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Actually, this still needs a little work.

In any public conflictual issue, about 40% are on one side, 40% on the other, and the decision will be made by the remaining 20% of the swing/undecided voters.

A classic example of forgetting this was when Elian's relatives in Miami had the support of 99% of the Cubans in Miami, but directed their efforts at getting the remaining 1%. In doing that, they forgot that public pressure would come not just from South Florida, but from the entire 50 states. For example, they kept calling Elian "this Cuban boy."

If you live in Peoria, it's easy to send a Cuban boy back to Cuba. Had they referred to Elian as "the newest American" and had his picture taken in his new Cub Scout uniform, (along with other Americanizing activities) the rest of the country would have followed Miami's thought process.

In these answers above, we need to talk more about what is important to listeners, not just us. We need to convince them, not us.

FReepers are big on the 2d Amendment, but the public isn't. Certainly, it's a constitutional right, but so is the 5th, and most people think anyone who invokes it is a crook. People are not swayed by law quotes unless you can make them personally relevant.

Remember, concentrate on the needs, desires and feelings of the listeners! ... not your needs and feelings. Talk about criminals already having guns, and since they are already committed to a life of burglary, muggings, rape, robbery and murder, do you really think one more law is going to stop them?

Ask a typical anti-gun parent; "If you don't like guns to defend your own home, that's fine.... but imagine if you were the mother of Polly Klass or Elizabeth Smart, and some kidnapper/rapist/murderer was breaking into your home to take your daughter, and you knew I lived next door and had a gun for defense, and the police were 20 minutes away as they always are... and you called me for help, would you want me to say, "Mary, I'd love to come running over and stop this rapist from taking your daughter, but since you voted to take away my rifle, I have nothing to help you with??????"

That's life in the real world, Mary. Do either of us ever think that would happen?

No.

But could you ever forgive yourself if it did?"

Remember, we convince the otherside when me make the price of retaining their beliefs higher than the cost of accepting ours. Let that mother above continue to hate guns, as long as she will not vote to take them away, because, since your argument, she sees the danger of losing her daughter as a worse danger than having a gun in the hands of one of her neighboors.

when WE make

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE

a. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

b. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.

c. Colt: The original point and click interface.

d. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.

e. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?

f. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.

g. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.

h. If you don't know your rights you don't have any.

i. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.

k. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?

l. The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.

m. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

n. Guns only have two enemies: rust and liberals.

o. Know guns, know peace and safety. No guns, no peace nor safety.

p. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

q. 911 - government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.

r. Assault is a behavior, not a device.

s. Criminals love gun control - it makes their jobs safer.

t. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.

u. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.

v. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.

w. Enforce the "gun control laws" we have, don't make more.

x. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.

y. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

z. A government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Remember, concentrate on the needs, desires and feelings of the listeners! ... not your needs and feelings. Talk about criminals already having guns, and since they are already committed to a life of burglary, muggings, rape, robbery and murder, do you really think one more law is going to stop them?

Know Guns, No Criminals.
No Guns, Know Criminals.