So, I have this friend. Let's call him... Charles.
Charles is my roommate.
My primary goal is to shift his viewpoints on firearms. This is my progress thus far.
1: 2 years ago: Charles wished for tight gun control. He went into hysterical, angry, yelling rants about how he doesn't want to be shot in his room by someone across the street. (Well neither do I, of course, but this was the core of his argument.) His rights to not be shot through the wall superceded the neighbor's right to shoot an intruder. (Again, I am not going to discount his fears. It could happen. A car could also drive through his window and squash him flat).
The solution to fear is education. Between the two of us, we debate in the Socratic method: The search for truth is more important than the victor. Because of this he was willing to visit the shooting range with me. I took him to the range and demonstrated safe operations of firearms. I explained to him the capabilities of firearms. We researched the likelihood of him being accidentally shot by the neighbors. (That research is long gone by now, I won't re-do it for the purpose of this post.)
2: Over the next year we visit the range off and on, covering safety. He doesn't particularly enjoy the trip, but it is not something he dislikes. It is something to do. He still thinks assault guns and machine guns should be completely banned. He is still pro gun control, but has less concern relating to his earlier rants. Learning the lack of probability of this happening, and understanding the function of firearms, was what eased this concern.
About 6 months ago, I bought a Swiss K-31 rifle. We went to the range with the usual EBR, and took the K-31 this time. He fired the 31 a few times, and said "This is more fun. I have to make each shot count, unlike the other rifle. It takes more work and isn't a waste of ammo."
Lightbulb!
His birthday conveniently came 3 weeks later. Not being one to celebrate, he was surprised when I gave him a gift - a do it yourself black powder pistol. He was surprised. A risky maneuver on my part, but worth it. He got to sanding and polishing, all the fun things. I had to walk away many times because I wanted to be the one doing the work. After it was complete we went to the range. Load the powder, ball, percussion cap. Then bang! He has a small smile. I think to myself "Got you! It's all downhill now."
4: Three months ago, I started open carrying. The beginning was rough. Charles wanted to know why I wanted to shoot people. He wanted to know why I wanted to cause havoc. So on and on. We ended up making a compromise: Since I had never O/C before, I would O/C for a week. He would stick around to keep me from being stupid and after the week was up I would not O/C around him afterwards if he explicitly requested it. I obviously did not do anything stupid. I've been armed in public before, just not openly. On day 6 Charles says to me "I kinda feel safer knowing that you have that thing. I don't know about other people, but I know you aren't going to do anything stupid." O/C now is hit or miss. Some days he asks I leave it behind, some days not.
5: Last week he said "I want to buy a black powder rifle" The little voice in my head said "It's working..."
Charles started Absolutely Anti on assault rifles, machine guns and pistols.
Charles is currently Semi-Neutral/Anti when discussing assault rifles. He is mostly anti on machine guns. He is closer to our side when it comes to pistols, and almost all the way there on B.P. firearms of any kind. If given a choice between turning in his guns or his comic books, the guns will go for sure. I am going to let Charles figure that one out. When he does it will be more solid than anything I can ever tell him.
After 2 years, I have nudged him this far. Like a huge boulder, once I got it going it became easier to keep it going.
Lessons learned:
Slow and methodical is the only way this will ever work. If I dropped a EBR in his hands and berated him about his viewpoints, we would have lot Charles immediately and forever.
I had to find a firearm he liked. A single sentence over the course of 2 years was the only hook I had to go on. It has paid off beautifully so far.
I have invested more in his gun than he has, dollar wise. None of it was wasted. The gun itself is ugly as hell but he built it with his own hands and he's proud of it. If I assembled the kit he wouldn't care as much.
This has been a long road.
Charles is my roommate.
My primary goal is to shift his viewpoints on firearms. This is my progress thus far.
1: 2 years ago: Charles wished for tight gun control. He went into hysterical, angry, yelling rants about how he doesn't want to be shot in his room by someone across the street. (Well neither do I, of course, but this was the core of his argument.) His rights to not be shot through the wall superceded the neighbor's right to shoot an intruder. (Again, I am not going to discount his fears. It could happen. A car could also drive through his window and squash him flat).
The solution to fear is education. Between the two of us, we debate in the Socratic method: The search for truth is more important than the victor. Because of this he was willing to visit the shooting range with me. I took him to the range and demonstrated safe operations of firearms. I explained to him the capabilities of firearms. We researched the likelihood of him being accidentally shot by the neighbors. (That research is long gone by now, I won't re-do it for the purpose of this post.)
2: Over the next year we visit the range off and on, covering safety. He doesn't particularly enjoy the trip, but it is not something he dislikes. It is something to do. He still thinks assault guns and machine guns should be completely banned. He is still pro gun control, but has less concern relating to his earlier rants. Learning the lack of probability of this happening, and understanding the function of firearms, was what eased this concern.
About 6 months ago, I bought a Swiss K-31 rifle. We went to the range with the usual EBR, and took the K-31 this time. He fired the 31 a few times, and said "This is more fun. I have to make each shot count, unlike the other rifle. It takes more work and isn't a waste of ammo."
Lightbulb!
His birthday conveniently came 3 weeks later. Not being one to celebrate, he was surprised when I gave him a gift - a do it yourself black powder pistol. He was surprised. A risky maneuver on my part, but worth it. He got to sanding and polishing, all the fun things. I had to walk away many times because I wanted to be the one doing the work. After it was complete we went to the range. Load the powder, ball, percussion cap. Then bang! He has a small smile. I think to myself "Got you! It's all downhill now."
4: Three months ago, I started open carrying. The beginning was rough. Charles wanted to know why I wanted to shoot people. He wanted to know why I wanted to cause havoc. So on and on. We ended up making a compromise: Since I had never O/C before, I would O/C for a week. He would stick around to keep me from being stupid and after the week was up I would not O/C around him afterwards if he explicitly requested it. I obviously did not do anything stupid. I've been armed in public before, just not openly. On day 6 Charles says to me "I kinda feel safer knowing that you have that thing. I don't know about other people, but I know you aren't going to do anything stupid." O/C now is hit or miss. Some days he asks I leave it behind, some days not.
5: Last week he said "I want to buy a black powder rifle" The little voice in my head said "It's working..."
Charles started Absolutely Anti on assault rifles, machine guns and pistols.
Charles is currently Semi-Neutral/Anti when discussing assault rifles. He is mostly anti on machine guns. He is closer to our side when it comes to pistols, and almost all the way there on B.P. firearms of any kind. If given a choice between turning in his guns or his comic books, the guns will go for sure. I am going to let Charles figure that one out. When he does it will be more solid than anything I can ever tell him.
After 2 years, I have nudged him this far. Like a huge boulder, once I got it going it became easier to keep it going.
Lessons learned:
Slow and methodical is the only way this will ever work. If I dropped a EBR in his hands and berated him about his viewpoints, we would have lot Charles immediately and forever.
I had to find a firearm he liked. A single sentence over the course of 2 years was the only hook I had to go on. It has paid off beautifully so far.
I have invested more in his gun than he has, dollar wise. None of it was wasted. The gun itself is ugly as hell but he built it with his own hands and he's proud of it. If I assembled the kit he wouldn't care as much.
This has been a long road.
