Beware of the Mall Ninja

If you are a firearms enthusiast, moderation and level-headedness are important virtues. There are several stereotypes in the shooting community that you don't want to be. The first and foremost of these negative stereotypes is the mall ninja.

A mall ninja is shooting enthusiast who has gone far overboard in the name of tactical preparedness while facing the most mundane of threat circumstances. The typical mall ninja has a low-level, unarmed, security guard job, but maintains a personal arsenal that rivals the equipment of an elite anti-terrorist unit. The mall ninja often implies that he is a special forces soldier or that he has advanced tactical training that equals the training of special forces units, while actually being completely out of shape or having a little strip mall martial arts academy training. Sometimes, the mall ninja is usually all about firepower and might choose a handgun like the .44 Magnum Desert Eagle. Other times, the mall ninja will modify an existing firearm like a Ruger 10/22 to a ridiculous degree using aftermarket parts. However, the end result won't be any more effective than a standard firearm like my wife's humble Magtech Model 7022 .22 rifle. Sometimes Mall Ninjas are amusing to interact with on gun forums. The Mall Ninja Shrine on Lonely Planet captures a particularly over-the-top Mall Ninja in action.

In the United States, we are fortunate not to need SWAT teams at our shopping centers on a daily basis. Most shooters don't need helmets, flak jackets, and other mall ninja gear. While it's a free country, the mall ninja lacks the judgment to know when he has equipped himself to an excess degree. The scary thing about mall ninjas is that they are very cavalier about firearms safety and often break basic rules of range etiquette. If they do have a security guard job, they might be prone to react excessively to major threats like loitering smokers, and jaywalkers. Unfortunately, the mall ninja persona adds to the negative image of shooting enthusiasts among many in the general public. If you are a shooting enthusiast, you want to be serious about the fundamental rules of gun safety.

On an individual level, being a mall ninja can be expensive and the resources spent on tactical gear might be better spent on practical purchases. High-end military style guns and gear can run into the thousands of dollars. When you assess threats to your household realistically, simple things can make your home safe and secure. Money spent on more mundane gear like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors may provide more protection for your family than the latest tactical carbine with lasers, lights, and optical gizmos. Sometimes the best way to protect your family is to buy a mechanically reliable car with good crash ratings and a little extra crumple space.

This article isn't to say that a military-style firearm might not be a fantastic addition to your collection. Guns are fun to shoot, mechanically interesting, a way to defend yourself and your family, and a way to touch history. For instance, I love shooting my antique Swedish Mauser because I'm of Swedish descent. This article is just a cautionary note about going overboard. Whenever you buy firearms and shooting supplies, it is always prudent to look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are getting a little mall ninja in your purchases. You don't want to be ridiculous. The "Mall Ninja" is one kind of shooter that you don't want to become.

Sources:
"Shrine of the Mall Ninja" LonelyMachines.org.
( http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas )

"Mall Ninja" UrbanDictionary.com
( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mall%20ninja )