Two of the most common “debate” tactics used by those on the anti-2A side of the debate are straw man arguments and false equivalencies.
Now, if you’re not familiar with a straw man argument, it’s where one side puts forth a false statement about what the other side’s position is and, then, proceeds to argue against that false representation of the argument. They aren’t arguing against their opponent’s actual position. They’re arguing against a straw man, typically one that they think that they can beat and, therefore, claim victory in the entire debate.
False equivalencies is a tactic that is sometimes used, too, and this is when one side of the argument says or implies that one thing is the same as another when that isn’t the case. Presenting a false equivalency distorts what the argument is actually about and misleads people.
Straw man arguments and false equivalencies aren’t always used together, but they often are, as in our story today.
A woman on social media, within a day of the Bend, Oregon school shooting (which you can find out more about here), went online to imply that the idea of a good guy with a gun is being presented as if it is the same as preventing a shooting, as if you can’t do both (there’s our false equivalency). She went on to, then, argue that we don’t need good guys with guns in spite of exactly that kind of person stopping the Bend, Oregon school shooting (yes, she addressed that shooting) because we need to prevent school shootings (there’s our straw man argument).
It’s absurd. And dangerous. Watch Colion Noir break it down and take it apart below.
Did you hear that insanity, that cognitive dissonance that is so loud but that she doesn’t realize that she is experiencing?
It’s extraordinary, her level of brainwashing to not even seem to be able to grasp that you can and should try to prevent school shootings from happening and also that you should have people in the world (on site, ideally) who can minimize the injury and death count when your preventative measures weren’t enough.
And preventative measures can always be overcome by someone who is determined enough.
That’s why we will always need good people with guns. They are nearly always the only thing that will stop an active shooter, whether the good person is a civilian with a firearm or an armed law enforcement officer.
So train to proficiency, train to maintain proficiency, and always be carrying because you may the person who saves someone’s life one day.