That Loaded Gun in My Carry-On? Oh, I Forgot

[MercutioATC]

71. Can you explain your definition of "gun cultist"?

I have friends who are more into guns than I am. They love the precision, the workmanship. They appreciate all of the little nuances of how a firearm works. They buy new stocks at gun shows to replace the ones they already have because the grain in the wood is more attractive. They have libraries of the history of weapons and warfare, they have collector-grade historical items from WW1 and WW2, they have individual rounds of ammunition in odd calibers simply because that round hasn't been made in 100 years.

They also own 20, 30, 40 guns.

Are they "gun cultists?


I'm not a competitive shooter, but I also have friends who competitively shoot. For them, shooting is a sport (compare it to archery). They are meticulous about the mechanics of firearms and how to improve a firearm's performance. They shoot hundreds of rounds per practice session and they regularly stock thousands of rounds because they stock up when they find deals.

They own a dozen or so guns.

Are they "gun cultists"?


I'm not a hunter, but I have friends who hunt. For most of them, it's a family tradition that's passed down from generation to generation. All of the hunters I know use the meat. None of them take an iffy shot because they don't want the animal to suffer. I know one hunter who got off of work at 5:00pm, sat in the woods for seven hours, shot a deer, dressed it and then drove the carcass to a butcher the next morning on the way to work for the sole purpose of donating the meat to a homeless shelter.

They typically own 3-10 guns.

Are they "gun cultists"?


I'm an air traffic controller. I'm not a historian, I'm not a competitive shooter, I don't hunt. I enjoy some target shooting and primarily own guns for home defense. I don't have a CCW, but have considered getting one.

I own three guns.

Am I a "gun cultist"?


All of us are rabid about gun safety. All of us have used guns regularly and are very familiar with what a gun can do.


So, are any of us qualified to teach kids about gun safety, or are we all "gun cultists"?