As a general rule, I find that the more vehement anti-gunners are people who will not change their minds. I find that when you argue with people like that, what you’re doing is really laying out arguments for all those people who aren’t part of the discussion. As author and gun enthusiast Larry Correia noted, arguing on the internet is a spectator sport. You’re just not going to change that person’s mind.

But sometimes, anti-gun voices do change their opinions. Writer H.A. Goodman notes that his personal revelation came from how it seems some animals are more equal than others.

After witnessing the union of the Democratic Party and former spy chiefs James Clapper, James Comey and John Brennan, I slowly realized my trust in the federal government had been naive. Of course, I’d never advocate an armed rebellion, but the fact 37 percent of American families own some type of firearm ensures that unelected officials think twice about the extent of their schemes.

If intelligence chiefs like Brennan and Clapper can lie under oath without perjury charges, or James Comey can overlook Clinton’s private server (storing SAP intelligence) because of “intent,” imagine the extent of their chicanery with a disarmed population.

The Second Amendment isn’t necessarily a call to arms — it’s an inconvenient reality for unelected officials who continually act with impunity and without government oversight.

As for mass shootings, the propaganda of the Left will not save lives.

Dianne Feinstein admitted that no legislation could have prevented the Vegas shooting. The FBI botched the Charleston massacre and according to The New York Times, “Dylann Roof, 21, was allowed to buy the .45-caliber handgun because of mistakes by F.B.I. agents.” The FBI knew about the recent Florida shooter before he killed 17 people. The FBI also knew about the Orlando Pulse shooter years before he murdered 49 human beings. As for the Virginia Tech shooter who killed 32 people, he roamed the university for 15 minutes using a .22 and a 9 millimeter; two smaller caliber handguns that have never been the targets of a ban by liberals.

…

I joined the NRA and Gun Owners of America because the groupthink that I once spewed hurts law-abiding citizens and does nothing to prevent the next deranged copycat criminal. I now have a firearms channel on YouTube promoting the Second Amendment safely and responsibly; something I never imagined in 2014.

Stranger things can happen, and I’m really glad Goodman has seen the light. Frankly, I suspect he will be able to reach people that would never consider something I wrote. After all, his background of Salon and Huffington Post are very different from my right-leaning background. Goodman may well know how to reach them whereas I can’t.

Of course, now that Goodman supports the Second Amendment, he’s not likely to find too many on that side willing to talk to him. I hope not, though.

The truth is, while the Second Amendment is a partisan issue, it shouldn’t be. It’s a check on the government, a reminder that this country was founded on revolution and that we’re more than willing to do it again, so act accordingly. The exact position that Goodman once scorned he has seen and embraced.

To quote one of the great action movie heroes of all time, “Welcome to the party, pal.”

The difference this time is that I lack John McClain’s sarcasm.