Sharpton says 90% of his callers support the Court's gun decision

[fightingquaker13]

The first thing the NRA needs to do is put out a mailer and/or tv ads in urban areas stating how they have fought to get the guns back to their proper ownres an New Orleans, the support for McDonald in his case against Chicago, and some other facts to point out that they are here to help all gun owners regardless of color or creed.

That's the easy part.

The hard part is building up a shooting community in the inner city areas.  90% of Sharpton's callers support the right to own guns, but they have a hard time finding a place to safely train and practice with them.  You got a better chance of people knowing about a public golf course in a city park than knowing where the closest gun range is.

If there are more affordable ranges, then there will be more shooting communities built, and a larger fan base to include.

Good point Ulmus, ad Operator above.
One of the more cringe worthy moments in politics, miles beyond Kerry on the wind surfer,or even Dukakis in the tank, involved Bush the elder. DC had some Big Brothers, Big Sisters help out the urban youth day. GHWB took a group of very confused looking black teenagers out for fly casting lessons on the South Lawn of the White House. Now here's the thing. How many SE DC kids are going to take up fly fishing? Anyone going to sponsor them for the $500+ outfits plus waders etc? GHWB might as well have taught them to eat caviar, drive a Bentley or fly a Lear Jet.
Yet here's the funny thing. Some of the best flyfishing in North America (with a light outfit) is the Shad run up the Potomac in the spring. Almost no one fishes it. Yet during college me and dozens of others took a bus to some of the coolest fishing this side of Alasaka.
 
So, how do you turn kids on to a great thing in their own back yards that no one has told them about, they've never considered, and they don't have the gear for? This is the challenge the NRA faces with gun's in the hood. No one has invited young black kids to shoot in a positive way. Even the few schools that offer JROTC don't offer marksmanship and there are zero ranges. You have to start from the ground up. All the propoganda in world will do diddly unless you can put a gun in someone's hand and show them a positive and affordable experience. Guess what? That was the NRA's initial mission. To promote civilian marksmanship among the American people. Spend the money. Build the ranges. Buy the .22 rifles. Start the youth clubs. Midnight basketball? How about HS rifle teams? I'll pay for the guns, ammo and range time. I'll volunteer to act an RSO. How about you?
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

I think FQ may have mis understood my last post.
My point was YOU,  (us ) Do something.
OK, you did, you brought up the subject here, whats next ?
Talk it up among other shooters you know. If you start it, the momentum will build.

The first thing the NRA needs to do is put out a mailer and/or tv ads in urban areas stating how they have fought to get the guns back to their proper ownres an New Orleans, the support for McDonald in his case against Chicago, and some other facts to point out that they are here to help all gun owners regardless of color or creed.

That's the easy part.

The hard part is building up a shooting community in the inner city areas.  90% of Sharpton's callers support the right to own guns, but they have a hard time finding a place to safely train and practice with them.  You got a better chance of people knowing about a public golf course in a city park than knowing where the closest gun range is.

If there are more affordable ranges, then there will be more shooting communities built, and a larger fan base to include.

That is the major problem everywhere

[fightingquaker13]

I think FQ may have mis understood my last post.
My point was YOU,  (us ) Do something.
OK, you did, you brought up the subject here, whats next ?
Talk it up among other shooters you know. If you start it, the momentum will build.



That is the major problem everywhere

It comes down to cash. I pay my dues to the NRA every year. Frankly, I would pay double with a smile if they used it to build ranges in the inner city and started youth marskmanship programs. Here's a money saver, stop sending me the American Rifleman. I rarely read it and would appreciate the money going to somethig productive instead. If I want gun porn, I'll buy a copy of Guns and Ammo. Like wise, lets look at the ILA. I think we would get more bang for our buck (literally) if we provided ranges and youth marksmanship programs in our inner cities rather than bribing Congrees critters. I mean the bribes work short term, but ensuring a strong pro 2A constituency will work better long term. Its all about doing the smart thing being the same as doing the right thing. The NRA was chartered to improve civilian marksmanship, So let's do it. It also has the side benefit of bringing a lot of new pro-2A voters into the fold. You set out to do good, you'll end up doing well. The reverse does not apply.
FQ13

[Solus]

It comes down to cash. I pay my dues to the NRA every year. Frankly, I would pay double with a smile if they used it to build ranges in the inner city and started youth marskmanship programs. Here's a money saver, stop sending me the American Rifleman. I rarely read it and would appreciate the money going to somethig productive instead. If I want gun porn, I'll buy a copy of Guns and Ammo. Like wise, lets look at the ILA. I think we would get more bang for our buck (literally) if we provided ranges and youth marksmanship programs in our inner cities rather than bribing Congrees critters. I mean the bribes work short term, but ensuring a strong pro 2A constituency will work better long term. Its all about doing the smart thing being the same as doing the right thing. The NRA was chartered to improve civilian marksmanship, So let's do it. It also has the side benefit of bringing a lot of new pro-2A voters into the fold. You set out to do good, you'll end up doing well. The reverse does not apply.
FQ13

The trick will be to get firearms safety/training/tradition taught in public/private schools everywhere.  Ranges will become available as part of the program.  There are schools everywhere.  The all come with classrooms too.  Then we just have to support ranges for them.

[tombogan03884]

CRAP !
I wrote a real good post replying to FQ last night. I seem to have screwed up posting and lost it .
I remember it started by saying that "cash" is a cop out, since it costs nothing to talk, it then went on to agree with  much of his post;
"lets look at the ILA. I think we would get more bang for our buck (literally) if we provided ranges and youth marksmanship programs in our inner cities rather than bribing Congrees critters. I mean the bribes work short term, but ensuring a strong pro 2A constituency will work better long term."
Although I disagree about American Rifleman, and wrote that he can opt out of the magazine and the money will be used elsewhere.

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