I think persons in positions such as yourself (LEO) can do a great deal to rationally and professionally set some things straight, for as we all know the media is driving the issue with misinformation, either through ignorance and/or intent. The media has put out so much misinformation since this terrible tragedy, that we need to calmly and rationally correct those gross misstatements when we have the opportunity. I agree with the NRA stepping away until the families can come to grips with this, but I question their Friday news conference as everyone knows, when you want something to go relatively unreported, put it out on Friday. That's what Washington does.gigag04 wrote:My breath is baited.
I've engaged in more dialogue over the last few days, mostly answering questions from friends who are on the fence about an AWB. There are good questions being asked of pro 2A people. We need different answers instead of guns don't kill people.
Looking forward to see what the NRA has planned would like to be involved.
Here's a few suggested questions/comments for those on the fence:
1. Inform them that they're not Military Assault Weapons, being semi auto only. They are not military weapons, they are not heavy weapons, and they are not machine guns. The general public simply does not know because the only people in the news talking about this are not knowledgeable and/or misinformed. That includes media on both the left and right.
2. Ask them what the difference is in one 30 round magazine vs. three 10 round magazines, when even an average shooter can change magazines in mere seconds. If the shooter only had 10 round magazines, would any lives have been saved? Would another 10 seconds to reload between 3 magazines have mattered? It was over before help arrived. Armed, plain clothes security might have stopped it all.
3. Ask them if they think, or have heard/read, a Glock or Sig Sauer can fire faster than any other semi auto handgun, and then inform them they are incorrect, because all semi autos can only fire as fast as a person can pull the trigger. There's no difference between any of them.
4. If they own a big, heavy SUV or pickup truck, ask them if we will need to ban them the next time a drunk driver runs one into a small hatchback and kills a family of 4. I believe this probably happens with great frequency, but does not make national news. Should we concentrate on the vehicle or the drunk driver, and what to do to prevent drunk driving, or ban the vehicle?
5. Ask them if they know that there was no change in violent crime statistics during the last 10 year AWB.
There are many others, but the above is just for starters.