Why men feel the need to carry guns

[flamin lib]

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-carlson-gun-carry-culture-20150526-story.html

As men doubt their ability to provide, their desire to protect becomes all the more important. They see carrying a gun as a masculine duty and the gun itself as a vehicle for a hardened kind of care-work — caring for others by shielding them from danger, with the threat of lethal force.
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We tend to get mired in public policy debates that isolate the impact of guns on violence, and nothing more. We wonder to what degree they contribute to suicide rates or homicide rates. But firearms have a larger purpose in our postindustrial society. In Michigan and other places hit hard by the economic downturn, men's guns can address social insecurities far beyond crime.

Yes, it's an Op Ed but an Op Ed based on interviews with gun carriers. From the interviews it seems that the need to carry guns is based, in many cases, on a feeling of impotence.

Interesting to note that the two ads supporting the article are a PSA for HepC and Viagra.

[rosavola]

1. Too much time on someones hands.

The whole article just proves that propaganda is in part, created through the use of directed "expert" testimony. One could just as easily ask, "Why does a country feel the need for a military?" = "As men doubt their ability to provide, their desire to protect becomes all the more important. They see carrying a gun as a masculine duty and the gun itself as a vehicle for a hardened kind of care-work — caring for others by shielding them from danger, with the threat of lethal force."

The explanation fits rather well. But the concept of protecting ones self, property, and country. The concept of a firearm having one sole use... Defense, go untouched. The article clearly steers the mind of the reader in one direction only. That's not objective or responsible. Increasing suicide rates, and social insecurities being considered without taking into account the countries severe lack of mental health care, focusing primarily on the gun. Also leaves the intent of the writer questionable. How could such an obvious variable in such a complex equation be overlooked?

[flamin lib]

2. Its an Op Ed.

And the commentary fits with my personal experience.