Brian Anse Patrick, RIP (Updated)

Professor Brian Anse Patrick passed away on Tuesday from cancer at the all too young age of 62. He was a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Toledo, author, CHL instructor, and gun rights advocate. He held a PhD in Communications Research from the University of Michigan. He was a speaker at a number of Gun Rights Policy Conferences and at the National Firearms Law Seminar.

Among his better known works were The National Rifle Association and the Media: The Motivating Force of Negative Coverage, The Ten Commandments of Propaganda, and Rise of the Anti-Media: In-Forming America's Concealed Weapon Carry Movement. This last book examined how the gun culture used its own media systems (or anti-media) to push shall-issue concealed carry outside of the view of the established media and the gun control organizations.

Dave Hardy, calling him a brilliant mind and a good man, noted that his work on the NRA and the media created objective measures showing that the more negative publicity the NRA received, the greater the growth in membership.

I cannot find any "official obituaries but this one from John Morgan announcing Dr. Patrick's death on Facebook sums it up well.

It brings me great sadness to report that Brian Anse Patrick, pictured here with a great elk that he took down in Montana in 2010 (his favorite activity of all), known to many as the author of numerous books published by Arktos and elsewhere, as a Professor of Communication at the University of Toledo, as a championship target shooter and advocate for gun rights, as a CCW permit instructor, as well as through his many lectures and interviews on the subjects of propaganda and the American gun rights movement, passed away after suffering from cancer on the night of December 26/27 at the all too premature age of 62. As generous a soul as there has ever been, many of us who knew him can attest that our lives were made better through our friendship with him. Brian helped me through many rough patches of my own life over the course of nearly 20 years with his sage counsel and indefatigable drive to help his friends, as well as with his astute wit, which was matched only by the sharpness of his marksman's eye. He was also the one who first taught this city boy how to shoot and appreciate the outdoors at his estate in northern Michigan, a true refuge from the ravages of the modern world where we would be regaled with tales of his wild youth and philosophically plumb the depths of life, the universe, and everything while quaffing the finest spirits. One who never suffered fools or those who were slaves to the bureaucratic mentality gladly, but who always nourished intelligence and talent, he was certainly the most fiercely independent individual I have ever known in both mind and action, and a man who benefited from a lifetime of wide reading and love of good books, and one who loved animals of all kinds. I also never knew anyone else who could throw together a meal in half an hour from whatever was lying around his kitchen and have it taste like the best thing you'd ever eaten on every single occasion - and never be the same twice. His story, rising from a ne'er-do-well problem child with a GED to become a tenured professor, should be an inspiration to those who see academia as closed to the unconventional. He was representative of an archetypal type of primordial American who is becoming all too rare in America today. He was free in the most genuine sense of the word. His wise words will continue to echo in my mind for the rest of my life. Brian, wherever you are now, you won't be forgotten.

UPDATE:  The provost at the University of Toledo released this message regarding Dr. Patrick's death.

Dear UT Colleagues,

It is with great sadness I share with you that we have lost a trusted faculty and member of our University of Toledo family. Brian Anse Patrick, PhD, professor of communication, lost his battle with cancer on December 26, 2016. 

Brian began his career at UT in 2000. He taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in research methods, group communication, propaganda and persuasion. He was a nationally recognized expert on American gun culture and was frequently invited to speak at events and symposia. Further, he was the author of five books and numerous scholarly articles, and enjoyed engaging students in open dialog.

We offer our sincere condolences to Brian’s family and friends and share in their grief. He will be deeply missed by our entire UT community. Please keep them in your thoughts during this time of loss.

Andrew T. Hsu

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

The University of Toledo