You guys can add to the conversation here What do you think?

Owning, possessing, storing, carrying, and in the event it should become necessary, (the right mentality in) brandishing and firing a weapon are extraordinary responsibilities. Not just to yourself, but to those around you, and to the law.

Ultimately, it's not for everyone; I have pro-gun friends who choose not to carry. And I have friends who carry even though they initially thought they could never even touch a firearm. You just never know until you learn.

So I think it's on gun owners to encourage all adults who are LGBT to explore the option, and grant them the opportunity to learn and experience more. Not only will they discover that guns aren't as scary as you'd think, but some or many will choose to carry.

And for every earnest, law-abiding citizen who carries, that's a restaurant, a shopping center, a home, a club, a family that that's gained a guardian!

I can't wait to read more stories of LGBT guardians saving lives.

What side of the political spectrum do you see yourself on?
I am Conservative.

Is the second amendment outdated?

No, The second amendment provides a right to bear arms. This does not mean you have the right to any and all kind of arms. This last part will be debated and decided by hopefully by states and implemented on state levels.

If you are going to own a gun, I see no reason why a person should not be required to attend a gun safety class teaching the person how to actually use the weapon safely and store the weapon safely. I also have no issues requiring a gun safe for guns. If you own it, it's your responsibility to secure it.
I'm also fine with putting in further restrictions on individuals limiting gun ownership at times. Known alcoholics, domestic abusers , if you are depressed and so on. Again, this is a conversation for states to decide what is best for people in their own state and not for the federal government to decide besides the Supreme court which is there to help ensure rights are not taken away. I'd like to see more conversions around these areas.

I would also like to see more conversations about reducing the need for guns. This is really where you are going to get gun reduction. As for myself, my son was way to curious of a child for me to own a gun. He is now 18 and still at home currently. I'm still too leery to have a gun in the home.

Is the Second Amendment Still Important?

This is a HARD yes. You cannot think in terms of 10 years out or 50 years out but 100 and 300 years out. There was a reason in WW2 that no foreign enemy soldiers stepped foot on US soil. There are known discussions that happened around doing so but those where quickly abandoned because there would be no way to actually secure and hold ground with such a heavily armed civilian infrastructure. We literally have our own standing civilian army.

I fully believe in ones right to protect themselves and their property.

The US is VERY BIG. People don't always seem to grasp how big it really is. If you live outside a city it can take 20 minutes to no help at all for someone to arrive to your aid. The need to be able to protect yourself is higher outside of cities. Inside cities you will get help quicker but there is also far more violent crimes.

Should LGBT people and women carry guns for their safety?

If any person is trained properly on how to use a gun I'm for them owning or carrying. That said, as a society, we should want to be working towards a point where there isn't a need for anyone to carry a gun.
A dozen other thoughts but already this is getting way too long for people to read.

I loved this video

I stumbled across the video you did for this on YouTube. I greatly appreciate you wanting to reach out to others in an effort to learn and understand. I have been advocating this since Nov 9, 2016 when all of a sudden all of my left leaning friends, whom I never had any issues with whatsoever, completely melted down (and rightfully so) and started purging their friends lists of anyone who either a.) voted for Trump or b.) they knew to be a Republican. I mean, these were people who I shared many meals with, I vacationed with, and cultivated a rewarding friendships with each other over the years. It would be one thing if I talked a lot of politics and trash leading up to the election, but I didn't. It's not me. I observed very early on in the '16 election cycle that each side was polarized and unwilling to budge. I went out of my way NOT to talk politics. My degree is in Political Science. To me, discussion politics is a matter of fact. It is something you discuss and maybe persuade someone, but at the end of the day, it is OK to agree to disagree. My friends were unwilling to leave their corners to talk to me. It was either I was with them or against them. There was no middle ground. This hurt me as these people know who I am, what I believe and what my values are. I also considered myself a known quantity to them. They knew of my degree, they knew I interned with GOP Representatives and they knew I even interned for a former VP. Why all of a sudden now? There ARE reasons why I voted what I did. It all boils down to that all politics are local. What is good for you in California, New York or even in neighboring Illinois, isn't the same for me in Indiana's 5th Congressional District or even in the county or town I live in for that matter.

The silence between me and my left leaning friends has been so long, I fear that I can never approach them again, regardless of what party is in The White House. More on the left need to be like you. There are people on the right that are rational and can be approached. If someone is reading this and they want to speak to someone on the right about things, hit me up. I would like to have someone I can speak with on the left, because yes, I have questions too. We can't get anywhere if we don't listen and learn. Arielle, please do more of these videos.

Should LGBT people and women carry guns for their safety?

Yes, absolutely, it is your right. I do recommend you take the time to do your research first and make sure all of your questions are answered. You might even want to take a trip to a range and safely try a couple of different models before making a decision. My wife now carries. She has one in her purse and one in her car. I have also taught my how to safely shoot.

Is the second amendment outdated?

No. I don't think it needs amending either. I think the states weld too much power in manipulating in, but I don't think it will ever be abolished..at least in my lifetime anyway. There may be some strong public opinions out there, but the math just doesn't support it.

Is it still important? Why or why not?

Yes it is. Unlike just about every other country in the world, our right to bare arms is a guarantee bestowed upon us by our founders. Everyone should have the right to defend themselves, their family and their property and barriers like an application waiting period or a 10-round limit mag should not be placed in our way.

What side of the political spectrum do you see yourself on, and what do you think?

Of the right, I find myself leaning center to left. This has also alienated me with some of my friends on the right. I can't please ANYONE now. HA! I have to be true to myself. I find my views on LGBT rights and abortion contrary to my party's platform. I have made a decision to distance myself from the whole MAGA stuff. I no longer follow Trump fan pages on Facebook and far-right Twitter feeds. I am even heavily considering not even voting for Trump in November. Now, I am not on the Joe Train by any means, don't get me wrong. Maybe I will keep that portion of the ballot blank or vote a third party.

Thanks for allowing me to comment!

Waiting patiently for the range time followup video.

Well I’m from Australia so our gun laws are like sensible so no we should not carry guns because then other people will carry guns so that they can protect themselves from us with guns so if we just don’t have guns there would not be such a beg problem!

Love your YouTube videos - and congrats as "coming out" as a conservative - I am lifelong conservative, with socially liberal/libertarian views, so share a lot of the same mentality.
Question one - I am a concealed carry permit holder and very comfortable with firearms (ex-law enforcement) The act of buying/carrying a gun is similar to having a fire extinguisher - I hope I never need it/but if you suddenly find that you do need it - glad to have it. Kind of like having towing or collision coverage on you car. I support and actively help anyone wanting to learn about guns, male, female, trans, cis etc... I also think that you made an excellent point on the video about females carrying guns. It is one of the few ways that you would be able to survive a violent encounter with a 6'2" 275# male.
Question two - I hear all the time that the 2A was written to cover "muskets" in the home - well at the time they were talking about and considering the SAME guns that the military had (in 1791 - the yr that the Bill of Rights was adopted EVERYONE had muskets) - The best comparison was that the First Ammendment was written support Free Speech and Freedom of the Press - Yet it still applies to the internet and media today...
Once again, love your material, thanks for providing a voice of reason and bridging the gap.

Should LGBT people and women carry guns for their safety? Is that a reasonable question? Advertising guns? Especially semi-automatic weapons? As protection for women against men? Knowing that most violence against women is done by their partner or ex-partner? In their home?

The problem is not so much owning guns, the problem in my opinion is the American belief that it is okay to use guns and kill if you consider yourself one of the good guys.
In addition, you can only benefit from carrying a gun if you are ready to kill somebody. And you have to pull the trigger before the "bad" guy shoots. You need a high willingness to attack and a lack of a bite inhibition.

Why do the USA have so many mass shootings compared to other countries? Why is the number of murders so high? Certainly not because there are not enough people carrying guns.

In my opinion, don't waste time arguing about gun laws. American people will not consent on giving up their semi-automatic weapons in the foreseeable future if ever.

I want to bring up the willingness to accept violence as a rightful mean for the greater good (or the lesser good). Let me ask you: Is it okay to shoot someone if they are going to steal your car? Or your money? And if your answer is yes, tell me why is it okay to kill someone over a car. And why do you think such an act can be justified if you are claiming to be a Christian which most conservatives do.

I remember when I first changed my mind on Guns. I was going to college in Iowa, but was born and raised in Massachusetts. The culture was different, but it wasn't Iowa that changed my mind on guns (though it did help). It was listening to a youtube video (I can't find it anywhere, because I forget most of it, but it was part of a project on being gay in small towns), where a guy from New England talked about how he almost got beaten up for being gay. I had thought I had been safe in the uber liberal New England, but this showed me I was wrong. I decided I would never be in that man's position. I will not be a hate crime statistic. This is why I'm training with Pink Pistols, a gay gun group that has the tag line of "Pick on someone your own caliber." Once I get comfortable enough with a gun, I'm getting a gun and carrying. My major worry is that MA won't let me carry.

Should LGBT people and women carry guns for their safety?
Absolutely. Having said that, it is very important to obtain proper training, to practice, to follow the law, and to give careful thought to whether it is right for you. Personally, I don't carry everyday, even though I could. It just isn't right for me at this time.

Is the second amendment outdated? No. It is a fundamental protection from a totalitarian government. A few months ago, I binge-watched "The Tudors" on Netflix. Although unintentional, the show illustrates why the Founding Fathers wrote the Bill of Rights. It is worth watching just for that reason. I am 100% serious about that.

Is it still important? Why or why not? Yes. People haven't changed since it was written.

I also think many people do not realize how much good firearms are used for. The CDC estimated that firearms are used defensively 500,000 to 3,000,000 times a year in the US. Even if the lower amount is off by 90%, that is still 50,000 defensive uses.

What side of the political spectrum do you see yourself on, and what do you think? I started center-left and am now center-right. Some of that is because I have moved right, and some is because the left shifted farther left.

It has only been in the last year that I realized how many people truly fear living in this country, how many have been told they are hated by "the majority". I'm greatly saddened by this divide. How many people may think that I (as a straight, white male) hate them because of their color, race, sex, or orientation? I absolutely hate that thought. Consequently, I very much support your attempt to cross this divide. Thank you so much for doing this and thanks to the people opening their arms to you.

I would love to see a shooting video! Much of a person's fear of firearms stems from a lack of knowledge and experience with them (not saying that you are fearful, Arielle!). I appreciate your willingness to give it a try. I think you may be surprised how many guys like me will welcome and support you in this! And with other parts of your life as well.

Again, thank you for doing this.

Absolutely. If there is a group as attacked as the Jewish people it has to be LGBQT. I have sympathy for anyone attacked for their mere existence. I have trained people from this community in the safe effective use of firearms and will gladly do it again. For the record, I'm a Christian, married, father, straight, conservative.

You should check out some LGBT gun owner groups - Armed Equality is one such group.
[armedequality.com]

Anyone should have the right to protect themselves. However, as a former Military medical provider, I don’t think any civilian should have an AR-15/MP4. This includes prior service members. Sure it’s a really nice rifle to fire but the sole purpose of it is to cause as much damage as possible and/or kill the enemy. I’ve seen the damage first hand and if those cis straight men value life so much why would they want to take one? I used to be more conservative about this issue but now I have two school aged children and the thought that anyone could harm them with this kind of weapon while they are in school, at a park, the movies, in church, basically anywhere, is overwhelmingly terrifying. Not to mention how every time they have a lock down drill my 8 year old has night terrors about being shot. I’m not saying take away all guns, I’m saying take away the automatic/semi automatic ones and the weapons with a high capacity magazine. Let’s face it if you can’t hit your target with a revolver or single action rifle, you shouldn’t even own a weapon. I commend you for listening to the other perspectives and them as well for having a civil discussion. Thanks for allowing me to rant. Stay safe and healthy!

Thanks, Arielle, for sharing this on You Tube. I came here because of that video. Found your channel because of your visit to Blaire White's channel. I love your willingness to reach across the divide and learn about the views of others who disagree.

Should LGBT people and women carry guns for their safety?
If they feel it necessary yes as long as they passed a background check before getting them.

Is the second amendment outdated?
No but there needs to be better regulations around what guns people can have. The second amendment even mentions that it should be "as part of a well regulated militia". When that was written the most advanced weapon a person could own is a single shot musket. There's already some regulations on what guns people can and can't have (ex. you can't own an RPG) and those should be extended to military grade weapons like what is shown in this picture. Thorough background checks are necessary even when buying from a private citizen. Armor piercing bullets and bump stocks absolutely need to go as those are only for killing cops and turning a weapon that shouldn't be in civilian hands into one that is already illegal to own. Japan is a great example of what sensible gun regulations are and how effective they can be.

Is it still important?
It's important in that people still care about it but arguably no it isn't beyond that. It was originally written by people who expected England to try to retake the colonies after the revolutionary war. At this point I think we can safely conclude that isn't going to happen. It was also meant to protect against the tyranny of the government but the government has way more advanced weaponry than any average citizen will ever be able to get their hands on so regular people won't stand a chance at overthrowing their government with whatever their stockpile of weapons happens to be.

I'm a very left leaning person and very libertarian so take this for what it's worth but sensible gun laws are what's actually needed and what's being argued for against a very strong NRA lobby that wants no regulations at all. There's been 55 mass shootings in the USA as of february 29th, close to one per day on average, the laws currently in place clearly aren't doing a good enough job. I strongly advise looking at what Japan has as they have roughly a third the population of the USA but a tiny number of gun deaths per year.

I think lgbt & women should be armed, after training with their weapon, for protection. The 2nd amendment is important for people to protect themselves (& loved ones, others) from criminals & a gov’t that oversteps its bounds.
I am politically a little left of center. Looking for positive changes, but not a revolution & religion should not be in politics.

I believe every person, no matter their sexual orientation or gender, should carry. Firearms are the great equalizer. The constitution is equal to all legal Americans, including LGBT people and women. I was was able to scare off a weird neighbor by open carrying. He started showing my young daughter too much attention, and when he saw I was armed, he didn't come around anymore!

Personally I don't mind guns, (although being from Canada I don't get to see them that often) and I support any group of people being able to own one. I consider myself to the right, but I do have some liberal ideals. I also think it is important to protect gun rights although I do think some restrictions are needed so they don't get put into the wrong hands.

Democratic socialist here. I am pro gun restrictions and think the second amendment is outdated.

The good guy with a gun story doesn't match reality. There are far more incidents of people who legally obtained their guns misusing them then putting down active shooters (that are rare). The crime statistics don't match the narrative the guys told in your vid.

It is easy to assume everyone is a responsible gun owner when you are one but the truth is that the average person buying a gun isn't. So you have children getting their hands on the guns suicidal teenagers getting their hands on the guns, and homicidal significant others getting their hands on the guns. And don't tell me it doesn't happen when I have known the guy who blew his brains out and had lesbian friends who kept a pretty pink LOADED riffle on the back of the sofa.

The woman in your vid also gave an inaccurate narrative. Women are assaulted and killed by their significant others more than strangers on the street. Are you going to be armed in the bedroom with the person you love? No. The idea that you can just shoot em doesn't hold up when most women have a hard time leaving let alone killing their abusers. That just isnt how abuse works. The gun is more likely to be turned against the woman.

The idea behind the second amendment is twofold to me. One was to support your household since hunting was a primary source of food and to maintain an armed populace to protect itself from a corrupt government. The weapons the government has are far superior. Your ar15 doesn't mean shit against a drone strike. (Thanks obama) Honestly, the thing that protects us most from the government right now is the bad publicity and the threat of people stopping the economy. We are seeing how much the shutdown for a virus is making the businessman and chief sweat. Right now. Also, I have nothing against hunters hunting. I just think the guns should be kept in a locker at a lodge and retrieved only for the hunt and secured at the end of it.

I do admit that when I am frightened the idea that a gun will protect me is comforting but the truth is that, like in the case of the church shooter, it is the training that protects you. Training I cannot afford and don't have the time for if I gave up my pacifism.

And I do not believe the public at large will avail themselves of the training that is necessary when most don't even train their dogs.

"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that."
George Carlin

I am a guns rights advocate, I do not personally have a gun that I carry around on a daily basis (I will soon). However, I do have a gun that is not very portable that I keep in my place.