Radio Star

I try to listen to B B & Guns every chance I get. When I don't listen, it's cool; I download the podcast. I still have several I haven't listened to yet, but I still love the show. Breda's been holding down the fort just fine during Bonnie's hiatus, bringing in guest hosts to keep the show fun. Lately, she's had one of my favorite bloggers and good friend JayG sitting second chair. It's been cool.

Last night the show's topic was "Out and Proud." The idea there is derived from a phrase frequently used in reference to a homosexual's decision to no longer hide their sexuality or, "coming out of the closet." Gun owners - particularly those who legally carry concealed weapons - are generally trying to keep that a secret in much the same fashion, and, quite honestly, for very similar reasons. Society as a whole tends to be very ignorant of all things gunnie and, as a result, tends to be fearful. Gunnies get treated differently once we come out of the gun safe. Jay referred to it as the "deathbeast." Gunnies become the deathbeast when everyone finds out, and it's tough - sometimes impossible - to change people's minds.

It's actually worse in Texas, believe it or not, because you don't have the option to carry openly. You cannot carry openly in Texas, so when you carry concealed you are required by law to maintain absolute secrecy. Sure, you can tell people (if you're stupid) that you have a gun, but that would make about as much sense as walking into a police station and telling the cops that you have an ounce of weed in your shorts. Either way, you're gonna end up under a pile of cops before the law itself is considered.

I, being a glutton for punishment, have some friends who are gay. We go over there and hang out pretty often. There's usually a bunch of people over there, and the majority of them are gay. Many of them very liberal. I go over there with my gun on, and occasionally sit in silent fear that my pistol gets spotted (a fear I just don't have in public, strangely enough) because I get too relaxed, or someone flat outs me.

So I can sure as hell see the similarities between being a gun owner and being gay. It ain't easy either way. You can keep it a secret and only share who and what you really are in small circles of close friends, or you can be out and proud where you'll have to find some way to cope with the masses whose default condition is generally fear.

Makes me wish there were a bunch more folks like Breda and Jay around where I live.



tweaker