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Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

Cook: No change on guns without gun owners

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/19/16. Tanya Mazzolini shoots bb guns with other participants during the Boomer's Adventure and Retreat Camp at YMCA Camp Ocoee on Friday, August 19, 2016.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/19/16. Tanya Mazzolini shoots bb guns with other participants during the Boomer's Adventure and Retreat Camp at YMCA Camp Ocoee on Friday, August 19, 2016. Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/19/16. Tanya Mazzolini shoots bb guns with other participants during the Boomer's Adventure and Retreat Camp at YMCA Camp Ocoee on Friday, August 19, 2016.
photo David Cook

As an oftentimes member of the left, I would like to apologize to many gun owners in America for the ways you are demonized and vilified.

Simply because you own guns does not make you a bad American.

Simply because you shoot guns does not make you a violent American.

Simply because you enjoy or cherish guns does not make you a deplorable American.

Too often, that has been the message from the left, liberal or progressive side of American politics.