Pink Pistols

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gun interest groups in the U.S.
Pro-gun rights
National Rifle Association Gun Owners of America JPFO Pink Pistols Second Amendment Foundation Second Amendment Sisters Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Liberty Belles Law Enforcement Alliance of America
Pro-gun control
Americans for Democratic Action Brady Campaign Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Coalition to Stop Gun Violence League of Women Voters
Pro-rights and pro-control
American Hunters and Shooters Association Americans for Gun Safety Foundation

The Pink Pistols are a gay gun rights organization in the United States. Their mottos are "Armed gays don't get bashed" and "Pick on someone your own caliber." Founded in July 2000 by Doug Krick, a libertarian activist from Massachusetts, Pink Pistols now has 40 chapters that are principally made up of gun-owning LGBT individuals, though neither condition is mandatory for membership.

The Pink Pistols symbol

The political orientation of the Pink Pistols is considered unusual due to the popular perception in the United States of firearms ownership as a "conservative issue" and sexuality as a "liberal issue." However, there is nothing within either of these two single-issues that is mutually exclusive and a variety of other pro-gun organizations exist for groups not typically associated with gun rights (for example the "Democrats for the Second Amendment").

Pink Pistols activities include firing range visits and political activism. The group occasionally produces report cards on politicians, rating their position on issues of interest to members. According to pinkpistols.org,

"The Pink Pistols get together at least once a month at local firing ranges to practice shooting, and to acquaint people new to firearms with them. We will help you select a firearm, acquire a permit, and receive proper training in its safe and legal use for self-defense. The more people know that members of our community may be armed, the less likely they will be to single us out for attack."

The Pink Pistol's symbol consists of an overhead view of a picto-person aiming a handgun in an isoceles stance super-imposed on a pink triangle. The pink triangle is an international symbol of gay pride.