”America is a country founded on guns. It’s in our DNA. It’s very strange but I feel better having a gun. I really do. I don’t feel safe, I don’t feel the house is completely safe, if I don’t have one hidden somewhere. That’s my thinking, right or wrong.” – Brad Pitt

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42 COMMENTS

  2. I don’t think it’s in our DNA (even metaphorically speaking). But I personally certainly *DO* feel better knowing that I have a gun. And that I have instant access (well, maybe 5 seconds) to it at night. And that I’m trying to be consciously aware of my surroundings and threat level at all times. And that I have some martial arts training. And that I have a police flashlight by the bed. And that I have a large stick near the door. And that I have secure locks.

    Not everybody feels that way, which is their prerogative.

    • Wrong. Brad has it correct. Owning guns is absolutely 100% in the DNA of America. We are a nation founded in a struggle using military-grade arms to resist the tyrannical government trying to unjustly control the people. Using privately-held arms, ships, etc we fought back and secured our freedom. Over the years we fought against more tyrannical governments to continue to secure our freedom and to win the freedom of millions of other people across the globe. That is the reason for the 2nd Amendment, not for shooting sports or hunting, but for the defense of ourselves, our fellow citizens, and our country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

      • “In the DNA” is one of those excessive nonsensical expressions that simple-minded people just love. Even worse is “America is a country founded on guns.”

        If a gun control person said similar inane bullshit, you guys would be attacking him or her viciously. Carolyn McCarthy comes to mind.

        But, consistency is not what you guys are famous for, is it?

        • This particular “excessive nonsensical expression” is what we in the word business would call a metaphor.

          As for “America is a country built on guns,” it’s reasonable on the whole, even if the details are arguable. (It wouldn’t be too unreasonable to say that every modern nation was built on guns; whether it’s revolution, conquest, or defense, guns always come into the picture at some critical point.) There’s a pretty good case for the American revolution being successful because of widespread citizen gun ownership. And the expansion into the west was facilitated by guns. And guns were heavily involved in our rise to a global power in WWI & II.

          And don’t forget about that the Constitution explicitly protects what the founders saw as inalienable, natural human rights, one of which is codified in that pesky Second Amendment: “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” That fact, by itself, makes a good case for America really being built on guns — or more accurately, built *by* people with guns.

    • Just by saying this publicly, doesn’t it help to destigmatize gun ownership a little? I mean, he’s a high-profile Hollywood celebrity. He is in the mouth of the anti-gun beast, and he’s saying he feels safer having a gun near by. If everyone who felt the same would say as much, then folks on the other side might realize were not the minority they think we are.

      • Not when celebrities tend to think of themselves as better than the common folk. I’m sure he means what he said but does he believe it for ALL law abiding citizens?

        • Do you have reason to believe otherwise, or are you just lumping him with all anti-2A celebrities just because he is a celibrity. Why not lump him with Chuck Norris and Charlton Heston instead?

          We need to be above the very generalization and pettiness that we face. No “guilty by association”.

  4. I like this guy more and more … Aside from him not having enough character to remain faithful to his previous wife. But I digress, I’m happy when a high-profile celebrity has the courage to stand up for his right to self-defense. There’s not many who do. He’s not going to make it an “issue” with him because it clearly doesn’t define who he is as a man–just as my love of firearms doesn’t define me–but he’s willing to go on the record and say that he supports private gun ownership (at least in the home) and that it makes him feel safer. More power to him.

    Johnny Depp is another guy that I’ve grown more fond of over the years. He’s never talked about the potential of having to shoot a person; but he has said publicly that he enjoys plinking, and that wants his kid to share in his fondness for the activity.

    Hollywood never ceases to amaze me. It’s mostly bad, but sometimes a little hope comes out of the RoK.

    • Brad Pitt just gave a statement supporting President Obama and saying how wrong his own mother was about Obama. Kind of difficult to support gun rights AND a president whose party just announced pretty draconian gun control in their platform.

  5. the next line after the above quote:

    “Brad, 48, points out how he was exposed to guns from an early age but still turned out to be a responsible adult.”

    hah! MSM! gotta love it

  6. I’m genuinely surprised.

    It’s good, sound thinking, though I wish he didn’t feel “strange” about it. There’s nothing strange about feeling secure owning the necessary tools to defend oneself, family, and property. The truly strange ones are those who place the safety of their family and selves in officials who have proven time and again to be ineffective at best, disastrously incompetent at worst.

    • It’s understandable that he feels strange, considering the vast majority of people he’s been working with/around are anti-gun (or at least quiet about their pro-gun stance). The way guns are portrayed in California, TV, & Movies would reinforce the anti-gun opinions of the vocal crowd out there. What I would hope for is the inclusion of intelligent, lawful concealed-carriers and open-carriers in future movies & tv shows, people that aren’t just ex-cops or ex-military, but every-day people. On the other hand, I’m smart enough not to expect to see that anytime soon.

  7. Perhaps in another 5-10 years, guns will go mainstream in Hollywood with many actors and actresses then boasting about how they own and support guns. If only we can get those celebs to stop smoking those vile stogies. Nobody here at TTAG likes stogies, do they? 🙂

  8. Well let’s say I am happy he said it. I think more and more actors, directors and such are turning tide against the Holly Wood tradition of being far left.
    Now all we need to do is get the Coalition of Hollywood Actors for Gun Ownership! “CHAGO”
    That would pop a few arteries wouldn’t it!

  9. It wasn’t the most articulate statement I’ve read about liking the shooting sports and owning firearms, but from a Hollywood actor? I’ll take it!!!!!! Thank you Brad Pitt!! Now hopefully he won’t get caught doing something stupid in the next six months like shoot a paparazzi, or get arrested under the influence while carrying a gun.

  10. Although Mr. Pitt seems a little conflicted about many concepts in the world of grown-ups, I must give him credit for speaking of firearms in a positive light. Any little bit helps.

  12. If you took that quote and put in next to a picture of Charlton Heston or John Wayne people in the main stream media would just dismiss it as right wing gun not propaganda.

  13. He gets it–and even better, he publicized that he gets it.

    I wonder if his house has some Mr. and Mrs. Smith-style hiding places for some of his guns…

  14. damn fine time to let it be known, brad. now if you can just get more of the hollywood crowd to come out of the closet we’ll all be better off for it.

    • Now all we need it Brad Pitt and Anderson Cooper to tell the world they are conservatives! It would be mass hysteria!!!

  17. I don’t think it is odd that Mr. Pitt endorses The President and 2A. I don’t think everybody agrees with all of the platforms of any political party. There are many issues on the table. (Fortunately for us 2A isn’t on the table.)
    I proudly display my NRA sticker with my Obama 2012.
    ……………Great conversation starter too 🙂

    • Not much that is democratic about barry other than whose hands feed his pockets and the bs that comes out of his mouth the appease the left. Hasnt done much for “civil rights” other than repeal dont ask dont tell and say he supports gay marriage…. still war in the middle east, surge of troops to the middle east, hit teams to take out osama, no anti gun responses to recent tragedies, going through with bailouts the predecessor set up, health care thats similar to romney care… sounds a bit like what all the left thought he was replacing but with a blue exterior instead of red…. a horse by any other name is still a politician. I will vote for romney in hopes that ron paul can bring the republican party back to what its supposed to be and the romney bot will follow. In addition, the bailouts were stupid if the companies would have gone under a billionaire or group of investors would have bought them and revamped them and sold for a profit while no jobs are lost/ the big businesses like fannie mae and freddie mac played the govt at its own game and won knowing they would be bailed out screwing over the tax payers and profiting off the whole deal.

  18. Careful Brad, coming out as pro-gun or (eek) a Republican is not good for the career. Sly Stone made movies for years with guns but made sure everyone in tinsel town knew where he stand when Rocky 423 came out.

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