Do Gun Prohibitionists Have A Mental Problem?

Tori Hughes

Barbara Rose

College Success

10 October 2016

Hoplophobia: Fear of Firearms

Hoplophobia, the most dangerous of all phobias, is the fear of firearms or guns. It also includes the fear of the damage that any weapon can cause, including guns, knives, and anything that can harm someone's body. It is common that people who fear of guns also might have Ballistophobia, the fear of missiles or bullets, or Harpaxophobia, the fear of getting robbed. Hoplophobia stems come from the Greek word “Hoplites” which means weapons. The word hoplophobia was first used in 1962 by Colonel Jeff Cooper. “He defined it as ‘a mental disturbance characterized by irrational aversion to weapons” (Cooper). Firearms are used in many different setting. Police carry

In 2000 Dr. Thompson released her first paper entitled Do Gun Prohibitionists Have A Mental Problem?. Dr. Thompson is reluctant to admit that there is such thing as hoplophobia, and she is not alone. Many doctors are anti gun activists, and inject their opinions in their clinical work. Professionals who push their personal opinions in their work are causing multiple ethical violations. These violations include; mixing politics and healthcare, violating the requirement to stay neutral, and practicing outside of one’s field. Often, doctors will try to use their credibility in attempt to sway people’s opinions of gun control. Some doctors and medical professionals feel as if gun ownership and violence are like diseases, and can simply be cured. They also refer to guns themselves as pathogens or germs. Medical professionals across the globe have counseled their patients about firearms or weapons of destruction, yet they have no credibility to do

The number one most common phobia is arachnophobia. Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders, and is believed to affect more women than men. Ophidiophobia, or the fear of snakes, is also a very common phobia. This fear is often linked to personal experiences. Acrophobia is the fear of heights, and often triggers panic attacks. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations that are difficult to escape. This may include open spaces, crowded areas, or situations which cause panic attacks. The fear of dogs is known as cynophobia. This phobia usually stems from personal experiences as a young child, such as being attacked by a dog at a young age. Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightening. This phobia has multiple names, including brontophobia, tonitrophobia, and ceraunophobia. Trypanophobia is the fear of injections. This phobia often causes people to avoid the doctor or any medical help. There are also social phobias, the fear of social situations. These phobias can be very debilitating and can cause severe panic attacks, and they can also cause people to stay away from social events. Pteromerhanophobia is the fear of flying. This is a very common fear, and is usually treated by exposure therapy. Mysophobia is the fear of dirt or germs. This fear can lead to compulsive cleaning and handwashing, or even the avoidance of situations which the person who suffers from the phobia would perceive as “dirty”. This phobia