The recently released Assessment from the Department of Homeland Security entitled, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicaliazation and Recruitment" has drawn nationwide criticism for its depiction of military veterans as potential terrorists. Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, has since apologized and has expressed her appreciation for our nation's veterans.

Not much is being said on behalf of gun owners. The DHS report painted a negative stereotype of gun owners as being white, conservative, racist, nut-jobs. This stereotype was prevalent during the Clinton Administration when the media was dominated by the Big Three. Since that time, the Internet, along with the maturity of cable and radio news programs has allowed people to come together to share ideas and dispel these unwarranted stereotypes.

Since the Obama Administration is so fond of employing the tired, old tactics of the Clinton Administration, we think it's time to address the false stereotype of the gun owner.

Contrary to popular belief, we do not all drape ourselves in camo and walk around our remote compounds strapped with guns and ammo. We're not all white. We're not all men. And we're definitely not all conservative. It is this mischaracterization that cost the Democrats the election in 2000. It will cost them another election if they don't snap out of their anti-gun hysteria.

The media is complicit in the negative stereotyping of gun owners. You'd never know it from watching the news, but firearms are used approximately 6,900 times PER DAY in self defense. In most cases, the gun is never fired and no blood is shed. The big media prefers to shine a melodramatic spotlight on the occassional crime where a firearm is used against a group of unarmed victims. Imagine if media covered only 10% of the self-defense cases in this country. It would send a message to criminals and would encorage local heroism. Crime would probably plummet to all-time low.

Gun owners come from all age groups and all walks of life. In addition to conservative Christians, gun owners are also Jewish, homosexual, vegetarian, atheist, Democrat, anti-political, urban, rich, and poor. One thing that can be said about gun owners is that despite varying beliefs on just about everything, when gun owners come together to shoot, all other differences are set aside. When we shoot together, we are one people. We know that it is the gun that keeps us free. And that without Liberty, all of the other issues are irrelevant.

Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org