Bruce at mAss Backwards left a comment for my post Just One Question:
I've been contemplating the "just one question" approach for a while now. There's a series of town meeting-style forums coming up in Boston with our Mayor Tom "Never Met a Gun Control Scheme I Didn't Like" Menino.
I'm going to put my name in for one of the limited slots available. Shoudl I get the chance to address the Mayor, I'd ask:
"Mr. Mayor, as you know, the City of Boston over the last year has seen a marked increase in the rate of homicides and armed robberies. My question for you is a simple YES or NO question. Do the hard-working, law-abiding citizens of Boston have the right to defend themselves from violent criminals?"
A "yes" answer woudl be an outright lie.
A "no" answer, though truthful, would be cause for his immediate removal from office (not that that's very likely, though).
That seems to be a very good question to ask as well. The only disadvantage I can see is that they can say, "Yes.", "Yes, but not with a gun.", or "Yes, but guns only make the situation worse." And you are left with having to justify the use of a firearm for task of self-defense. My question forces them defend their desire to impose restrictions on firearms. In nearly all situations it's better to make your opponent defend rather than for you to defend against them.
As I write this I see Bruce has posted on this "Just One Question" topic with the request "So...what would your "one question" be?" in the context of being able to ask some politician a question in a public forum.