Evolution of an Argument with a GunLoon (Part IV)
At any point or phase in your argument with a GunLoon, you will be subject to what the GunLoon considers the Holy Grail: the anecdote.
The anecdote represents — to the GunLoon–the highest form of evidence possible. Because someone’s brother-in-law’s friend who had a coworker that knew this fellow who had heard about some gunowner who defended his home against a hundred illegal aliens bent on stealing his collection of Monster Truck videos, using a gun….well, that just the end of the argument.
Of course, the converse doesn’t apply if it involves a firearm accident or incident where a gun was used to harrass or intimidate someone. You see, that just an anecdote.
Plenty of GunLoon anecdotes are just products of feverish imaginations. Some anecdotes may be exaggerated. And, a couple of anecdotes may well be true. But, in the end, anecdotes are just that–anecdotes. They aren’t evidence or proof of some greater truth. And, in fact, anecdotes quite often impart a lesson quite the opposite of what the GunLoon may intend.
Example: Commenter Jay:
I have had a gun pointed at me. When I was in middle school, I was approached after school by a kid who had a problem with me, and had targeted me often for his bullying. I was sitting against a wall, and he walked up to me and placed a revolver to my temple. Realizing that the outcome of this event was either my death, or him walking away laughing as my terror, I told him to get it over with already, to shoot me if that’s what he wanted to do. He had me dead to rights, so there wasn’t much I could have done anyway. I chose to accept the possiblity that those were my last words. He pulled the trigger. Luckily, the round failed to fire. So yes, Jade - I’ve had a gun pointed at me, and I’ve been fired at. I can also say that had I been in possession of a weapon - a knife, a rock, a gun, anything I could have brought it to bear before he pulled the trigger. I may not have killed him, or even been able to score a direct hit - but it would have been better than sitting there wondering if I’d feel it when the bullet shattered my head.
This is a creative and well-written anecdote. Is it true?
Personally, I doubt it for reasons I’ll explain later. So, let’s assume the anecdote is true. What is the lesson Jay hopes to impart? That kids who are 11, 12, or 13 should be packing heat?
It is indeed true, Jade. Whether or not you believe it, I could care less.
….
And no, the lesson is not that kids who are 11,12,or 13 should be “packing heat”. The lesson is that having the means to defend yourself from an armed attacker is better than being forced to just sit there and take it, and wonder if today will be the last day that you get to draw breath. The lesson is, that when confronted by a violent attacker, individuals should have the right and ability to meet that attacker with an equal amount of force. Being armed, whether it be with a gun, knife, club or sharp stick, allows for that individual to more closely match the ability given to the attacker by his/her own weapon.
…
That being said, this is the last comment I’ll be leaving on your blog. It’s been fun, but given the lack of civilized discussion and overwhelming amount of childish name-calling and pointless insults, it’s no longer worth my time.
Comment by Jay — December 13, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Here’s why it isn’t true.
First, if a middle school pulls a gun–or even something that sort of resembles a gun–it’s going to trigger a massive police and community response.
That didn’t happen.
Comment by Administrator — December 13, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
When anti-gunowner advocates hold a public rally, there are usually some speakers who tell how they or relatives were “touched by gun violence.” Oops — those are just “anecdotes” with no “evidence or proof of some greater truth.”
Now that this blog has set them straight, I’m sure that they will stop.
Comment by JayF — December 13, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
JayF: You seem to be confused by the difference between evidence and anecdote. As you note, a speaker at an anti-gun rally may indeed “tell how they or relatives were “touched by gun violence.””
…..
The difference, of course, is that they can prove it. Sadly, there is usually a dead body or a wounding that is verifiable. All GunLoon anecdotes involve a story that nobody can verify.
Comment by Administrator — December 13, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
They can prove it? Sometimes — but if you follow such things carefully, you find that some of their stories have turned out to be bogus.
And the ones that are true? Who said THIS:
“And, a couple of anecdotes may well be true. But, in the end, anecdotes are just that–anecdotes. They aren’t evidence or proof of some greater truth.”
Damned by your own words.
Comment by JayF — December 13, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
I’Ve got an anecdote for you:
It involves a church with 7000 innocent people, a deranged gunman and a woman called assam who stopped him.
How’s that for a verifyable anecdote?
Comment by Michael Hawkins — December 14, 2007 @ 6:54 am
And if only ALL the Jesis worshipers in the church had had a GUN, they could of shot him full of led as soon as they saw him pull his gun–and then a shootout could of hapened, and this is how Religious disputs gets SOLVED.
GO GUNS GO!
Comment by NRAfourever — December 15, 2007 @ 4:39 pm