What’s wrong with educating the guy? He’s a city boy, he’s probably never handled a gun, a rifle, or a semi auto, maybe not even a cap gun!
He doesn’t have a predisposed knee jerk reaction, he just thinks he has an opinion based on reading.
When he thinks of assault weapons, he imagines an M60, or a grenade launcher.
Take the guy to a range and have some fun, share our passion, and let him catch it, too.
Maybe you should start educating him by having him read the Constitution; if he hasn’t already.