Arts Demonstrate Firearms Importance In American Culture

Legal firearms ownership is as important to American culture as baseball, apple pie and jazz. We are unique in the world as a country that celebrates the rugged individual over the group-think of social groups. Our Constitution has specific safeguards to protect the individual from the tyranny of the majority, which is rife in many European countries that that have draconian firearms laws. If individuals are unable to protect themselves from gun violence they have no choice but to morph with the group in the hope of finding safety.

Reflecting our view of the importance of the individual, American arts tell the story of the individual overcoming great odds brought about by an out-of-control social group. In the Dirty Harry movies, Harry battles criminals that the political power structure believes are a result of society’s evils. If the group implements the correct program, violent crime will go away. Harry knows better. Violent criminals can only be battled with superior firepower. That’s why he carries a “… 357, the most powerful handgun in the world. It will blow your head clean-off.”

This same formula can be seen in video games, especially the popular first-person shooters that pit the player against an array of bad-guys in an elaborate maze. Other genres, like computer RPGs, pit the individual against evil that is an organized social group that is controlled by a mysterious power. As the game unfolds the player learns who or what is behind the criminal conspiracy.

Westerns, inspired by American’s migration to the interiors of the county, are the classic example of the rugged individual. Whatever the trouble, an individual or a loose confederation of individuals band together to solve the problem. At best, society is neutral. Sometimes it is the cause of the trouble.

Other countries have taken a reverse view in their arts. The Soviet leader Stalin ordered that his film makers to create Easterns. In a typical formula, Easterns overcome trouble through the group, headed by a strong and powerful leader. In South Korea, computers games emphasize cooperation, or group-think. The individual is subservient to society.

Firearm ownership is ingrained in American culture. Personal control of deadly force empowers the individual. We should celebrate this, and do in our arts. If I had to choose between living in a Stalinist Eastern or with John Wayne in a Western, I want to ride with the Duke.