I usually do not answer polling phone calls, but with the current environment I was curious. Sure enough, I finally got a call about gun control issues. It was a long call and went on about gun free zones in schools, police in schools, armed guards in schools, etc. Some of the stuff was very Left. Do I think having police in school would cause blacks and Hispanics to be prosecuted more than whites (said no, it actually depends on the demographics of the school, more of any race would increase the possibility of arrest)? Do I think police would arrest kids for failing to stay in line with school dress codes (no, they are there to enforce laws, and school dress code is not a arrestable law)? Do I think kids would be intimidated by having police on site and scared to go to school? ETC. Then it went in to scenarios on school shootings. Columbine, my opinion, was asked if police or psychiatrists would have stopped it etc. What about the armed guard who was on site? Told him about his role in delaying the shooters, which surprised him. Would our money be better spent on police/guards in schools or more Psychiatrists in the schools. Why did I choose what I did. Told them that if someone does come in to shoot at the school, having a police officer on site removes the 10-15 minutes for the police to get there. They do not call the psychiatrist when someone starts shooting, they call the police. Do I think psychiatrists should be available to kids in school? Yes, but not as a priority over a armed officer. Then we got on to political affiliation and voting habits (left, center left, center, center right, right), then you guessed it, are you a member of the NRA. (I am a RSO)
Heard lots of the same questions going on in the chatter in the background. I asked him at the end who the poll was for. He said he did not know as they do not tell them to prevent bias. I had him on the phone for A LONG time as I addressed each answer with more data. We had some good discussions and I think it actually helped him learn some things about the gun debate. He said he was glad that I answered the phone as I had good comments and had the most knowledge of the subject out of all the people he had called so far.
Anyways, did anyone else get a call?
Heard lots of the same questions going on in the chatter in the background. I asked him at the end who the poll was for. He said he did not know as they do not tell them to prevent bias. I had him on the phone for A LONG time as I addressed each answer with more data. We had some good discussions and I think it actually helped him learn some things about the gun debate. He said he was glad that I answered the phone as I had good comments and had the most knowledge of the subject out of all the people he had called so far.
Anyways, did anyone else get a call?