American Gun Owners and the "Battered Women's Syndrome"

Why?

Why does the woman return, time and again, to the same brutal thug who has beaten her - not just this time, but on numerous occasions in the past?

Can't she see that by returning to him, she virtually guarantees that more abuse will follow?

What is wrong with her?

According to the pshrink crowd, there are four generally recognized phases in the relationship between an abuser and his victim:

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Stage One–Denial

Stage one of battered women's syndrome occurs when the battered woman denies to others, and to herself, that there is a problem. Most battered women will make up excuses for why their partners have an abusive incident. Battered women will generally believe that the abuse will never happen again.

Stage Two–Guilt

Stage two of battered women's syndrome occurs when a battered woman truly recognizes or acknowledges that there is a problem in her relationship. She recognizes she has been the victim of abuse and that she may be beaten again. During this stage, most battered women will take on the blame or responsibility of any beatings they may receive. Battered women will begin to question their own characters and try harder to live up their partners “expectations.”

Stage Three-Enlightenment

Stage three of battered women's syndrome occurs when a battered woman starts to understand that no one deserves to be beaten. A battered woman comes to see that the beatings she receives from her partner are not justified. She also recognizes that her partner has a serious problem. However, she stays with her abuser in an attempt to keep the relationship in tact with hopes of future change.

Stage Four–Responsibility

Stage four of battered women's syndrome occurs when a battered woman recognizes that her abuser has a problem that only he can fix. Battered women in this stage come to understand that nothing they can do or say can help their abusers. Battered women in this stage choose to take the necessary steps to leave their abusers and begin to start new lives...
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Although controversial in both legal and medical/psychiatric circles, "battered women's syndrome" or "BWS" is widely recognized as at least part of the explanation why these abusive relationships often last for years, despite frequent violence.

One of the underpinnings of BWS is the concept of "learned helplessness", which can be defined simply as "an apathetic attitude stemming from the conviction that one's actions do not have the power to affect one's situation."

Any bells going off yet, Mr. and Mrs. American Gun Owner, about your relationship with your governments at the local, state, and Federal level?

Let's run the traps, substituting the words "gun owner" for "battered woman":

1) Denial:

Stage one of gun owner's syndrome occurs when the gun owner denies to others, and to herself, that there is a problem. Most gun owners will make up excuses for why their governments have abusive incidents, time and time again. Gun owners will generally believe that the abuse will never happen again.

2) Guilt:

Stage two of gun owner's syndrome occurs when gun owners truly recognize or acknowledge that there is a problem in their relationship with government. Gun owners recognize that they have been the victim of abuse and that they may be abused again. During this stage, most gun owners will take on the blame or responsibility of any abuse they may receive from their governments. Gun owners will begin to question their own characters and try harder to live up their governments' “expectations.”

3) Enlightenment:

Stage three of gun owner's syndrome occurs when a gun owner starts to understand that no one deserves to be abused. A gun owner comes to see that the abuse she receives from her governments is not justified. She also recognizes that those governments have a serious problem. However, the gun owner "stays" with her abusers in an attempt to keep the relationship intact with hopes of future change.

4) Responsibility:

Stage four of gun owner's syndrome occurs when a gun owner recognizes that the governments have problems that only they can fix. Gun owners in this stage come to understand that nothing they can do or say can help their abusive governments. Gun owners in this stage also choose to take the necessary steps to leave their abusers and begin to start new lives.

Any questions?