Do you wear the hat or t-shirt that tells everyone you are a “gun nut”? Do you have weapon decals all over your pickup truck? A yard sign warning intruders to stay away or be shot? Let me give you some things to think about.
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I Don’t Dial 911 – Forget The Dog, Beware Of Owner
Do you wear one of these?
These quotes have been around for a long, long time. They get all kinds of responses from passers-by and neighbors, from eye-rolls to thumbs up. But did you ever imagine what the District Attorney would tell the Court if you had to actually use your gun? “This person has been looking for an excuse to shoot somebody for a long time”, or almost anything like this.
The Courts have seen many good citizens that have used their guns in attempts to defend themselves, their families or even strangers on the street. It’s the DA’s job to show them as “bad, angry thugs, looking for reasons to use their gun”.
Yard signs, t-shirts, and hats that may seem humorous to you will be taken completely out of context by someone wanting to put you away.
The guy breaking in your front door to harm you, steal from you, rape your wife and daughter? He was the bad guy in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing.
But what is his family going to say to the news crew on the front lawn? “He was a good boy”. “He never hurt anybody in his whole life”. “He went to church every Sunday and was a good father”. “That man that shot him was a menace to the neighbors”.
Does this sound familiar?
I Have My Rights, You Know
It’s true. You have the first amendment right to free speech, and that includes putting a sign on the lawn. That also includes wearing any t-shirt you choose. You have the first amendment right to defend the second amendment. But it may not always be prudent to exercise these rights in such a public way.
We, as gun owners, have a responsibility to portray ourselves as good citizens, and most of us are.There are a few who just don’t think to “hold their tongue”.
There is a lot of talk about gun control and there has been for many years. “Guns are bad. They kill people”. A lot of folks are afraid to even look at a gun. If they see one on your hip, under your shirt, or in your car, it scares them into a panic. Even the sight of a pro-gun bumper sticker gives them a chill.
But I Have A Choice
We all make choices every day. Selecting the caliber of a defensive handgun is a very personal choice. There are also some other personal decisions we have to make. Many elements will influence our decision-making processes. We need to remember, in an argument, “the first one to raise his voice is the loser”.At that point, it’s clear to see emotion has overcome intellect.
In a discussion about gun ownership and use, we need to remember to stay calm. Be firm in your beliefs, but do it calmly. The facts are on your side. Gun crime is down while gun ownership is up. The places with the toughest gun laws have the highest murder rates (thinking of Obama’s Chicago?).
The number of mass shootings is down (contrary to the media and Obama Administration views) and the number of legal defensive gun uses is up. Of course, the media doesn’t talk about that part. Very few Concealed Carry permit holders ever commit violent crimes. In many cases, they prevent them.
So, when the majority of people in this country only think of the damage guns do, how do we tell them that gun ownership does more good than harm? The mainstream media repeatedly says, “guns do damage”. The reality is that guns don’t “do” anything. Guns are inanimate objects. People do damage. It’s not the guns; it’s the people.
There are about 80 million gun owners in this country and just 12 million of those legally carry concealed handguns. We are the minority, but we need to be leaders in the discussion because we know more about guns than anybody else.
Conclusion?
Tell me, where are you in this debate? Are you loud and boisterous, or quiet and reserved? No one, especially me, is going to judge you. You should just debate with facts instead of opinions. We need to tell the story the right way. Talk about the benefits of gun ownership. How can we do that?
Let me know your views in the comments box below. I would really like to have your opinions to base my next article on. Or email me at; [email protected]
