And for those of us who care about our friends who aren't white men, guns seem like a tool of the oppressor, or at best, have a negative impact on those communities.

I'm very firm in my pro-gun beliefs, and of course I believe that black folks in the city should have the same rights. But I do struggle with how to discuss that with folks who have seen so much carnage in their neighborhoods.

Way back in 2008 I attended a "gun violence symposium" hosted at a local university. I actually took a day off work to attend, and since it didn't start until the afternoon that was actually the day I went to the courthouse to first get my carry permit.

Basically the event was a bunch of panelists and speakers consisting of local and national gun control advocates, with a single token pro-gun advocate. Even Jim Brady was supposed to be there, but had to cancel due to health problems.

One of the things that stood out to me is that the speakers were mostly white, with a few ranking government officials of color. What I remember the most though was that before entering the auditorium (where they passed us through metal detectors) there was a somber middle-aged black woman quietly handing out pamphlets without saying a word. Sure it contained a few statements supportive of gun control, but the overall theme of it was please, make the killing stop by any means possible. Of course I disagree that gun control is the solution to their problems, but it's impossible not to feel sympathy for people people in such a desperate situation and who will latch on to anything they think might help.

As for the token pro-gun speaker, while I broadly agreed with his position he gave an overwhelmingly unpersuasive speech. This was clearly a man who didn't know his audience, and rarely steps outside of the conservative bubble. It was riddled with trite right-wing pro-gun talking points that I can't imagine swayed a single person in attendance.