Posted on Jun 18, 2022
Gun Sellers’ Message to Americans: Man Up
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Last November, hours after a jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse of two shooting deaths during antiracism protests in 2020, a Florida gun dealer created an image of him brandishing an assault rifle, with the slogan: “BE A MAN AMONG MEN.”
Mr. Rittenhouse was not yet a man when he killed two people and wounded another in Kenosha, Wis. — he was 17 — but he aspired to be like one. And the firearms industry, backed by years of research and focus groups, knows that other Americans do, too.
Gun companies have spent the last two decades scrutinizing their market and refocusing their message away from hunting toward selling handguns for personal safety, as well as military-style weapons attractive to mostly young men. The sales pitch — rooted in self-defense, machismo and an overarching sense of fear — has been remarkably successful.
Mr. Rittenhouse was not yet a man when he killed two people and wounded another in Kenosha, Wis. — he was 17 — but he aspired to be like one. And the firearms industry, backed by years of research and focus groups, knows that other Americans do, too.
Gun companies have spent the last two decades scrutinizing their market and refocusing their message away from hunting toward selling handguns for personal safety, as well as military-style weapons attractive to mostly young men. The sales pitch — rooted in self-defense, machismo and an overarching sense of fear — has been remarkably successful.
Gun Sellers’ Message to Americans: Man Up
Posted from nytimes.com
Firearms and Guns
Violence
Fear
Weapons
NRA
Posted >1 y ago
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I keep hearing the line from the "Spiderman" comics and movies: With great power comes great responsibility. "Being a man" has nothing to do with the type of firearm you own/carry/use. I carry not to impose my will upon others but rather to keep THEM from imposing theirs on ME.
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CPL Amie Mclaughlin
I do not carry because I trust and respect others rights. Today we do not settle differences as we once did. Today if you disagree shot them. This mentality is so wrong on many levels. Gun do not solve problems. Guns are meant for hunting and War. Having one in your home is fine IF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE and keep it away from those who should not have it. IE Kids and mentally Ill.I am not against owning Guns but I am against weapons of war being in John Q Public's hands.
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MSG Roy Cheever
I would agree with what you said except while on guard duty or security. Whether volunteer or paid. I would expect they would be armed with a weapon. While on such duty a long gun is a much better deterrent to stop people from doing the wrong thing. Especially when you know you will be guard against mobs that are intent on breaking, looting, burning and bodily harming or killing those who stand in their way. There were several examples of people doing such harm all during the summer of 2020. CPL Amie Mclaughlin
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MAJ Byron Oyler
CPL Amie Mclaughlin - There is not one firearm sold today that was not designed and taken from the battlefield. The M1 Garand is far more lethal than M16 but those that know nothing of weapons feel it is safer and never on a proposed ban list. What does horrible damage to this country is people being for or against something they have no understanding.
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The gun sellers have to sell more. With all the frivolous law suits it is the only way to recover. What happened to the stories the N Y T used to write about all the SUV’s killing people? Shouldn’t they continue to vilify the Auto makers? After all “auto”s kill more people every year than guns. Even now with less people driving cause they can’t afford the gas.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
CPL Amie Mclaughlin - Really? Might want to do some research. I found at least three examples of murderers deliberately using their vehicle to kill people with a quick 30 second search. Incidentally, the FBI crime database has for years shown more murders committed by knives and blunt objects than firearms.
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MSG Roy Cheever
Actually, that has happened a couple of times lately. People being run down with vehicles.
But the point was: the false narrative that “things hurt people” instead of people hurt people with things. Armolite Rifle-15 is a tool. Not used in the military, but by police and home owners as a weapon of choice over using shotguns. CPL Amie Mclaughlin
But the point was: the false narrative that “things hurt people” instead of people hurt people with things. Armolite Rifle-15 is a tool. Not used in the military, but by police and home owners as a weapon of choice over using shotguns. CPL Amie Mclaughlin
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CPL Amie Mclaughlin
MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P - Any thing can be a weapon even a glass of water. So the excuse that cars kill is not a justification for the AR15 to be sold.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
CPL Amie Mclaughlin - The M1 Garand is far more lethal than AR15 but you wont hear that on the news or from anti-gunner because largely they are misinformed.
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It is not the size of the gun that makes a man. It is the morals and honesty that helps to make a good man. If you need a gun to feel like a real tough man then you have serious problems with the size of other things. Sorry guys but from a women's view that is how I see it.
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