Ok, so here is an opinion piece. Hope I don’t offend anyone, but we all know what opinions are like.
So, the mainstream media seems to love to point out how bad guns are and to an extent, how bad gun owners are. Very rarely, well, almost never do you hear or see a story in the main stream media that shows the positive side of gun ownership. You only really ever see the “6 people killed by man with gun”. If you read the comments in these stories, it’s almost always negative against guns and gun ownership. If you attempt to even show the “other side” of the story, you’re instantly branded a lying, right wing, conservative nutjob, a member of the Aryan nation, and someone who has the mental capacity of a moron. I’ve even had people wish that I was dead and they wouldn’t throw you a line if you were drowning. It’s really sad how bad the mainstream media portrays us.
The strange thing is, is that the gun owners I’ve met have been nice, educated, welcoming, friendly, and helpful. While there is the usual “redneck” banter, you don’t really see that at a range or at a match. I’ve met shooters since I’ve started who have been doctors, lawyers, airline pilots, mechanics, engineers, IT technicians etc, so the education issues don’t seem to be valid. We see a lot of folks from all races and color of skin and we’re accepting of those things because it’s the way things are done when you are courteous. Maybe it’s the conservative way of life, where we help one another, we watch out for each other, and we’re taught to be nice until it’s time not to be nice. Maybe it’s just a phenomenon of legal gun owners.
I’m not sure what the answer is, but we could really use some more stories about the good things we do, and less of the bad stories about illegal gun ownership and what those folks do. Now if the mainstream media would actually run them.
Anyway, that’s it for me. Remember, shoot safe, shoot straight.
johnshootspistols 
John,Responsible legal owners are as you say for the most part. In my opinion I concur with your assessments.We however are a "silent" populace. We want to go about our lives peacefully and for the most part do not advertise that we are "going heeled".That is part of the dichotomy that quite frankly does not help us. I have taken to open carry on carefully planned routes to promote the cause. Key word is carefully.
Thanks Kelly. I understand the where you are coming from. It's just hard to see us "pinned" by the media the way we are. I'm glad we're an open carry state and someday may follow your lead and open carry as well, but for now, I guess I'll be part of the "silent populace" and go about my business the way we normally do.