Thursday, April 23, 2009

Hoplophobia: The Fear of Firearms


Hoplophobia is the irrational fear of firearms. This phobia can cause sweating, faintness, discomfort, rapid pulse, nausea, sleeplessness and nondescript fears just by thinking about firearms.

The term hoplophobia was coined in 1962 by Colonel Jeff Cooper, a firearms instructor. He believes that the most common manifestation of the phobia is the idea that the firearm possesses a will of its own.

Efforts are being made to have hoplophobia recognized in the official directory of mental ailments. There could be as many as 10 million people who are suffering from this phobia.

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