Sunday, December 16, 2012

Planting A Seed Of An Idea For Gun Owner Solidarity

I feel a little ghoulish even jumping on this so close to Friday; however, it needs to be done. We need to show our solidarity and, if you're reading and even partially agree with this, please forward it along to as many of your friends in the gun community as possible.

I'd originally thought about this as a potential response to send to our senators should the U.N. Small Arms Treaty have been (or still could be) moved forward; the point being to show our country just how many lawful and respectable gun owners are actually out there.

We are not a handful of red-necked hicks who throw lots of money at the NRA to do our dirty, gun industry-driven lobbying of pliable lawmakers for us. Perhaps, we could consider this a variation othe old "I'm the NRA" campaign from way back when?

The Idea:
A nation-wide show of solidarity by lawful gun owners. This would involve getting as many members of our community (and, remember, we are a community and not a "culture") to meet at the nation's capitol and our respective state capitol buildings at the same time on a given day.

The Possible Time:
Thursday, January 31, 2013. This should occur at exactly the same time across the country, so we could consider folks meeting in the Eastern timezone could meet at 2:00 pm, Central at 1:00 pm, Mountain 12:00 pm, Pacific 11:00 am, and Alaska 10:00 am.

It is extremely important that we show others that we are the respectable members of communities we know ourselves to be. The gun-control movement and media will be looking for any little slip-up to paint us with every negative possible. Remember how the Tea Party movement is continually treated. As such, I'd like to propose...

Some Possible Ground Rules:
  1. Leave your political affiliations at the door. This is not a Democrat/Republican, liberal/conservative/libertarian thing. It is the gun community and, overall, it is a very big tent indeed.
  2. Invite and encourage any of your congressmen, senators, state legislators, and municipal officials that you know are gun owners or otherwise sympathetic to gun ownership to attend.
  3. No open carry. This is not the time or place to engage in "in your face" activism. If you such a strong need to fondle your gun in public, save it for the range. Think of how the media manipulated the footage of an African-American gentleman carrying his AR at a Tea Party Rally!
  4. This is a gathering at the seats of our respective national and/or state capitols. Be aware of and respectful of the laws concerning concealed or any other form of carry on the premises and in the community at large. Plan to leave it either at home or otherwise safely locked-up.
  5. This one's going to be more controversial and I am very open to alternatives: I recommend leaving off or minimizing the names of your favorite lobbying organizations. Hear me out. The point on this is to not give the antis any opportunity to paint us as puppets. We are anything but!
  6. Keep any speeches, your overall language and, should you carry any, signs respectful.
  7. Dress as the respectful citizens of our nation as we know ourselves to be.
  8. If you feel the need to act like or otherwise portray yourself as the media's stereotypical portrayals of gun nuts, hicks, and bubbas, then stay home.
  9. Finally: if you don't feel this is worthwhile or are otherwise unwilling (and, emphasis on unwilling) to participate, don't bother to gripe and complain at the next round of bans and other ridiculous regulation. You've effectively sealed your own lips and abrogated much of your rights.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel to D.C. myself; however, I do intend to show-up at the steps of the Capitol in Juneau, Alaska, at the appropriate day and time. I intend to even if I am there by myself. If you are interested in building this show of solidarity, I have established a specific email account, through which to start the first round of communications.

I can be reached to discuss and/or help coordinate this in any possible way at lawful_2a@yahoo.com.

Thank you!

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