Why do people compare guns to penises?
Why do people compare guns to penises? It isn't a simple question and there isn't a simple answer but I'll give it a shot (yeah, that was a pun). Before I wander off into this flamebait fraught topic let me say clearly that I do not believe that ALL gun owners are compensating for anything. There are no absolutes when discussing entire classes of people. That said there are some pretty good examples of overcompensation that even the most ardent gun rights supporter has seen and recognized.
Start with the biological imperative. Females of most species seek a mate that exhibits the epitome of virility and strength. These traits are essential to the preservation of the species as they represent the strongest gene pool. Physical strength also provides protection from predation while she is encumbered with offspring. So, okay, strong and powerful is good. This is also not an absolute; in one species of cuttlefish the small weak male can disguise itself as an immature female and is ignored by the large dominant male while it invades his territory and is rewarded by the female with the opportunity to mate. Seems that intelligence and cunning can also be attractive traits.
Climbing up the evolutionary ladder to humanity some of the biology remains. In Victorian times and up to the 1950s when women were relegated to a secondary roll in society a powerful and successful husband was the key to a happy and safe home life. This is essentially the premise for vampire literature; a handsome wealthy man that is invincible, lives forever and can bestow the same on a mate is the ideal provider for a Victorian woman. Needless to say none of this is still biologically necessary as women have largely come into their own for success in business, politics and equality thanks to the Feminist Movement. I say largely because there is still that 78 cents on the dollar thing and rape culture but that's another flamebait quagmire.
A gun is a symbol of power. Power is symbol of virility ergo a gun is a symbol of sexuality. There are a lot of other symbols as well, the sports car or taking up dangerous hobbies so emblematic of mid life crisis but we're talking about guns here. I'm sure these guys would rather have a Corvette but an AR15 is only about $700 compared to $40k for the car.
The literature of psychology is full of power symbols relating to sexuality. Freud and Jung explored the relationship of weapons to sexuality as evidenced in dreams. Pick up any introduction to Psychology text. But remember what Groucho Marks said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."
How are guns marketed to men?
As symbols of power:
As symbols of strength and protection.
As things that scantily clad attractive women enjoy fondling.
As things that women use to attract men, presumably powerful men.
And of course this most patent of all pandering to the possibly penis challenged.
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Now, if any of this offends a gungeon dweller let me repeat; I do not believe that all gun owners have penis deficiencies. I mean what the heck, I own a bunch of guns but I'm not this guy:
But I do owe Kory a note of thanks for singlehandedly defeating Constitutional Carry in Texas.
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I can't believe I wrote that.
