Why not say them? Well, it generally isn’t (99.99999 percent of the time) because that gunowner is going to hate you so much that they remove you from the land of the living. (99.99999 is one chance in 10,000,000.)

And it is not because we are going to stop being friendly – or even friends – with you. And certainly does not mean that we aren’t going to use our weapon to defend you if you are attacked and are innocent. It doesn’t even mean that we are not going to defend your right to say whatever you please, and hate guns (and gunowners).

But… we might talk you to death as we very carefully (and usually very lovingly) talk you to death. Explaining in great detail (and hopefully with no profanity) why you are so wrong in saying that here in the States in 2024.

Here is our list:

• 1. Guns kill people – A simple and very frustrating one, of course. Guns are used by other people (and maybe some AI’s soon – but still controlled by people) to kill other people. (There is that monkey one time somewhere in Africa: see the video here…)
• 2. You shouldn’t have a gun if you have children at home- Oh, dear: add gas-burning stoves, ovens of all kinds, oh, and swimming pools, ammonia, and several hundred other items. When you fail to properly teach and watch your children, what do you expect?
• 3. It is too easy to get guns – Obviously, the person making this crack hasn’t tried to buy one recently
• 4. Only criminals have guns – in more and more places, this might be becoming the case as some jurisdictions try to outlaw gun ownership, proving that old saw, “when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.”
• 5. Gun bans work – at least when some really bad guns are banned. Hmmm, again, another example of a bald untruth. Gun bans even of unsafe guns (which is not what they mean, of course) fail constantly. Just as banning or restricting the sale of certain chemicals used to produce meth failed to stem the meth production to meet market demand,
• 6. Only cops and soldiers should have guns: As we consider the next point, we have to remember that especially in the 20^th Century, those jurisdictions which have banned guns, leaving only cops and troops with them, have been those lands where the greatest amount of democide has taken place.
• 7. The Second Amendment is outdated and we should change it or get rid of it: a common theme of politicians and hoplophobes in general, but (legally at least) getting rid of the article does not get rid of what is seen as a natural right or God-given right. It doe make the right more difficult to defend.
• 8. Gun-free zones work – Yes, they do, for criminals seeking prey. And for madmen looking for notoriety.
• 9. You must be a “republican” or “libertarian” or “conservative” or “fascist.” You can’t be just “normal” of course, since you must be stigmatized and branded as evil. Today, as more and more who claim to be followers of Christ realize what He and His apostles actually taught about defense
• 10. Guns are the problem – If so, there are many other things which are a problem, starting with rocks. Many people loke to say that the problem is mental: mental illness in particular. But the situation is deeper than that. In the 19^th and early 20^th Century, mental illness was far from unknown. The underlying causes are harder to address: poor education (government-ruined), lack of moral leadership especially for the young, dehumanizing conditions and lack of accountability all contribute to this.
• 11. You must be paranoid – or you must be scared of lots of things. We echo the old lady driving by herself out on the highway: Asked what she was a afraid of, her answer was snippy: “Not a darn thing!” Because she was well-armed and well trained.
• 12. You don’t need a gun – this isn’t the Wild West. Well, matter of opinion: many of America’s streets in large cities very much resemble the mythical version of Front Street in Dodge City, KS, or Tombstone, Az.T. Just saying… But anytime there is a threat of physical violence from someone stronger, more agile, or more hopped up than you? Then you need a gun.
• 13. I don’t trust myself with a gun so I don’t trust you with a gun- yes, that seems to be the truth, even if virtually all hoplophobic people will deny it. They have so little self-control that they are certain that in a fit of temper, they’d gun someone down in cold blood. And figure you are (after all) worse than they are.

There are no doubt many other things we who own, carry, and use guns don’t want to have someone say to us. But this is a start, yes?

uns don’t want to have someone say to us. But this is a start, yes?