We’ve all been there. We try to commit to memory some basic facts about guns in our society to keep at our fingertips should the need arise. We want to be ready if we find ourselves challenged by someone who can’t understand why anyone needs a gun.
For instance, there’s the fact that your child is more likely to be struck by lightning that the victim of a school shooting.
There’s the fact that, contrary to media-hyped hysteria, we’re not experiencing an “epidemic of gun violence” in this country. In fact, America is at a historic low in the rate of both violent crime and crimes involving firearms.
There’s the fact that in a nation of more than 350 million firearms (probably a LOT more) owned by 100 million people, you’re about seven times more likely to be killed by your doctor than you are a gun.
And then there’s one of our favorites: the number of defensive gun uses. According to the CDC, Americans use guns in defensive situation somewhere between 500,000 and 2.5 million times a year, depending on who’s doing the counting. That’s hundreds of thousands — maybe millions — of robberies, burglaries, assaults, rapes and murders prevented with the use of a firearm (most often without pulling a trigger).
But there are some people for whom rational argument is a waste of time.
There are far better ways to protect your family than a gun. Get a life insurance policy. https://t.co/sKtXngJft0
— Gabrielle Blair (@designmom) November 24, 2019
The mind boggles at how a sentient human can associate the utility of life insurance with personal defense. We were unfamiliar with Ms. Blair, but according to her Twitter profile,
My blog has the most thoughtful parenting convos on the web. NYT bestselling author. Founder of @AltSummit. Mother of 6. I use Twitter to amplify voices I love.
There were, of course, plenty of pithy comebacks.
🎵When an armed intruder threatens your life, State Farm is there! 🎶
Hey, at least you had life insurance. Rest in peace!
— Aldous Huxley’s Ghost™ (@AF632) November 25, 2019
You do know you have to die before the policy pays off, right? I’d prefer to avoid that.
— Carl “Bear” Bussjaeger (@BearBussjaeger) November 26, 2019
People like you are the reason the “bell curve” exists. Get out. Live in the great, grand wild of *anyplace* try to save your family w/an insurance policy & see what happens.
I saved myself and my 2 yr old w/a gun, 30 yrs ago. An insurance policy would’ve been a death sentence.— TheGirlWithTheSaintsTattoo (@ThatOtherGirl19) November 26, 2019
While the responses were definitely entertaining, there comes a time when you have to realize that you’re wasting your breath (or electrons) and probably raising your blood pressure to no avail.
So as we prepare to gather with friends and family this weekend, keep the above in mind. If you find yourself in one of those debates with someone like Gabrielle Blair — someone for whom rational thought is just an unattainable ideal — take a deep breath, cut your losses, change the subject, go make yourself a drink, or go outside and throw a football around with the kids.
Do something that you’ll actually enjoy and that has the potential of producing an tangible, positive result.
Happy Thanksgiving.