We have heard all the arguments and know the right answers to each one. We agree on the validity of the 2nd Amendment and the 9th. We are advocates of gun ownership and enjoyment. We are also mostly talking to each other. Nearly half the population of the US is of a different mind. There are those who think anybody who owns a gun is a The issues around gun rights are deeply felt. Fighting it out in the courts and the ballot box hardens positions and does nothing to change individual hearts and minds. I have observed that the readers of this column are temperate and well reasoned. I would propose that all of us turn outward in cyberspace to the blogs and columns and websites dedicated to eradicating guns from America and engage them in reasoned dialog. Way too often, these contacts are made by the angriest of our ranks and devolve into name calling, and both sides stomp off further convinced of the rightness of their original position. I think you and I have shied away from discussions with the hard left on the issues because we don't want to open the door of a blast furnace and get our skin peeled back. If we truly want to keep this country free and really want to convince folks that our view of the world is a reasonable one that will work going forward, we need to actually talk to folks who differ in their views. I find that rather than making statements I consider to be true and waiting for the other person to accept the obvious wisdom that I have bestowed into their hearts (which doesn't work so good), I can keep the conversation going better with the Socratic method. Ask them questions that lead to answers that lead to further questions. Eventually, they answer enough questions to either lead themselves to a position closer to our worldview, or they clarify the essence of their objection. For example, many issues on the left boil down to the basic world view that they are smarter and care more about fill in the blank than I do, so they should be allowed the right to take my resources of fill in the blank and allocate them far better than I would be able to, for the good of "the children" or "the planet" or "world peace" or fill in the blank. As this applies to gun rights, they truly don't trust me to make the call correctly as to when to draw or fire my weapon. Since I can't be trusted not to shoot them for taking my parking place, the world is a better place if I have no gun. Here, we have to begin the discussion further upstream than the issue of gun rights. We need to find common ground with them on things like the fact that we all love our children, and move gently into how we protect them best. Can I protect my children (and perhaps theirs, depending on the circumstance) best with a stick or harsh words in the face of a group of rioters or a single, large criminal? Perhaps we should all study Kung Fu intensely for several years so that we can do it bare handed. Not enough time in the day? It takes far less training to be an effective protector with a pistol. Maybe they do have a technique that is as effective as a pistol in such a circumstance. Explore that with questions. Questions keep the dialog going, they don't shut it off. The balance of opinion can change when we spend more time talking to the other side.
whack-job waiting to explode, and those who wouldn't own a gun themselves, but don't begrudge those who enjoy hunting and shooting. There are millions of Americans who fall somewhere on that continuum. We need to talk to them.
Comments
unfortunately that has not been my experience. I have always asked those questions. When faced with a hard-core emotion driven opponent, I have found they refuse to answer your question while at the same time demanding an etymological verification of every word you have spoken.
I have abandoned these people and assume some day I may have to hurt them. I don't like that idea, but it isn't my call.
I admit I've always been a sucker for hope and redemption, and although I sympathize--strongly--with straightarrow here, I can't help but continue with each person as though the conversation has started all over from the beginning. Maybe it's the teacher in me, I don't know, but one on one I will grant anyone respect until he proves himself undeserving of it. (Sadly, many people can do this with absolutely stunning speed. To paraphrase a comment I first heard David Codrea make, some people immediately forfeit any right to a rational conversation.)
For those who are willing to carry the conversation forward, remember a few key points:
- Just as "the Constitution is not about duck hunting", so is it not about street crime. Granting a monopoly of force to the government is a historically proven path to misery and horror. There should be much common ground here, even with people that you may have little in common with. Find it!
- Statistics do not matter; any discussion of street crime, or safety, or saving "just one life" is nothing more than a red herring. We know that no new gun law is suddenly going to do what the tens of thousands that preceded it have not done. We know that every serious statistical work has shown that an armed populace is no danger to itself. And we know that the appetites of the disarmers will not be sated with any form of compromise. We've known all this for years, and yet it does not seem to matter. Seriously: if you could put indisputable evidence to a disarmer that unrestricted access to weapons improves safety and reduces crime, would he suddenly lose the desire to disarm? Don't hold your breath. And likewise, be honest: if for some reason there was indisputable evidence that an armed populace did actually make crime worse, would you suddenly stop resisting the disarmers' efforts? Not likely. It's not about statistics. It's about liberty. Do not get derailed from that.
- Remember that we now live in a world in which some people are simply not aware that there is an alternative worldview to the disarmers'. This is pathetic, and tiresome, and ultimately inexcusable given the very clear warnings that our Founding Fathers gave us, but that does not make it not real. Ignorance may be exasperating, but it can be corrected. Some people, when shown an alternative worldview, DO actually stop, and take a breath, and look at it. I have seen it happen personally, and for me this is where our last best hope is. For anyone who still has the patience to carry the word forward, remember this tidbit. It is hard to show someone a completely different way of looking at the world--and almost impossible to do without a bit of time and a willingness to listen--but it is worth the effort.
I can no longer begrudge anyone who has just given up on trying to persuade the disarmers--their absolute refusal to leave the peaceable alone has earned them every conceivable contempt--but at the same time I applaud anyone who would take the time and effort to reach the ignorant. It is thankless work, unsexy, difficult, tiresome, and exasperating--but if there is any hope left for a peaceable future, it is work that has to be done. If you're willing to do it, make it easier on yourself by staying on target, and away from the red herrings.
[quote]It's not about statistics. It's about liberty. Do not get derailed from that. [/quote]
BRAVO! Kevin, I would very much like to publish your letter as an article at my website! Take a look: www.thepriceofliberty.org
Please write: editor - at - thepriceofliberty.org
The ignorant can be educated the hostile purposely ignorant cannot and these are the people I no longer try to convince. When the SHTF, they'll get the message. Until then, they seem to think they have earned special consideration from those who would abuse others. It's a fool's belief, but their arrogance causes them to believe it. Until they realize that they do not benefit by my misfortune and may actually be hurt by it as it spreads to them,these people cannot be reached.
As a teacher Kevin, I am sure you have worked with students just a bit slower than others, they can benefit from patience and explanation. I bet you have also had a few who just decided that no matter what you did or said they didn't care to learn and refused to do so. These you cannot help with patience and explanation.
To straightarrow: ay-effin-men. You make that point as well as anyone, and with refreshing candor.
Ultimately, it is in my blood to try and reach the flock; whenever I encounter one of the active malcontents, I consciously refocus my effort on those who ARE listening. Usually, this works out for me in the classroom; the malcontent manages to hang himself quite neatly without any interference from me, and almost invariably I get approached after class by one of the flock, who tells me how much he appreciated staying on-topic and keeping things dignified in spite of the attempted sabotage. That is gratifying, and one of the reasons I find the strength to put up with the abuse.
Kudos to Dan for engaging this difficult topic. He has reminded me that our efforts are not necessarily in vain.
And to MamaLiberty: you should feel absolutely free to do that. I would be honored.
Wish I could be so open minded.
The devious, manipulative methods of most active gun-grabbers, especially their downright lies aggravate me so I can't find the charity in my heart to try to turn their heads.
The involvement of the media, particularlyl the refusal to publish any stories that portray guns or gun owners in a positive light, I find leads me to simple hatred.
Unfortunately, my life/style, doesn't bring me into contact with anyone who might have an open mind on the subject, unless it is on the web. Writing is not the best form of interpersonal communication.
Stare
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