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A psychiatrist looks at self-defense
"Raging Against Self Defense: A Psychatrist Examines the Anti-gun Mentality." The title says it all.
I liked the note about the person who wrote her that he was against guns, because if they had them, one of his neighbors might kill him. Her response: what is your basis for believing that your neighbors would kill you if they had the ability?
[Hat tip to Kirt McAlexander]
UPDATE: Here's Clayton Cramer's take on the article.
3 Comments | Leave a comment
It's a good run-down on some of the psychological mechanisms involved. However, it sags towards the end, where the good doctor talks about what to do. While she is absolutely correct, that becoming angry, calling names and so forth will not result in positive change on the hoplophobe's part (and while it is not clinically accurate, I still like the term), the rest of her "prescriptions" are Just So Sweet that I can hardly stand it. I am not interested in being a mommy to these people.
BTW, I am a psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in the treatment of survivors of child abuse and sexual assault, as well as a hunter, re-loader, and part-time range safety officer at the local range.
I really liked the article when I read it some years ago, but the lady seems rather over the top to me. At least, unitl I found a couple more articles of hers on the internet - she seems to have been bitten by something.
We need some more detached works looking at the psychology of activism generally - IMHO we are the mainstream, and the nasty symbiosis of activists and journalists needs to be shown for what it is.
This link is really good. Every gun blogger should read it and link to it.