discussion with co-worker who's afraid of guns

[popaye85]

for useful stats

Go to Gun Facts @ http://gunfacts.info/

 

[Standing Wolf]

...she said that she would be more frightened of having a gun in her house than having an intruder!

She's apparently never met any convicted felons. It'd do her good to meet some, preferably on a tour of the county jail rather than in the privacy of her home.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

benEzra nailed it. Well done.

 

[Sinsaba]

Show her the S&W cam: http://www.geocities.com/robert_frenchu/guns_watch.html

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I don't understand... Nothing happened!!
.
.

 

[Pilgrim]

Hey everyone, I need some statistics to combat a potentially false anti-gun stat my friend at work tossed at me. She said that "statistics show that a gun is more likely to be used against its owner than by its owner for self-defense" (or something like that). As if this somehow negates the need to own a gun. Besides, where is this true?

If this was the case, why don't we hear more stories of robbery victims taking the gun away from the robber?

Pilgrim

 

[Aquaholic]

Originally Posted by Janitor
Show her the S&W cam: http://www.geocities.com/robert_frenchu/guns_watch.html

That's priceless... LMAFO.

 

[Majic]

First instead of looking for statistics to support your end of the discussion ask her to cite references to the statistics she was referring to. If she can't back up her claim then why discuss it any further.
Second stop referring to the firearm as a defensive tool. That is all the anti-gunners base their firearm discussions on. Since the vast majority of US civilian firearm usage is plinking, target shooting, or hunting then talk of those situations. Why mention being prepared for an event that most likely won't ever happen when 99% of your trigger time you are at the range punching holes in paper. The anti then will probably go to the home break-in stories, but you counter with your guns being locked away in a safe.
Rather than try to fight against their arguments give them nothing to argue about.

 

[jashobeam]

What a terrific group!

I want to sincerely thank everyone for responding. I really appreciate the various perspectives and arguments presented by you all. Thanks for the links, articles, and information. I am so very glad to have discovered THR and to have all of its knowledgeable members at my disposal. You people restore my sanity.

Please feel free to continue posting additional comments. I enjoy my daily education here on The High Road!

 

[AJAX22]

In my younger (and stupider) days I had a similar argument with a tree hugging roommate of mine at college. He wanted to know why I kept a 12 gauge in the closet. Statistics were thrown around, but we both had different sources and it didn't really prove anything. I argued that an intruder could break into our appartment shoot someone and no one would even know untill the next day. He responded by stating that the cops would be here quickly to deal with the intruder (not that it would matter at that point to the guy who got shot) but instead of continuing the debate, I loaded up a .32 cal starter pistol walked out into the comunal area between the dorm buildings (9:30pm on a slightly windy day) and popped off a few shots. No lights came on, no police cars came screaming up, the 400 or so students either didn't know or didn't care.

I would never do this again, I shouldn't have done it in the first place, but it was a very effective demonstration of the apathy of our peers, and the nececity of vigilance and preparation.

 

[Mauserguy]

I recently had a similar conversation with a female friend that was being stalked. Some people are have distorted views of guns and gun ownership. I don't think that statistics will win these folks over, instead, you must appeal to their sense of fun and take them shooting.
Mauserguy