How to Change Minds about Self-Defense

By Rob Morse

California – -(Ammoland.com)-  Originally published on ClashDaily.

There is a huge gulf between conservative author Doug Giles and author Liberal Chick.  We’ve seen them go at it, and frankly I’m tired of their arguing.  Let’s see if we can actually change someone’s mind even if only by a small amount.  To do that, we need to do more than exchange sound bites from each extreme.  Each one thinks their position is both obvious and correct.  We forget how much they disagree.  We all have friends like Doug and Liberal Chick.

I’ll fill in the steps between them so we can see how far apart L.C. and Doug really are.  It is a huge jump to change Liberal Chick into an advocate for self-defense like Doug.  We have to take her from where she is today.   That is true with Liberal Chick, and true with everyone we meet!  She will only change her mind one small step at a time.

Let’s label a few of the steps. We’ll start with Liberal Chick and end with Doug Giles.

• Liberal Chick believes interpersonal violence doesn’t exist. Gun owners are simply criminals who haven’t been caught yet. #KillTheNRA!  #MomsDemand
• Liberal Chick says we don’t live in the Wild West any more. No one needs tools for self-defense since there are no threats.. other than Fox News and Christians.
• Some people are violent, but violence does not happen to cool people like us.
• Violence would stop if we removed the tools criminals use to hurt us.  Just ban all the guns.
• Violence happens to people like us, but there is nothing we can do to stop it. That is what the police are for.
• Some people protect themselves, but some guns are bad and seldom used for defense. Ban those evil black guns.
• We can control violent behavior by regulating who owns firearms. Gun control laws will disarm the criminals who are no longer allowed to have guns. Criminals obey the law, don’t they?
• Violence could happen to us and we are responsible for our own safety. We have to learn about violence and self-defense. Guess we have to lock our doors at night.
• Refuse to be a victim. Better not get drunk in public any more.
• We accept the responsibility of self-defense when violence is unavoidable. Hands off my friend, A$$hole.
• We learn about physical security and self-defense. Does this holster make me look fat?
• We physically train to defend ourselves and our family. Look, I shot a better group than Doug Giles!
• We psychologically prepare for self-defense. Guess I have to leave those high heels at home because we’re going to a new club where I don’t know the crowd. You’re going with me, right?
• We are ambassadors for armed self-defense and take friends shooting. My friends totally love going to the range.
• We study and train others in armed defense. I am not a safe direction so stop pointing that at me.
• We deliberately test ourselves in stressful situations. That could be in competition or man versus man sparring. That will leave a mark.
• Doug thinks we should support the right of self-defense in front of our friends, family and elected representatives. Sure I own a gun. Don’t you, Congressman?
• We defend the right of self-defense and try to sway public opinion. I think the red-white and blue outfit looks good on camera.
• Doug wants freedom for everyone. You want to tax me if I own a gun. I want to tax you if you don’t, you dirty hippie.

This broad range of opinions is why the casual conversation about self-defense doesn’t work.  We only change someone’s opinion by moving them to the next step.  The best we can do is learn what someone believes and show them the way.

What do you believe and what would it take to change your mind?

~_~_

About Rob Morse: By day, Rob Morse works as a mild mannered engineer for a Southern California defense contractor. By night he writes about gun rights at Ammoland, at Clash Daily and on his SlowFacts blog.   He is an NRA pistol instructor and combat handgun competitor.