Have you ever tried reasoning with someone who blames murder for a lack of gun control?

Sgt Joe LaBranche — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 23:48:50 -0400

Two women were talking about yesterday's mass murder in Orlando at a table next to me. Both argued that we need to take all guns out of society. I tried minding my own business, but when one woman said, "especially all these mentally ill veterans," and I'm sitting there with my Vietnam hat, with Marine pin on it, I felt she was directing the comment at me.

I politely ask why they thought gun control would have prevented the attack and why they thought veterans were mentally ill. I asked if they thought gun control would reduce crime and prevent attacks like yesterday's from happening? I was quickly told that my question was stupid and that veterans are known to have ptsd.

When I informed them that countries with the highest murder rate had strick gun control laws and that PTS is not a mental illness or a disorder all they could say was, "mind your own business before they called the manager"

An elderly lady walked over and told the two women that her husband served in WWII and that veterans fought so they could have freedom to express their opinions. One of the two women said, we weren't talking about WWII veterans, but you know what they say about those Vietnam veterans."

All I wanted to do was explain to them that the real issue wasn't being addressed, but I never got that far.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 13 at 2016 11:49 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 23:49:47 -0400

Sgt Joe LaBranche great read and share. Very informative.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2016 12:15 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:15:01 -0400

Sgt Joe LaBranche I am cautious around civilians because of what I experienced in the years after I returned from Vietnam. Brother, I know how you feel!

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Jun 14 at 2016 12:16 AM

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:16:48 -0400

Sgt Joe LaBranche there is no cure for congenital stupidity. I am glad they didn't call the cops claiming you were menacing them. The Polish have a great saying that I try to adopt: not my circus (delusional conversation), not my monkeys (chattering about the price of bananas). Their opinions are worthless...like mine!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jun 14 at 2016 12:20 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:20:19 -0400

"Have you ever tried reasoning with someone who blames murder for a lack of gun control?"

LOL, I assume you have been following the Orlando threads? If so your question is answered.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 14 at 2016 12:26 AM

SSG Pete Fleming — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:26:28 -0400

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Jun 14 at 2016 12:51 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:51:39 -0400

You can't reason with the stupid.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Jun 14 at 2016 1:06 AM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 01:06:09 -0400

You can't teach the willingly ignorant.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jun 14 at 2016 2:28 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 02:28:29 -0400

You just can't argue with stupid and people's preconceived notions.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Jun 14 at 2016 5:01 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 05:01:26 -0400

Argh!

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Jun 14 at 2016 8:36 AM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 08:36:02 -0400

I've hit the point where I'm tired of the gun argument. So I started saying fine, you know what? Take the guns. All good. But ban religion while you're at it, too, because that definitely can't be trusted in the hands of the public for all the suffering that it has been used to justify.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2016 10:03 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:03:50 -0400

Honestly, the whole thing boils down to how they were raised in my opinion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2016 10:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:16:23 -0400

One thing that I have noticed with the generations of today, is that ignorance is becoming a lifestyle. It is sad to see a nation that was built on blood, sweat and sacrifice be so easily turned into a nation run by fear and stupidity. These people have no sense of fighting for what they believe in, they would rather debate and complain because they feel like that will change the world. Only the select few know what it really takes to top people who would try to interrupt the freedoms we enjoy. Thank you for your service sir! Although most people do not know the sacrifice it takes, they will be thankful when we continue to stand up and fight for what this country is all about!

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 14 at 2016 10:19 AM

SGT William Howell — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:19:44 -0400

Sgt Joe LaBranche It is like teaching a pig it sing. You can work on it all day, the pig is still not going to sing and you are just going to irritate the pig.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jun 14 at 2016 10:22 AM

Capt Michael Greene — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:22:13 -0400

I know what you mean. Months ago, I sat next to a couple of guys who were actually totally convinced that Jade Helm was the "Muslim socialist's" invasion to take over Texas, take their guns, and open the border for ISIS and UN soldiers to pour in.

I couldn't help it. I laughed loudly while overhearing their conversation. Then I thought I better leave instead of engaging them.

Response by CPO Frank Coluccio made Jun 14 at 2016 11:20 AM

CPO Frank Coluccio — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 11:20:33 -0400

Cover of "Gun Control for Dummies"

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 14 at 2016 12:14 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:14:22 -0400

That unfortunately is the biggest truth to the debate. People have already made up their minds even before talks begin so no matter which side you sit on, it never ends well. Now personally, I can't understand the other side's argument because I personally believe it's built upon a fantasy. We've seen too many instances where violent crime sprees have been perpetuated with objects other than a firearm. Yet the argument always revolves around guns. We create these "magical" safe spaces known as gun-free zones and again it does nothing to stop gun violence.

It's truly a shame we live in a society where we have endless access to information, but we can't utilize common sense.

And yes, I did try having a reasonable discussion once and it resulted in me being called a baby killer by a close friend. No I have never killed any babies.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 14 at 2016 1:03 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:03:18 -0400

I can appreciate where their opinion comes from. What I can't stand though is the willful ignorance of gun knowledge on their part. By all means, lets have a frank, educated conversation about gun control, but please educate yourself about guns first.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jun 14 at 2016 1:04 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:04:24 -0400

Sgt Joe LaBranche Sounds to me like they must have been in the shallow end of the gene pool just a little too long. I was explaining this to my brother's youngest daughter (she's a shrink) why many vets don't want to get help for ptsd or get the label.
These kind of people you can't reason with, they're like horses with blinders, probably voting for Killary Rotten Clinton.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jun 14 at 2016 5:38 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:38:32 -0400

I find it very hard to put rational arguments to irrational people and by the way SGT Joe LaBranche do you realize that these two women probably watch The View every day,that my friend is the ultimate lesson in just plain crazy,talk about empty suits these people have empty heads,I know I've said it before Joe,Welcome Home!

Response by MSG John Wirts made Jun 14 at 2016 11:57 PM

MSG John Wirts — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 23:57:30 -0400

How to cure gun control nuts!

I see Doctors being required to report depression, PTSD, and other "Mental Illnesses" to police to enable gun confiscation! I see police checking death certificates and going to the deceased home to confiscate all firearms, the family is neither allowed to sell them or will them to other qualified family members! Where in the US is crime the highest? Washington DC, still vainly trying to keep unconstitutional anti gun laws, New York, Chicago, all with strict anti gun laws! When cities like Detroit which had high crime relaxed their strict gun control laws crime went DOWN! So Lets propose a LAW with no provision for exemption for any elected officials, appointed bureaucrats, union officials or business owners. Any one who introduces, co-sponsors, supports, or finances any “gun control legislation”, should immediately lose all right to own, or carry any firearm, all CCW permit(s) they have should be revoked. They also should be prohibited from hiring or being assigned any armed security, this would include the Secret service, and Congressional Police, these organizations should be disbanded, and their members reassigned to other law enforcement agencies. Any anti-gunner from the President on down, politicians, elected officials, bureaucrats, jurists, lame stream media propagandists, public indoctrination system employees. All media who support gun control, should Be prohibited from profiting from any media using guns for entertainment, no videos or video games glorifying the use of gun violence should be allowed. Anyone who insists on banning the carry of guns in any community, county, state, the U.S., or business establishing “Gun Free Zones' criminals refer to them as “Target Rich Environments' should be culpable for any death or injury incurred to those unable to legally defend themselves because of these draconian laws. Whoever is responsible for instituting that law, ordinance, regulation,or policy, shall be held criminally, and civilly accountable for any harm to anyone because of these restrictions. The perpetrators of such laws, ordinances, regulations, or policies shall be held responsible to defend all disarmed persons, failure to protect the disarmed citizen or allow citizens to arm and protect themselves, should be as subject to prosecution as the perpetrator for criminal and civil charges with the same mandatory prison time and civil compensation required of those convicted criminals and tyrants.

Response by MSgt Richard Rountree made Jun 15 at 2016 4:42 AM

MSgt Richard Rountree — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 04:42:16 -0400

What I dislike most about many so-called 'liberals' is their penchant for name calling and avoiding/changing the subject once they are challenged with sound logic and irrefutable facts. What I find fun is challenging my 'liberal' friends, who are willing to listen, with why I think they are wrong...especially when it's obvious they're just parroting so-called 'talking points' from the mass media puppets or their union bosses. For the ones that refuse to engage in polite discourse over differences in opinion, I simply ignore them...I don't have enough free time to argue with idiots or ideologues.

Response by SSG Andres Guarnizo made Jun 16 at 2016 11:30 PM

SSG Andres Guarnizo — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 23:30:22 -0400

"Stupid is as stupid does"

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 1:27 AM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 01:27:57 -0400

You can't reason with the illogical, Sgt..

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 24 at 2016 2:16 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:16:14 -0400

You cannot reason with emotionally held positions.

Response by SFC Charles Temm made Jun 24 at 2016 3:56 PM

SFC Charles Temm — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 15:56:12 -0400

I learned a long time ago that such people live in cloud cuckoo land. They want to be protected and don't care who does it or how it's done as long as they feel safe.

They are just like the people who don't want to hurt animals so they buy their meat at a store b/c no animals were harmed for THAT meat. Reality is too ugly for such snowflakes