Olivia Cozzetto

HSP 301
Standpoint Essay
A standpoint is a set of values and beliefs that creates a position on a subject that
defines you. Standpoints are created from origins, family background, culture, gender and
anything that helps describe you. One debatable topic Ive grown to development my own
standpoint on is gun control and rights in the US. Through my family, community, values and
education I have established my viewpoint on supporting gun rights and the idea that everyone
should have the right to own and bear arms. Many different aspects in my life have created my
standpoint on gun rights.
From the article Baseball and Roots-Two Perspectives on Standpoints by Patricia
Fabiano, the idea between roots and standpoints was recognized. Roots which support systems
and help maintain a trees structure are connected; roots have a variety of depth and influence.
A persons roots are their ideas, beliefs, values, family, race, age, sex, and economic position
that support an individual in making life decisions which affects the standpoint a person will
have on a controversial topic.
My most influential roots, which had the most impact on my standpoint on gun rights,
were my upbringing in a small rural community and family influence. My standpoint on gun
rights was established while growing up in a small, rural farming community in Southwestern
Washington, outside of Vancouver. Growing up in the isolation of my small tight-knit, Christian

farming town was a place where everyone knew your name and your business. When neighbors
smiled and waved, I felt the warmth and pleasant sense of a friendly and welcoming
community. Today I value growing up in a small town with close relationships. This small town
in the country, away from the big city and more importantly away from the big city perspectives
thrived on activities around guns use.
At a young age, I shoot my first gun. At my fathers berry farm, my older brother and I
practiced shooting cans out in the blueberry field with a BB gun. I still remember the tension my
hand felt holding something so powerful and resilient (even though it was just a BB gun). With
the lack of activities for teenagers and the distance it took to travel into the city, frolicking with
guns became a big activity for adults and adolescence teens. I had fellow classmates in high
school who brought their guns into school leaving them in their cars for after school shooting
range practice, and Ive see men come up to my register at work with small hand guns on their
waist to pay for chew and tobacco. My town with its strong influence of country life and its
values for gun use and security influenced my impression of having the right to own guns.
Growing up in a community where guns were inessential everywhere created the sense that
guns are a part of everyday life.
While growing up in my community, I lived with my mother and siblings. My mother,
who is a very nervous and precautions woman would have never let myself or my siblings play
with guns. Which is something I appreciate now, I value the precaution attributes I got from my
mother. The idea of guns to my mother was something scary and nerve-wracking, I was taught
to fear the mystery and destruction of guns. I could have easily developed the same standpoint

as my mother for she was my role model growing up but with the influence of my father I did
not. My father was the first to introduce me to gun use. My father, who lived on a farm
separately, had guns around for safety and for protection. My understanding of guns was that
they were to protect and provide security. Although my mother was against guns and my father
showed me how to use a gun, the real influence of my standpoint came from my mothers
boyfriend.
My mothers boyfriend, Tom grew up in town very similar to mine; they valued the
security and pleasure of owning guns. Before Toms influence, I had been nervous around a gun
which was heavily influenced by my mothers control ideas that guns were going to kill people.
Tom changed my perspective of guns. Even though I was used to seeing guns in everyday life, I
still had an image of bad guys holding machine guns above their heads shooting at people,
that image changed from watching Tom clean and care for his guns on early Sunday mornings.
When Tom entered our family, I was around thirteen years old and very prone to impressions.
As I grew up and my mom allowed guns in the house, I saw a different side of guns. The
influence of Toms manner surrounding guns had changed my view. I was able to see that guns
werent just for security or protection or for killing, but that theres a whole culture of collecting
and the preservation of guns. My standpoint on guns from my experience with Toms behavior
and use is that guns shouldnt always been seen as a device for killing or protection but seen as
art and a craft. I value the craftsmanship and art that people put into recreating and rebuilding
guns. This viewpoint isnt something that a lot of people probably share with me but as I reflect
on my perception of guns and try to pinpoint where this came from, the source is my lived

experience and influence of Toms collecting guns and behavior when handling them. Now as I
reflect back, the violence that was identified with guns was taken out of the equation by Tom.
As a young female, I am not as into guns compared to a male boy my age nor is it very
accepted in society for girls to be around guns. My gender is one contributing aspect to my
standpoint. Typically girls arent supposed to like guns or be interested in them yet I overcame
that stereotype to be able to understand gun use. My view of gun rights is different from a
male with the same standpoint because of gender. Men my age probably have much more
experience handling guns and knowledge than I do. Men are seen as more aggressive and
powerful than women making the general public more nervous and cautious when males are
seen with guns in public. My gender distinguishes my standpoint from others especially males.
My standpoint on gun rights is not similar to anyone elses because a standpoint is a
personal view that is created from lived experiences and personal characteristics. From my
standpoint, I could not understand someone elses standpoint on gun control. My
understandings are shaped from my community, peers and family and gender creating a one of
a kind standpoint. If I try to understand why others might not be pro gun and against the
ownership of guns, I can understand their views at a basic level but I cannot comprehend their
values and experiences behind their standpoint to understand why they believe that way. My
standpoint is from the view of watching people use guns instead of the personal use of a gun
meaning from my standpoint I might be lacking a lot of outlooks and knowledge of actually
using a gun. This is one meaningful and difficult aspect about standpoints-everyone has a
different one and that it takes practice and an open mind to other peoples cultures, values and

beliefs to understand anothers standpoint. Consideration of others standpoint doesnt mean

you must give up your view on the subject but means you must learn to understand and accept
others views and perceptions. Standpoints can always change over time; my standpoint may
change with the addition of new experiences and new values as I live my life further away from
comfort zones and family.
My standpoint on gun rights and the idea that everyone should be allowed to own a gun
comes from my life experiences which Ive captured while growing up. My small, rural
community that values security and turns to gun use for activities and entertainment drove my
perception that guns are a part of everyday life. The influence of family such as my mother, my
father and my mothers boyfriend, Tom taught me to look at guns in different lights. My mother
made me aware how scary guns can be. My father taught me the discipline needed for gun use
and Tom showed me another side of guns which isnt always violent but instead the value of
collecting guns. My gender is another personal aspect that differs from others with the same
view on gun rights. My standpoint comes from my experiences which are intertwined with my
values. I view and values guns as an art, not something only linked to violence and killing.