A California-based reader has some seriously negative views on the Pink Pistols, which is sort of like the NRA, only for gay people.
We’re not sure what why the missive was sent to us, but here it is:
I am a gay man in Sacramento. I heard about your group. Are you people DAFT? PINK PISTOLS? What the hell are you thinking? It’s a STUPID IDIOTIC name, and insulting to any man with an ounce of self respect. You do great damage to the gay movement, by proving that we are just what the straights think, freakish pansy asses. I am utterly disgusted. Pull your heads out of your asses gentlemen, or should I say ladies?
THIS KIND OF SHIT IS WHAT LEADS TO BEATINGS OF KIDS LIKE MATTHEW SHEPPARD [sic]
FIND SOME SELF RESPECT YOU MORONS.
Oh dear…
Kevin
Sad that it’s the “pink” they object to and not the “pistols.”
VegasTeaRoom
When I was doing standup in the 90’s I did a bit that included a Gay PSA for the NRA:
When I go I’m not going like Matthew…
what good is hanging alone on a fence,
feeling life slip awaaaaaaay,
come join the NRA, old chum, come join the N R AAAAAAA.
I own a .45 and a .32. I drove with the .45 under thseat and the .32 in my boot. Never had to use them but I felt safer when I played places like Wrinkle Butt.
The guy who sent you the letter was an idiot.
ChicagoJimmy
It’s funny that the writer obviously buys into the stereotype he doesn’t want the Pink Pistols to continue to foster. How about they call themselves Fags With Guns.
Darth Paul
What a self-loathing, deluded ass this writer is. First, who cares if “pink” is used? Second, no one invited him to the party, so he can form his own club if he’s so damn offended. Finally, if Matthew was part of such group, he’d probably be alive today.
I’m only disappointed that they used ‘pistols’. Assault rifles are where it’s at…
Cam
So let me get this straight…this guy is calling a bunch of guys who all own guns freaks and pansies?? Good Luck fella
Darth Paul
Also, it’s important to note that many lesbians are likely to be part of a club like this…so the writer is also ignorant to think only men would be part of it/offended by “pink”. WE’RE ALL PINK ON THE INSIDE!
Tom
I agree with Kevin. I am black and gay and if anyone should be packing its people like me. But I have no use for guns of any kind, assual rifles included.
erin
Sexist much? I love it when the best insult people (gay or straight) can think to lob at people is calling them women. I’m tired of misogyny in general, but when it comes from my gay brothers, it’s like an extra slap in the face.
Dubwise
If the trolls, in the comments section of this and many other websites have proven anything, it’s that people will take any opportunity possible to get offended or angry at nothing.
GoodBuddy
The Bill of Rights places limits on the government power. Such as the governments instituting religious teaching in schools or banning gun ownership, even if a majority would be in favor of this.
But I think gun owners should be required to have a license (requiring written and proficiency tests), gun title and registration, and insurance. Why should it be easier to own a gun than a car?
Tim in SF
So an obvious nutcase sent you a letter and that is worthy of a blog post?
Hmmm…
If I write you a stupid, obnoxious letter like the one above, and in it I complain of Queerty wasting my time with the random neural firings of gays tragically gone off their meds, will it stop you from making another dumb blog post like this?
PatrickPatrick
“Why should it be easier to own a gun than a car?”
Because gun ownership is a right. Driving a car is not. Licensing the mere ownership of guns would be just an early step in the removal of such rights.
Kid A
Sounds like a g0y.
michael
While the man is obviously a reactionary tard, I can see his lament about the pink issue, which I feel is his issue. No offense to the old guard but a lot of us don’t really feel served by such gay staples as drag queens, pink triangles, rainbow flags, purple horseshoes, green clovers, blue diamonds… But it’s not like anyone is ever asked their opinion. A few select individuals stand up, make a lot of noise, and form the opinion and identity that everyone else is supposed to follow (lest they get lambasted by a barrage of hateful comments for having a different point of view… let loose your vitriol)
andrew
To Tim in SF – you take time to write a negative post about wasting time? Okay…
Timothy Kincaid
I think it’s actually a clever name. It plays on the irony of something deadly with a color associated in the minds of homophobes a weak and effiminate.
It sort of says, “oh you think my little pink shirt entitles you to threaten me? OK, then meet my little pink pistol, punk”
mark
pick on someone your own caliber…breeder
bloomsburyboy
So, you’re not sure why a message was sent to you, but somehow think it’s newsworthy? You need to have some kind of editorial policy on printing letters. One that doesn’t involve pointless hate toward anyone. After all, isn’t that what the comments section is for?
tallskin
Sheeez, you yanks and your obsession with fucking guns!
We decadent weak pansy-boy europeans find your gun obsession to be utterly mad – and your obsession with guns has NO effect on the US murder rate, which is off the fucking scale, has it???
Jeeez, you’re all fucking demented.
shade
Well, Michael, we’re so sorry you’ve been let down by the “gay staples,” but if you would put an eentsy-weentsy bit of effort into researching those symbols you might find that they were not random, oh-isn’t-this-cute choices made by a “few select individuals.” If you have made no effort to find out why those symbols are “gay staples” then you really have no room to bitch about how they don’t fit your lifestyle. But please, nominate yourself as a select individual, come up with your own symbol for the community, and make a lot of noise until everybody can wear it with pride, because right now I’m asking you for your opinion. What do you want to be the gay symbol? What, exactly, would “serve” you? The new guard has to take the reins at some point. We are all looking forward to seeing your creation.
mark
When I read 3 gay bashers were seriously wounded or dead…mid bashing, then I’ll go OH HELL YES!
Not every queer needs to carry, but if bashers have no idea who might be carrying, they’ll think twice about f*ckin with us, with just a baseball bat.
Trenton
“The new guard has to take the reins at some point. We are all looking forward to seeing your creation.”
How about a halftone print of Elizabeth Taylor’s face or maybe just the letter E? Once we’ve appropriated the most common letter in the English language as our own sigil, the bigots (the few that are actually literate) will have no choice but to accept us.
But we’re keeping Pink, Michael. And we’re keeping our drag queens, too, whether you feel “served” by them or not. You do realize how much of a prick you sound for writing that, don’t you?
brian
Totally agree with you Mark
Jere
PatrickPatrick,
Then why don’t we drop the license for ownership, but you if you get caught using (firing) a weapon without being properly licensed, you risk increasingly severe penalties – sorta like driving a car without a license. Anyone can “own” a car – but to legally use it, you must prove basic proficiency and register with the state.
What I find most interesting is that I’ve yet to meet an NRA or Pink Pistols member who believes we all have the right to carry suitcase nukes, or surface-to-air missile launchers, and it’s only the obvious nutjobs who would argue that we have the right to carry grenade launchers. Everyone agrees that there is SOME limit to the “right to bear arms” – it’s just a matter of degree.
Tony
I am from Sacramento – and I will tell you… it is full with prissy self-hating gays… this one being a prime example..
And I’m sorry.. has he ever read any freaking queer theory?
John
I agree with Kevin, but I have to say also that I find the name amusing, if we have to have that sort of thing. Personally, having had guns held on me over ten times now, I think a good brain and fast talking is the best defense. If you need a gun in face of a gun, you are missing something, and you are taking far more risk than you need to.
seitan-on-a-stick
The New Generation of Feminist women have pretty much reclaimed “Pink” as their own. Since Gays are more likely the victim of crimes, arming ourselves to the eyeballs just buys into societal paranoia when we should be voting for candidates with real intent to rigidly control gun ownership and to create economic opportunities in the form of jobs in high crime cities and towns. I would not even have a gun-owner as a friend.
shivadog
John, you have had guns held on you over ten times? Where the hell do you live? I would rather have a gun to defend myself than rely on the good will of some criminal. Contrary to government lies, someone who uses a gun to defend themself is far less likely to be injured or killed than someone who simply submits or tries to defend themself without a weapon. Then Shit-on-a-stick says that Gays are more likely to be the victom of crimes, but arming ourselves is buying into “societal paranoia”.It ain’t paranoid if it’s true. Your answer is to “rigidly control gun ownership”. Yea, that worked so well in DC, law abiding citizens can’t have a gun and the murder rate is one of the highest in the nation.You can be a victim if you want, but don’t interfere with my right to protect myself.
Big Gay Al
Just an FYI, the idea for the name came from a Salon.com article written by Jonathan Rauch, published on March 13, 2000. The Founder of the Pink Pistols, Doug Krick, took Mr. Rauch’s suggestion and ran with it. We are a large organization, and encourage all in the GLBT community to get involved in their own protection. It has already been determined by the US Supreme court that the police are not obligated to protect individual citizens. And generally speaking, we should all be willing to take responsibility for our own protection. I know I am, how about you?
masterdave
If this guy has any balls at all I invite him to come visit at my farm and shoot 1 of my 3 50-CAL BMG rifels or 1 of my M16s on rock and roll and go for a ride in my tank I bet he would change his tune about pink being a derogitory term for our gun club as for gun laws in other countrys in austraila (witch I visit often) when they banned gun ownership (witch BTW is all NOT true) the assaults on older people did increase some what (from the NSW police service) if matt had been armed he would be alive today and his bashers would be in prison or dead !lets face it the police will NOT protect you A good example of this a few years ago I was walking in the ally between bars in louisville I was attacked by a redneck yelling queer ect ( i was bare assed in my chaps and harness on my leather clubs bar nite)I was NOT armed but I do have a purpel belt in tie kwon do I put the fool on his ass in the dirt and the cops were called they took there time getting there it was only a fag u know and when they arrived he was still laying there in severe pain and the cop thought a bunch of us had beat him up he just could not beleve a homo can fight back this is still the way most police treat gay crime !!Im lucky in indiana we have a good CCWP law lets face it if guns are banned only law abiding people will be unarmed the thugs will still have guns look at DC LA and NYC it just does not work ! just my 2 cents worth Dave louisville PP chapter moderator
Ryan Marvin
New Hampshire has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the country, and one of the lowest crime rates as a result.
The majority of both Republicans and Democrats in our state government see both gay rights and self-defense rights as equally important civil rights issues.
I would say that we have the highest porportion of armed queers in the country as well. (I always open carry on the first date, with the reasoning that if it offends the other party, then he’s not someone I would want to date anyway. This has yet to be an issue.) Since national statistics have began being published, guess how many sexual orientation-motivated “hate crimes” have been committed in NH?
I’ll give you a clue: it’s a number less than one.
Ryan Marvin
New Hampshire Pink Pistols
Marie
I find such diatribes interesting.
The Pink has nothing to do with boy or girl but was rather the color used by the Nazi’s to ID homosexual men. Lesbians got a Black triangle.
For those that object to a gay male/female/trans/etc carrying a firearm for self defense, I would sugges that you consider the FACT that the police have no sworn duty to defend you.
This gay woman is packing, and will do so until I am no longer physically able to do so, aka: dead and buried.
Marie
Houston Pink Pistols
Paula
This lesbian woman from Texas is packing, too. I am legally licensed to carry concealed and do so. DarthPaul is right, assault rifles rock. MBRs kick butt, too.
Many Gays and Lesbians will cry and scream that someone is insulting them or threatening them but, they won’t do anything to protect themselves. (we’re not the most stable community out there) Take some responsibility for your own safety.
As for the person that started all of this, my head may be up my ass but, he is certainly welcome to come to El Paso and try to pull it out for me.
MasterDave Can I come over to your house to shoot? PLEEEEEZZZEEE!!!! 🙂
Darlene
@Paula:
You tell em gurl!!
AL
I don’t care about their name, but I am all for Pink Pistols. It’s time to confront the stereotype that gay people are weak and defenseless.
@tallskin: It’s irrelevant weather or not gun ownership affects the crime rate. The right to own firearms is a CONSTITUTIONAL right. You Europeans are just plain sissies when it comes to dealing with criminals. In the United States, there are serious consequences for a criminal who picks a wrong victim to attack. I’ll never give up my constitutional rights!