It’s Thanksgiving week already. With the pandemic still looming about, many families are altering plans, starting some new traditions or doing their best to keep their holidays as “normal” as possible. But one thing that’s likely still unchanged is the amount of stress and anxiety that can creep up when family members who may not agree on everything get together for extended periods of time. And many people spend a lot of time, effort and energy considering how to back out or bow out of unavoidable conversations or uncomfortable altercations.

The Anti-Gun Strategy

If you were not aware, Everytown for Gun Safety is gearing up to help the anti-gun crowd tackle those family discussions. Local and state Moms Demand Action chapters have been sending out emails and texts (in addition to advertising on social media and websites) about how to “Talk Turkey.” In fact, they give lessons. They claim that anyone can join their “gun-violence prevention advocates for an online conversation about how to ‘Talk Turkey’ — that is, how to have difficult conversations around the holiday dinner table (or wherever you are) without ruffling too many feathers. We will also teach you how to respond succinctly to standard gun-lobby talking points.”

I wonder how many members of the gun community are preparing for those same conversations? As I’ve stated in a previous blog post, we are the true gun-safety advocates. We are the ones who have an awesome opportunity to be good role models for the responsibly armed lifestyle.

The Pro-Gun Strategy

If those awkward discussions do come up during your family gatherings (or even the holiday Zoom meetings), you can revisit the tips that I provided last year. But I’ll give you a few more hints.

  • Don’t Get Overly Emotional: While the topic of firearms can certainly bring up a lot of different emotions, you won’t win any arguments with angry fists or bitter tears. Do your best to remain calm and in control.
  • Point to the Recent Happenings Around the U.S.: Over this last year, we’ve witnessed terrifying situations involving unruly, violent folks rioting, looting and injuring others. And because of this unrest, during the last eight months or so, we’ve added more than 6 million new gun owners to our community. More people have realized that they need to be responsible for their own safety and not be solely dependent on someone else for help. Others have recognized the significance of being able to protect themselves and their loved ones.
  • Listen: Listen for the sensationalized diction or the wording that places blame on guns or gun owners so you can dispel those myths or misnomers. Listen to the so-called statistics, and carefully consider the sources and look for errors or misinformation. And all in all, listen to the reasons … and try to find any place for agreement.
  • You Likely Won’t Change Any Minds: People aren’t going to give up their entire belief system over one piece of apple pecan pie, no matter how good that dessert may be. But they may open up their ears — and their hearts — a bit more because of the respect you show them, the methods you use to craft your reply, and the safe and responsible way you live your life. I can speak from personal experience … within our very own family! My husband and I have interacted with two relatives who are very outspoken in their politics and their beliefs, which rarely align with ours. And we have cautiously steered away from many heated debates that would have produced nothing but confusion and hurt. And yet, because these two family members have watched us and seen the way we conduct ourselves with safe firearms use, training and storage, these two anti-gun relatives have both approached us for advice and information about getting their own guns and starting their own training.

Hold the High Ground, and Relax!

Remember: Maintain the high ground regardless what debate you might get sucked into. You just never know how, where or when you may be sharing a message with others, even when you aren’t saying a word. So be prepared to eat turkey and maybe even talk turkey this week. But more so than that, be prepared to relax, rejuvenate and reminisce during this celebrated day of gratitude. And have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Consider these past blog posts for further reading: