It is no secret that a segment of the political class, and all the media members who back them, see advantage in attempting to marginalize the NRA. They see the individual empowerment the Second Amendment protects as a political impediment to their appetite for control of the citizenry, and they are frustrated that this large association of freedom-loving Americans stands in the way of their many efforts to take away this fundamental right.
Their decades of attacks on this civil-liberties association have, no doubt, influenced the views of some citizens who have not been lucky enough to have had experience with gun ownership or the shooting sports.
That said, it is the mission of the NRA—and of members of this association—to do all we can to counteract their narrative with the truth.
Of course, firsthand experience or a closer look at the history of the Second Amendment by any open-minded citizen can and should prompt an “aha” moment as they realize they’ve been duped by a propaganda machine targeting their most basic freedom—their right to live, to exist.
Criminals do prey on innocents. According to the 2021 National Firearms Survey, conducted under the supervision of Georgetown Assistant Professor William English, lawfully armed citizens use guns to defend themselves an estimated 1.67 million times annually—indeed, the survey found that “in most defensive incidents (81.9%) no shot was fired.”
These crimes, along with legislative attacks on this freedom, demonstrate to a lot of people every year how critical their Second Amendment-protected rights are.
But what can we specifically do to show people that the NRA is all about augmenting and defending a safe and responsible armed citizenry? How do we, for example, expose them to the NRA’s programs and shooting competitions, which are the gold standard for training individuals to use this freedom safely?
One answer is that we all need to show one person at a time. This isn’t always easy, but in my travels and conversations, I’ve found that these three basic steps help to open minds.
First, listen.
By listening to someone who thinks they’re opposed to this constitutional right or to someone who isn’t sure, you’re giving them a chance to invest themselves in the discussion. Begin by asking them what they think about gun ownership and the NRA and then ask them to explain why they feel however they do. Maybe they’ve bought into some of the mainstream media’s anti-gun rhetoric. Perhaps they are simply scared of guns. Or, quite likely, they don’t really know why they feel the way they do.
By letting them tell you as best they can, and by listening patiently as they do, you’ll find they are much less likely to tune you out when you speak.
Second, tell a true story.
Don’t just cite facts and don’t even try to refute whatever they said—making them feel ignorant or stupid won’t help you win their heart and mind.
Instead, show with words, videos on your phone and more what it is like to exercise this freedom. Tell them a lively story about a gun competition, about someone you took to the range or a Friends of NRA dinner. This humanizes gun owners and gun ownership, which is something that those who oppose our freedom avoid at all costs. Don’t go on and on, but let them know how empowering, welcoming and enjoyable the shooting sports, training and gun ownership are.
Third, invite them.
Again, don’t be pushy or make them uncomfortable, but instead put it in a way that is open-ended. Tell them, if they’re interested, that you’d be happy to teach them the basic rules of gun safety. Tell them about nrainstructors.org and explain how easy it is to find professional instruction thanks to the NRA. Tell them that, if and when they’re ready, you can take them to the range to plink with a .22 or to shoot clays. Let them know that it would be a happy and safe experience.
Next, hand them an NRA magazine or show them one or more of our websites. Take out your phone and show them nrawomen.com, for example, or click on some videos on NRA Media’s YouTube channel. Let them know it is not expensive to sign up at membership.nra.org and that being a member brings with it a great magazine and a lot more information and benefits.
Let them know that most law-enforcement officers support the NRA and our Second Amendment rights. The media often refuses to report on defensive gun uses by good armed citizens, but police officers are aware of them. They are also aware of all the NRA does today—and has done historically—to train and support our men and women in blue.
Often, these discussions don’t happen all at once. Trust is built as you run into a neighbor or another parent at a school game or whatever you are into, so let it come naturally. Just don’t be afraid to talk about this. This freedom is grown and safeguarded with each new person who decides to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
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