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Avoid the Trap of Outrage Culture
There is a tempest brewing inside the pro-Second Amendment community over some … questionable political activities by companies which either make firearms accessories or are fellow travelers along the road to armed and safe self-defense.
First was the news that the Oregon City Police Department teamed up with Benchmade Knives to destroy guns confiscated or turned in to the police department. Gun owners the width and breadth of the internet were upset that a company that makes one type of self-defense tool (knives) would help the police destroy another type of self-defense tool (a gun). And to make matters worse, posts criticizing these actions by Benchmade were reported as offensive on Facebook (either by Benchmade or a third party) and taken down en masse, further enraging gun owners.
Next was the news that Surefire, one of the nation’s premier tactical light and suppressor companies, has made donations to politicians who harbor distinctly anti-gun prejudices, including people like Loretta Sanchez (D-Ranged) and others.
Now let’s set the record straight on one thing: Even though the destruction of guns by Benchmade may have been 100 percent in compliance with Oregon law, it was a terrible public relations move on their part. Gun owners in Oregon are facing some draconian legislation that will seriously curtail their right to keep and bear arms, so when a company that should be on their side (Benchmade) is shown to be ready, willing, and able to cut up guns on behalf of law enforcement, it stands to reason that gun owners in that state (and elsewhere) will be outraged.
The same is true with Surefire’s political donations. While Loretta Sanchez may indeed have been the representative for Surefire inside the halls of Congress, is she really the sort of person that a company known for producing excellent products for gun owners across the nation wants to associate with?
I think not.
The response of gun owners to these two incidents has been enlightening. I’ve seen dozens and dozens of posts on social media talking about how people will never buy Surefire or Benchmade products again, but what I haven’t seen is dozens and dozens of posts that talk about taking someone who’s never shot a gun before to the range, or posts about how a new gun owner was mentored and led along the path towards safe and secure self-defense.
Howard Beale told us, more than 40 years ago, that what all of us needed to do was get up out of chairs, open up our windows and scream “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” What he didn’t tell us, though, is what we need to do after we’re finished our screaming. Expressing our outrage doesn’t change a thing. Our outrage only matters when it spurs us to make a change in the world we live in. We need to put our words into action by registering people to vote. We need to turn our rancor over one company’s actions into adding to the ranks of our local and national gun rights organizations.
Get outraged. Then go out and change the world.
Published in Guns
Extremely good point.
I think it was pretty poor public relations for Benchmade, but from their perspective, they were just lending equipment to destroy weapons that no longer had owners, helping out the local police. I just don’t see it as so terrible. I’m still planning to keep my benchmade knives and should I ever need another I’ll buy from them. I like their product. Unless I can buy another Randall Knife. But I digress . . .
Pretty happy with my Spyderco, but I will gladly take any Benchmade products off the hands of any Ricochetti who can no longer own them in good conscience.
Yes, and not just when a general election rolls around. If you really care about policy changing, you really need to be involved in primaries.
Heh, just last week I had a range date with my daughter’s boyfriend. I was warned when they started dating that his personal history made him adamantly anti-gun. She must have been working on him little by little, because he asked me to teach him to shoot. Not giving up her pistol and concealed carry permit might have had some influence. (-:
I’m a CRKT guy myself, although I have been known to dabble in SOG and Gerber as well.
Sorry, I can’t get exercised about what Benchmade did. In fact, I approve – a local business helped out local law enforcement. Do you attach some sort of symbolic significance to the physical act of cutting up a gun? Do you think they’re like puppies and we need to find them a good home instead?
Yes, Oregon has some bad gun laws. What does that have to do with Benchmade’s action? In the real world, I mean.
This is outrageous.
Our culture has been deliberately moved toward a condition where every disagreement is the moral equivalent of war. It is no longer sufficient to disagree; we must destroy those who don’t agree. That’s what happens when politics replaces religion; an opponent becomes an apostate.
I expect this from the Left. It saddens and concerns me when I see it on the Right.
Well imagine this headline:
Police Sold Confiscated Gun A Year Ago Used In Shooting Death Last Night
It won’t matter if the police sold the gun to someone with a FFL. That will be the headline the media will print.
If you want a gun then go to a gun store, gun show, or buy one from a friend that is selling one if that’s legal in your state.
They will come for the guns until they get them.
Heh. They will come for the guns until they get what they deserve.