State Senator Jim Tomes
Many a battles have been lost in the “war of words.” This would be particularly relevant to the debates over gun rights and gun control. The individuals and organizations of people who strive to restrict gun ownership and perhaps eventually the confiscation of guns from the lawful general public along with repeal of that pesky item called the Second Amendment have understood how to use words and phrases that snare pro Second Amendment supporters into parroting those same terms.
Some examples are; keeping guns from falling into the wrong hands. When I hear this kind of description from a liberal, I must make them explain that term. It’s a foolish term, but it plants perhaps a subliminal imagine in some minds, especially the unsuspecting. When that term is used I expect an explanation of where are these guns falling from, the sky, out of a window? If the expression would let’s say, keeping a person that would be prohibited from owning a gun from having one would make sense. That comment clearly points to the person as the object of concern instead of the inanimate gun as the threat.
Here’s one that always makes me chuckle; “getting guns off the street.” Seriously? I drove commercial trucks for over 33 years. I’ve driven on city streets, country roads and highways and in all those years I’ve never seen a gun on any street. If I had I’m sure I would have pulled over and picked it up. I don’t even recall seeing one on a sidewalk waiting to cross a street. Now if the comment were; “getting criminals with guns off the street” then I’m willing to engage in discussion on the matter, because that directs the conversation to the human factor which is the issue and not a piece of machined metal.
The other day I was reading an article written by a very strong supporter of gun rights, but in his article he was pointing out how seldom a semi automatic rifle is used in a crime and unwittingly stated that these types of rifles are responsible for less than 500 deaths a year. You can see how that is poorly stated. It conveys a human trait, responsibility, to a gun. A firearm can no more be “responsible” than a boxed end wrench can be responsible for twisting off a rusted bolt.
The point I’m trying to make is not to let the opposition set the terms and semantics for discussion. Words and phrases can paint a picture in the mind, especially an impressionable mind. Carefully crafted slogans and comments can completely put a person in a debate at a disadvantage very quickly by redirecting the focus of discussion to a subject other than what the debate is truly about.
Even the term “gun control” is ridiculous. I’m willing to discuss crime control with anyone because that is a legitimate topic that can lead to positive solutions. Gun control on the other hand is a subject matter for the firing range or a hunting field. Surely any reasonable mind can see the distinction between two completely different talking points. In the daily reports of crimes in communities across the country, those who are keen to how words are manipulated and expressions notice how only those crimes where a firearm is misused the attention is brought to the gun sometimes even to the point of using emphasis to stress attention.
Terms referring to firearm accessories such as magazines that are “high capacity” to insinuate there is some evilness to a particular piece of a stamped metal box is another example. I’ve had countless news reporters; TV, radio and press ask why anyone needs such an item. They speak as though anything above 10 rounds is a national threat. My response to them is, “you speak as though if you were to wake up in bed at 2 O’clock in the morning with an intruder standing over you with a gun barrel stuck between your eyes and you notice the gun only has a 10 round magazine, you have a sigh of relief that it’s not going to be such a bad day after all. The invader has only 10 rounds instead of twenty.
Keep your eye on the point. Don’t let opponents derail the conversation to their advantage with nonsensical statements. Words are important and they can imprint in the mind an image that can potentially be permanent.
