Misinformation

[petasux]

In the last week Ive had to do a lot of arguing with non gun owners anti gun zealots, and supringsly enough many people from other countries who view Americas gun culture as the root of all evil.The amount of factual information these people have is almost zero concerning guns and gun laws.

First myth-anyone can walk into a store anytime and purchase any gun they want.Commonly compared to a kid in a candy store.

Despite having explained about gun permits, concealed carry permits, background checks, age restrictions, not to mention assorted state and local laws pertaining to gun and ammopurchases they apparently dont like to read the facts as it complicates thier argument so theyre dismissed as the rantings of a gun nut.

Second myth-banning handguns will stop crimes

A very small percentage of gun owners use thier weapons to committ crimes.Most of those weapons arent obtained legally.Its like banning automobiles because occasionaly someone steals a car, gets drunk, and kills someone with it.The fact that these laws will only apply to people already obeying the laws isnt important.

Third myth-People dont need guns to defend themselves

The irony should be apparent since the topic that brought it up was 33 people being mowed down cuz they couldnt defend themselves.Apparently the irony was lost to most people.

Fourth myth- Handguns are only good for killing people and nothing else

Apparently the idea of a handgun hunting season which has become quite popular is foriegn to most people.Shooting targets, competition shooting, also unheard of.

Fifth myth-Handguns are very powerfull weapons

While its true to an extent what brought this up was the idea they could ban handguns and not sporting weapons.When pointed out that handguns are commonly used for hunting they said it was overkill compared to more traditional weapons.This confused me.

I pointed the fact that high powers and shotguns were much more powerfull, rifles were much more accurate and had longer ranges, and shotguns at close range didnt even have to be aimed just pointed.I also stated the fact that we had a handgun season in my state because rifles werent allowed.Still wasnt convincing apparently.

I offered that if the school shooter had been armed with a semi auto rifle and a shotgun the body count would have realitically been much higher.At this point a moderator became involved so I just quit posting so I wouldnt get banned.

How exactly have people become this misinformed about these things ?It cant all be from the media.Are these just preformed ideas that people have?If you were going to complain about something and try to take away someones rights wouldnt you at least want to know a minimum of the actual facts about a subject.How have handguns become so bastardized when theres other much better suited guns for going on a rampage with.

[Champlain Islander]

It is to be expected after such a terrible event that the anti gun crowd will pile on and say see I told you so. If it were a teen driver who freaked out and plowed into a crowded school ground and killed people then there would be people coming out of the woodwork trying to place restrictions and sactions on teen drivers. My only advice is since we know it is bound to come be ready to defend your rights with informative and well thought out arguements.

[Champlain Islander]

Ya gotta callem like u seeum.
Or he might say "I yam what I yam".

[Howler]

I can see how a lot of people can be confused about the lethality of handguns, verses rifles, verses shotguns. Take for example my wife. She had never been around a gun of any kind before we started dating. She had no clue of the differences, other than what they looked like. The media has a lot to do with the "percieved" danger of any gun, and since handguns are used most often, they get "percieved" as being the most "dangerous" in the wrong hands. Poeple get thier info. from the media. They have no other source of learning about guns, because they have none, they arent around them, and simply are not educated about them and thier uses and capabilitys.
I wonder how many people only have insurane on thier vehicle when they know they are going to be in a wreck. I wonder how many people lock thier house doors when they no a robber is coming to rob them. I wonder how many people buy life insurance when they know they are dieing. I wonder how many people would carry a handgun if they thought it would save thier lives, one day?

[Aught Six]

What annoys me is that foreign observers often forget that we're a country of 300,000,000 people spread over an area about twice the size of the European Union's lands. They often go by sheer numbers, not per capita statistics. American Media is good at captivating people's attentions, but not scientifically breaking down subjects to the bare facts. Armchair quarterbacks overseas often have it wrong simply becauseones needs more than CNN to understand American culture.

[petasux]

Another fun fact-If a post about a terrorist beheading someone comes up and you suggest banning knives as a means of stopping the violence your an idiot and it Americas fault theyre beheading people.Apparently this is very one sided logic

[Alsatian]

petasux: You ask how people can be so misinformed. Ask yourself how much you know about cheerleadingcompetitions or Iris flower competitions or Buddhism or accupuncture. The plain fact is that these people are so misinformed because they invest no time in becoming informed, they do not challenge the stories that the news media provides, andthey have no personal experience with firearms. In short, they have no more claim to being informed about the subject of guns and gun control than they do about the minutiae of brain surgery. Unfortunately, while they know well enough to not make brain surgery a subject for discussion by the democratic masses, they think they know enough to discuss and decide gun control issues.

[Red Lion]

ORIGINAL: Alsatian

petasux: You ask how people can be so misinformed. Ask yourself how much you know about cheerleadingcompetitions or Iris flower competitions or Buddhism or accupuncture. The plain fact is that these people are so misinformed because they invest no time in becoming informed, they do not challenge the stories that the news media provides, andthey have no personal experience with firearms. In short, they have no more claim to being informed about the subject of guns and gun control than they do about the minutiae of brain surgery. Unfortunately, while they know well enough to not make brain surgery a subject for discussion by the democratic masses, they think they know enough to discuss and decide gun control issues.

Very true and well said.

[kevin1]

Arguing with an anti-hunter or anti-gunner is like trying to teach a pig to sing, it only wastes your time and annoys the pig. Slay the dragon of ignorance with facts, they hate that.

[falcon]

It is exceeding difficult toreason with a shrill anti-gunner who believes that a lady with a .357 in her hand and a dead would be rapist at her feet is morally inferior to a raped andmurdered lady.Dedicated anti-gunners havesome recommendations for folks who areattacked bycriminals:

1. Just give them what they want.
2. Call the police.
3. Run away.

"Just give them what they want" was the USsolution to airline hijackings for decades. It worked so well on 9/11.

"Evil is not overcome by running from it"-COL. Jeff Cooper.