Hoplophobia – An unreasoning fear of instruments (weapons). Hoplophobia is a term that was coined, if I recall correctly, by the late Jeff Cooper. It is an excellent term and describes well those who fear instruments more than the hands that wield them. The very heart and soul of the anti-weapon movement revolves around the idea that individuals are not responsible for their actions, rather it is the object that spurs the criminal to commit the act of violence. Simply put, this is idiocy. It does not take into account the millions upon millions of owners of weapons who do NOT commit crimes of violence. Such an attitude is akin to looking upon all men as potential rapists – because, after all, they’re equipped to do so. Or considering all women to be potential prostitutes – because, after all, they are equipped to exercise that activity. And that’s not to mention the slap in the face of the billions of honest poor upon the planet when we are told that high rates of criminality are due to poverty. What about the billions of poor who do NOT commit crimes? Or the rich who commit crimes? What is THEIR excuse if it is poverty that causes crime?
Category: Culture
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a phobia as:
An exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.
In other words, a phobia goes beyond reason and causes a person to act according to the fear instead of pursuing a course guided by reason. There are many ways one can gain mastery of one’s emotions and fears, but they all imply placing ourselves in the uncomfortable position of having to reason through a situation instead of allowing a knee jerk reaction to dominate our life.
In the case of hoplophobia, at the current time an irrational fear is being generated by the mass media and politicians in order to drive the public to take certain actions out of irrational fear instead of acting according to reason and wisdom. But what is hoplophobia, you ask? According to the late Jeff Cooper, originator of the term, hoplophobia is the irrational fear of weapons. Right here is where some will stop reading, much like an arachnophobe might exit an area screaming in fear over seeing a spider’s web. There’s not much reason in attempting to reason with someone who reacts so irrationally. If you’re still reading then you show some degree of common sense and a willingness to consider facts instead of hype and fear mongering.
So, apparently “common sense” dictates that if someone is placed on a “watch list” by a faceless bureaucrat without benefit of a trial nor the opportunity question those placing him there, that person should then be denied their constitutional rights. Really? REALLY? Does “common sense” really dictate that much trust in nameless/faceless bureaucrats? Methinks not. Why?
Following the horrific attack in Orlando, Florida in the early hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016, there has been a virtual storm of posts in social media, most of which reflect, amplify, distort and or merely repeat the “main stream” media. As this author sits here contemplating the situation, he is lead to consider some of the statements made by persons of his acquaintance in regard to what transpired.
One of the most ironic statements made by some folks is made in the form of a question, “What about my RIGHT to FEEL SAFE?”. This is usually made in reply to the idea of allowing people to possess firearms for defense of self and others, and is usually made by those who are diametrically opposed to the idea of using force to resolve situations which can only be resolved by the use of force.