Gun Memes: What’s the Story?
Travis Pike
If you hang around internet gun culture even a little bit, you’ll eventually hear Brandon Herrera clapping his hands, imitating PewDiePie as he rhythmically says, “Gun. Meme. Review.” Gun memes have become a normal part of internet gun culture and have even spread into the offline world, becoming familiar to those who don’t spend most of their life in front of a screen.
This admittedly makes sense, as gun memes predate the widespread use of the internet. Today, we’re going to explore the culture of gun memes, their origin, and why they are an important part of the gun rights fight.
What’s a Meme?
Most people describe a meme as a picture with some words on it that’s often humorous. Most memes follow that format online and have since the early days of image boards. However, that’s a bit of a simplification of what a meme truly is.
Richard Dawkins coined the term in 1976 as an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.
While memes predate the internet, the internet is the most common source these days since it’s the main method we communicate with. Memes aren’t new; they appear in all cultures and times, from the WWII “Kilroy was here” to the Sator Square, which has been around for about two millennia.
Gun memes can start online and spread offline. Even my unplugged uncle knows the phrase “Lost my guns in a boating accident,” which, though just a phrase, is a meme in itself. Memes can be pictures, phrases, videos, famous events, and even guns themselves can be memes.
Hi-Point’s “Yeet Cannon” is a prime example. It occupies the space of a functional firearm, but it’s also a significant meme within the broader gun culture. Essentially, a meme is any form of cultural transmission.
The Origin of Gun Memes
Memes have been around forever, so gun memes have likely been around since the invention of firearms. I’m sure some Revolutionary soldiers had some great inside jokes about the Kentucky rifle, but many are lost to time. Modern gun meme culture seemed to have started at gun shows and in gun magazines. Phrases like “Cold Dead Hands” and “Glock Tupperware” existed well before the internet was in wide use.
In terms of internet usage, the earliest gun memes originated on message boards and image boards. If you were around the culture at that time, you have to remember the infamous Gecko45, also known as the original Mall Ninja.
He riled up a message board with his tall tales of mall security, fighting terrorists, and his need for wild setups of weapons and armor.
Another early tale comes from the supposed Russian firearm enthusiast Ivan Chesnokov, who haunted 4chan.
Most people don’t realize it, but the original “Nyet, rifle is fine” meme originated from Chesnokov.
Gun memes have a lot of crossover with military memes and gamer culture. Gamers were, predictably, early internet enthusiasts.
In the early 2000s, video games were all about World War 2, which led to memes about WW2-era firearms that escaped into the greater gun world. This continued with the rise of the Call of Duty Modern Warfare series and the Global War on Terror.
A massive source of early gun memes came from the early days of “Guntube.” YouTube gun content used to be the wild west, and we really didn’t know how good we had it. To this day, pictures of FPS Russia doing insane things with guns are used as memes. I can still hear his accent if I close my eyes….
The Importance of Memes
Memes hold real cultural importance. They unite specific subcultures, make jokes, spread information, and deliver bite-sized, digestible content. In the gun community, memes act as mirrors—they reflect what people are thinking, feeling, and talking about.
Memes act as mirrors on gun culture. They track the mood and address trending topics in a relatable way. Smart companies can use memes like hieroglyphics and take constructive criticism.
They also serve as a form of social and political commentary. It’s often joked that memes win elections, and while I don’t think that’s the case, they do make a difference. Irony and satire have always been critical tools in any culture, and gun culture is no exception. Memes can raise awareness, rally support, and show where the culture’s interest lies.
Most importantly, gun memes build community. They connect groups within subcultures or help create a broader shared identity. They’re a kind of hidden language—an inside joke that says, you get it.
I’m part of several gun meme pages—many of them small, private groups—and recently, on one of the more obscure (and rather unhinged) pages, a member posted a GoFundMe for his special needs son. In no time at all, this small group raised $20,000 to help with some accessibility upgrades that would make this young man’s life so much better.
Gun Memes Today
The gun meme economy is experiencing hyperinflation. They are everywhere. There are countless pages of every political persuasion. Gun memes occupy every social media platform and continue to evolve. From videos and images to text-based classics, the gun meme will never die. It’s too funny, and too relatable.
While they might seem silly, memes are an important part of the culture and, dare I say, vital to restoring and preserving our natural rights.
Travis Pike
