Why We Will Win

I have taught firearm classes for 10 years. I'm a NRA certified trainer, but don't typically teach NRA classes. I have developed my own curriculum and one of my most popular classes I refer to as "Firearm Safety for Pascifists". It's a gun safety class for people who are afraid of guns, dislike guns, are anti-gun or just nervous around guns. It focuses on safe handling and how to operate and unload different firearms. Even if someone never wants to own a gun or even shoot a gun, it's reasonable to know how to handle one in case you come across one in your life.

I used to offer classes a few times a year, but lately it has dropped down to once a year or so. I did one last night and I think two of the attendees are likely to end up as gun owners in the future. This isn't unusual. Many people, especially women, are much more interested in owning a firearm for protection once the mystery or mystique is removed from guns. Firearms are less intimidating with the right training and introduction.

And that's why gun rights will win. Over the years I've enabled a score of people who were not gun owners into becoming gun owners. Heck, one year alone I inspired 5 different coworkers to buy AR-15's. I've introduced a dozen people to firearms that went on to become regular shooters. My exposure has spread the roles of gun owners by many times over.

Can the anti-gun crowd say that? Do they have a list of people that were former gun owners that they have convinced to disarm? I've yet to find anyone who can boast of this. Taking ownership of your own self defense is empowering and something many people find attractive and fulfilling. Turning over that ownership to to another party is not empowering, it leaves a person weaker than they were before. Which is why we will win.

So if you are a supporter of gun rights- get more people out to the range. Teach them the basics of firearm safety. Take away the mystique and fear around guns. That's how we spread the message and protect our civil rights moving forward.