First, you must be educated about firearms laws and uses. Most anti-gun people are unfamiliar with the process to purchase, possess or use firearms.
Educate yourself about criminal use of firearms, and be able to provide good examples of criminal gun use rates in big cities, with high unemployment, serious drug and gang problems.
Here’s a thought: 2/3 of firearms deaths are from suicide, that leaves about 12,000 deaths from firearms. The FBI has estimated that 80% of those deaths are gang and drug-related, leaving 2400 firearms deaths. Of those 2400, that includes lawful self-defense, justified Police shootings, and criminal use. Any death is terrible, but remember that firearms are used to prevent hundreds of thousands of crimes every year, without a shot fired, saving citizens across the country from death or injury. Do we have a gun problem, or do we a suicide and drug problem?
The Justice Department Bureau of Prisons survey of inmates showed that 96% of inmates obtained their firearms illicitly.
Understand and be able to discuss the difference between a right and privilege.
Understand that many people have deeply held beliefs about firearms, or perhaps a terrible experience
with them. Respect their experience, just ask they value your choice to own a firearm without
your rights being infringed.