Today’s feature is from our companion service Shooting News Weekly.

We have two competing ideals these days. One says, “It’s all semantics, it doesn’t matter what words you use, it all means the same thing.” The other ideal or way of thinking is that words mean things. I can recall The Great One, Rush Limbaugh, repeating that phrase and hammering it home, time and again.

And so, we have the phrases “gun community” and “gun culture.” Can those be used interchangeably? Do they mean the same thing? Does it matter? That all depends on just who you ask.

Rich Grassi photo.

The Gun Community

Examining the phrase “gun community,” we can see that it casts a pretty wide net. Most everyone who is enthusiastic about the ownership of a firearm could be encompassed by this term. Even people residing in states where the government is openly hostile to guns and restricts its subjects to only “compliant” versions of firearms could be a part of the gun community.

Those who fear being judged by hoplophobes for even uttering the word ‘gun’ can make a slight substitution and claim to be members of the “shooting sports community.” The rabid, pro-disarmament zealots don’t like shooting sports, but your liberal relatives and coworkers who would otherwise faint like the famous goats at even hearing the word ‘gun’ will probably let ‘shooting sports‘ slide.

Members of the gun community can be collectors, hunters, competitive shooters, weekend enthusiasts or hobbyists. Carrying a firearm isn’t required for membership in the gun community. Neither is having any formal training in the use of arms.

Often, organizations that can be found with the gun community will go on recruiting campaigns seeking members of all stripes. It would seem as though they are trying to recreate the United Colors of Benetton advertising campaign. The gun community seeks out all gun owners; Republicans and Democrats, Liberals and Conservatives, men and women and even folks who wake up in the morning unsure to which category they belong.

Some in the gun community claim to view the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution as absolute. However, for as many of those who hold the aforementioned view, there are plenty of folks who count themselves as members of the gun community who “Support the Second Amendment, but… .”

We hear from these folks all the time. They support the Second Amendment, but they say we need more common sense laws to limit their use. They support the Second Amendment, but people shouldn’t be allowed to just carry a gun anywhere they want. They support the Second Amendment, but no civilian needs to own an “assault weapon.” They support the Second Amendment, but when their masters at the state capital command them to register their guns, they get in a long line and comply.

The Gun Culture

For those in the semantic camp who still believe that words, community, and culture are interchangeable, allow me a moment to elucidate. The line of demarcation between the American gun culture and the gun community isn’t about objects, it is about mindset.

The members of the gun culture do indeed view Amendment Number Two of the United States Constitution as absolute…no ‘buts’ are allowed or welcome. Those who are part of the American gun culture view a firearm in the hands of a citizen, first and foremost, as an instrument of liberty. Games and hobbies come in a distant second place to liberty. Regardless of the make, model, size, or configuration, the gun culture understands that it’s the possession of arms that sets a citizen — a free man — apart from servants and slaves who must beg for permission from their masters.

For the gun culture, the Second Amendment is abundantly clear. To “keep” means to own and possess. To “bear” means to carry and exercise direct control over. “Infringement” is any form of malum prohibitum concocted after 1791.

The gun culture holds to the conviction that the Second Amendment doesn’t need further explanation from those in government whose job it is to preserve and defend the Constitution, rather than circumvent it. Those aforementioned employees are servants of the people, not the other way around.

Members of the American gun culture actually carry their guns all the time, not just when it is convenient or, Lord help us, when they “think they might need it.” Gun culture members view being an armed citizen as a solemn obligation, not a hobby that you post about on Instagram.

In regards to training, gun culture members are at the same time opposed to state mandates while holding the firm belief that undergoing training and then practicing diligently are their responsibilities as mature adults and members of a society. Training is a priority, not something to do only if it’s convenient and easy.

Membership in the American gun culture requires more than the ownership of an object. Association is based upon allegiance to principle. While a diverse membership in the gun culture is certainly encouraged, diversity isn’t the end goal of membership. The goal is to support and defend the individual liberties guaranteed to all American citizens by the contract between the states that is the United States Constitution.

Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.

— Paul Markel, Associate Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network

This feature originally appeared in our Shooting News Weekly (SNW). If you would like to receive a weekly rundown of tip stories from Shooting News Weekly you can subscribe here to the Friday newsletter.