I do kind of like this metaphor. So what do you do? Say “shoot me instead!”? You sacrificed yourself and the person shooting people still has your friend and neighbor at gunpoint. Why would the gunman do what you say, and if they do what is stopping them from shooting your friend and neighbor as well?

That's not applicable in either the metaphor or the literal situation any more than "I put on my robe and wizard hat and cast Delete Gun!"

In other words you've managed to twist the metaphor in bad faith to suit your refusal to see what I was saying. Great job.

Why would the gunman do what you say, and if they do what is stopping them from shooting your friend and neighbor as well?

At least this bad faith slice of your twisting does actually have some real-world application. I'll use your logic against you:

What's stopping your preferred politician/party from simply doing what you accuse/worry Rs and Ds (will) do?

Obviously "Nothing" is the right answer, and the question itself is a cop-out.

My position is there is no correct response to this game. The reason people are dying is because a deranged lunatic is shooting people, not how the victims are responding to the madman’s game.

Yeah, again, you confirm that you would do nothing and let your friend be shot. Brilliant.

I have heard your talking points parroted hundreds of times and I still do not understand. The metaphor you provided is a perfect example of what I don’t understand about your position/perspective. What exactly were you trying to communicate with it?

That no matter how much we hope, beg, plead, wish, work, etc. to the contrary, some matters of real life boil down to brutal practicality and seeking the ideal solution is futile or counter-productive.

Again, Donald Trump is president in large part because so many people sat home and refused to vote against him because Kamala Harris wasn't better enough for their tastes. That's thanks in large part to people like you, who insist on fueling political apathy.

How do you propose dealing with this metaphorical gunman?

I'd have them shoot the neighbor, as any rational chooser-of-lesser-evils would.