Sic Semper Tyrannis - Mark Marra Photo

A member of the Roanoke County Militia talks to press at the Virginia Capitol on Virginia’s annual Lobby Day. January 2021

In March 2020, I started a documentary photo project on firearms and gun culture in the United States. Sic Semper Tyrannis

is an on-going collection of photos of firearms, their owners, gun cultures, the ideology behind ownership, and much more.

According to a survey in 2017, there are 393 million privately owned firearms in the US while only 326 million people. Simply put, there are more guns than citizens. No other country comes close to the level of gun ownership seen in the states and reflecting this statistic is a culture and normalization not seen anywhere else in the world.

Pro-gun arguments used to center around their use for hunting and/or home & self defense. But recently, a more widespread trend within gun culture is the celebration of the 2nd Amendment’s original purpose, to resist tyranny and oppression. Sic Semper Tyrannis, the Virginia state motto, has become an increasingly popular slogan for gun owners and means “thus always to tyrants” or that tyrants will always be removed or killed by the people.

(Picture taken at the George Floyd Protest in Richmond, Virginia, June 2020)

Members of the Fred Hampton Gun Club and the Original Black Panthers of Virginia demonstrate outside the Virginia Capitol building on Lobby Day. January 2021.

This man was more than happy to participate in the VCDL caravan and excitedly pulled out his pistol when he saw me taking photos.

“This right here will keep you safe!” he told me, striking various poses and blasting sirens from his megaphone.

Virginia Lobby Day, January 2021

The record number of gun sales has been increasing since March and continues to do so thanks to COVID uncertainty and recent protests and riots. Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting indicate around 2.5 million guns were purchased in March alone. Gun ownership is widely regarded and stereotyped as a white, male, and right-wing quality, but guns can transcend race, gender, or political orientation. Gun organizations like the Socialist Rifle Association are gaining popularity, firearm classes specifically for women are being offered at most ranges, and black people are showing up armed to pro-gun rallies and anti-police brutality protests. Gun dealers have even reported a 58.2% increase in black customers in 2020. (NSSF The Firearms Industry Trade Association)

Sam’s Shooter Emporium, Lake Havasu, AZ. November 2020

I chose to photograph firearms disassembled to visually demonstrate what makes a gun work and show that these parts alone would most likely not be recognized by non-gun owners. Often gun reform is advocated for by those completely uneducated on how a gun works and leads to hilariously bad takes such as banning “30 caliber clips” and infamous graphics on national media that are laughably incorrect. Anti-gun activists often times use rhetoric deliberately meant to make firearms seem more scary, using terms such as “ghost guns” or “assault weapons of war,” while many gun owners simply view them as tools.

Another aspect of modern gun culture is the imagery and aesthetics around firearms and gear. While craftsmanship and elaborate detailing have always been a facet of some firearms, for example, 17th century muskets with elaborate engravings, the modern look is one often advertised towards a more military style and aesthetic. Subcultures within gun culture exist such as some that focus on “Gucci gear” (buying expensive gear and equipment to flex) or memes such as patches and magazines with inside jokes or even adopting an Eastern European/Russian aesthetic by wearing tracksuits and owning AKs or other Eastern bloc weapons. Not to mention the entire Boogaloo movement/culture.

To non-Americans, our relationship with guns may seem nonsensical, violent, obsessive, and alien. But for some Americans, it’s a normal part of life. Even Americans who don’t care for guns don’t realize how much it surrounds our daily life. From the magazine rack at the grocery store to the billboard advertising gun safety, firearm culture is widespread. And that’s not even delving into the imagery of guns in media, pop culture, toys, music, etc.

Sam’s Shooter Emporium, Lake Havasu, AZ. November 2020

Accompanying article, written April 2020

The United States of America is the number one country in the world. Not for anything silly like healthcare, life expectancy, economy, or education, but for civilian firearm ownership. According to a survey in 2017, there are 393 million owned firearms in the US with a population of around 326 million. Every single person in the United States could own a firearm and there could still be 67 million guns left over. Simply put, there are more guns than people. No other country comes close to the level of gun ownership seen in the US. Reflecting this level of gun ownership is a unique culture not seen anywhere else in the world. What seems absurd in many other places is commonplace in the states; gun stores with shelves lined with rifles, handguns, shotguns, and sporting rifles, billboards and advertisements for gun safety or renting machineguns, and even regular people walking the streets openly or concealed carrying a gun.

Even during a global pandemic, gun sales haven’t slowed, but in fact, skyrocketed. The Trump administration declared gun stores, shooting ranges, and firearm manufactures as essential and multiple state governors have reversed decisions on the closing of firearm related businesses after pressure of gun rights groups and the federal government. The FBI reported a record breaking surge in background checks with over 3.7 million checks conducted in the month of March alone. The record for most background checks in a single day was broken on March 20^th, with over 210,000 checks conducted. Only four months into 2020 and the total number of checks this year has passed entire year totals from 1998 to 2007. While background checks don’t necessarily directly translate to gun sales, global firearm market research firm Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting indicate around 2.5 million guns were purchased in March alone.

The unpredictability and unknown nature of COVID-19, coupled with the potential financial struggle and obvious health issues, has caused many Americans to be extremely doubtful of the future. While the online jokes and memes poke fun at Americans wanting to shoot at the virus, in actuality, many are preparing for an imagined scenario where riots or looting threaten their homes or family. While this may be just paranoia, many pro-gun Americans point to events like the 1992 LA riots where Korean-American shop owners defended their properties and businesses from looting with varying degrees of success.

Tensions are rising across the US with many protests springing up around the country demanding lockdown regulations to end, unhappy with the state and federal response to coronavirus. Some protestors view quarantine measures as some form of state tyranny or oppression, while many just want a return to work to be able to provide for themselves or their families. Even more recently, some protestors have even been showing up to anti-lockdown demonstrations armed, such as April 30^th’s protest inside Michigan’s state capitol building.

These armed protests are reminiscent of the January 2^nd Amendment demonstrations where thousands of gun owners came to Richmond, Virginia to protest against new anti-gun legislation that they felt infringed upon their constitutional right to bear arms. Sic Semper Tyrannis is the Virginia state motto which means “thus always to tyrants,” signifying that tyrants will always be removed or killed. This motto represents a common belief among some gun owners, that owning firearms is the best way to resist tyranny and oppression. These photos represent a small microcosm of American gun culture its relevance today.