Amen! I grew up and still am technically part of that culture of “guns as tools”. During that time, I’ve witnessed what the NRA and conservatism in general has become. It’s a cult based on fear, as you so clearly point out.

There are people out here who think a gun makes them invincible. It doesn’t. You still have to aim and hit your target with a tiny piece of lead. It’s extremely difficult to actually hit something without loads of practice, and even then you’re likely not practicing on moving targets.

I could kill just as easily, if not easier, with a knife. In fact, I would prefer to do so, if I wanted to kill. I wonder what these gun nuts would do if a group of them were taken out with blades while they were all “armed to the teeth” with guns that are near useless in close quarters combat? How would that change the narrative and culture around guns? Would it? What if we gave them something to truly fear and remove the illusion of a gun as a safety blanket?