Something was pointed out to me yesterday (in a much more rude fashion than my usual way) that I'm not sure how I feel about.
I have yet to encounter a gun control advocate that comes close to meeting or exceeding my knowledge base on the subject. Legally, technically, tactically, culturally, the whole shebang.
I'm not the most knowledgeable gunman in the world (I look at people funny when they call me an expert). But my knowledge base is enough to get me the occasional email from folk with obscure questions, so that's something, I guess.
But every single gun control advocate I've encountered, I've trounced on the facts.
This is not to insinuate that they're stupid, far from it. I've faced the viewpoint from some very smart people, some of which are incredible in their fields. I'm not the type to dismiss someone entirely just because terms like, "largely unregulated" fall out of their mouths. (It does mean that they're placed into the "ignorant of the topic" or "actively lying" segments of my judgy brain, but that's not a dismissal).
But, genius or layman, they've all fallen as ignorant of the intricacies of the topic.
Some are just screaming out of fear or anger, which is valid, but not something to base a long-term decision on.
Some try, and I'll give them credit.
But too many will just repost the first article (or worse, a meme) that comes their way which agrees with them and never bother to question a damn thing.
I suppose it's easier to know just enough on a subject to disagree with it. After all, we're designed to fear the unfamiliar.
But I do get tired every time I have to trot out
"Well-regulated" = "held to a common standard,"
and
"Militia = "everyone left between puberty and senility once the able-bodied men have already gone"
Shut the fuck up about law and the National Guard. They do not apply here.
And I'll disagree even with other gunners on some points. I'll agree that training beyond "one box of rounds, 25 yrd slow fire" should be undertaken by those wanting to carry concealed. I just draw the line at making such a thing law, because the line between "damn good idea" and "should be a legal mandate" is pretty damn wide in my eyes.
I suppose someday I might find someone who's as well versed on the topic but my ideological opposite.
Until then I'll have to keep being convinced that I'm right.