I posted an open letter to NFOA members on their forum pages today. I'd be surprised if I don't get a few critical remarks to it, but I felt strongly about the subject and basically thought it was my duty to mention it to what was basically my target audience, gun owners. The idea would apply to anyone who desires to express an opinion, especially on a controversial subject. In this, case, people with a goal to enhance and protect our second amendment rights.
For years, I've followed pretty much any story, article, blog, or forum I happened across that had to do with firearms, the second amendment, concealed carry, gun control, etc. I've written my own letters to the editor, guest columns, comments to on line articles, and posts to various forums, not to mention this and a couple of other blogs. Though I can't say I've never quoted an overused cliche or used a somewhat profane or vulgar euphemism, I generally try to rely on a more traditional debate style of writing. To me logic, comparisons, analogies, hypotheticals, common sense, and an occasional appeal to emotion do far more to win people to one's point of view than name calling, taunting, ridicule, and taking an extreme position simply to antagonize the other side.
I'm often embarrassed by the comments I see from other pro-gunners trying to impress upon the world how absolutely right they are in their position. Sure, I feel a lot of the same emotions. I get a charge out of using phrases with the words "... cold, dead, finger..." or "... only outlaws will have guns" or "an armed society..." blah, blah, blah. I often wonder where the anti-gunners came up with some of the seemingly stupid ideas they have, or how they can possibly believe some of their proposed gun-control could ever accomplish what they hope it will. And, some of the comments from the anti-gun crowd are probably just as embarrassing for their side. They have their own misguided soles who like nothing better than to irritate the "gun nuts" with their own name calling and gibberish. It's probably a good thing I'm reading their comments rather than debating face to face, given that I'd probably be armed and would have a much more difficult time controlling my temper in the heat of the moment than when I have time to sit and reflect on what's really happening.
But, I digress. The point is that when pro-gunners (or anyone) can't write a complete, grammatically correct sentence that expresses a logical, pragmatic idea, they are not likely to convince anyone that they know what they're talking about or that they have a valid perspective on an issue. It's one thing to talk macho and joke around with your buddies and peers who you know feel the same as you do. It's quite another to expect people on the other side of an issue to take you seriously when you can't spell simple words, write a complete sentence, or come up with a logical explanation of your point.
I've already repeated a lot of the things I say in the letter, but if you still want to read it, just click here: http://www.nebraskafirepower.com/forum/index.php?topic=1003.msg6883#new
It will be interesting to see what kind of comments I get on it.
No comments:
Post a Comment