(anyone else noticed the increasing frequency of rants lately?)
One of the standard epithets applied to firearms enthusiasts is "gun nut." Frankly, I find this appellation insulting. After all, a nut is someone who's less than 100% in the mental stability department.
Geeks are generally harmless; the guy sitting at his computer, working away for hours trying to get that last compile error out, isn't much of a threat to anyone. Nuts, on the other paw, are heavily invested in the concept of external harm.
Gun geeks are concerned with getting maximum accuracy and reliability out of their guns. Gun nuts just want them to go BANG, preferably (but not necessarily) without hurting themselves.
Gun geeks are the guys you see at the range with just their primary and backup pistols, and maybe a 10/22T. They change their targets once the X-ring or COM is shot out, which happens after maybe 25 shots if they're having a bad day. Gun nuts bring all of their trick MAK-90s and ARs(*), a metric buttload of high-cap mags, and one bullseye target, which they hit maybe 15% of the time, since their aim consists of blasting from the hip.
Gun geeks know (and religiously follow) the Four Rules. Gun nuts have no idea who Jeff Cooper and Massad Ayoob are (I've asked), and sneer at the geeks who clear and safe their guns before going downrange.
Gun geeks understand that clean guns work better. Gun nuts' guns have 10 years worth of accumulated crap in the bores and actions.
Gun geeks understand why primers and powder should be stored separately. Gun nuts throw everything into one ammo can (preferably .50BMG).
Gun geeks don't shoot up public places when they don't get a full order of fries.
Gun geeks are only dangerous to criminals and tyrants. Gun nuts are dangerous to everyone.
Yes, I'm a gun geek. And damn proud of it.
(*): No offense to the geeks with trick MAKs and ARs.
------------------
"The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property,
or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called into question.."
Article 11, Section 13, CO state constitution.
One of the standard epithets applied to firearms enthusiasts is "gun nut." Frankly, I find this appellation insulting. After all, a nut is someone who's less than 100% in the mental stability department.
Geeks are generally harmless; the guy sitting at his computer, working away for hours trying to get that last compile error out, isn't much of a threat to anyone. Nuts, on the other paw, are heavily invested in the concept of external harm.
Gun geeks are concerned with getting maximum accuracy and reliability out of their guns. Gun nuts just want them to go BANG, preferably (but not necessarily) without hurting themselves.
Gun geeks are the guys you see at the range with just their primary and backup pistols, and maybe a 10/22T. They change their targets once the X-ring or COM is shot out, which happens after maybe 25 shots if they're having a bad day. Gun nuts bring all of their trick MAK-90s and ARs(*), a metric buttload of high-cap mags, and one bullseye target, which they hit maybe 15% of the time, since their aim consists of blasting from the hip.
Gun geeks know (and religiously follow) the Four Rules. Gun nuts have no idea who Jeff Cooper and Massad Ayoob are (I've asked), and sneer at the geeks who clear and safe their guns before going downrange.
Gun geeks understand that clean guns work better. Gun nuts' guns have 10 years worth of accumulated crap in the bores and actions.
Gun geeks understand why primers and powder should be stored separately. Gun nuts throw everything into one ammo can (preferably .50BMG).
Gun geeks don't shoot up public places when they don't get a full order of fries.
Gun geeks are only dangerous to criminals and tyrants. Gun nuts are dangerous to everyone.
Yes, I'm a gun geek. And damn proud of it.
(*): No offense to the geeks with trick MAKs and ARs.
------------------
"The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property,
or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called into question.."
Article 11, Section 13, CO state constitution.