Stories of Conversion.

[The-Reaver]

I know how the subject title sounds, should be elsewhere right? WRONG! lol


I just flat out converted an anti, well. Maybe not flat out but at least planted the seed. Odin, help it grow into wonderful crops.

My story is, Walking patrol ( Section 8 housing armed security ) I speak with an individual and light up a smoke. We start talking and it leads to guns. He disagrees with everything about them. I explain my position, he explains his I tell him he's wrong and this is why. ( INSERT BASIC LOGIC )

Didn't take to well.

So, I chime in with some conspiracy stuff, 9/11 turns out. It worked. So as he's buying into it, I explain to him that its not about the firearms its about control. Here's the example I used ( Keep in mind I just ranted and raved about conspiracy theory stuff and he was totally buying it. )

ME " Look man, lets just say you were a slave owner "

HIM " Ok "

ME " You have your slaves that you treat rather badly, and they are chopping sugar can with machetes. You find out they are rather angry and are planning an uprising. Do you let them keep their machetes or take them away and give them butter knives? "

HIM " Oh, I get it. You want the best tool available as the slave. "

ME " Exactly "


Then we continued our conversation about conspiracy stuff but that's not the point here on THR the guns and conversion of an anti however is.

Good morning, BTW Have a good day everyone. Lets hear your stories.

 

[The-Reaver]

No one has converted anyone?

Geeze laweeeze guys no wonder we are having to fight so hard to simply maintain our ground.

 

[Outlaw Man]

In my day-to-day activities, I really don't come across many people that are antigun. Generally, it ranges from vehemently pro-gun, to gun owner that's only moderately interested in discussion, to non-owner who may not like them personally but don't care if others have them. Oh, there are a few true antis, but I really don't run into them much.

I did have a coworker who hunted as a kid but didn't own any guns. He was interested in getting on for protection. I can take at least partial credit for him being hopelessly hooked on guns now. He's not a convert, per se, but he's much more passionate now.

 

[smalls]

I've converted one or two. They act on emotion, so you really have to break it down into simple things, like your slave owner example.

It's really easy to do with people who are interested in history. I use the gangsters stealing from armories in the '30s as an example of how banning guns is useless, because they'll still find somewhere to get them. Criminals are smart, and if there's a will there's a way.

Like Outlaw, I don't come across too many anti's. I have TONS of people ask me to teach them to shoot, or teach them defensive tactics and what not, because I'm the. "Gun Guy".

Next week I'm taking a co worker out to teach him how to shoot his shotgun, and steered him in the right direction for a class. His wife also just obtained her CPL, so I'm bringing my pistols and a few borrowed ones to get a feel for what she wants as a carry gun.

 

[TheSaint]

I've converted lots of people were weren't pro or anti gun. They were more or less just friends that didn't own guns or had never shot one.

I try to set aside a certain amount of ammo out of my pocket for friends/family to shoot with that aren't gun owners. When I go to the range, I invite non-gunners out in advance and let them know that it isn't that scary. You start them out plinking with a .22 and before long they're hooked and quite pro gun.

NEVER discount the value of getting the middle of the fence people down to the range even if you have to spend a few dollars of your own money in ammo. It will be totally worth it and you'll have done one of the cheapest and most effective grass roots advocacy programs out there.

 

[bldsmith]

Converted my Daughter. Though she was raised around guns she saw no use for them. She was not totally anti but wanted nothing to do with any gun and most definitely not have one in the home. She did not know I carried a gun on a daily basis. That is until one day I was watching the grand kids. We were sitting on the floor playing a game and she came in with her husband. Well my shirt had ridden up and my pistol was exposed. The gasped and asked why do you carry in the house?? I told them I carried every day and everywhere. She was not to happy with me and spouted well it better not be loaded. I just looked at her. I asked when the last time was she saw any gun laying around my house much less loaded. Then my granddaughter piped up, Grandpa knows how to take care of his guns. Proud grandpa here.

Well a few months pass and we had the mall shooting up the road a bit. I was to pick up the kids at school the next day and she told me, YOU BETTER BE CARRYING. Yes it is legal in Or to carry at a school. Then a few weeks later she told me she needed a gun. Bought her a Glock 17. She has not taken possession of it yet she needs a safe first. Plus I want to take her and hubby out to teach them how to use a care for it.

Now she did most of the change but being a responsible gun owner and sharing the truth about what guns do and why the supposed "problem" is in the limelight has sure helped in my case.

 

[Screamin'Eagle]

I don't think we should be striving to convert people. I think we should be educating people and planting the seeds of knowledge so people can make their own decisions for themselves and take ownership of their decisions. I've been spending time lately refuting false information posted by friends on FB. It's usually never fun, and feels futile at times, but a non-forceful approach will pay off.

 

[Ford4x4]

Take them shooting. I've taken a few shooting who were anti gun before, but after a safety lesson and explanation of how the gun works, they enjoyed it and realized guns aren't that bad or scary. They're what responsible people use to have fun and protect themselves against those that would do them harm.

It is important to start beginners out on something easy to shoot. Handing someone who thinks guns are evil and scary a shotgun with a 3.5" load in it, and laughing at them when they almost drop the thing, does nothing for our cause. But a nice lever action .22, for example (or an AR if I had one) is perfect for the beginner.

 

[BigBore44]

True story that happened a month ago:
Setting: Northeast Oklahoma

I was driving home after work one morning. Misting heavily and 36 degrees outside. Noticed a car off the shoulder, in a BIG ditch (over 10 feet from bottom to road level) on the opposite side of the highway. Man in his early sixties with a younger woman and a child in the car seat. So of course I bust a U and go help. Another guy sees me and also offers to help. With his big jacked up 1 ton and my chains, we get them unstuck. Turns out they were from Shikawgo (sound it out). Their exhaust was mostly plugged and they had grass and such all under their car.

I offer to follow them 5 miles back to town to show them where the car wash was. When we got to the car wash the older gentleman looked under his car and just looked lost on what to do. So I grabbed an spike antler shed I found last year and an arrow and started digging and clawing the mud out. While I was working and we were talking, he mentioned that if that had happened in Chicago, people would never have stopped. I told him welcome to oklahoma.

Next came the politics and eventually guns came up. He said he thought people with guns were either scared or violent people. Here was my golden opportunity....

I told him "Sir, I just want you to realize something. Right now, in my truck, I have a loaded 45, a loaded 44 magnum, and a 12 guage shotgun. But I stopped to help you. Do you think I did that because I'm scared or because I'm violent?"

Him "No."

Me "You're right. I did it because I saw someone that needed help. And I had the ability to help them. It's called the "Golden Rule". Had someone been trying to hurt you, I would have pulled over also. But I would be using a different tool to help you. Buy my goal would still be the same, to make sure you and your family were safe."

Him "I just never looked at it that way until now. Where we live people with guns hurt people."

Me "Well sir, I have no desire to do anything but help you. Most people I know would do the same for you. We aren't evil. We just want to be free. I hope you understand that."

When I had finished cleaning up his car, he lent a hand down to help me up.

Him "You have definitely shown me a few things today. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help. What do I owe you?"

Me "You don't owe me anything. I didn't do this because I saw an opportunity to make some money. If I opened your eyes even a little about all people with guns not being bad people, then that is my payment. You have a good safe trip sir."

Him "Yes, yes I think you have. Thanks again Mr. Scary man with guns."

And we both laughed as I walked my to my truck half frozen. I was wearing hospital scrubs, and a hoodie. I was soaked and covered in dirt. And it was a great day. One I won't soon forget.

Doing good for someone can really change someone's outlook on people.

 

[bigfatdave]

I've demonstrated the complete stupidity of regulating concealed carry to a few people.

They seem to get it when I produce the 5th or 6th gun from normal streetclothes. That doesn't include the properly holstered gun on my belt, I leave that one for last most of the time, it just gets shown, not plopped onto the table.

 

[Hacker15E]

Great story @BigBore44!

 

[The-Reaver]

Great story @BigBore44!

I concur.

 

[J-Bar]

Years ago our local newspaper had a very anti-gun editor (surprise, surprise). The editor and I had never met, but I was friends with one of his reporters. I offered to take the editor to the range so he could "become more knowledgeable" about guns. With my reporter friend's endorsement and reassurance that I could be trusted, he accepted.

He shot a .22 revolver, a .22 semi-auto pistol, a .38 revolver, and a .357 Magnum revolver.

Returning to the car for the trip home he said, "You know, I took a big chance coming out here with you today, I really didn't know you at all."

I replied, "No more of a chance than I took with you...I really don't know you either, but I handed you a loaded gun."

The look on his face was priceless.

 

[1KPerDay]

True story that happened a month ago:
Setting: Northeast Oklahoma

I was driving home after work one morning. Misting heavily and 36 degrees outside. Noticed a car off the shoulder, in a BIG ditch (over 10 feet from bottom to road level) on the opposite side of the highway. Man in his early sixties with a younger woman and a child in the car seat. So of course I bust a U and go help. Another guy sees me and also offers to help. With his big jacked up 1 ton and my chains, we get them unstuck. Turns out they were from Shikawgo (sound it out). Their exhaust was mostly plugged and they had grass and such all under their car.

I offer to follow them 5 miles back to town to show them where the car wash was. When we got to the car wash the older gentleman looked under his car and just looked lost on what to do. So I grabbed an spike antler shed I found last year and an arrow and started digging and clawing the mud out. While I was working and we were talking, he mentioned that if that had happened in Chicago, people would never have stopped. I told him welcome to oklahoma.

Next came the politics and eventually guns came up. He said he thought people with guns were either scared or violent people. Here was my golden opportunity....

I told him "Sir, I just want you to realize something. Right now, in my truck, I have a loaded 45, a loaded 44 magnum, and a 12 guage shotgun. But I stopped to help you. Do you think I did that because I'm scared or because I'm violent?"

Him "No."

Me "You're right. I did it because I saw someone that needed help. And I had the ability to help them. It's called the "Golden Rule". Had someone been trying to hurt you, I would have pulled over also. But I would be using a different tool to help you. Buy my goal would still be the same, to make sure you and your family were safe."

Him "I just never looked at it that way until now. Where we live people with guns hurt people."

Me "Well sir, I have no desire to do anything but help you. Most people I know would do the same for you. We aren't evil. We just want to be free. I hope you understand that."

When I had finished cleaning up his car, he lent a hand down to help me up.

Him "You have definitely shown me a few things today. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help. What do I owe you?"

Me "You don't owe me anything. I didn't do this because I saw an opportunity to make some money. If I opened your eyes even a little about all people with guns not being bad people, then that is my payment. You have a good safe trip sir."

Him "Yes, yes I think you have. Thanks again Mr. Scary man with guns."

And we both laughed as I walked my to my truck half frozen. I was wearing hospital scrubs, and a hoodie. I was soaked and covered in dirt. And it was a great day. One I won't soon forget.

Doing good for someone can really change someone's outlook on people.

Well done.