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Ryan Busse

@ryandbusse

Jun 4

@propublica

🧵A lot of you saw @propublica article by @CoreyGJohnson where I discuss gun industry / @NSSF fully embracing irresponsible marketing practices...Here are just a few examples: This is Black Rain Ordnance "BRO" Customized Three Percenter (for the aspiring domestic terrorist??):

Next, we have the ever-useful Wilson Arms rifle for the patriotic self-appointed vigilante savior of our American urban cities... which may or may not be populated with the "sorts of people" who need some "super sniping"

And just to make sure "god" is on your side, you may want to select the Spike's Tactical Crusader, complete with a lovely Psalm ... you know, because a real crusader must "hoist the flag of our faith and make a statement"

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Ryan Busse

@ryandbusse

Apr 12

🧵Important Truths about AR15 & its central symbolism in Radicalized MAGA Culture

The right continues to spin myths. The left gets stuff wrong. If we want to make good decisions, then we must deal with reality.

#1 - The AR15 was specifically designed as a tactical weapon of war

"Tactical" was once prohibited by the industry-Why? Because "tactical" means "planned offensive military action" and reasonable people knew to avoid such marketing. Today, cops and security guards are killed in these shootings because that's what tactical gear is designed to do.

The Gun Industry has tried to deflect from this truth with contrived branding such as "MSR" (modern sporting rifle.) I was in the industry when this was cooked up, but the truth is belied in so many industry advertising campaigns that have zero to do with anything "sporting."

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Ryan Busse

@ryandbusse

Feb 3

🧵KYLE RITTENHOUSE to face civil charges for killing in Kenosha. Despite his heroic status to the Authoritarian right, here's a thread featuring the teachings and warnings of respected firearms authorities that explains why Rittenhouse may be in for a tough time in civil court:

Rittenhouse was found not guilty in criminal court, but civil liability for his actions involve a much broader timeline. He was aware of and purposefully entered a known dangerous situation with a loaded gun. The most respected trainers preach the opposite.

Massaad Ayoob, the best-known gun industry authority repeatedly/clearly states: "Above all, Avoidance is the best plan." He even advocates for aps that warn of traffic incidents so responsible gun owners can change course/avoid conflict. Rittenhouse effectively drove right in.

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Ryan Busse

@ryandbusse

Dec 13, 2022

🧵Since the excellent NYT Opinion a couple days ago, "America's Toxic Gun Culture," I've received a lot of messages from reporters curious about how the industry empowers this toxicity. Explaining this through lens of one illustrative gun company can shed light on how it works:

POF (Patriot Ordinance Factory), like many AR15 makers, did not exist until the 2000s. POF's product hook is incorporating small functional improvements, (part of "continuous improvement" of all AR rifles sold to U.S. consumers - in many ways better than what military has)

But beginning in '08 (Obama), all of the competition and the increasing NRA vitriol meant that any AR company that was going to "make it" had to be increasingly aggressive in forming up a new consumer base - so like others, over time POF named guns with loaded terms like this:

Read 11 tweets

Ryan Busse

@ryandbusse

Nov 22, 2022

🧵Talking guns and responsibility during Thanksgiving holiday & not losing family/friends:

Many of us will encounter people over the holidays espousing irresponsible and dangerous positions on guns interwoven into authoritarian right-wing politics.

How to artfully unwind:

The Right has adopted absolute positions that doom reasonable conversation and that are unworkable in any democracy. You need to start by dismantling those absolute positions because no right or action in any functioning country is absolute.

Let's think of automobiles. There are a lot of rights wrapped up in our cars. Most of us enjoy the freedom to own one, the freedom to make a living with the aid of our cars etc. And so for many, cars are integral to our American life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Ryan Busse

@ryandbusse

Nov 21, 2022

🧵Colorado Springs, hate, guns, and the sickness on the American Right. Yes, it has changed and here is a recent history

Prior to 2007, American gun culture was generally focused on hunting, target shooting, and self-defense. Here is a graph of gun sales over the last 20 years:

I was in the industry from '95-2020 and up until about 2006, while there certainly were a few "military type" or "assault" weapons sold, they were not the focus of the industry. In fact, the display & marketing of this "tactical" gear was frowned upon if not explicitly prohibited

The country's politics were much the same. From 1980 to 2007, there were dark corners, but Obama's win pushed the ugliness into the light. The NRA lead much of it, celebrating birtherism & conspiracy. The industry responded by welcoming companies who marketed directly to it all:

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