Interesting take that may suggest a different approach. Food for thought.
http://www.patrickhenrysociety.com/why-gun-rallies-pointless/
Why Gun Rallies Are Pointless
It’s spring, and that means it’s time for rally season. That’s when all the gun rallies get going for the year. In any given state, you can bet there will be at least two rallies at the state capitol, maybe another one in the (next) largest town, and maybe one more event before winter.
They’re almost all the same; they have the same formula, the same stuff, the same attendees. The same speakers stand at the podium and say the same things–lofty things about rights and Founders, and defiant things about all the ways that the tyrannical law du jour will be defied. What changes? Nothing.
Before you attempt to burn me at the stake, let me show you. Here’s an invite from an upcoming rally in a flyover state. I’ll take it section by section.
Each year in the spring, Second Amendment advocates gather in the State Capitol Rotunda to “rally” the gun-rights grassroots base and lobby the legislature on gun-rights issues and pending legislation. Rally Day also offers an excellent opportunity for gun owners and pro-gun legislators to get better acquainted and forge stronger alliances.
What does the word “rally” mean?
•To call together for a common purpose; assemble.
•To reassemble and restore to order.
•To rouse or revive from inactivity or decline.
So what do we know from the above paragraph?
•This rally happens every spring. That means it is expected, it is routine. That is the kiss of death. Ineffective, boring, pointless.
•Every time they have this rally, they do the same thing. In fact, this event is so routine, it’s even called Rally Day.
•They claim that it’s an “excellent opportunity for gun owners and pro-gun legislators to get better acquainted and forge stronger alliances.” That’s PR-speak for schmooze.
Here’s the question of the day: why do the gun owners not already know the pro-gun legislators? Do you, as a gun owner, need to be friends with your legislator? Do you need to share a meal with them and chitchat about gun-grabbers?
I say no, you don’t. I would argue that you need to get across to them that if they do not vote correctly, they will be removed. You need to make them understand that if they do not do their job, you will ensure they don’t get another chance in that chair.
Rally folks might counter with, “well, that’s how you get the point across, you gotta make connections and network, and show the legislators that you mean business.” My next question is, how well has that worked out for you? I mean, considering you need to have the same event every single year and all.
The answer to my question is found in the very next paragraph.
Recent Rally Days have seen pretty dismal attendance. Given the current political climate relative to gun laws, it is absolutely critical that we have a strong turnout this year. We must fill the rotunda like we did when we were fighting for Concealed Cary and the Castle Doctrine. We are under attack and can no longer afford to be complacent!
Well, that’s awkward. Not only does no one show up to the Annual Gun Owner Feel-Good Picnic, but someone can’t spell concealed carry.
They’re right about one thing–gun owners are under attack and “can no longer afford to be complacent.” At least they admit that they have been. The problem is what their idea of “non-complacency” looks like.
Recent anti-gun marches and protests have drawn large crowds urging lawmakers to pass legislation restricting your Second Amendment rights. We must have a large turnout to counter those efforts to strip us of the hard-fought gains we have made in recent years. The anti-gun folks are well organized and well-funded. We must counteract their efforts by the grassroots action of individual gun owners.
This literally translates to “If we get bigger crowds at rallies, we will beat the anti-gunners.” Read it carefully; that’s what they’re saying. “The anti-gunners have more money and better organization so we need you to show up to our rally and donate more money.”
If you can (take a day of vacation if necessary – it’s that important!), please join us. You could even take your kids out of school for the day and let them have a great firsthand civics lesson they will never get in school. Bring your shooting buddy who wouldn’t ordinarily come out for such an event. Bottom line, we must all dig deep and give of our time to show up and stand up for our Second Amendment rights!
I have a better idea. Instead of going to yet another rally to tell your legislators that you Really Mean It This Time And You Want To Keep Your Gun Rights, just like you did last year, and the year before, do something different. Do something unexpected.
Spend that Saturday milling out an 80% lower. Reading a book on a topic you need to learn. Spend the gas money on parts for your lower. Spend the money you were going to use on a new rally t-shirt and go get more ammo. Go get Basics of Resistance and pick any of the ideas from the several lists the book has.
Do something…anything…besides the same things you’ve been doing. Because what the rally crowd is doing isn’t working anymore.
http://www.patrickhenrysociety.com/why-gun-rallies-pointless/
Why Gun Rallies Are Pointless
It’s spring, and that means it’s time for rally season. That’s when all the gun rallies get going for the year. In any given state, you can bet there will be at least two rallies at the state capitol, maybe another one in the (next) largest town, and maybe one more event before winter.
They’re almost all the same; they have the same formula, the same stuff, the same attendees. The same speakers stand at the podium and say the same things–lofty things about rights and Founders, and defiant things about all the ways that the tyrannical law du jour will be defied. What changes? Nothing.
Before you attempt to burn me at the stake, let me show you. Here’s an invite from an upcoming rally in a flyover state. I’ll take it section by section.
Each year in the spring, Second Amendment advocates gather in the State Capitol Rotunda to “rally” the gun-rights grassroots base and lobby the legislature on gun-rights issues and pending legislation. Rally Day also offers an excellent opportunity for gun owners and pro-gun legislators to get better acquainted and forge stronger alliances.
What does the word “rally” mean?
•To call together for a common purpose; assemble.
•To reassemble and restore to order.
•To rouse or revive from inactivity or decline.
So what do we know from the above paragraph?
•This rally happens every spring. That means it is expected, it is routine. That is the kiss of death. Ineffective, boring, pointless.
•Every time they have this rally, they do the same thing. In fact, this event is so routine, it’s even called Rally Day.
•They claim that it’s an “excellent opportunity for gun owners and pro-gun legislators to get better acquainted and forge stronger alliances.” That’s PR-speak for schmooze.
Here’s the question of the day: why do the gun owners not already know the pro-gun legislators? Do you, as a gun owner, need to be friends with your legislator? Do you need to share a meal with them and chitchat about gun-grabbers?
I say no, you don’t. I would argue that you need to get across to them that if they do not vote correctly, they will be removed. You need to make them understand that if they do not do their job, you will ensure they don’t get another chance in that chair.
Rally folks might counter with, “well, that’s how you get the point across, you gotta make connections and network, and show the legislators that you mean business.” My next question is, how well has that worked out for you? I mean, considering you need to have the same event every single year and all.
The answer to my question is found in the very next paragraph.
Recent Rally Days have seen pretty dismal attendance. Given the current political climate relative to gun laws, it is absolutely critical that we have a strong turnout this year. We must fill the rotunda like we did when we were fighting for Concealed Cary and the Castle Doctrine. We are under attack and can no longer afford to be complacent!
Well, that’s awkward. Not only does no one show up to the Annual Gun Owner Feel-Good Picnic, but someone can’t spell concealed carry.
They’re right about one thing–gun owners are under attack and “can no longer afford to be complacent.” At least they admit that they have been. The problem is what their idea of “non-complacency” looks like.
Recent anti-gun marches and protests have drawn large crowds urging lawmakers to pass legislation restricting your Second Amendment rights. We must have a large turnout to counter those efforts to strip us of the hard-fought gains we have made in recent years. The anti-gun folks are well organized and well-funded. We must counteract their efforts by the grassroots action of individual gun owners.
This literally translates to “If we get bigger crowds at rallies, we will beat the anti-gunners.” Read it carefully; that’s what they’re saying. “The anti-gunners have more money and better organization so we need you to show up to our rally and donate more money.”
If you can (take a day of vacation if necessary – it’s that important!), please join us. You could even take your kids out of school for the day and let them have a great firsthand civics lesson they will never get in school. Bring your shooting buddy who wouldn’t ordinarily come out for such an event. Bottom line, we must all dig deep and give of our time to show up and stand up for our Second Amendment rights!
I have a better idea. Instead of going to yet another rally to tell your legislators that you Really Mean It This Time And You Want To Keep Your Gun Rights, just like you did last year, and the year before, do something different. Do something unexpected.
Spend that Saturday milling out an 80% lower. Reading a book on a topic you need to learn. Spend the gas money on parts for your lower. Spend the money you were going to use on a new rally t-shirt and go get more ammo. Go get Basics of Resistance and pick any of the ideas from the several lists the book has.
Do something…anything…besides the same things you’ve been doing. Because what the rally crowd is doing isn’t working anymore.