brotherbill3
Master
This for sure!
If gun owners want to keep their rights, part of the effort is to be a good ambassador to other people, be knowledgeable about the issues, about what are their arguments, and what is our answer. Be a gun rights apologist. Be the anti-stereotype in your circle.
I don't know if I should take credit for this, but I think my teammates I work with have a better understanding of the issues. I'd like to think I had something to do with that. I've arranged a trip to the range for a team outing. Some of them are left-leaning. Some are moderates. Maybe one on the right who is pretty pro-gun. They really enjoyed shooting. Some own guns but haven't really practiced with them.
We've talked about and debated gun rights together. When I hear nonsense on the news or social media, I talk it over with them to make sure they understand the other side. I don't think I've turned them into gun nuts like me, and i've certainly not turned them into conservatarians. But they do understand the issues better, and they understand better where the other side is coming from. I'd like to think I had something to do with that.
WELL DONE!
Its that one-to-one thing that makes it work ... you're the "EXAMPLE" gun owner to them. I try to be. sometimes even I, yes me, am too much for my daughter.
I got into a discussion at one point at my grandson B-day party w/ the brother of her best friend -
he's the odd liberal, chicagoian in the family (I'm friends w/ the others too)
Daughter and her friend were worried - but I didn't make his head explode and we had a good discussion.
Right after 12-20-12 - within weeks (which is when I really stepped into using Social Media outside of gun-forums) - I talked down to would be liberals after they got hit with the "Ban assault hammers" - these were friends of friends I didn't know; but then - for a little while - I applied sense and reason and at a minimum kept them from jumping immediately into the MDA boat. - it is little wins. sometimes.