The fact that I hate the NRA does not mean I’m anti-gun.

Nor does the fact that I find most of the groups in the pro-gun lobby to be crappy or contemptible.

I target shoot. My family hunts. I’ve shot things from BBs to shot guns to desert eagles. Responsible, regulated, and educated gun ownership isn’t something I have a problem with. Indeed, I believe rather that we need to not restrict the rights of one population to justify another keeping those same rights. Outside of that very basic stance and experience I don’t have any passion for 2nd amendment issues in particular

What I do have a problem with is people who use the issue of gun ownership to gain support for/use rhetoric of things that aren’t about guns directly. I have a problem with people using gun stuff to justify taking away the rights of people with mental health disabilities, including but not limited to 2nd amendment rights. I have a problem with some of the racist framing that is used by these lobbies. I have a problem with lobbyists using a scapegoat to avoid dealing with the non-catch word, non-sound bite-able issues around these issues. I have a problem with the fact that the NRA and groups like it have so invested in that rhetoric that to talk about owning a gun or target shooting associates that rhetoric with you. I hate that their rhetoric is helping to push through things that would make it easier to forcefully commit people (when we already have too many inappropriate ones), to let relatives and friends invade their privacy, and slew of other things.

And in particular, I hate hate hate that it’s rhetoric that will make gun owners reluctant to envision themselves seeking out support for mental health issues they have before they hit crisis.Hitting crisis sucks, and avoiding crisis through learning how to manage your ish is a good idea. That people who are already part of the population that they are targeting keep thinking it’s those other people with MH disabilities, not them! But the other that they point to is not any one real person, but a conglomeration of people just like them on difficult days. I know for a fact that people in my area ALREADY refrain from getting support because of fears that they will no longer be allowed their guns. That can only get worse as the NRA spouts this particular load of bullshit.