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January 14, 2010, 08:34 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: November 13, 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 162
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A New Activism by Gun Owners?
While the sticky guide for posting to this forum/area is rather ominous (be sure to read it before responding)--
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=313714 --gun owners need to note our own behaviors in aiding and abetting growing anti-gun trends. I post this as a call to arms if you will--for responsible gun owners to consider. I would appreciate an intelligent back and forth around this thread. I've heard all my life that word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising and that you can catch more flies with sugar than vinegar. Perhaps these old aphorisms can help to guide us out of our current anti-gun milieu... Let us operate on a few assumptions for a moment: [admittedly these are from my own well-traveled experience] 1) The number of people rearing children to be responsible gun owners seems to have fallen. 2) The number of people who have actually held a gun--much less fired one or enjoyed gun ownership--seems to be shrinking at an alarming rate. 3) We (gun owners) seem to have helped this trend along through over-sized machismo, grunting bravado, and occasional arrogance. [Too many of my gun shop or show visits have included at least one individual (customer or employee) actively doing all they can to dissuade new (possible) gun owners by dismissing questions and concerns or just being rude.] 4) We (gun owners) have also helped these trends along by behaving like bulls on parade in the few public ranges wherein new gun owners can go to practice and learn. [Too many times at public ranges, an obviously inexperienced, new gun owner appears--only to be spoken to badly, ignored, or treated like an unwelcome newbie.] 5) We (gun owners) have aided anti-gun organizations with our actions, inactions, and our money. As an example, see James Cameron's script notes for the movie Avatar: http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jj...ters-they-are/ The actual script can be downloaded here: http://www.foxscreenings.com/media/p...eronAVATAR.pdf [And you'll also be viewing the reason I'm boycotting the movie.] Based on the above statements/assumptions of varying quality and articulation-- A) I'm interested in hearing what others are noticing in their lives as gun owners (new and long-term) regarding the downward trend of gun ownership (real or imagined by popular media and politicians). B) I'm interested in other corporate entities that need to be spoken to by losing gun owners' business (With a link to information regarding the entity's anti-gun ownership stance). I'll trust the moderators to remove posts lacking a news article, corporate press release, or other relatively reliable source regarding the business or business owner's anti-gun stance. C) What other forms of ‘new activism’ can we use to help the cause of 2nd amendment rights? An operating definition of ‘new activism’ would include legal, ethical, and moral methods to help reassure the populace (and counter anti-gun propaganda) that gun owners are not unreasonable, unintelligent people—that we are a cross-section of the country that encompasses intelligent, educated citizens—that we are a welcoming community of good people willing to include and assist other citizens. I post all of the above, because we cannot win the fight for 2nd amendment rights without showing what sort of people we really are, rather than allowing ourselves to be grouped together into a large, easily demonized, marginal group. Thanks for your time and your thoughts.
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January 14, 2010, 12:24 PM | #2 | ||||
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Join Date: October 20, 2007
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 7,523
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That said, some degree of public education can't hurt. Quote:
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In this case, we've got a movie by a director who privately shows contempt for gun owners and possibly an anti-gun and anti-military attitude in general, yet the movie features shooting and military activity galore. (So do his past movies; "Aliens" springs to mind.) Like most in Hollywood, Jim Cameron is obviously willing to sacrifice his private feelings at the altar of the Almighty Dollar Sign. Yawn. OTOH I'm encouraged that Jim Cameron implies that the NRA still exists in the year 2154 or whatever.
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January 19, 2010, 02:48 PM | #3 | |
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I find that frequent shooters are often fine people.
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January 19, 2010, 03:03 PM | #4 | |
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Join Date: May 16, 2008
Posts: 9,995
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I think there is a resurgent realization that the government can not protect you 24/7. CHL has become so popular in Ohio that there are just a lot of people who now realize they know AND TRUST someone who shoots. This isn't the nineties anymore.
I think things are getting better. Quote:
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January 20, 2010, 10:07 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: November 13, 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 162
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Thanks, and keep it going!
Carguychris: I like the way you are thinking about the shooting sports in high schools, though I live in SC and it seems that--with admittedly some exceptions--the majority of school districts wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole, sad to say. Still support for this is a good idea.
Zukiphile: I absolutely agree with you. I just worry that the jerks at the public ranges are often what new good folks seem to remember. I guess I'm just advocating some self-policing among fellow decent firearm owners--and hoping to see a more welcoming attitude towards decent new folks who honestly want to learn and become more knowledgeable. Johnwilliamson062: I hope that you're right about things getting better, and I agree that the NRA could do with some PR work (though that would mean less $$$ to fight the good fight I suppose). Though I can't help but wonder how many appreciative gun owners don't support the NRA because of the organization's image. Thanks for your thoughts and time in posting, and I welcome others to join the conversation too!
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In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. -T.W. |
January 20, 2010, 10:48 AM | #6 | |
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Join Date: October 17, 2007
Location: Cowtown of course!
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No I'm not an instructor for SD. I simply make a point to give them basic safety knowledge and how to's. There are instructors available to them at their request.
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NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor “Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......” President John F. Kennedy |
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January 20, 2010, 11:30 AM | #7 | |
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Join Date: April 6, 2009
Location: Connecticut
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Spoken in a context of humor but also food for thought. Don't neglect to have and teach the next generation or eventually the RTKBA will just die off due to indifference. The larger the next generation, the more loud the voice, and we won't even have to yell if there's enough like minded people. Other option is to volunteer to teach other people's children when the parents are willing.
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"I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards Last edited by stargazer65; January 20, 2010 at 11:51 AM. |
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