This one actually came in as an “Ask Foghorn,” but I think this is a question better posed to the AI as a whole. Chris writes:
I’ve gained an interest in firearms over the past few years after classifying myself as, I suppose, pro-gun control for most of my life (late 20s currently, so it ain’t that long an era, but oh well). Particularly in the last six months, I’ve been researching them a great deal online, particularly your website and Hickok45’s and Mrcolionnoir’s Youtube channels…
Starting last week, I’ve started putting research into practice by going to the local gun range, renting and trying out some guns, and signing up for a CCW class. All this is particularly notable for me considering I grew up in Northern California in a town where firearms are viewed as only slightly better than the spawn of Satan…an agnostic, non-specific, non-discriminatory Satan, open to revulsion and condemnation by any and all religions, creeds, or lack thereof. The description “damned, dirty, rotten, hippy, liberal” has also been thrown my way a couple times, usually by me. I guess when deadly trouble strikes, I just can’t get the government into my life fast enough, what with those silly cops being minutes away! …After living in the rural South for 10 years and (soon-to-be) marrying into a rural Southern family, you get a sense of humor about such things. Truth be told, I’ve also begun learning that “liberal” and “conservative” are shorthands that cover a LOT of territory, but that’s another story.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your website. I’ve found TTAG to have a wealth of useful information for someone just getting into firearms. I also appreciate the fact that you are willing to get a wide range of perspectives, from Mr. Kraft’s rather persuasive essays on why gun control does not work to MikeB’s rather…not so persuasive (anymore) posts on why gun control is an absolute necessity. If nothing else, I appreciate the gestures towards my former opinion, although Leghorn mentioning his political leanings in a couple posts and his book (that I devoured) did get my attention. I have learned a ridiculous amount about so many aspects of firearms and their ownership from your website, and I cannot thank you enough. TTAG is on my list of sites I check multiple times a day, and I hope an increasing readership and the recent server shuffling allow TTAG to be publishing for quite a while.
One question (among many) that has been bugging me as a vaguely liberal soon-to-be-gun-owner is balancing not wanting to advertise owning firearms for reasons of security (not being a target for thieves), not violating the CCW laws in my state (carrying openly is still treated with suspicion in the state I live in), and dip shit DAs (should the worst occur) with normalizing gun ownership and showing that firearms themselves do not need to be feared, especially among my fellow libtards? I realize this may be an incredibly broad question that can probably only be answered with time, but even if you just point to some articles I’ve missed, I’d appreciate it.
TL;DR: How do we, as gun owners, make guns “normal?”