WSJ Dispels Myths

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Published on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 11:58

Written by Daniel White

The Wall Street Journal is not often a publication one would turn to for pro-gun reporting, but a recent opinion peace published entitled Trigger Happy worked to dispel several gun myths pertaining to the character and happiness levels of those who choose to take responsibility for their own personal protection.

Responding to a Barack Obama quote, "They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations", this piece pointed out that, in fact, gun owners from both of the major political parties reported higher levels of happiness than those who didn't own firearms.

In 2006, 36% of gun owners said they were "very happy," while 9% were "not too happy." Meanwhile, only 30% of people without guns were very happy, and 16% were not too happy.

In 1996, gun owners spent about 15% less of their time than nonowners feeling "outraged at something somebody had done." It's easy enough in certain precincts to caricature armed Americans as an angry and miserable fringe group. But it just isn't true. The data say that the people in the approximately 40 million American households with guns are generally happier than those people in households that don't have guns.

The story also includes a possible explanation for these results.

Why are gun owners so happy? One plausible reason is a sense of self-reliance, in terms of self-defense or even in terms of the ability to hunt their own dinner.

Many studies over the years have shown that a belief in one's control over the environment dramatically adds to happiness.

This is the one truth that those who wish to control every aspect of your life will never understand, that free, self-reliant people who don't have to look to the government to tell them what to eat, where to go to school, how they should think, and rely on that government as their sole means of protection are by their very nature happier and more productive because they can rely on themselves. They form their own opinions, work for what they want to obtain, and can take care of themselves.

It is easy, when relying on police (who cannot possibly be in a position to stop every crime) for protection to lament your lot in life when the victim of a crime, or blame society for a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. But, when you seize that responsibility for yourself and take your own steps to ensure your safety, you realize you have the ability and the power to fend for yourself. The very idea that you at least have a better than average chance of defending yourself and your family brings peace of mind and a feeling of security and contentment. How can that not lead to increased happiness?

As to the claims of the anti-gun crowd that only a poor, uneducated redneck would ever want to own a gun, the story also notes that not only do gun owners typically have comparable income levels to non-owners, but they also make 32% more money on average, and are 8% more likely to give donate to charity, whether money, goods, or even blood.

Contrary to what some folks like Barack Obama seem to think, gun owners are generally affluent, responsible, generous, self-sufficient people. But, that's not exactly a caricature that can push an elitist gun control agenda.

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