Gun expo posed no threat to lawful people
In response to “Circus and Gun Expo made poor combination” (Frances Wilcox letter, Feb. 22), I have two questions for Ms. Wilcox: First, was she threatened by any of the men carrying those awful guns and swords? Second, was she, or her grandkids, physically harmed by any of them?
An irrational fear of firearms is called hoplophobia and is treatable. It’s an irrational fear since merely seeing these items apparently caused great pain to Ms. Wilcox and her grandkids.
She may want to seek treatment, as there are many things of which she should be truly frightened: bad people, not objects.
In actuality, the only harm families who attended the gun show suffered occurred when their toes were inadvertently stepped on by other folks in attendance. It was indeed a family event and atmosphere to those who wanted it to be.
I would venture to say Ms. Wilcox and her grandchildren were safer in the Greensboro Coliseum parking lot that day than on any other day of the year. Many of the gun show attendees carrying those “guns and swords” would have disregarded their own personal safety to protect her family from bad people intent on causing her harm.
Tom Cheek
Greensboro
Comments (9)
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or maybe rogue elephants?
just don't display their heads in any museums.
Posted on March 3, 2009 5:37 AM
Hoplophobia - fear of firearms. Here is an neat site with a list of phobias.
http://hub.lcp.linst.ac.uk/archive/gmd2002/keythemes/phobia/search_phob.html
Here's a biggie today: hypengyophobia - fear of responsibility.
Posted on March 3, 2009 9:25 AM
Oh, my goodness -- I never dreamed I'd be able to share the following with people who may have missed it.
Many years ago, a woman appeared on the local tv morning show trying to educate a particular group of people about the formation of a new support group which would meet in a public place once or twice a month.
The support group had held one meeting before the woman appeared on the tv show. She was hoping that more people would join the group.
When asked by the tv personality how the first meeting had been, the group founder/organizer in all sincerity (and cluelessness, IMHO) said: "The turnout was lower than we expected."
Which group of people didn't overwhelmingly attend the "support" group formed to help them?
People suffering from agoraphobia (the fear of public places and public gatherings).
Honest, it's a true story.
Posted on March 3, 2009 10:37 AM
Nothing, that is hilarious.
Posted on March 3, 2009 2:42 PM
Then again those protective gun show folks are probably the same ones who sold the guns to the bad people intent on causing harm.
Posted on March 3, 2009 10:11 PM
I think a lot of bad people get their guns illegally. Most ex-felons don't go to gun shows to buy their weapons.
Posted on March 4, 2009 8:29 AM
Barbati, "Then again those protective gun show folks are probably the same ones who sold the guns to the bad people intent on causing harm."
Let's just say this is true (which I don't believe it is).
Would this be the same as a car dealer selling a car to a bad person intent on driving drunk?
Posted on March 4, 2009 9:27 AM
Excellent point, ghost
Posted on March 6, 2009 10:25 AM
. . . more like refusing to blame the drug dealers because the buyers smoke the dope
Posted on March 7, 2009 10:58 PM