I gave the Scary Gun test

[Tex1961]

Had a young acquaintance stop by the house earlier this week... He has been over before and knows that I am into firearms... While we have had some discussions in the past about them we never really got into the politics or meat of the subject....

Anyway... We did this time start into gun ownership, laws, etc. and he told me his wife wanted him to get a gun for home protection... I can tell he is still hesitant about getting one... Oh, I should also let you know he is a democrat... Not rabid, just has drunk the cool aid... So I decided I would try the scary gun test on him...

Ruger 10/22
S&W AR 15-22
30 Caliber M1 Carbine....
Ruger PC Carbine with M-lock barrel and retractable buttstock... (Looks like an AR platform)

So guess which one he chose as the one most scariest and most likely to do most harm..... YEP.... the AR 15-22.... Then of course the Ruger Carbine...

At this point I pulled out a .22lr, 9mm and 30 caliber round and matched each one up to the gun I had pulled out for him. I also pulled out a 9mm pistol. As I so very gently showed him the differences I also began explaining liberal talking points to him... Why the term "assault rifle" is fake, why the 2nd ammendment gives me the right to defend myself. etc, etc..... I also began to give him some statistical facts on number of defensive use VS offensive use of firearms and how it's probably a 10 to 1 difference... He agreed that those never really get reported, obviously even his wife is telling him to get a gun...

I would like to think that in the end, I was able to right some wrongs in his mind and hopefully bring him into the light... Again, he was never anti-gun, just not very knowledgeable and his main source of information was left leaning news.... Hopefully I will be able to eventually get him and his wife to the range and I guarantee we'll have a full convert....

[flechero]

Well done, and thanks you for patiently walking him through some basic gun ed, you have done the entire 2A community a solid.

Hopefully this will evolve into a range trip or two with some quality safety instruction as well as a change from "acquaintance" to friendship.

[The Annoyed Man]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it’s done!

[Tex1961]

Thanks guys for your kind responses.... I wished I had a camera so you could have seen his eyes when he realized that the AR-15-22 and the Ruger 10/22 were both .22lr firearms. And then when he realized that the Ruger Carbine and my 9mm pistol also used the same 9mm rounds... And of course my M1 Carbine which looks almost identical to my Ruger 10/22 was the most powerful of all of them... AND if there were any truth to the term "Assault Rifle" It would be the M1 carbine that was used my the military... Granted mine is semi auto. But still....

I love to teach... So much that I am taking my NRA Pistol Instructor course in a few weeks... I really do want to target those that have no knowledge at all of firearms.. I'm a huge gun safety nut... To me, being able to reach out and share my love of the sport and my firm support of our 2A rights is the best thing ever... If I can help train new people how to be safe and of course how to defend themselves and become part of the movement then everyone wins....

[03Lightningrocks]

My guess is that he will possibly get a gun but still vote for anti gun Democrats figuring that guns are not his primary concern. Good effort but once they drink that koolaid they are usually a lost cause. The bleeding heart liberal part is always lurking like a monster in the background.

[Grayling813]

Had a young acquaintance stop by the house earlier this week... He has been over before and knows that I am into firearms... While we have had some discussions in the past about them we never really got into the politics or meat of the subject....

Anyway... We did this time start into gun ownership, laws, etc. and he told me his wife wanted him to get a gun for home protection... I can tell he is still hesitant about getting one... Oh, I should also let you know he is a democrat... Not rabid, just has drunk the cool aid... So I decided I would try the scary gun test on him...

Ruger 10/22
S&W AR 15-22
30 Caliber M1 Carbine....
Ruger PC Carbine with M-lock barrel and retractable buttstock... (Looks like an AR platform)

So guess which one he chose as the one most scariest and most likely to do most harm..... YEP.... the AR 15-22.... Then of course the Ruger Carbine...

At this point I pulled out a .22lr, 9mm and 30 caliber round and matched each one up to the gun I had pulled out for him. I also pulled out a 9mm pistol. As I so very gently showed him the differences I also began explaining liberal talking points to him... Why the term "assault rifle" is fake, why the 2nd ammendment gives me the right to defend myself. etc, etc..... I also began to give him some statistical facts on number of defensive use VS offensive use of firearms and how it's probably a 10 to 1 difference... He agreed that those never really get reported, obviously even his wife is telling him to get a gun...

I would like to think that in the end, I was able to right some wrongs in his mind and hopefully bring him into the light... Again, he was never anti-gun, just not very knowledgeable and his main source of information was left leaning news.... Hopefully I will be able to eventually get him and his wife to the range and I guarantee we'll have a full convert....

Perfect

[Lynyrd]

Well done!

[K-Texas]

I wouldn't be so sure that he'll remain a democrat. Think that will depend on if he's one and done after he buys a gun that his wife wants in the house, or if he adds more guns later. You'd have to think his wife has conservative leanings, simply by making that request.

Reminds me of what Tom Gresham says, "the best thing we can do for a non-shooter is get them to the range!"

Mission accomplished!

[oohrah]

Ignorance by non-gun people is always our biggest enemy. Congrats for helping, one guy at a time.