We 100% ought to be armed, but I'm really concerned about aspects of the broader trans/lefty gun culture that's sprung up. My general experience with it is that a lot of people think having a gun is a superpower that makes the indestructible and often people neglect to learn important skills surrounding shooting, like deescalation or even just carrying and practicing with non-lethal options. Very quickly people get sucked into the Gun Badass fantasy and begin posturing as some kind of commando, often because there are social rewards to doing so among people who are themselves not armed and informed.
What I keep thinking of is that thing from the other day where somebody drew a gun on a transphobic street preacher and shoved it in his face. A bunch of comments were like 'I don't want to hear any one say anything bad about this, they need to learn a lesson'. So there are a lot of people going out, buying a gun, not understanding even the tactical considerations of how brandishing a gun and not using it will 1) give up any element of surprise which is your strongest asset and 2) immediately make you into a target for anyone around you to shoot, otherwise assault, rob, or even just identify.
There's a lot of people who don't know what the hell they're talking about, being led by other people who don't know what the hell they're talking about, discounting a lot of extant information out there, and just acting on bad ideas. Everyone needs a quip, everyone needs a slogan, everyone needs some icon to present themself as a revolutionary hero for owning a gun and knowing how to operate it. And so many people fall for it, so many people reward that kind of behavior.
I also think of that woman whose photos have gone around recently, carrying the AK wearing a red beret and a remarkably wack plate carrier. She's been suggested to me as a friend on facebook by its algorithm. Her public account is plastered with photos of her at actions wearing her little hero costume, with the names of professional photographers who have taken cool pictures of her at actions, excerpts from articles she's been quoted in, names and photos of people she organizes with, her partners even. Basking in the glory of all these aesthetic signifiers suggesting she's some revolutionary hero, and just as many shibboleths to suggest she isn't.
Do not take yourself too seriously because you are an American with a gun. Gunfights always, 100% of the time, suck shit, and aren't cool, and you will never have a good time shot at. It should always be avoided if it can. It is unbelievably easy to get killed. Even if your splits are a consistent .12, even if you can drill dimes at 100 yards. The way you win a gunfight is by not being in one. Not puffing up your chest bigger than the other guy.
