We all know what they mean

I fully expect the mainstream media to brand people as gun nuts for having their picture taken with perfectly legitimate and legal items. They often classify members of the public, political or not, in this manner to their own discredit. That's one of the reasons why the general advice to sporting shooters is to always turn down any MSM offered opportunity to have them take a picture of you holding your guns. They'll charm you and then crucify you.

It surprises me more when members of the blogosphere propagate this myth.