Wikipedia defines Projection Bias as “a psychological defense mechanism where a person subconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people. Thus projection involves imagining or projecting the belief that others originate those feelings.” Like when a non-gun owner asserts that others cannot be trusted to safely carry firearms because they personally don’t know how or believe themselves capable. Usually we attribute these amazing reasoning skills to the left-leaning anti-gun crowd which is why, as a student at probably the most conservative university in the U.S., I was very surprised to hear this from a classmate today . . .
Guy1: “I think the worst thing you can do is carry a weapon.”
Guy2: “Why? What if you’re attacked?”
Guy1: “Because then you just pull it out when you get angry, you just don’t even think.”
Guy3: “Yeah, you just pull it out to make you feel better, then you end up using it.”
Guy1: “I’m afraid of people who carry weapons, so it doesn’t make sense to carry a weapon because then I become what I’m afraid of.”
I almost went over there and told them that I’m usually carrying when I’m not on campus, and that I’m actively trying to bring about change of policy to allow guns on campus.
Almost.