Since I've been involved in debating this issue for 30 years, let me share a story with y'all -- and some lessons-learned.
Way back when I lived in So. Cauleefornya, I signed up with the NRA's "debate squad" during the 1982 election cycle... to help fight the Gun-Grabbers' then latest-and-greatest assault on the 2A (called Proposition-15). Our mission was to intelligently debate the issue in front of various civic and professional audiences.
The first group I debated with was a local Mensa chapter. Despite their lofty I.Q.'s, they were nothing less than a collection of blithering Marxist idiots who knew nothing about guns, gun laws, or crime. They shouted me down faster than Anne Coulter at a convention of Ivy league Lesbian Pacifists For Hillary. But I listened to their rants and I took good notes -- and learned. What I learned was to master my facts, anticipate the oppositions' objections in advance, let my opponent "trap" himself with misinformation, then politely but inexorably go for the throat.
The second debate was before a prominent chamber of commerce type org at their monthly luncheon. My opponent was a senior economics prof with a major university. He went first. Nothing he said caught me unprepared. When my turn came, I pretty much demolished his argument's facts (and emotions). However, the obviously biased moderator cut me off (due to "running out of time") when it was clear I had my opponent's number.
For the next debate -- at a major corporation's big employee political action league -- I drew that same "brilliant" econ prof once again! This time, I was really "loaded for bear"... and I confirmed the Ground Rules with the moderator in advance to eliminate any games. Once again, the anti-gun prof went first. And, once again, I let him "trap" himself in a web of half-truths, emotions, and blissninny bull$hit. I suddenly began to feel like the George C. Scott character in the movie "Patton" ("Rommel, you smart ba$**** -- I read your book!") anticipating the pending annihlation of the enemy before me.
And then I took the podium. I slowly ripped his silly points to shreads. Gradually, many in the "neutral" audience began to applaud as I scored debate point after point, despite the moderator's attempts to suppress the applause. As I glanced at my shriveling-prof debate opponent, I felt pity for his embarrassing plight. It got so bad that his tiny "cheering-section" (his professor-wife and a handful of her her academic pals) began to "boo" at my devastatingly logical, fact-based thrusts, despite the moderator's attempts to hush the Brady-bunch babes.
Then, when they continued to eat into my time with more booing, I challenged them with this: "Ladies, I salute your verbal aggression. Now, will you promise me you'll use that aggression to defend me the next time a mugger jumps me in a dark parking lot... or can I expect instant protection from one of your political heros -- the captain of the Chappaquiddick Swim Team?"
Ya shoulda seen their jaws drop -- as 75% of the audience laughed at those harpies' dismay. However, they quickly recovered -- and began hissing at my final hammering-home points. In response to their hissing, I countered: "I've just been handed a note from the County Medical Society warning all good citizens to steer clear of local prostitutes afflicted with a social disease that causes them to hiss uncontrollably!"
The hissing ladies walked out in a huff -- to the good-riddance catcalls of the audience.
The anti-gun measure lost. Six months later, a group of customers at the town's busiest gun shop recognized me when I entered. They shook my hand. One of the owners overheard their appreciative comments -- and he offered to sell me any handgun at cost. I took him up on that.
Lessons:
1. Be prepared. Very prepared.
2. Anticipate your opponent's arguments.
3. Don't let your opponent's emotional sways prevail.
4. Maintain greater professional decorum than your opponent. Let HIM default to snarky attacks on your points... and intellect. However...
5. Don't back down from personal attacks. Fight fire with "bigger fire. Right away. Give your likely-a-pacifist opponent a taste of blood (figuratively speaking) from the world of Those Who Don't Back Down. Ever.
Regrettably, I've also learned that to REALLY win in this debate is to make serious enemies. Why? Because if ya do it right, you'll make 'em look really bad in front of others. Watch out, because a lot of those snotty little dip$hit$ will stab ya in the back the next chance they get. BTDT/seen the movie.
walking away"
