About That “Gun vs. Mask” Meme

Let me start by qualifying my position on this topic, as my background will likely be important to the opinions of some people who might read this.

I’m about as pro gun rights as a person gets. I’m a classically trained gunsmith and had to go out of my way and move states to attend schooling for that. I’ve worked building custom high end rifles including those matching exact specifications for current military sniper rifles. I’ve also worked in a production environment making semiautomatic Kalashnikov pattern shotguns and 9mm firearms.

I have a website (pottsprecision.com) and YouTube channel dedicated to firearms, gunsmithing and shooting. I’ve been an active member of several state-level gun rights groups. Rather than thinking we need more gun control, I’m convinced we have too many unconstitutional laws as it is. I almost never leave home without carrying a concealed Glock 19.

It’s not a run-of-the-mill firearm, either. I have it customized with dual-illumination tritium/fiber optic sights for night and day use, an aftermarket threaded barrel and compensator to reduce recoil, a 500 lumen Surefire flashlight, and a not-inexpensive holster tailored to the whole setup. In other words, I invest pretty heavily my time, money and energy to ensure I’m carrying a firearm almost always.

You know what else is always on me when I leave the house? A mask. Either a KN95 or a 3-layer mask with a pocket stuffed with a filter. In fact, I have the mask on me more places than a firearm because there are places you can’t have both (doctor’s office, post office, etc.)

I have followed gun culture since before adulthood (not that that’s an exceptionally long time, mind) and I’ve seen the justifications behind carrying a firearm. Many in the gun community will proudly proclaim themselves to be sheepdogs, those members of the community that stand guard over the “sheep” and protect them from wolves.

At a basic level, I have no problem with this. It’s an exceptional level of training to carry for the purpose to not only defend yourself but others around you, but I generally think it’s a good attitude. I would like to think that I would also intervene in a situation to save somebody else, and that would indeed be my plan depending on circumstances, but you really don’t know how you’ll react for real until you’re in a real situation.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen a drastically different and confusing response to the suggestion to simply wear a mask in public. The sheepdogs, once so proud of their desire to protect the herd, choose to turn to defiance and individualism at the suggestion or requirement to wear a simple cloth mask.

Sadly, the only confusion I can come to is that for many, the sheepdog mentality was never about actually protecting the herd. It was about the chance to become a hero and live out a fantasy in the pursuit of such.

There’s no other way to say it, and it’s a harsh truth. If you justify carrying a gun in public by saying you desire to protect the community but refuse to wear a mask, it’s a hypocritical action.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution states that a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. While it places no requirement that one be a member of a militia to exercise the right, it plainly states the reason it should be protected. And many who own guns take this duty seriously, taking extensive training and preparation to have the capability to do so should the need arise.

However, I have to point out that a novel pandemic virus also threatens the security of a free state. 350,000 people dead is a threat to state security. Possible millions more with long term effects, maybe even on permanent or long-term disability, is a threat to state security. Allowing a virus to freely spread like a fire through the country and potentially mutate into something even more deadly is a threat to state security.

I know if this piece gets any significant amount of views, there would be pushback. In fact, I have almost been removed from several gun-centered forums just for expressing these views. But I’m not somebody who’s okay with hypocrisy or intellectual dishonesty, and I’m tired of being surrounded by and associated with it.

You don’t have to be “afraid” of a virus or “allow it to change your life” to take some basic precautions. These are false positions built to avoid responsibility for your decision making. We have a chance now to actually act in the community interest with very little effort by wearing masks and following other precautions such as maintaining a social distance and avoiding prolonged exposure to indoor or tightly constricted areas. It’s not only easy to do, but in my mind would be a great show of patriotism for our country to come together in that way.

I certainly believe, as the meme implies, that you should carry a gun even if you don’t think you need it. If you’re competent, of sound mind, and have a genuine desire to make safe and responsible decisions, anyways.

If you’re willing to go through the effort of strapping on a gun every day — and believe me, it’s neither cheap nor comfortable to do so — but balk at taking precautions to slow the spread of Covid-19, understand that you’re not the “sheepdog” you call yourself to be. At the very least, have the honesty to admit that your concern is more to do with your own fantasies or fears of a violent encounter than anything to do with your desire to protect the community around you.