Equally as frustrating as someone accusing you of being a mass-murderer in potentia because you think it's a perfectly fine hobby to take a rifle to the range every few weeks and plink at some targets.

Story: I got really annoyed with a guest the other day for leaving the restaurant before settling up with me and getting annoyed at my attempts to settle her bill. She left cash on the table which is cool and all but she did a number of sketchy things that she clearly thought should be overlooked for some reason. It’s not my job to profile people, I don’t decide which tables might try to walk out on me and which might not. I just treat everybody the same and most people will attempt to get my attention to let me know they left cash on the table. Not get annoyed the two times I tried to settle up and then quietly leave when I’m bringing food to a table of six. That’s sketchy AF.

Point: Just because I think it’s the proper thing to settle up with your server before leaving the restaurant doesn’t mean I think you’re a theif in waiting. I didn’t confront them when they left, I knew they probably left the cash on the table and was more annoyed by their attitudes. I doubt they think everybody should be extended that trust which begs the question, who do they think I should be profiling ?

All the empathy in the world won't bring back dead kids. All the empathy in the world won't turn irresponsible parents into responsible ones.

I don’t think empathy is pointless, I think we can use it to change our futures and keep it from happening again. Every country has irresponsible parents who’s kids turn out mostly fine. The toddlers shooting themselves/others is a uniquely American problem in the developed world that the majority of Americans seem okay with.

There side hasn’t lost, everybody can redeem themselves but that involves realizing that throwing their paranoia over having their guns taken away in the face of anybody who suggests moderate common sense things is maybe the reason people are giving up on them.

Oh here’s another one. “Okay, so you don’t think the idea being brought up by the other side make any sense, they don’t know anything about guns but you do want some change. What does that look like ? What are your ideas ?”

“...” due to paranoia of having guns taken away

People tried, when it comes down to it moderate gun-rights people don’t want change as much as they act like they do want it. That becomes clear as you try to talk to them. Let’s say this article gains traction, all of a sudden you’ll hear them telling the story about a father getting all that time in jail for owning a pistol grip and that’s the reason they are so paranoid even though they just heard that story a week ago.