UPDATED! Going to be a panelist at a "Gun Control Forum" tomorrow night

WC145

WC145

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I've volunteered to be a panelist at a "Gun Control Forum" at the local state university tomorrow evening. The perspective I'm offering is that of a 2A advocate, LEO, and medical professional (respiratory therapist). The other panelists are the county Sheriff, the local school superintendent, a pastor/counselor/university instructor, and a clinical social worker/therapist. Except for the Sheriff, I have no idea where these other folks stand on the subject matter. The Sheriff has said in recent newspaper interviews that it should be harder to get concealed carry permits, only LE & military should have access to "assault weapons", and that he has always been in support of an AWB.

Anyway, I've been studying up for this for a few weeks (hoping I won't look foolish) but I'm sure that I've still missed plenty of great facts, talking points, statistics, quotes, etc. So, I'd love to hear some of the ideas and points that you feel really drive home the pro-gun, pro-2A position, that one thing over all others that you would present given an opportunity and an audience. Keep in mind that this event is being held at a college with a panel and audience that may not be all that sympathetic towards our positions.

Below is an email I rec'd from the moderator, it includes a link to the press release.

Thanks in advance. (and wish me luck!)


Hi Panel members-

The link is to our press release on the 2/12 forum.

Please try and get here by 6:15 to sign releases and get situated.

My colleague Tora Johnson will be co-moderating and handling a twitter feed.

After some short introductory remarks I will ask each of you to speak
for 1-2 minutes on what, if anything, you hope will emerge from this
national discussion.

I ask you to think about how we should balance freedom and security,
individual and community, and the 1st, 2nd and 4th amendments in these
discussions.

After approximately 20-30 minutes of panel discussion, we will open the
floor to the audience, starting with any UMM students present.

I have asked that UMM security be present before and during the forum,
just as a precautionary measure. The campus, as you probably know, is a
gun free zone.



University of Maine at Machias | UMM to Host Forum on Gun Rights, School Security, Mental Health, and Culture
Click to expand...
 
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Someone will almost certainly bring up the need argument. Reply with some variation on Rosa Parks not needing to sit in any specific seat. She had the right to sit in any of them.

Also, if the argument is raised for reasonable restrictions, would the person be OK with no books over 200 pages? Or books are fine, but no magazines? Or no books on certain topics?

You could also bring up former restrictions on voting rights.

They have to be smacked in the face with a civil right is a civil right is a civil right. Attacking any lessens them all.

Good luck.

David
 
First of all, stay polite, and don't interrupt. The anti-gunners are often rude. Be above that.

They will likely give you a lot of statistics. Some may have a nugget of truth, others, like the oft-repeated "47% of gun sales are not subject to a background check" are kinda suspect. Ask for their sources.

One of the anti-gun forces biggest points is that the Second Amendment was written in 1791, and they only had single-shot muzzleloading weapons. Thus, our newer technology weapons cannot possibly be covered under this Amendment. Your response should be if that is the case, then the rest of the Bill Of Rights should also be viewed that way. In other words, your right to Free Speech, protected by Article One, only applies if you exercise it via face-to-face speech, or the manually printed word. Phones, TV, radio and the internet are not protected speech, since they did not exist in the 18th century. Also, religion that was not in existence at that time is not protected.

Stay calm. They use emotion. You should use logic, and facts.

Oh, and don't call it The Second Amendment, as they certainly will. Call it it's PROPER name...Article Two Of The Bill Of Rights. That always upsets them.:D

Give us a report as soon as possible.
Jim
 
well surely no one needs more than 10 sheets of paper and 1 pencil or pen. and surely dangerous high speed copiers that can spread information quickly are not needed by the common citizen. and surely .gov should be able to come into your home or business and make sure you are not sharing info with children that might do them harm. and surely you should have to go thru a background check before you offer an opinion in public or on the internet.
 
Re: Going to be a panelist at a "Gun Control Forum" tomorrow night - any talking poin

americangunfacts.com has some amazing statistics. My favorite: "with just one exception, every public mass shooting in the USA since 1950 has taken place where citizens are banned from carrying guns."
Also, from http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnew...n-free-zones-called-magnets-for-mass-shooters
" There, you have seven movie theaters that were showing the Batman movie when it opened at the end of July. Out of those seven movie theaters, only one movie theater was posted as banning permit-concealed handguns. The killer didn't go to the movie theater that was closest to his home. He didn't go to the movie theater that was the largest movie theater in Colorado, which was essentially the same distance from his apartment as the one he ended up going to. Instead, the one he picked was the only one of those movie theaters that banned people taking permit-concealed handguns into that theater."
 
I like what others have stated. Stay level headed. If they seem to get a little "whack a do" in their direction. Point out what is wrong in there views.

You can state facts of the citizens face the same threats and criminals that police do. The public has to defend itself from carjackers, home invasions, muggings, gangs, drunks, and junkies.

Remind them in the citizens world the police are minutes away when second count.

Remind them that most of the recent attacks has happened in "gun free" zones where the law abiding citizen is disarmed and criminals are not.

Remind them for the cities that have the toughest laws, and crime and murder still run rampant.


You don't have to take my advice. Those are just some things that come to mind. Keep a cool, level head, and it will come to you.


Oh! One other that came to mind is. The main people who are pushing for gun control, are the people that have Security. Those people won't talk about disarming their Security team.
 
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The powers that be, want to say.........

They call it an assault weapon, when in the hands of a citizen.

They call it a patrol rifle when placed in a police car.

They call it a (PDW) 'Personal Defense Weapon' when issued to DHS.

I say it matters not one tittle what's in a person's hand, nor on one's hip.........

It's what is in One's Heart that makes all the difference.

Need nor magazine capacity has not one thing to do with 2nd amendment,

The guarding of the Constitution and Bill of Right are the necessity of arms,

As, we the people, must rise to our duty, to guard against tyranny of our elected.


.
 
Beg them to understand that the criminals WILL NOT and DO NOT care about any gun control legislation. If they can't or won't understand I would ask them to explain how any additional laws will keep weapons out of the hands of the people who don't obey the law.
 
My old speech and debate days experience suggests that you have a number of 3x5 cards with good provable facts including the site as your evidence at the ready.

You have been given a number of other good ideas....be as well prepared as you can be.....have a knowledgeable friend play the role of the anti's and have them work you over hard.

Make sure that in the role play that they are as rude and vocal as possible to prepare for that very type of behavior.

Lastly, let us know how it all turns out.

Randy
 
keith44spl said:
The powers that be, want to say.........

They call it an assault weapon, when in the hands of a citizen.

They call it a patrol rifle when placed in a police car.

They call it a (PDW) 'Personal Defense Weapon' when issued to DHS.

I say it matters not one tittle what's in a person's hand, nor on one's hip.........

It's what is in One's Heart that makes all the difference.

Need nor magazine capacity has not one thing to do with 2nd amendment,

The guarding of the Constitution and Bill of Right are the necessity of arms,

As, we the people, must rise to our duty, to guard against tyranny of our elected.


.
Click to expand...


^^^ THIS^^^

Not intended to potect our hunting rights, nor the type of firearm, in whatever century it is. OH yeah, and AMEN!
 
keith44spl said:
The powers that be, want to say.........

They call it an assault weapon, when in the hands of a citizen.

They call it a patrol rifle when placed in a police car.

They call it a (PDW) 'Personal Defense Weapon' when issued to DHS.

I say it matters not one tittle what's in a person's hand, nor on one's hip.........

It's what is in One's Heart that makes all the difference.

Need nor magazine capacity has not one thing to do with 2nd amendment,

The guarding of the Constitution and Bill of Right are the necessity of arms,

As, we the people, must rise to our duty, to guard against tyranny of our elected.


.
Click to expand...
That's it right there. I may just hand this out and walk away.

Mike McLellan said:
Carry a switchblade, and routinely clean your nails with it, while looking menacingly at the others. Just kidding. You know what to do.
Click to expand...
That was my Plan B, right after I show them how fast I can swap 10rd mags in my "assault weapon".:D

Thanks for the ideas guys, much appreciated, keep 'em coming.
 
the 2nd amendment has NOTHING to do with hunting. they always bring up well you don't need that many rounds to kill a deer ****.

laws were broken in just about every instance that a mass killing took place. VT guy went on campus where carrying was prohibited. Columbine .. same thing. Sandy Hook .. took a gun onto a school campus, stole a gun from his Mom, killed her ... he tried to purchase a gun but was turned down.

And even liberal MSNBC has acknowledged that there wasn't "an assault weapon" used there. three hand guns were used.

At Columbine there was NOT a so called "assault weapon" used.

Most of these mass killings take place in Gun Free Zones. Seems like they would take the hint.

Ask them about Fast and Furious ????? Doubt they want to acknowledge that entire train wreck.

And lastly ..... Cities where guns are outlawed .. such as Chicago and NY City .. how are those murder rates going? Seems like only criminals are the only ones who have guns there and Jessie Jackson wants DHS to come patrol the streets.

Best of luck to you!
 
it's been against the law to kill someone else without cause for a long time. didn't stop the murderers.

criminals do not respect laws. free, armed, law abiding citizens do.
 
Above all, resist the temptation to ask. "Are you saying that just to piss me off? Or are you really that stupid?" (And you will be tempted. Trust me.)
 
As mentioned above, when seconds count the police are only minutes away. Also, response times are much longer in rural areas. Get some stats on how many weapons besides guns (including automobiles) have been used in crimes. How many people killed by gunfire were suicides and not murders? Assault weapons are full auto. I don't know anyone who owns one. If your loved ones are the victims of a home invasion would you want them to have a few extra rounds in the magazine or would you rather them wait for the police to arrive? Just showing a criminal that you are armed has prevented far more crimes than crimes committed with guns.
 
1803f272ef16bae4f009af7eda2572b4_zps3e668b4f.jpg


The point of the chart is that the homicide rate is going down already. It is half what it was in 1980 and in early 1990s. There is not an upward trend as some fear.

-- If someone says a gun in the home is more likely to lead to murder/suicide than aid in self defense, say "If you believe that is true in your case by all means don't keep a gun in your home. But don't begrudge me my right to keep a gun in my home if I do not believe that is true in my case."

-- Do you believe might makes right? Why shouldn't the elderly or weak be able to meet thugs on equal terms?

-- Do you have fire insurance because you believe your house will burn down or because you know that it might? I doubt my daughter will be attacked, but I know that she might be. Don't deny her right to insurance/armed protection just because you don't want it.

-- If guns in the hands of good guys is not the answer to protecting children in schools, why is armed security used for protecting banks and political leaders? Do we value our children less than our money and our politicians?
 
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