A follow up to 10 Tips: How To Talk to Liberals About Guns

1. Don’t Be Pushy.

Debating gun politics is never smart while another mass shooting dominates the media. Rational discussions are rarely possible while emotions remain elevated and newsfeeds are awash in trauma. Heated arguments only make productive communication harder later on. There’s nothing wrong with walking away and saving serious conversations for later.

2. Remain Respectful.

This is always important but even more so when being disrespectful appears callous towards victims. Posturing and snarky comments may feel good in the moment but only solidifies opposition. Consider actually reading articles by anti-gun activists and becoming familiar with their perspectives. Many people have very sincere personal reasons for disliking firearms and should be empathized with, even if their solutions are shortsighted.

3. Smash the Narrative.

Most liberals are only familiar with stale right wing pro-gun arguments. Instead, learn about Ida B.Wells and Ossian Sweet. Read books by Akinyele Umoja and Carol Anderson. Explain how firearms should only be used for protecting communities and individuals when lives are in danger. Warn against the rising tide of violent fascism which increasingly puts marginalized communities at risk. Keep up on current events, like when BLM security in Portland used an AR-15 to stop a racist mass shooter . Remind them how recently they cheered Ukrainian civilians taking up arms against Russian invaders.

4. Abolish Cops.

This is a moment when police incompetence and lack of accountability shines on full display like never before. Demonstrate awareness of how racism affects the criminal justice system and cops in particular. From Ferguson to Uvalde, liberals are often highly receptive to law enforcement criticism and that’s an advantage toward helping them see value in community defense. We keep us safe.

5. The Second isn’t Sacred.

Derail any debate about the 2nd Amendment by pointing out it was the most intrusive gun control measure in American history. Like every other freedom in the Bill of Rights, it was intended for whites only and used as justification for mass gun confiscations and disarming Black militias. Learn about the Cruikshank supreme court case which maintained this interpretation well into the 20th century. The 2nd Amendment only holds meaning once occupied and reclaimed as a means to keep all our communities secure.