talk show host did in referring to the 9-year old New York girl who was accidentally shot last year by her 12 year old cousin playing with his uncle's gun. But the truth is he desperately needs Taniqua Hall, just like he needs as many Columbines and Santees as can be mustered, until they spell an end to the Second Amendment. And not for the benefit of the masses, but for the benefit of his self esteem.
He often accuses men with guns of "compensating for something." The truth is quite the reverse. After all, how is he supposed to feel knowing there are men out there who aren't intimidated by the big bad inanimate villain? How is he to feel in the face of adolescent boys who have used the family gun effectively in defending the family from an armed intruder? So if he can't touch a gun, he doesn't want other men to be able to either. And to achieve his ends, he'll use the only weapon he knows how to manipulate: the law.
Of course, sexual and psychological insecurities don't account for ALL men against guns. Certainly there must be some whose motives are pure, who
perhaps do care so much as to tirelessly look for policy solutions to teenage void and aggressiveness, and to parent and teacher negligence. But for a potentially large underlying contributor, psycho-sexual inadequacy has gone unexplored and unacknowledged. It's one thing to not be comfortable with a firearm and therefore opt to not keep or bear one. But it's another to impose the same handicap onto others.
People are suspicious of what they do not know - and not only does this man not know how to use a gun, he doesn't know the men who do, or the number of people who have successfully used one to defend themselves from injury or death. But he is better left in the dark; his life is hard enough knowing there are men out there who don't sit cross-legged. That they're able to handle a firearm instead of being handled by it would be too much to bear.
Such a man is also best kept huddled in urban centers, where he feels safer than he might if thrown out on his own into a rural setting, in an isolated house on a quiet street where he would feel naked and helpless. Lacking the confidence that would permit him to be sequestered in sparseness, and lacking a gun, he finds comfort in the cloister of crowds.
The very ownership of a gun for defense of home and family implies some assertiveness and a certain self reliance. But if our man kept a gun in the house, and an intruder broke in and started attacking his wife in front of him, he wouldn't be able to later say, "He had a knife--there was nothing I could do!" Passively watching in horror while already trying to make peace with the violent act, scheduling a therapy session and forgiving the perpetrator before the attack is even finished wouldn't be the option it otherwise is.
No. Better to emasculate all men. Because let's face it: He's a lover, not a fighter. And he doesn't want to get shot in case he has an affair with your
wife. Of course, it wouldn't be completely honest not to admit that owning a firearm carries with it some risk to unintended targets. That's the tradeoff with a gun: The right to defend one's life and way of life isn't without peril to oneself. And the last thing this man wants to do is risk his life - if even to save it. For he is guided by a dread fear for his life, and has more confidence in almost anyone else's ability to protect him than his own, preferring to place himself at the mercy of the villain or in the sporadically competent hands of authorities (his line of defense consisting of locks, alarm systems, reasoning with the attacker, calling the police or, should fighting back occur to him, thrashing a heavy vase).
In short, he is a man begging for subjugation. He longs for its promise of equality in helplessness. Because only when that strange, independent
alpha breed of male is helpless along with him will he feel adequate. Indeed, his freedom lies in this other man's containment.
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Julia Gorin is a 29 year old writer, commentator and stand-up comedienne who lives with her husband and pit bull in New York City. Born in the former Soviet Union, Julia emigrated to the United States as a toddler. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to New York ten years ago with dreams of fame, fortune and stardom. Educated at the City University of New York's Hunter College, Julia has written opinion pieces for the Washington Times, LA Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Christian Science Monitor. While not a dyed in the wool firearms aficionado, Julia is a firm believer in the Constitution of the United States - and that includes the Second Amendment.
This article was reprinted from the Jewish World Review, where it was originally published. Julia Gorin can be contacted at jegorin@erols.com
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Thank you for posting that essay
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It's tripe... generalist tripe.
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I wonder........ was she thinking of sandman as she wrote her brilliant essay?
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Originally posted by Sandman
It's tripe... generalist tripe.
I agree that it is written with a pretty broad brush and of course I don't know where she gets here information from but it is an interesting discourse.
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Sandman that is a very interesting avatar. was that you on the floor filming? was it taken Monday morning in your place of employment? It would hardly be surprising to me if the answer to the above were both YES.
Peace
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In a lifetime oif being around firearms I have found that the essay has more than a ring of truth to it. A lot of men are frightened of firearms and... being dishonest or, not really even knowing why... they seek to disarm those who aren't afraid of firearms so that they won't be expossed . This is pretty basic stuff really.
Another thing I noticed is that a lot of "physical fitness" guys... guys who are really obsesive about working out... fear guns. they know that they can be equalized or even overcome by a frail woman or old man. They know that all those years of working out and the "respect" that they get from their physical presence can be cut short by one crippling or maiming bullet fired by a little old lady.
As a lot of these men get older and more experianced in life they mellow and realize that firearms are just tools... very important tools and that they keep people polite and bad guys out in the gutter where they belong. They no longer feel that they can take on 2 thugs or even one with their bare hands even if they have magicaly removed all firearms from the earth and the thugs are armed with nothing more than clubs, knives or bare hands.
course for people in some countries... all this revelation comes way too late.
lazs
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well... this is good news..
So far, it would appear that only sandie is in denial and... we all knew that allready anyway.
Good to get this stuff out in the open.. beggining of the healing process...
lazs
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Denial of what?
I know how to handle a firearm. I simply do not have them in my home because I consider them to be an unacceptable amount of additional risk.
Julia Gorin is misguided and tries to paint the gun issue as a manhood thing. I think it's bull****.
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I don't know if painting yourself as terminally naive is any better than admitting your nerosis..
you can get help for a neurosis.
lazs
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I don't have a clue what you're talking about, but I can tell you have nothing of substance to add to this thread and have resorted to nothing more than a personal attack.
Enjoy your gratuitious mutual masturbation. You can carry on without me.
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wtf is going on here.. Lazs is agreeing with a woman.. Lazs, could this woman be your soulmate?? Would you allow this woman to vote? You agreeing and backing up here essay is like saying you have peeled YOUR broad brush back and indeed decide not to paint this woman? I'm at a loss of words here.. hehehe
dude
edit: it was an essay.....
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I dont think shes wrong or misguided. Its an essay and it was based on her opinion gathered from how she percieves people in her environment. Hell from the bio information given shes not even a die hard gun person. With that being said thats one of the things I found intresting about the whole damn essay. Shes a strong believer in the constitution including the second amendment. Shes not trying to create any loop holes or trying to convince people that the 2nd says this but it really means this as if they were alive and around when the constitution was being drafted.
Now as far as her essay being all about a manhood thing, shes real close to the truth in my opinion. As it stands right now, the world is still very much male dominated and males commit the majority of crimes in the US. Women, invalids, non aware of surroundings type including those who live in glass houses and the elderly are usualy the victims.
The other thing that was touched upon was how men are scared of what they dont know. I have met both men and women who are scared of guns because they are not educated about them for whatever reason. Whats funny is that I have always offered to educate the uneducated in the hopes of establishing an understanding of what they dont understand. Recreational shooting can be/is just as fun as anything else they could want to do. They just have to try it and see. It always ends up being the female that gives it a try. The male is to scairt to get over his fear of the unknown. The female walks away with a new perspective. The males walk away continuing to preach against what they dont understand. They continue to want others to live like they do because the way they live works for them and there should be no other way to live than their way because their way is whats best for all.
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I don't keep a gun because I have a 4 and a 7 year old in the house, and if they are anything like their dad(and they are), they like to snoop into their parent's bedroom. But the police station is less than a mile away(and a fully equipped firehouse a block away), so I don't feel the need to have one. If I lived out in the country, I would probably be inclined to keep a shotgun. I have thought about getting a bow though, i'm told my younger ones would not have the strength to use it.
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All men should be armed, then let Darwinism sort it out.
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Originally posted by storch
Sandman that is a very interesting avatar. was that you on the floor filming? was it taken Monday morning in your place of employment? It would hardly be surprising to me if the answer to the above were both YES.
Peace
Because if you disagree with this woman's analysis you are a wimp who not only gets beat up at work, but like filming it.
Storch! Brilliant deduction. Now tell us how you can tell if he is a Witch.
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Reminds me of an essay written by a male on "The Anti-Tampon Female".
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sandie... I would say that you do not know how to "handle a firearm" If you did then you would know that there is very little danger having one in the house for the person who understands one... for you to think they are so dangerous is proof of how naive you are.
six has about the best reasons... Kids, especially boys that age can work a heavy double action revolver or rack the slide of a semi auto... I was taught, as were all my friends, at an early age that we were not to play with guns. My son (and daughter) was allowed to handle any of my firearms in my presence and... we went out shooting (plinking) so that they could see what firearms were capable of.
Alternately... Smith and several other companies make locks that lock the hammer with a key.
lazs
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Oh... I agree with many women on many subjects... It is too bad that we have to throw out their votes with all the others but... In the long run it is for the best... otherwise we end up with democrats.
My girlfriend does not care about guns one way or the other. that is fine with me.
lazs
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It is too bad that we have to throw out their votes with all the others but...
Oh! I thought it was just women you wanted to take the vote from Lazs. Out of curiousity, who else is on your list?
[edit] not sure about guns and sexuality - if anything, I'd say that it's either not a factor, or they are owned for 'macho' value [edit]
Ravs
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sorry if that wasn't clear... I meant that it is too bad that we have to throw out the sensible womens votes with all the other womens votes.. Still... it's the only practical way to do it.
lazs
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A very interesting essay.
BTW, I still keep a gun or two in my house even though I have two young kids. It's my responsibility to keep my kids safe from intruders and my firearms. A properly secured weapon can allow me to do both.
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and the difference between a 'sensible' woman and 'all the other women' is???
lazs this is getting interesting!
Ravs
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rav.. the short answer is... one who agrees with me about a subject is "sensible" on that subject. One who allows me to do as I please and does nothing to interfere is also somewhat "sensible" and I will settle for that.. One who tries to guide how I live is a nagging, hormone crazed fruitcake who, if she isn't on anti depressants, soon will be.
There are only a small percentage that are sensible but.. they are unreliable... They can revert during depression or hormonal attacks or heavy peer pressure. So... not worth making an exception for.. Generalzing works out best for everyone in this case.
Plus.. they would be happier.
lazs
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lol. Thanks for the reply, Lazs.
Ravs