Citizenship 101 ~or~ Trying to Awaken/Convert A Non-Shooter

In my ongoing attempts to gently nudge one of the girls here at work (Front Office Lady) into awareness and safety, we sometimes have back-and-forth instant message exchanges. Below is the one we had this morning. I think this is a pretty good example of a GOOD way to get somebody to think about protecting themselves. More notes after the jump. Read the whole thing, it's long but it reads fast.

(09:01:03) VFD: http://therealgunguys.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/myfirstcavitysearchmb9.jpg
(09:06:20) FOL: I don't get it
(09:06:48) VFD: It's pointing out the absurd nature of the airport decorations known as "security checkpoints"
(09:07:05) FOL: ahhh...are they really that extreme??
(09:10:52) VFD: Babies' diapers have been checked
(09:10:56) VFD: old ladies in wheelchairs
(09:11:11) VFD: they recommend going in sandals so you can slip your shoes off for faster examination
(09:11:28) VFD: ...all because they won't use racial profiling
(09:11:33) FOL: wow. well that's just lovely
(09:11:38) VFD: and ineffective
(09:11:52) FOL: I'd be pissed if they wanted to check my sons diaper. do they do that infront of people?
(09:11:57) VFD: standby
(09:14:15) VFD: here's an extra special one for the ladeeees http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/2009/05/tsa-pt-ii.html
(09:15:48) FOL: what the hell
(09:15:50) FOL: lol
(09:19:19) VFD: http://hotair.com/archives/2008/03/28/tsa-nipple-rings-a-terrorist-risk/
(09:20:24) VFD: aaaaaaand this is what I was looking for the last couple minutes. ..
(09:20:47) VFD: It's all A SCAM for SHOW to make people FEEL safe. Actual safety, not so much. http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/2009/05/tsa-pt-iii.html
(09:22:04) VFD: not an isolated incident: http://consumerist.com/consumer/security-theater/tsa-confiscates-pudding-misses-knife-292662.php
(09:24:56) FOL: he got past them?
(09:25:15) VFD: the last 2 are people who passed with pocket knives.
(09:25:38) VFD: every once in a while I hear a report of tests that slip through guns, grenades, bombs, etc. Nobody gets fired
(09:26:19) FOL: what the hell
(09:26:23) FOL: how does that get passed em?
(09:26:37) VFD: because it's all for SHOW I tell you.
(09:26:55) VFD: anyone who knows about security shakes his head @ airport screening.
(09:27:11) VFD: well, all the petty tyrants have to work somewhere right?
(09:27:36) FOL: yes, I guess so
(09:27:45) VFD: That sort of shenanigans is the reason I haven't flown since 1999. I refuse to be insulted and PAY for the privilege.
(09:28:41) FOL: makes perfect sense to me
(09:28:58) VFD: what, not flying?
(09:29:13) VFD: oh and by the way http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077800/Airport-admits-strip-search-body-scanners-WILL-people-naked.html
(09:30:03) FOL: not wanting to fly
(09:30:16) FOL: WHAT???
(09:30:25) FOL: that can't be real
(09:30:30) VFD: Ho-hum, it's for your safety.
(09:30:38) VFD: after all the innocent have nothing to fear right?
(09:30:48) VFD: you aren't against SAFETY are you?
(09:30:52) VFD: are you a terrorist?
(09:31:13) VFD: step into this room over here and we'll have this clipped-hair butch woman search your body cavities to be sure you're SAFE
(09:31:18) FOL: LOL
(09:31:18) FOL: no
(09:31:19) FOL: and no
(09:31:24) VFD: "not just no"
(09:31:27) VFD: ...
(09:31:36) VFD: aaaaaand then you get arrested and miss your flight
(09:31:48) VFD: check your personal dignity at the entryway please.
(09:31:59) FOL: lo
(09:32:02) FOL: your crazy
(09:32:04) FOL: funny
(09:32:11) VFD: and be sure to disarm so a genuine terrorist can go ahead and kill you with the gun HE snuck on the plane.
(09:32:35) VFD: It'd be funny if it were a movei. It's not.
(09:33:04) VFD: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snark
(09:35:08) FOL: where in the world do you find all this stuff
(09:35:17) FOL: I mean obviously the internet
(09:36:00) VFD: I pay attention to the world as it spirals into hell around me, and then remember what happened. Check the date on that Daily Mail article.
(09:36:53) VFD: note: the tendency of the political left to forget the lessons of history is the reason they are going through an ignorant attempt to repeat it.
(09:37:39) VFD: for a 'liberal' history begins this morning. You have to *remember* to be a conservative. If you don't remember what it was that is being destroyed, why would you protest?
(09:39:24) VFD: it's simple enough to go through life without paying attention, but then you get arrested for not wanting some lesbian to feel you up at the airport, and wonder what the hell happened to your liberty.
(09:42:40) FOL: I should pay closer attention.
(09:42:52) FOL: I know things are not good
(09:44:12) VFD: Have you ever heard of Colonel Cooper's color code?
(09:44:27) FOL: nope
(09:45:40) VFD: Read this on a break. Note that it helps with everything in life, most notably driving in traffic. http://votefordavid.blogspot.com/2009/04/colonel-cooper-on-color-code.html
(09:46:27) FOL: vote for david? is it your blog?
(09:46:34) VFD: is
(09:46:40) FOL: neat
(09:46:43) VFD: but not my color code
(09:46:46) FOL: so you wrote this?
(09:46:47) FOL: oh ok
(09:47:03) VFD: I commented on something somebody wrote (who knew what he was talking about)
(09:47:13) FOL: lol
(09:47:21) FOL: you are too funny
(09:48:11) VFD: ;)
(09:58:10) FOL: I don't want to be code white and end up on stretcher
(09:58:18) VFD: me neither.
(09:58:50) VFD: problem with paying attention is you see how ugly things *can* get, and end up packing a pistol everywhere . . . and pistols ain't free.
(09:59:39) VFD: I do offer a free personalized course of firearms instruction if you and/or your man are interested.
(10:03:32) FOL: lol
(10:03:41) FOL: im sure [name redacted] would love that
(10:03:42) FOL: but me
(10:03:52) FOL: I don't know that id feel comfortable caring a gun with my son
(10:04:08) VFD: Would you feel more comfortable having him watch you get raped?
(10:04:42) FOL: no
(10:04:43) VFD: see what I mean about paying attention?
(10:04:59) VFD: not as pleasant to think as to not think
(10:05:02) FOL: who would do that ? a terrorist or one of our people?
(10:05:26) VFD: Bad People are everywhere FOL. Even in sleepy little Leander.
(10:05:37) VFD: More of them in east austin
(10:05:59) VFD: I'm not a big fan of being afraid of every stranger.
(10:06:28) VFD: Like the man said: "Why the hell should I be scared? I've got a gun!"
(10:06:43) VFD: (that'd be, with training to know you could use it if required)
(10:07:30) VFD: Something to rattle around in your head: Reds has Ladies Day on mondays, free gun rental, I think a discount on range fees, just have to buy ammunition
(10:07:37) VFD: they rent all sorts of guns
(10:07:56) VFD: even little bitty not-scary-to-shoot ones
(10:33:57) FOL: lol. east austin. yes, that's not hard to belevie at all
(10:34:21) FOL: so you can only use it if your attacked basically?
(10:38:11) VFD: Why else would you even take it out?
(10:38:21) VFD: (aside from the fact that shooting is a lot of fun)
(10:38:58) VFD: fun fact: over 2,000,000 times per year in the USA, somebody shows they have a gun and that's enough to end a conflict, no shooting required.
(10:42:13) FOL: why wouldn't I take it out? if it's a person who wants to rape you, id rather take out the gun and shoot his foot at least
(10:42:21) FOL: or something else more painful
(10:42:26) VFD: I'm saying, why take it out unless there's a threat?
(10:42:33) FOL: yea of course
(10:42:47) FOL: im pretty sure I wouldn't even be able to shoot the gun unless I knew I had to
(10:42:54) VFD: training required.
(10:43:06) FOL: if someone laid a finger on my son, I wouldn't have second thoughts though
(10:43:08) VFD: every shot, you have to account for.
(10:43:10) FOL: I would defintely need training
(10:43:28) VFD: mental training is also required and the Color Code is a good portion of it
(10:43:54) FOL: where is Reds?
(10:44:03) VFD: LOL 1 mile from my house!
(10:44:08) FOL: do the itty bitty guns do anything??
(10:44:12) FOL: where's your house?
(10:44:14) VFD: if you're REALLY good
(10:44:16) VFD: holdon
(10:44:24) FOL: k
(10:44:28) VFD: http://www.redsguns.com/
(10:45:28) FOL: pville!
(10:45:29) VFD: If you want to pay for instruction I think they offer it. Review from a woman: http://www.yelp.com/biz/reds-indoor-range-north-pflugerville
(10:45:31) VFD: si
(10:45:48) FOL: im not 21 yet!
(10:45:51) FOL: I can't shoot a gun??
(10:45:55) VFD: there is also one down south 290/mopac
(10:45:57) VFD: of course
(10:46:10) VFD: I had a 12 year old shooting one of my rifles a couple months ago
(10:46:21) VFD: You can buy a long gun at 18, handgun at 21
(10:46:23) FOL: it says you must be 21 to rent a ....
(10:46:24) FOL: ohhh
(10:46:26) FOL: handgun
(10:46:31) FOL: I want the handgun
(10:46:42) FOL: what's the kind of gun that will blow your entire head off?
(10:46:44) FOL: a shotgun?
(10:46:50) VFD: I can very likely borrow one that's beginner friendly on short notice
(10:46:59) VFD: shotgun would do it.
(10:47:15) FOL: my friend blew his head off with that
(10:47:19) VFD: rifle or high power pistol shot to a strong bone point would be pretty ugly too
(10:47:20) FOL: they are the long ones too right?
(10:47:30) VFD: we need to talk!
(10:47:36) FOL: why?
(10:47:45) VFD: long ones shoot anything from the weakest to the most powerful cartridges
(10:47:49) VFD: it's faster in person
(10:47:54) VFD: talking
(10:48:21) FOL: yea true
(10:49:16) VFD: One of my boys has a revolver that is easy to use and doesn't kick much, no rental required, just need to see if he and/or it are available. He did let me borrow it for training a class of novices before.
(10:49:46) FOL: novices?
(10:50:07) VFD: =http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/novice
(10:51:06) VFD: I had a class w/ 3 new shooters this last April. http://votefordavid.blogspot.com/2009/04/schutzenfest-2009-great-success-on.html
(10:56:21) FOL: so your website/blog is votefordavid.blogspot.com
(10:56:26) FOL: is that your own website or just a blog?
(10:56:50) VFD: blogger.com lets you start your own, and it ends up with a yournamehere.blogspot.com address. Free.
(10:59:57) FOL: that's neat
(11:00:31) VFD: I think so.
(11:00:48) VFD: I don't know how they make money at it but whatever works I guess

Note that this is an IM conversation at work. It's about 10 minutes of talking, spread out over a couple of hours in between being productive.

The overall tenor of this conversation when it started was discussing impersonally how the govermnent is not exactly looking out for her. She got hooked in and then I made it more directly applicable. Then it drifted naturally to guns. She was still engaged and thinking and I am pretty sure it was an acceptably-intense slap in the face right at 10:04:08. Note how long it took her to respond compared to how quickly the conversation was going back/forth before that question. Then the conversation went quickly back to non-threatening and ended up downright generic.

Go with the flow. React to what you think the other party is thinking, and their attitudes about it. DO NOT jam your views on guns down a neophyte's throat, especially a young woman. It can backfire big time and get them turned off of the whole idea of being a gun owner for YEARS. You don't want something Very Bad to happen to them because YOU turned them off of the thing they could have used to defend themselves. Gently, gently, gently. Also, know your audience. Some of this stuff I wouldn't have sent if I were talking to another one of the women here.