The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: Hazcat on August 08, 2010, 05:21:30 AM
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---SNIP---
At a barbeque in Portland, Maine, a small grassroots organization meets to promote one goal: the right to carry weapons openly in public.
"We're just out here, exercising our rights," said event participant Scott Walker. "We're just here to have a good time."
Shane Belanger, 20, a pre-med student at the University of Southern Maine, organized the open-carry event. He said the group faces a huge task in convincing their fellow Mainers that the Second Amendment -- the right to bear arms -- should not be confined to the home.
"I think that it's just they're not used to it, and it's lack of knowledge. The more they know, the more comfortable they'll be with it, and that's really why we're here," Belanger said. "We are showing them that law-abiding citizens carrying handguns is completely fine and completely normal."
---SNIP---
ABC News asked the NRA several times to comment for this story, but it refused.
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/open-carry-gun-laws-pro-gun-grassroots-groups/story?id=11313221&page=2
Video at link (Nightline report dated August 2, 2010)
As usual the NRA decides to say (and do) nothing!
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As usual the NRA decides to say (and do) nothing!
They can't/won't get involved in every single "leetle" gun issue/event/story in the country. Their position is National in scope (hence the name), and perhaps local NRA-ILA groups are involved, not the main Association. Although, they do have State Alerts rather frequently, they are broader in scope,: laws, ordinances, restrictions, etc,...
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/State/
State Updates
California: Long Gun Registration Bill Still Pending Consideration
8/6/2010
Pennsylvania: House Judiciary Committee to Consider Attack on Concealed Carry on Tuesday, August 10!
8/6/2010
California: Open Carry Ban Advances to Senate Floor
8/4/2010
NRA-ILA Staff and Volunteers will be at the Wisconsin State Fair
8/3/2010
Anti-Hunting Ballot Initiative being Circulated for Signatures at the North Dakota State Fair!
7/30/2010
Yes, one would think they would be more involved, the specific re-issuance of a CCW permit holder in Maryland...cases in NC, state of emergency legislation,..etc,..
Thankfully, there are more "grassroot based" organizations like SAF, GOA, (which I also joined). That step in regarding these more frequent "local" issues.
Instead of a dividing mindset, there should be a broad alliance, that just reinforces and grows our numbers and positions not just at the Fed level, but at the State level.
Seems all these groups have more in common, fundamentally, than not. Great work by such a young man in Maine. I say keep it up, "empty can rattles the most", utilize any and all resources.
IMHO, I have my misgivings, and WTF moments with the NRA, especially recently, however, I do appreciate their work at the National Level, otherwise "leetle" things like the AWB, etc,...et..al....would be even worse. Thinking Australia here....
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Local issue? The NRA was invited to a NATIONAL TV show and they declined. Sorry, I am done with the NRA.
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Local issue? The NRA was invited to a NATIONAL TV show and they declined. Sorry, I am done with the NRA.
I've seen LaPierre, Cox on all the other MSM channels, perhaps they should be on them more. I agree.
I'm not done with them yet...
keyword,,,,, yet.
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Local issue? The NRA was invited to a NATIONAL TV show and they declined. Sorry, I am done with the NRA.
welcome to the club, I've been done with the NRA for over a decade. The NRA is no friend to gun owners...
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welcome to the club, I've been done with the NRA for over a decade. The NRA is no friend to gun owners...
That's a bit of an overstatement TAB, without the NRA, you'd be registering your .22 at a state sponsored club, with nothing but a 10 rd mag, turned back in to the club before you went home.
AR? forget it....The ATF would be reaming you a new one at thousands of dollars a permit, (per rifle),.to have one...
you got a pistol also? oh geez, we have some forms for you to fill out....
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That's a bit of an overstatement TAB, without the NRA, you'd be registering your .22 at a state sponsored club, with nothing but a 10 rd mag, turned back in to the club before you went home.
AR? forget it....The ATF would be reaming you a new one at thousands of dollars a permit, (per rifle),.to have one...
you got a pistol also? oh geez, we have some forms for you to fill out....
guess what, they didn't help me be able to get a AR... atleast not one that is real. they also were behind the closing of the machinegun list. so I say fook them.
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guess what, they didn't help me be able to get a AR... atleast not one that is real. they also were behind the closing of the machinegun list. so I say fook them.
and Kalifornia, didn't have anything to do with that?
Be thankful its not worse....
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Anyone have the skinny on the SAF? Maybe they'd sue NJ so I could get a CCW in my own state.
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and Kalifornia, didn't have anything to do with that?
Be thankful its not worse....
they could have atleast helped, but they didn't. CA has more gun owners then most states have population.
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Anyone have the skinny on the SAF? Maybe they'd sue NJ so I could get a CCW in my own state.
Good outfit, They were the ones pushing Heller, and McDonald, as well as the current suits against NY and NC.
I don't know that they have anything going on in NJ, but if you start it they will help.
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If I had a few bucks to rub together I'd join them, then pay the fees and apply for CCW. I don't have the money nor the stamina for "JAYBET VS nj".
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they could have atleast helped, but they didn't. CA has more gun owners then most states have population.
Wrong again... Sorry, 2001 was the most recent I could get...I'm sure they have even increased by now...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/health/interactives/guns/ownership.html
Gun Ownership by State
In 2001 the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in North Carolina surveyed 201,881 respondents nationwide, asking them, "Are any firearms now kept in or around your home? Include those kept in a garage, outdoor storage area, car, truck, or other motor vehicle." Here are the results.
Total Number Yes No
Respondents % Respondents %
All Participants 201881 67,786 31.7 134095 68.3
Alabama 2,623 1,294 51.7 1,329 48.3
Alaska 2,716 1,627 57.8 1,089 42.2
Arizona 3,066 989 31.1 2,077 68.9
Arkansas 2,780 1,431 55.3 1,349 44.7
California* 3,897 846 21.3 3,051 78.7
Colorado 1,947 629 34.7 1,318 65.3
Connecticut* 7,449 1,279 16.7 6,170 83.3
Delaware* 3,421 934 25.5 2,487 74.5
The District 1,859 66 3.8 1,793 96.2
Florida* 4,454 1,072 24.5 3,382 75.5
Georgia 4,277 1,745 40.3 2,532 59.7
Hawaii* 4,450 477 8.7 3,973 91.3
Idaho 4,430 2,394 55.3 2,036 44.7
Illinois* 2,103 396 20.2 1,707 79.8
Indiana 3,851 1,390 39.1 2,461 60.9
Iowa* 3,508 1,370 42.8 2,138 57.2
Kansas 4,421 1,715 42.1 2,706 57.9
Kentucky 7,245 3,664 47.7 3,581 52.3
Louisiana 4,800 1,977 44.1 2,823 55.9
Maine 2,326 869 40.5 1,457 59.5
Maryland* 4,271 1,028 21.3 3,243 78.7
Massachusetts* 8,474 934 12.6 7,540 87.4
Michigan 3,653 1,339 38.4 2,314 61.6
Minnesota* 3,837 1,468 41.7 2,369 58.3
Mississippi 2,841 1,481 55.3 1,360 44.7
Missouri 3,981 1,753 41.7 2,228 58.3
Montana 3,066 1,723 57.7 1,343 42.3
Nebraska 3,584 1,342 38.6 2,242 61.4
Nevada* 2,379 887 33.8 1,492 66.2
New Hampshire* 3,863 1,091 30.0 2,772 70.0
New Jersey* 5,901 597 12.3 5,304 87.7
New Mexico 3,439 1,212 34.8 2,227 65.2
New York 3,822 667 18.0 3,155 82.0
North Carolina* 5,906 2,070 41.3 3,836 58.7
North Dakota 2,422 1,158 50.7 1,264 49.3
Ohio 3,288 897 32.4 2,391 67.6
Oklahoma 4,243 1,896 42.9 2,347 57.1
Oregon 2,433 901 39.8 1,532 60.2
Pennsylvania 3,533 1,160 34.7 2,373 65.3
Rhode Island* 4,024 493 12.8 3,531 87.2
South Carolina 3,038 1,273 42.3 1,765 57.7
South Dakota 4,921 2,595 56.6 2,326 43.4
Tennessee 2,774 1,123 43.9 1,651 56.1
Texas* 5,667 2,030 35.9 3,637 64.1
Utah 3,439 1,634 43.9 1,805 56.1
Vermont 4,190 1,639 42.0 2,551 58.0
Virginia* 2,831 967 35.1 1,864 64.9
Washington 4,022 1,244 33.1 2,778 66.9
West Virginia 2,945 1,513 55.4 1,432 44.6
Wisconsin* 3,290 1,307 44.4 1,983 55.6
Wyoming 2,859 1,614 59.7 1,245 40.3
Guam 859 115 14.3 744 85.7
Puerto Rico 4,230 275 6.7 3,955 93.3
Virgin Islands 2,233 196 8.3 2,037 91.7
SOURCE: BRFSS Survey Results 2001, Nationwide
© 2004 The Washington Post Company
Put the bong down, take the Birkenstocks off, step away from the fruit and nuts., To clarify, 78% of Kalifornians DO NOT OWN GUNS! as of 2001...
http://gunowners.org/fs0404.htm
Regardless of the pissing contest TAB, we like our guns, we want the FED, State, etc,... to back off us law abiding folks, and the NRA is an advocate to that end.
We may not like how or why , but I'll rally around an NRA member, if the SHTF, rather than an Abercrombie & Fitch character anyday.
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welcome to the club, I've been done with the NRA for over a decade. The NRA is no friend to gun owners...
TAB, we've gone through this with you in the past. True, the NRA isn't perfect, and they have pulled some bone headed deals in my opinion. However, we are far better with them than without. Also, and here I feel like I'm beating a dead horse with you, you are the NRA, I am the NRA, we are the NRA. What have you done to be a part of the organization and to fight for or against these issues? The NRA is a very large grassroots organization, and as soon as the membership forgets it is grassroots it quits working.
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WOW TAB, Ca only beat big Ole NH by 34 gun owners. with almost 35 TIMES the population
Even Rhode Island has more than CA.
So much for another TABism. ::)
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WOW TAB, Ca only beat big Ole NH by 34 gun owners. with almost 35 TIMES the population
Even Rhode Island has more than CA.
So much for another TABism. ::)
polled 200k people... thats not even a good sample size for CA. The county I live in has 3x that. and its a low population county.
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polled 200k people... thats not even a good sample size for CA. The county I live in has 3x that. and its a low population county.
Yeah, we know TAB.......and right to carry laws have no effect on crime rates.
I see your lips moving, dude, but all I'm hearing is , "WAAA, WAAA, WAAA."
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polled 200k people... thats not even a good sample size for CA. The county I live in has 3x that. and its a low population county.
Then, following the theory of 'strength in numbers', with so many gun owners in CA, sounds like the majority of them (when it comes to voting and/or standing up for their rights) are a bunch of lazy/dumb asses.
DRTV members and company from CA are excluded from that statement.
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Then, following the theory of 'strength in numbers', with so many gun owners in CA, sounds like the majority of them (when it comes to voting and/or standing up for their rights) are a bunch of lazy/dumb asses.
DRTV members and company from CA are excluded from that statement.
even if CA has say 10 mil gun owners, that still leaves 20 mill people that are not gun owners. SF bay area and LA run this state, its just the way it is. they just have too much population.
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Hard to fight those numbers, but maybe a good solid grass-roots type pro-gun movement could educate the ignorant folks that don't own guns. Steal half the non-gunners from the majority. It's one of those things that will have to start from within.
Heck, no easy solution.