There is a group of gun owners even I am afraid of. It's the freaks that only see one side, theirs and every one else is wrong. They are militant about their "side" and have to force their beliefs down everyone's throats in such a way as to turn off people who may have been on the fence about the issue. An example of this is a person who blatantly ignores everything logical to assert their "correctness" to the point of being rude and obnoxious.
It is perfectly acceptable to have an opinion that fully automatic arms should be licensed. It is also perfectly acceptable to believe that the 2nd Amendment allows individuals to own fully automatic to be owned, without government interference. The issue is, when one side becomes "militant" in their efforts or with their voice. There is nothing wrong with a cool, logical debate but when tempers flare, nothing gets resolved and no ones valid points are noticed.
It's this militant-style that makes gun owners look poorly. Angry and hostile movements and words makes those not directly involved in the debate look at the debaters as redneck, ghetto, or worse, criminal. If you are in the middle of a Chicago anti-gun rally, carrying an AR-15 down the other side of the street and shooting off rounds into the air is probably not the most logical way to get your point across. Calming and rationally debating the anti's on some forum is a better method.
Gun control, the death penalty, abortion, politics, etc are fun and dangerous topics to debate, but when hot heads take over, no one is winning and no desirable outcome will ever be achieved. Be rational, be firm, provide facts and back up your answers. Win through deliberate, calm mannerisms, not emotional outbursts.
