21STEELERS21's follow up piece is just as rich...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gun-lovers-opinion-assault-rifles-article-1.2674555
The gun debate is also a gender war.</p>
<p>
In all my years in journalism — coming up on 30 (thanks) — I have never received so much angry mail as I did after yesterday's story, "<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201" target="_blank">What is it like to fire an AR-15? It's horrifying, menacing and very very loud</a>."</p>
<p>
I don't mind spirited debate, but many correspondents told me that even expressing an opinion about today's high-powered weaponry is off-limits to those of us who don't own such guns.</p>
<p>
To reiterate, the goal of the story was simply to share with readers my experience of firing an AR-15, which very few of them have done. I found the sheer power of the weapon horrifying. I found the noise deafening and anxiety provoking. I was frightened by its potential for rapid, catastrophic, Orlando-like carnage with similiar weaponry. Using an AR-15 made me irritable and jittery for hours afterwards. To me, it felt like a bazooka.</p> <p> <a class="ra-related" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/stasi-homophobia-fueled-orlando-shooter-rage-article-1.2674184">STASI: Homophobia fueled Orlando shooter's rage </a> </p> <div class="ra-module h" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674554.1465993771!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/nighclub-shooting-assault-weapons.jpg">
<figure class="ra-figure">
<span class="ra-enlarge"></span>
<img srcset='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674554.1465993771!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/nighclub-shooting-assault-weapons.jpg 750w,
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polop...le_1200/nighclub-shooting-assault-weapons.jpg 1200w' alt='AUG. 15, 2012 FILE PHOTO' src='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674554.1465993771!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/nighclub-shooting-assault-weapons.jpg' /> <figcaption>
<h2 class="ra-caption" itemprop="description">The AR-15 assault rifle — a killing machine.</h2>
<span class="ra-credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Rich Pedroncelli/AP)</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p>
"Kuntzman is an outright liar," wrote one emailer. "Nice try with an extremely stupid article which only appealed to girly boys and women of NYC and like the sheeple they are probably believed the lies." (Other writers informed me that the "lie" is that guns are bad. For the record: I never said they were.)</p>
<p>
I certainly received many many emails from gun owners who legitimately quibbled with some of my conclusions. But the majority of email senders trained their laser sights on my masculinity — often in graphic terms that would sound more appropriate in a magazine about erectile dysfunction or an ad for Depends.</p>
<p>
"Hey there Cupcake!" wrote Gary Haney. "I have never subscribed to the idea of 'gender confusion,' but after reading your article on the AR-15, I'm a believer because there is no way you and I are the same gender. You should surrender your testicles to the Department of Girlymen. I'm not sure where it's located, but your girlfriend Barack does!"</p> <div class="ra-module"> <div class="ra-gallery"> <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/deadly-mass-shooting-orlando-florida-gallery-1.2670541"> <img title='' height='424' alt='Police forensic investigators begin to bring out the bodies of victims involved in the tragic Orlando nightclub shooting overnight on June 12, 2016.' width='635' src='http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2671775.1465834558!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635_424/mass-shooting-pulse-nightclub-orlando.jpg' /> <div class="ra-gallery-wrapper"> <div class="ra-count"> <span>54 photos</span> view gallery </div> <span class="ra-title">At least 50 dead in mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando</span> </div> </a> </div> </div>
<p>
Others sent me videos of 7-, 10- and 12-year old girls firing the same weapon I fired — except these kids were smiling. And I wear it as a point of personal pride that conservative darling Erick Erickson <a href="http://theresurgent.com/my-10-year-old-daughter-is-tougher-than-gene-kuntzman-author-of-the-stupidest-thing-on-the-internet-today" target="_blank">posted a story</a> on The Resurgent with the headline, "My 10 Year Old Daughter Is Tougher Than Gersh Kuntzman, Author of the Stupidest Thing on the Internet Today."</p> <p> <a class="ra-related" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/orlando-club-shooter-reached-2nd-gay-bar-attack-article-1.2674506">Orlando club shooter reached out to 2nd gay bar before attack</a> </p>
<p>
"You f--king *****," wrote Sam Markota. "If you have a man card turn it in immediately. You might be better served writing about feminine hygiene products!!!"</p>
<p>
"Your father must have left you to be raised by your mother or he was a sissy like you," added SargentMike77.</p> <div class="ra-module h" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674553.1465993770!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/guns.jpg">
<figure class="ra-figure">
<span class="ra-enlarge"></span>
<img srcset='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674553.1465993770!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/guns.jpg 750w,
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polop...age.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/guns.jpg 1200w' alt='Gersh Kuntzman traveled to Philadelphia on Sunday to try out an AR-15.' src='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674553.1465993770!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/guns.jpg' /> <figcaption>
<h2 class="ra-caption" itemprop="description">Gersh Kuntzman traveled to Philadelphia on Sunday to try out an AR-15.</h2>
<span class="ra-credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(New York Daily News)</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p>
And one of my favorites, thanks to its pithy manner of linking my affliction to another right wing obsession: "Maybe you can get some balls through Obamacare!" wrote Adam Prolo.</p>
<p>
And that's just the printable stuff. To summarize, this line of argument suggests that I'm not a real man because I am frightened by the awesome power of an AR-15, which despite however you willfully misread my story, can discharge dozens of rounds in mere seconds.</p>
<p>
Yes, this weapon scared the crap out of me. And it should scare the crap out of all of you, too. An AR-15 is a weapon of mass destruction, a tool that should only be in the hands of our soldiers and cops. I don't think there's anything unmanly about pointing out this fact.</p> <div class="ra-module h" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674552.1465993769!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/nightclub-shooting-florida.jpg">
<figure class="ra-figure">
<span class="ra-enlarge"></span>
<img srcset='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674552.1465993769!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/nightclub-shooting-florida.jpg 750w,
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polop...s/article_1200/nightclub-shooting-florida.jpg 1200w' alt='aerial photo' src='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674552.1465993769!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/nightclub-shooting-florida.jpg' /> <figcaption>
<h2 class="ra-caption" itemprop="description">The nightclub attack, like so many others, was carried out with an AR-15-type rifle.</h2>
<span class="ra-credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Chris O'Meara/AP)</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p>
Besides, if masculinity is defined by the power to commit violence on a wide scale, I proudly choose femininity. At one time, “being a man” meant standing up for what you believe in — and against injustice. By that definition, we need more real men in power taking on bullies like the NRA, which seeks to bolster the Second Amendment by shutting down opponents’ right to the First. We can’t even debate guns in this country, thanks to the gun lobby.</p> <p> <a class="ra-related" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/doctor-treated-orlando-victims-pens-poetic-tribute-shoes-article-1.2674489">Doctor who treated Orlando victims pens poetic tribute with shoes</a> </p>
<p>
My email and Internet trolls won't believe me, but I support the Second Amendment. I sincerely do believe that the Bill of Rights protects Americans' right to bear arms, albeit under very strict regulations — the "well-regulated militia" part of the sacred text.</p>
<p>
And I even agree with one letter writer who pointed out that hammers can kill people, too, but we don't ban them.</p> <div class="ra-module h" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674551.1465993768!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/pulse-nighclub-mass-shooting-vigil.jpg">
<figure class="ra-figure">
<span class="ra-enlarge"></span>
<img srcset='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674551.1465993768!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/pulse-nighclub-mass-shooting-vigil.jpg 750w,
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polop...e_1200/pulse-nighclub-mass-shooting-vigil.jpg 1200w' alt='NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi' src='http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2674551.1465993768!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/pulse-nighclub-mass-shooting-vigil.jpg' /> <figcaption>
<h2 class="ra-caption" itemprop="description">Orlando mourners hold a candlelight vigil for victims of Sunday's Pulse nightclub shooting.</h2>
<a class="ra-credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder" href="/photos/dn-photographers/photographer?author=James-Keivom">(James Keivom/New York Daily News)</a>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p>
But what if a weapons manufacturer could fashion a handgun that would fire a nuclear blast — an atomic version of an AR-15, if you will. It would look like a gun, but it could kill thousands instead of dozens. Like a rifle, it's one of many arms that we are allowed to keep and bear. But would we really stand idly by as people buy a nuclear gun in the name of the Second Amendment?</p>
<p>
"It's just a gun," you might say. "It's my right. Trade in your man-card, you wimp."</p>
<p>
Yes, I'm a wimp. I simpered because my experience with the AR-15 bruised me, body and spirit. But there's nothing unmanly about reminding my readers that mass murder is much easier to commit with a semi-automatic killing machine than it is with a hammer.</p>
<p>
If that makes me a girl, well, maybe we should have a girl running the country.</p>
