I own six guns. Here’s how to talk to conservatives about firearms
In rural America, guns are a fact of life. But even conservatives agree that properly locking them up is crucial in preventing deaths

TL;DR
- The author owns six guns, acquired for various reasons including perceived threats and inheritance.
- Rural America presents unique challenges and perspectives on gun ownership.
- The Community Works program, led by the author, focuses on practical local needs to build trust between liberal and conservative communities.
- A key initiative involves distributing free gun locks in conservative rural counties to promote firearm safety.
- This effort aims to find common ground on gun safety, despite deep political polarization.
- The program challenges negative stereotypes of rural people and aims to foster understanding and collaboration.
- Early research suggests the initiative positively influences residents' perceptions of local governance and political parties.