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In order to win the next election, we have to do more than just preach to the choir. We have to convert our liberal friends. Here's how I converted a flaming liberal friend of mine to support the 2nd amendment. You may copy me, do something similar, or think something up original for yourself. The key to successful conversion is to have them think that they came up with the idea themselves. DO NOT preach to them nor pound them with facts. Allow them to arrive at the conclusion themselves emotionally. Without delving too much into psychology and sales techniques, the short version is that people make decisions on an emotional basis and then use logic to rationalize it. Very few people actually make logical decisions, so the most successful conversion is on an emotional appeal that allows them to arrive at the conclusion themselves, not a conclusion that is thrusted upon them.

I have this female friend (let's call her "E") and we went out for dinner together. This friend of mine is a flaming liberal who voted for 0bama. The topic of conversation was stalkers. I told her that I have this friend of a friend who was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend who threatened to kill her. "She should get a restraining order," was E's response. "She did, but it only infuriated him. He beat her up, robbed her, and warned her that if she didn't cancel the restraining order, he's gonna kill her," I replied. "Well, he beat her up, so she should go to the police and have him arrested," E replied. "She did, but he's out on bail and she's scared as heck," I answered. "What do you think she should do?" I innocently asked. E thought for a long second..., "I'm opposed to guns, but in this case, I think she should get one. Although most guns are used in crime and suicides, I think that in this situation, the benefits outweigh the risks." "Well, a concealed handgun license would take up to 9 months to get approved (my CHL took 9 months to arrive)," I replied. "Then, she should hire an armed guard to guard her at her workplace and make sure that nobody follows her home (this stalked friend of mine is a high-paid exec)," she replied. "I agree, but what if something like that happens to you? You can't afford an armed guard," I said. Silence. "You know what you should do? You should get a concealed handgun license as an insurance policy. That way, if something like this ever happens to you, you'll have the CHL when you need it, so you don't have to wait 9 months," I said. E nods her head in agreement, but she hesitates, "Well, guns are dangerous. I don't want to buy a gun." "No, you don't have to buy a gun. That's not what I suggested that you do. I suggest that you buy an insurance policy against stalkers and rapists. Just get the concealed handgun license so that it's there if you need it. Get the CHL without buying a gun. You can get a gun at any time, but the CHL takes months." She nods her head in agreement. "If you'd like, I can do you a favor. We can go to the range tomorrow and I'll teach you firearms safety. Then, I can teach you how to shoot an auto pistol without jamming it," I said. I explained that half the ladies in my CHL class had to re-take the shooting part of the exam because they jammed their Glocks (I didn't know that was possible). They flinched and limp-wristed. "Sure, I'd like that," she replied. "Let's go tomorrow. I'll pick you up at X o'clock," I said. "O.K." she answered.

Yay! Now, I'm hoping that she'll enjoy shooting so that she'll be a convert. At the very least, she'll be a CHL holder and elected officials look at things like the number of NRA members and CHL holders before voting on any gun control laws. So, whether she knows it or not, she's now supporting 2nd amendment rights right alongside me even though she's an 0bama voting flaming liberal!

Folks, we have to convert our liberal friends or our 2nd amendment rights will be taken away from us forever. Don't believe it can happen? Look at Australia, Great Britain, and ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES ON PLANET EARTH. America is the last remaining country that still has the right to bear arms. We are the last holdout. I invite you to suddenly realize that you have to convert your liberal friends and acquaintances. Failure to do so will mean our doom.

BTW, you know what would make a perfect holiday gift? Get your gun owning friends or family members who are not members of the NRA the gift of a NRA membership and/or a TSRA membership. Elected officials also look at the number of NRA and/or TSRA members before voting on any gun ban laws. The more members these organizations have, the more clout they'll have in Washington. NRA membership includes a neat NRA baseball cap and a subscription to a cool gun magazine.

C'mon people, let's get rolling so that we'll win the next election!



P.S. Notice how I did NOT argue with her point that "guns are used in murders and suicides." Nobody likes an arguer and nobody likes to have ideas forced upon them. People only like ideas that they thought of themselves (or think that they thought of themselves). Notice how I manipulated her to come up with the idea to buy a gun. She thought of it and I did not mention it to her. Furthermore, the idea of getting firearms instruction appealed to her on an emotional, not logical level. Not only did this approach work with this female friend of mine, but I also used this approach to get my flaming liberal wife to agree to sign up for a CHL class. My wife is still won't allow me to have guns in the house and my liberal female friend still won't buy a gun, but at least I've persuaded them to support 2nd Amendment rights by signing up for CHL classes. Yay!

Great post.

Many people assume people that disagree with them are just morons not worthy of any type of respect or discussion.
If that was the case, I wouldn't be here posting :)

Plenty of anti gun liberals are intelligent people, just ignorant on the realities of what guns are. If you approach them in a decently respectful way, you'll get somewhere almost every time.

Many people when discussing politics forget this simple fact.

Speaking as a flaming liberal, I believe others are more apt to consider alternative views when a respectful conversation occurs. Liberals, by definition, are open and tolerant. Liberals should be the easiest to talk to because they are apt to listen.

It is a struggle to be heard if the approach is rigid, stereotypical, and bordering on hateful. I cringe when the message is wrapped in a Conferate flag and a hearty "To heck with you, sissy." Playground-style attacks on the person, not on the position does nothing to help any cause.

The second amendment is not about duck hunting. I believe in gun responsible gun rights. Not everyone shows to be responsible and shouldn't have a gun until they become responsible.

I want to share my views with others, Dems, Reps, and Others but a lot of the time the discussion is not about the issue of gun rights but the personality of the person with the view. When I talk with others I try to filter out the garbage that is sometimes associated with the issue but is not really the issue. I get frustrated when I talk responsible gun rights but the listener thinks I'm saying 'Shoot-first Life-style."

There are gun-toting Liberals and Conservatives who don't care for them at all. The issue is gun rights, not particular party preference.

Anyway, consider my view when you try to be heard by someone who may be a little biased against your position. Maybe it will help the issue.

Great post drjoker! Thanks for sharing. You were very diplomatic in your approach to get her to say yes.

That philosophy is in my signature line.

I agree with the O.P. for the most part except about most people reacting emotionally first. I agree some do but we cannot assume most do. Most have no real opinion about guns and that includes the hunter types. That gun they use is no different than a screwdriver in their mind. Just an observance.

I quit using the word liberal as much as I can. Because, as was stated, "liberal" is defined as open minded. Everyone is liberal minded or "free thinkers" because none of us are "programmed". Liberal really doesn't describe anything other than a human being that can think for themselves which is why the Left adopted it to try to suggest those on the right were mindless. "Leftists" are anti-gun and if a person is anti-gun they are a Leftists in my opinion because they do not believe in that God given, Constitutionally recognized right. So maybe we should call them Leftists which would cover anyone who believes they can restrict absolute rights like those reflected in the COTUS. It is accurate though most Republican and all Democrat National politicians will not like the idea.

Most people are not anti-gun but simply ignorant and that is the truth. Even those that work every day to take our ability to own and carry guns have been caught owning and even carrying guns. So, if they think it is okay for themselves why do they want to deny everyone else? Sounds like they think they are better than the servants we elected them to be. No servant has more power than his/her master.

shootthesheet wrote:
...Most people are not anti-gun but simply ignorant and that is the truth...

Hip, hip hurrah!!

We should be sharing ideas and concepts to others so they can take a fair look and see what they think. Too often different postions try to make their case through a bumper sticker, a mocking picture, or a phrase. Its a little more complex than that.

Its nice to read real people's opinions here rather than feel I'm in an echo chamber sometimes.

drjoker wrote:"I'm opposed to guns, but in this case, I think she should get one. Although most guns are used in crime and suicides, I think that in this situation, the benefits outweigh the risks."

Hey, at least she was smart enough to agree to try it out. Hopefully your gentle persuasions will make her even smarter. Good on you for taking her under your wing on this.

What if I don't have any liberal friends?

Dragonfighter wrote:What if I don't have any liberal friends?

Then go out, round up a few, and convert 'em!

Well, will she let you have a gun in the house?

Dragonfighter wrote:What if I don't have any liberal friends?

I'll be your friend.

Excaliber wrote:

Dragonfighter wrote:What if I don't have any liberal friends?

Then go out, round up a few, and convert 'em!

I am not sure how to go about finding them. I tend to hang out in places people of intelligence frequent.

Zee wrote:

Dragonfighter wrote:What if I don't have any liberal friends?

I'll be your friend.

Okay your in. Now let's see, the 2nd Amendment to the constitution is...oh wait, you're already on board there. Hey! This is easier than I thought.

drjoker wrote:"Then, she should hire an armed guard to guard her at her workplace and make sure that nobody follows her home (this stalked friend of mine is a high-paid exec),"

Armed, effective personal protection isn't cheap, even from an executive's standpoint. If you're serious about it, it takes more than one team of guards to do it right, even if you're only guarding against a single threat. Remember, even the most highly trained PPOs have to use the bathroom, and even the densest BG can figure out how to watch and wait until that happens, then make his move.

Even the top execs at the companies I've worked for generally only brought one tough guy each for appearances unless they were particularly worried about something at the time.

03Lightningrocks wrote:

Excaliber wrote:

Dragonfighter wrote:What if I don't have any liberal friends?

Then go out, round up a few, and convert 'em!

I am not sure how to go about finding them. I tend to hang out in places people of intelligence frequent.

You need to get out more. They're everywhere!