Put on a “Dispel the Myths” Show for Anti-gun people

R

RonC

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To be honest, I posted this on other gun related sites as well:
My wife has feared guns but recognized that she shouldn't put her fears on the shoulders of others. However, after recent events, she was distraught and started talking about hi-cap mags and "assault-style" rifles. I offered a suggestion: I would show to her and her friends who are anti-gun, that actions taken on "high powered rifles," hi-cap mags and assault style weapons were useless, foolish and just window-dressing directed to the ignorant.

I wish there were more in my audience, but there only were 3. This is what I did:
Hi-cap mags - I put a 13 round mag in my CZ75B and two 10 round mags in my pocket. With the 13 round mag in (and after all due safety checks), I went bang, bang, bang 13 times.
Then, I put a 10 rounder in - bang, bang 10 times and did a quick mag drop and insertion and bang, bang 10 more times. The unanimous agreement was that by changing mags, maybe I lost a second and the hi-cap issue was nonsense.

Then I brought out my Ruger SP101, fired it, bang, bang six times. Then, I did the same with my 1911, but 7 times. Pull the trigger, shoot an imaginary bullet. I then repeated with the revolver and a speed loader. Twelve shots. Fast. What is the difference between the semi-auto, really an auto-loader and a revolver? Very little except I was using a revolver with a more powerful round (357).

Assault-style rifles - I showed them my AR15. Shock and awe! It is ugly and black. Then, I showed them a Ruger mini-14 and other semi-auto .223 rifles on the computer. I said that they are talking about banning the AR15, but these other semi-autos are just fine. What is the difference? Nothing, nada, zilch, bupkis. There is no difference except one is ugly and black, but they all shoot the same round and are semi-automatic.

Finally, I had them each handle a 5.56 and a 30-06 round. The cute little baby 5.56 (OK, I am being facetious) and the big brute 30-06. High power rifle? My Garand is legal. My 1903A3 is legal, my Husavarna 8 mm Mauser is legal, but they want to make the AR15 that shoots the 5.56 illegal?

My wife caught on quickly. Her 2 friends said that they have to have time to digest what they just saw. Translation: what the Heck do I do when my favorite pre-conceived notions are challenged with reality? I responded that sometimes facts are a tough. Don't be like my father-in-law who, when we argued politics, said: "Don't confuse the issue with facts."

Ron
 
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"Don't confuse the issue with facts."

That pretty much sums it up.

Making rational decisions based on facts is rarely as instantly gratifying as making snap decisions based on unfettered emotion, especially when you are capable of ignoring or blaming someone else for the consequences (intended or otherwise).
 
Another thing to do is to ask a simple question of each anti-gunner that tries to spout off nonsense.

"Why should the many be punished for the actions of the few?"

Then see how many straight answers you get.
 
I have read a study done in Philadelphia that found revolvers are pretty commonly used in murders.

9mm #1 (23%), .38 #2(18%) and .357 #3(16%).
 
I spoke with a friend earlier today and she is supporting the assault weapons ban. I asked her why and she stated, “Guns are ok, but nobody needs a high powered machine gun”. I attempted to explain to her the differences between what she is referring to and what Obama wants to ban, but her eyes just glazed over.

To me that is the biggest issue because many Americans know nothing about guns and it is impossible to have logical discussions about a topic the other person knows nothing about.
 
I did something very similar.

My younger sister, back in the 90s, told me that she thought semi-automatic handguns should be illegal. She kept saying "semi-automatic" over and over again like a mantra. It was obvious she had no idea what it meant.

I took her to my gun safe, and pulled out a 1911 and my S&W 629 and put them side by side on the bench. I then asked her to point out the semi. She guessed correctly. I asked her what she THOUGHT made it a semi. She said "it's automatic".

I explained the diff between semi and full auto. Once she had the concept (she's bright) that it fires as fast as you pull the trigger, I said how do you think THAT one works, pointing to the revolver. Then I explained that, yes, it fires as fast as you pull the trigger.

I wasn't sarcastic, and it left a lasting impression on both of us. If we're too lazy to educate (those who are willing to be educated), we are totally screwed.

My own sister thought I had automatic weapons in my safe.
 
There's a difference between "anti-" and "ill-informed".

Ill-informed may well be open to the facts and learning the truth. "Anti-" is a mind made up, that's where the "Don't confuse my opinion by trying to give me facts!" comes in. Antis are gone and recent events make them "gone-er".

A TV as you describe certainly couldn't hurt anything, if it was done right. The Antis though, just tune out our "propaganda", just like we tune out theirs. Both sides will argue that their propaganda is based on facts and neither will care what the other has to say.

It's the fence-sitters (ill-informed or uniformed with malleable opinions) that need to be reached.
 
Yes, the true anti's will not be changed. I agree that many are uninformed. The thing I've noticed from activists, is that facts don't work. They will easily turn facts to suit their point of view, or false information. It doesn't matter what firearm was used, the evil aspects of it will be brought out. If hollow point ammo is used; then they were designed to explode. If fmj is used, then it was body armor defeating bullets.

I had a long online discussion on hunting with one group and finally turned the tide by being respectful in the face of insults and presenting facts and evidence.

I honestly feel that we are gonna have to ride this one out and see what happens. We will most likely have to make some concessions.
 
It is the ill-informed that make most of the political decisions these days .....

Education. It is THE answer.

Thanks for doing your part, Ron.
 
I am ignorant of many things, but when they are important, I try to educate myself. I become very frustrated when people mire themselves in ignorance and then try to trap others in that mire.

Thank you all for your comments.

Ron
 
Noble mission, Ron. Well done.
Then, I showed them a Ruger mini-14 and other semi-auto .223 rifles on the computer. I said that they are talking about banning the AR15, but these other semi-autos are just fine.
Click to expand...
But I would not be surprised if the Mini-14 is on the new proposed "list."
 
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