Some of you may have seen the Anderson Cooper video where a retired General demonstrates the use of an AR15 rifle. If you haven’t, please take a moment and follow the above link, the video is a little over two minutes long and it’s very telling. It’s difficult to believe a career military person would do the things seen in the video, but it clearly highlights the problem and that is one of trust. Gun owners don’t trust anti-gunners and vice versa which makes it difficult for the two sides to work together productively.
The initial reaction of any gun owner viewing the Anderson Cooper video is probably laughter as the video is hilarious. The next reaction is likely to be disbelief. How could a career military person describe the operation of that rifle as “full semi-auto”? How could a career military person fire five successive shots at a moderate rate, and claim that he’ll probably miss the target at a range of what appears to be about 50 yards? Most AR15 owners that shoot regularly could easily put five shots on target at that range and rate of fire. Disbelief would finally turn to distrust.
Repeating incorrect information about guns, gun laws, and crimes involving guns is a common and consistent practice by anti-gunners and the media. It happens too often and too consistently to be attributed to ignorance and appears to be mostly intentional.
To be fair to Anderson Cooper, in this piece he does mention that the AR15 is not currently a military weapon. But the piece implies that the AR15 is a “weapon of war” with this immense destructive power and singular purpose of killing people. Most gun owners would know otherwise.
Because of the use of misinformation by the anti-2A folks, it’s important for those of us in the gun community to be sure of our facts in order to promote a productive conversation. Most people that don’t own guns (but who vote) would like to make rational decisions they just need accurate information.
I used to believe that gun owners should not bring up the subject and should more or less quietly go about their business. I’ve since come to the conclusion that I was wrong. Gun owners have an obligation to speak up and educate people by doing the following:
- Talk about your hobby (or sport). If you went to the range over the weekend, don’t be afraid to share your experiences with friends and colleagues.
- Invite someone who has never fired a gun to the range with you and help them have a safe and fun first time shooting experience. Introduce them to our world.
- If you shoot competitively, invite gun owning friends to come to a match and try it out, new shooters are always welcome.
- If you have friends that own guns but rarely shoot, invite them to the range, get them reengaged in the hobby. Pass your old gun magazines (the ones with pictures and articles, not the ones that hold ammo) on to them.
- Challenge misinformation when you hear it by introducing facts into the conversation.
- Encourage gun-owning friends to get involved by supporting organizations that are fighting for our second amendment rights.
- Join the fight and speak directly to your elected officials as this gentleman did.
If you want to keep your rights help defend them by joining San Diego County Gun Owners, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, and the National Rifle Association. Join the fight and help us restore and preserve our second amendment rights. Together we will win.
©2018 Joseph T Drammissi
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