How do you have a conversation with those who want to take your guns? As polarized as this country has become on the Second Amendment, that’s always a heated conversation. There is only one way for us as gun owners to have a chance, and that is to be like Mike Mihalski of Sons Of Liberty Gun Works.
Not only is Mike one of the owners of SOLGW, but he also is one of the more outspoken 2A advocates.
What makes Mike different from most talking heads is that he isn’t afraid to have a conversation with someone with anti-gun views. Mike also can respectfully deliver factual information that is infinitely more effective than screeching “nO cOmPrOmIsE” or the ever-popular “fRoM mY cOlD dEaD hAnDs!” at every opportunity.
Education of those with emotionally charged viewpoints who want to stifle the rights of Americans is the only way that we as gun owners are going to change any minds.
Personally, I believe that all gun laws are infringements and will happily put in the work to ensure that no new restrictions are put on the books. Hell, if supporters of the Second Amendment are able to get some of the overreaching laws off the books, even better.
TLDR: Don’t be a jerk. Don’t spew rote rhetoric. Do use facts. Do educate. Do show up to meetings and town halls. Be respectful.
How Can You Be Like Mike?
Mike showed us exactly how gun owners should conduct themselves during San Antonio city councilman Manny Palaez’s Town Hall on gun violence and mass shootings this week (click here to view the event). He was respectful, well-spoken, and loaded with fact-based opinion. His passion drew hundreds of 2A supporters to the town hall meeting, so many that the organizers of the meeting had to turn away more than 70 people due to the room reaching capacity. There were so many in support of gun rights that officials eventually closed Phil Hardberger Park because it was becoming so crowded.
Why is the turnout so important? Because the previous meeting only had 30 attendees, 2A supporters were outnumbered 5 to 1. This town hall was a different story, 2A supporters outnumbered the anti-gunners 10 to 1! Want to be like Mike? Start taking an interest in the conversation and make time to be at these meetings.
No one ever won an argument with rhetoric. The only way we as gun owners have a chance is to engage in those conversations in a respectful manner and show those of opposing viewpoints actual data in an effort to educate.
Mike walked into the meeting with armed with facts and reason. Each time he was called on, his data-driven point of view was respectfully delivered. Mike even suggested a common-sense measure — prosecute those who lie on a form 4473.
While the 4473 and the accompanying background check is an infringement, it’s the law and the system we are forced to comply with. If the left must do something, why can’t that something be enforcing an existing law rather than enacting a new one?
For every one pro-2A phone call to lawmakers, we should assume there is at least one emotionally-driven person out there who is intent on taking your right to own [insert scary firearm type here] who is also calling.
Be respectful, show up to the meetings, keep the conversation honest on both sides, come prepared with facts, and most of all … be fricking respectful.
Things That Don’t Help The Pro-2A Argument
I already mentioned some of the typical responses from those who aren’t willing to educate their fellow Americans on the ineffectiveness of new gun laws. If you’re one of those who smash your fingers on the keyboard banging comments like “No Compromise,” “Not one more inch,” “From my cold dead hands,” or some other variation, please stop.
Just because you have a conversation does not mean you have to change your position. It just means you had the chance to deliver some facts to a gun-grabber.
We all know the Second Amendment isn’t something that you or I am willing to compromise on, but those responses strengthen the desire of anti-gunners to hold their ground.
The same should be said about chest-beating about the Boogaloo or civil war. Talking about the Big Igloo can be a fun topic among friends, but when you start inserting impending civil unrest into a conversation, those who have a contrasting viewpoint are inevitably going to want to take your Boogaloo loadout from you. If you don’t have the tools, you can’t do the thing you’re thinking of.
Just because you don’t use one-line propaganda or talk of civil unrest to show your commitment to protecting the Second Amendment doesn’t mean that you’re any less a patriot. It doesn’t mean that you can’t be willing to fight for your rights any way that’s needed. It just means that you’re taking a smart approach to addressing a differing viewpoint.
What is Son’s Of Liberty Gun Works?
If you aren’t familiar with Mike or his company, here’s the short version. After taking a class from the late William Larson of Semper Paratus Arms an idea was born. Son’s Of Liberty would target the professional-grade rifle buyer like defense-minded citizens and law enforcement. Their aim would be to offer hard-use rifles that allowed the end-user to tailor the build to their needs instead of spending money replacing parts after buying a rifle.
All too often we see 2A supporters calling for boycotts because a giant company did something or a poorly informed CEO said something that gun owners disliked or is perceived as anti-gun. I vote with my wallet a different way. Instead of barely registering as a nuisance and withholding my funds, I decided to spend my money with companies that go out of their way to stand up for the rights that I believe in.
Sadly there are a lot of fair-weather patriots who hide among those who are truly dedicated to ensuring the Second Amendment is as respected as the Founding Fathers intended which makes our ranks appear much larger than they truly are.
There’s a reason that my next rifle will be a SOLGW Liberty series rifle. Support those those who are out there supporting us.
About the Author
Patrick primarily focuses his range time on sharpening his pistol shooting skill but effectively using precision rifles and carbines are also skills he works on polishing as best he can. When he isn’t writing, spending far too much time on the range, maintaining his website, or filming a video he spends his time with his wife, son, and his dog.
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