Words and Reason
I coined the term "hoplophobia" in 1962 in response to a perceived need for a word to describe a mental aberration consisting of an unreasoning terror of gadgetry, specifically, weapons. The most common manifestation of hoplophobia is the idea that instruments possess a will of their own, apart from that of their user. This is not a reasoned position, but when you point this out to a hoplophobe he is not impressed because his is an unreasonable position. To convince a man that he is not making sense is not to change his viewpoint but rather to make an enemy. Thus hoplophobia is a useful word, but as with all words, it should be used correctly. - [Col. Jeff Cooper]
Most people reading this probably know the definition of the word "hoplophobia". The term was coined by the late Col. Jeff Cooper to describe the affliction of people who fear guns.
A hoplophobe is normally blind to the reality that the thing that makes a gun dangerous is not the gun itself, but the outlaw who employs the gun, and that sometimes the ONLY remedy can be achieved with another gun — in the timely possession of a law-abiding citizen. That's life. As the saying goes, freedom is not free.
The State of Florida is currently working to provide remedy for some ambiguity in our statutory law that inadvertently makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens. An explanation of the dilemma, and the reasoning, can be obtained by watching a video of the proceeding before the Florida House of Representatives Criminal Justice Sub-Committee hearing on HB-163 by Rep. Matt Gaetz held on October 6, 2015. The bill passed Committee by a vote of 8-4, but the argument includes a perfect contemporary example of hoplophobia.
/fl