I started working in a different department last July. There are over 1000 people in this department and I still haven't met all of them.
I knew there was a guy in the department who lost his son in the VT shooting. I met him this morning. We talked about different things at first, mostly hockey and people he knew from the place I used to work. Then I saw his son's picture on his desk and told him how sorry I was for his loss. He told me how hard the past year has been for him and his family and some of what they were going through. I can't even begin to imagine how he must feel.
After a few minutes, the talk turned to guns. He told me that he used to be an NRA member but that he's not any more because they had turned into the National Machinegun Association and feel that everyone should be allowed to own any gun they want. He went on to say that although he felt the 2nd A was our individual right, why would people need to have a Glock semiautomatic handgun? He was totally against carrying on campus. He didn't see why people should be able to own semiautomatic guns that were meant only for killing people.
I'm usually not at all shy when it comes to telling antis my thoughts about guns and gun control. I pretty much enjoy the chance to piss them off, but today I could say nothing. I knew what I wanted to say. I knew what I should say, but I just couldn't say any of it to a guy who's lost so much and been through what he has.
How do you even begin to talk up our cause in a situation like that?
I knew there was a guy in the department who lost his son in the VT shooting. I met him this morning. We talked about different things at first, mostly hockey and people he knew from the place I used to work. Then I saw his son's picture on his desk and told him how sorry I was for his loss. He told me how hard the past year has been for him and his family and some of what they were going through. I can't even begin to imagine how he must feel.
After a few minutes, the talk turned to guns. He told me that he used to be an NRA member but that he's not any more because they had turned into the National Machinegun Association and feel that everyone should be allowed to own any gun they want. He went on to say that although he felt the 2nd A was our individual right, why would people need to have a Glock semiautomatic handgun? He was totally against carrying on campus. He didn't see why people should be able to own semiautomatic guns that were meant only for killing people.
I'm usually not at all shy when it comes to telling antis my thoughts about guns and gun control. I pretty much enjoy the chance to piss them off, but today I could say nothing. I knew what I wanted to say. I knew what I should say, but I just couldn't say any of it to a guy who's lost so much and been through what he has.
How do you even begin to talk up our cause in a situation like that?