Deer in the headlights. This is not an effective way to respond to anti-gun language and condescending arguments. The best way to prevent being cornered or berated is to be prepared to have a meaningful conversation about guns with friends and family.
Catherine Mortensen, a DC Project delegate, is a communications consultant who has spent years helping Second Amendment advocates share their stories. She has compiled some good dos and don’ts for having effective conversations about guns.
One of the core parts of DC Project’s mission is to educate about firearms safety. We work to raise awareness among community members, including legislators, that firearms safety and violence prevention are achieved through education not legislation. An extension of this goal is to not only educate others, but to educate ourselves as well.
By crafting your story and knowing how to have effective conversations about guns, safety, and protecting civil rights, you will do your part to further the 2A conversation that is wrongly drowned out in many parts of society.
Here are some additional facts to use:
Police Response:
• Law enforcement cannot always arrive in time to protect you.
• The average response time for a 911 call is 10 minutes.
Gun Violence:
• 2/3rds of gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides.
• Gun ownership rates are the same as in 1950s and fewer gun deaths today. Guns are NOT the problem.
Assault Rifles:
• Only 4% of gun-related homicides involve rifles.
• Assault is an action, not a rifle.
• An American is 4x more likely to be stabbed to death than to be shot to death by a rifle.
Mental Health:
• In 1955 there were 337 beds per 100,000; now only 12.
• Federal law already prohibits individuals adjudicated “mentally deficient” from possessing a firearm.
The most important way to have an effective conversation is to be prepared, speak from the heart, and invite others to the range to learn about gun safety and firearms culture for themselves.
Putting a communications tool in every gun owners’ tool box, The DC Project sets the bar by which we all must be measured. Fighting lies, damn lies & statistics in a meaningful way, your efforts will help all gun owners fight back against the red-shirted Mommies that upchuck their canned rants at public meetings. This download makes it easier for every gun owner to be a Good Will Ambassador to gun ownership!
Dave “Rosey” Rosenthal, VP
Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners (CNJFO)
https://www.cnjfo.com
https://www.facebook.com/cnjfo
One of the best ways to bring people over to our side is to call them “Red-shirted Mommies that upchuck their canned rants at public meetings.” That’s goodwill at its finest.
I couldn’t agree more, Gary McDonald. When we act with thoughtfulness and civility, we are far more likely to gain an audience. The DC Project is about preserving our right to protect ourselves and our families, not about ridiculing those who disagree with us. It’s important that we all understand how to articulate our position in such a way that others will be compelled to listen.
I am so thrilled to watch this organization grow and become a major voice for gun rights! I support you 100% –