That’s Your Definition – Not Mine
On my journey to SHOT Show last week, I had some time to think about how I “fit” into this industry. People want to peg you – put you in a slot. Perhaps its easier for our brains to file that away when we meet someone again. Sometimes, well most of the time, I feel like I don’t fit into any pre-ordered slot when it comes to this industry – or even how people perceive me outside of the industry.
I vividly remember reaching out to an outdoors blogger in upstate New York for a new Sportsman Channel show. Her reply wasn’t that nice and essentially told me that she was a kayaker and hiker and therefore was not into hunting. I was shocked. I can appreciate there are different variations of the theme when someone says they are into the “outdoors,” but don’t automatically assume all kayakers are not hunters and visa versa.
Because there’s me.
Before I boarded my Vegas flight, guess where I was? In the yoga studio. Yep, I own a gun and I do yoga. Oh wait, I own a kayak, I do yoga, I bike, I run, I got my cat from the local shelter….and I own a gun. My best friend is a democrat and is more of a hunter than me.
Anti’s want to label me; those against our 2nd Ammendment rights want to put me in a box of “bad people” because I believe in my right to own any firearm I wish. Tell me that because I have aspiration to hike the AT that I’m not a hunter. Tell me that because I’m learning another language, I can’t possibly be intelligent enough to own a gun. And tell me that my husband must really own the gun. Nope, I’ll show you the FFL. Its mine.
That’s your definition, not mine.
Great blog. The idea that gun owners and hunters are stupid and uncivilized is just another way for those kind of people to make themselves feel better. Hunters and shooters come from all walks of life. My three man deer camp consists of a high school dropout(who owns a very successful business), a BA, and PhD. Not too many dummies there.
I think one of the things that ticks people off the most when they’re trying to pick a battle with me is that I don’t fit the boxes. I think for myself, and that means defying the status quo. No one is going to corner me with a stereotype.
Glad to see I’m not the only one (not that I really thought I was).