The anti-gun crowd can twist or spin even the most innocent of statements into an example of "those crazy gun nuts."
For most people who don't own guns, guns are usually seen with something akin to disdain, or a hint of fear.
Just the existance of this website or similar sites and the obvious interest or gusto with which the participants discuss the minute details of guns, shooting, hunting, and handloading to most non-gunners is considered by them to be abnormal at best and typically frightening. (Best way to win someone over, take them shooting.)
One might think that this view is shared exclusively amongst the anti-gun crowd or those that are unfamiliar with guns, it is not. I know many shotgunners and hunters who have the same or similar attitudes towards handgunners or military type rifle shooters. Some hunters I know could really care less about guns, it is just the tool they use to hunt deer or fowls with, they use a modern rifle or shotgun during firearm season, a muzzle loader during blackpowder/muzzle loader season, and a bow during bow season. If you were to mention a "right to keep and bear arms" or using a firearm for self-defense to them they would roll their eyes and shake their head - as in "oh, you're one of those nuts."
I don't really have much if any problem with the vast majority of posts here or most other sites. In fact if one thinks this site is ever over the top or bad then I would suggest that they first take a look at many of the other gun sites out there. This site is tame by comparison.
Some buzz words and terms that generally elicit the eye-roll response - militia - tyranny - tactics - rights - inalienable - revolution - abusive government - liberty - military gear - TEOTWAWKI - survivialism - bug out bag. This site is relatively light on those things. But funny thing is if you read the Declaration of Independence a lot of those things are mentioned or referenced. Those darn gunnut founding fathers. Oops, there goes another one of those terms - founding fathers.
I for one would rather not see heavily censored speech - self-censored by self-concious PC concerns.
I may agree that some posts are not reflective of reality - but if the person posting it believes that it is, then I would rather see them post it and have it refuted by others, than have them or others with similar thoughts who don't post go around believing without debate that their views reflect reality.
I would rather see things discussed than not discussed. At least cooler and more sage points of view have a chance to prevail.
As far as the posts related to movies, zombies, TEOTWAWKI, ect... I would think that most thinking individuals would realize that they are tongue in cheek and just fun. While firearms must be treated and handled with care and respect - there is also nothing wrong with having fun and aknowledging that "yes, guns can be fun." If I went through my life taking everything dead seriously and being very self-concious about what anyone might think of everything I say, do, or think - then I would have condemned myself to a miserable life. Conversely, if I were to sit around and do the same to others in judging them, I would have similarly condemned myself to a life of misery.
Serious tactics and using a gun for self-defense is a serious part of life. Some choose not to deal with that fact and that is their choice. But there is also time to play, to think about unlikely senarios, improbable situations, and yes occassionally even goofy ones. Handloaders talk about that twenty caliber something loaded in a necked downed fifty case. Hunters talk about that fifteen foot bear. Fishermen about the one that got away.
Are there immature posts here, are there individuals who sometimes sound as if they hope to have to use their gun in a self-defense shooting? Yes, but that is part of learning and growing. Hopefuly those individuals will learn, grow, and mature. But if they are shutout of the learning process then how can that happen? How did those sage and wise men get that way, through the experience of living, once they were young and foolish too. And even sage and wise men still have a lot of learning to do. Sometimes they still even want to have "fun."
Perhaps I am wrong in my judgement, but that is part of the debate isn't it.