I might have got through to someone.

[mastiffhound]

The argument in the media is one sided most of the time. A man stops a robbery, a woman stops a man from raping her, a couple protects their children from an armed burglar is rarely the big news of the day. It happens almost daily and we hear almost nothing. These "Psyco" shooters are not even in the top 97% of crime statistics and when it happens it plays over and over in the media.

Today a woman was commenting on the gun control issue while standing in line at the supermarket today. She said that these people who love guns have no idea what it is like to lose someone to gun violence. She said we would be better off with no guns. Since we had been casually conversing while waiting in a long line I figured I had time to tell her about my brother.

This is what I told her:

My brother was murdered with a gun almost 3 years ago now. It took the police at least 3 minutes to get there, with a police station 10 blocks away or less in two directions. We had been talking the day that it happened and he had mentioned getting a CCW permit but was going to wait until his deployment was over. The man who shot and killed him and was unable to legally purchase a firearm. It didn't stop him from getting one though, he didn't care what the law said. It is by far the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I know the pain that these parents feel, I raised my brothers because we had unfit parents. I know loss all to well. It has only strengthened my resolve to protect the family I have left, not hate firearms for what a man took from my family and myself. So tell me how taking away every law abiding citizens firearms would have saved my brother?

She had nothing to say. She didn't quote numbers, she didn't say "but for the children". She couldn't call me evil for not wanting to give up my guns. She took quite some time to respond. She then said "I've never looked at it that way. All they talk about on t.v. and the radio is how all guns do is kill. I'm sorry for your loss, I don't know anyone who has lost someone to gun violence."

I told her I'm still working through it and I will never get over it. I told her I want every chance I can get to protect my loved ones. She asked me if it was okay if she shared what I told her with her friends, I told her it was okay if she wanted to tell my brothers story.

These people that are against the 2nd Amendment are like mushrooms. They have been kept in the dark and fed a steady diet of crap by our media and our officials. When you use common sense and reason they may be able to deny that. My brothers story is not reasonable or sensible. It is truthful and painful in the worst kind of way. Maybe these people need to hear from someone who has lost loved ones in this most terrible way. I know I'm not alone. I have a support group and all but one person thinks the same way I do. When this most recent shooting happened we talked about it. All but one of us came to the same conclusion. Taking away guns from law abiding citizens only creates deadly crime, it doesn't stop it.

 

[armedandsafe]

Good for you. I've told some things that happened in my (civilian life) to some people and had a similar reaction. They are not educated in the truth and it is our place to educate them, when and if the situation arises.

Pops

 

[breakingcontact]

I had a conversation at the grocery store tonight while looking at the gun magazines.

A young woman was looking at Shotgun News. She caught me doing the double take and we had a good conversation.

She was afraid they wouldn't let her buy a gun in the future now so she wanted to get one now to protect herself. I told her about the shops in our area and told her to try looking at some guns and see what fits her best. She was looking forward to getting something and I was very happy to have had talked with her.

Much like how Obamer got out the vote on a person by person basis, we need to communicate and be open with people we meet.

 

[cpt-t]

mastiffhound: Agin GOOD FOR YOU. I am very sorry that you lost your Brother. I wish I could say something to ease your pain, But I can`t.
ken

 

[chris in va]

My GF had something happen to her in her 20's that I managed to inherit when I got my CC permit. She was less than enthused by it.

Now 12 years later she has come full circle and gets mad when a news article mentions another ban. She wanted to see someone in that theater or school that "would have taken his ... down" instead of murdering kids and people.

I asked if I overtly influenced her decision. "No, you just opened my eyes".

 

[Sock Puppet]

Good for you! Your story is very compelling, have you considered sharing it with the NRA or any publications? We need all the help we can get.

 

[ETXhiker]

If I may borrow a line from church, "each one, reach one." It's like a ripple in a pond. But hurry - time is short...

 

[Prophet]

This is excellent. Good on you, and very sorry for your loss. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of losing a brother. I am fortunate to have been in a situation that could have ended similarly tragic but didn't because a law-abiding citizen was armed. I find that pithy arguments end in pithy results when it comes to arguing gun rights. Those of us who have been in scenarios in which a firearm in the hands of a law-abiding citizen affected the situation for the better should tell our stories in a heartfelt fashion, as should those who've unfortunately been in the opposite situation. It appeals more to emotionalism. Sometimes an emotional argument works better than throwing a bunch of statistics and logic around could ever do, especially since those we are arguing with make little use of the latter two. A logical argument stemming from an emotional base such as yours is even better.

Again very sorrowful for your loss, thanks for sharing.