TexasCHLforum.com

MikeJ wrote:

nitrogen wrote:As a former Anti, i'll just say this:

Just as a matter of curiosity, were you converted by someone who explained things to you in an adult, patient manner? Or did your opinion change when you, or someone close to you, became a victim of crime?

It was a few things. It started out when I was in a coworkers car, and he opened his glove compartment, and OH NO HE HAD A GUN IN THERE!
I freaked out, and ended up learning about concealed carry licenses, and the like. A few weeks later, on a whim, he asked me if I wanted to go shooting, and I went. I had a great time, and learned "the truth" about guns. I know it sounds weird, but I never really thought about guns being a "good" thing.

By that point, I was tolerant of them, but I never really thought of them as something "for me."

I then met the woman that ended up becoming my wife. We were living together in California at the time. To make a long story a lot shorter, after a couple of sketchy situations, I realised I needed to be in a place that would allow me to protect myself and my loved one. A job opportunity presented itself to me in Texas, and we moved.

I've also been an attempted victim of violent crime, and was just lucky. (Someone tried to mug me and someone walked by and scared the guy off.)

It was a long journey that started in 1996, but those seeds planted over 10 years ago grew and I grew and changed.

As a former Anti, i'll just say this:

The crux of the Anti-gunner feeling about "regular" people owning and carrying guns comes from the honest belief that guns are some type of thing that cannot be used by "normal" people. Many Anti-gun folks (myself included, until I was properly educated) don't realise that even with minimal training, a "regular citizen" can be just as safe and effective, if not more so, than your average LEO.

This is why I'm a huge proponent of getting people to the shooting range; it's the first step in letting someone realise that a gun is just a tool; a tool that does not take a masters degree in criminal justice to use; it just takes practice.

The other part of it is somewhat accurately touched upon by others; a lot of Anti's are afraid of having other people with guns around. I know when I saw someone open-carrying in Arizona for the first time, I freaked out.

It's important to remember that 95% of anti-gunners aren't evil. They are ignorant, deluded or both. They need to be presented with the truth in a respectful, adult manner, patiently.

Patience is the key. Imagine someone trying to explain to you in a snotty and condecending tone. You aren't going to listen. The Anti-gunners, like the Brady campaign KNOW this. They appeal to people's emotions, telling them things in such a way that appeals to their gut. "Guns are made to kill people! That's BAD!"