I've been spending a lot of time countering anti-gun comments on Facebook lately. Before you dismiss this thread on accountof the FB connection, realize i am only connected with close friends and family on there, so these are all people I see at least once in a while in my busy life. I value these people and would not alienate them over a difference in opinion on firearms. We all seem to see how fast the Antigun and non-gun crowd gets their "info" via social media. Gun owners should really be more receptive to using the same channels.
What has become clear is that a non-gun person really has no idea what laws are already in place at the federal, state, and local levels. I've found that I have been able to use impartial data from CDC, ATF,FBI, and other websites to disprove misinformation or just inform someone of a current law that covers something they've suggested. Someone mentioned that background checks were needed, I pointed to NICS. Another seemed to think that a Walmart AR was fully auto, I explained the difference. One seemed to think an AR needed special training to operate, I explained the similarities between all action types.
Most of hese folks were just repeating the rhetoric they've heard without versifying any info or thinking critically about it. Overall, when the facts and logic were explained clearly and calmly, without sarcasm, defensiveness, or analogies, the non-gun person abandoned their attack on firearms.
What has become clear is that a non-gun person really has no idea what laws are already in place at the federal, state, and local levels. I've found that I have been able to use impartial data from CDC, ATF,FBI, and other websites to disprove misinformation or just inform someone of a current law that covers something they've suggested. Someone mentioned that background checks were needed, I pointed to NICS. Another seemed to think that a Walmart AR was fully auto, I explained the difference. One seemed to think an AR needed special training to operate, I explained the similarities between all action types.
Most of hese folks were just repeating the rhetoric they've heard without versifying any info or thinking critically about it. Overall, when the facts and logic were explained clearly and calmly, without sarcasm, defensiveness, or analogies, the non-gun person abandoned their attack on firearms.