So you want to stop the gun grabbers do ya ? You’re a good guy or gal who follows the guns laws and is getting more and more aggravated by being lumped in with some lunatic wack job whenever there is a tragedy here in the United States. Let’s face facts, the crazies are not going anywhere except when our LEO’s or responsible citizens send them right to hell. The other fact we must face is that the anti gun liberty hating leftists are not going anywhere either. So, that brings us back to question #1: Do you want to stop the Gun Grabbers ? I will assume the answer is Yes. The solution is easy
If you love your guns as much as I do, the playbook to slow or halt this attack on the 2nd Amendment and your rights as a whole is really pretty easy, just follow along
#1 GET ENVOLVED.
It may sound really simple to some but that’s the first step in the equation. Here is a little line from the environmentalists that can come in handy “Think Globally, Act Locally”. In a nut shell think of the big picture, in this case nationally, and start small at a local level.
I’m not bagging on the National Rifle Association the National Association for Gun Rights or the Jews for Preservation of Firearms Ownership, they are all great national organizations. Each of these groups and countless others spend a great deal of time and resources defending and protecting our rights. Yes they all have state representatives and lobbyists, but how often do you actually meet a board member of one of these organizations?
That’s why I always preach the “Act Locally” aspect of our sport. Chances are if you go to www.wheretoshoot.org and type in your zip code you will find more gun clubs and shooting ranges than you thought existed. When you call or go to these ranges don’t be afraid to ask about clubs that frequent that particular area or range. Call around, go to meetings, try on a few, you might be shocked at what you find. Locally here I have belonged to the Alaska Machine Gun Association long before I joined the world of NFA firearms. The reason I did was that there happen to buy a lot of great people there and it was all inclusive despite what the name might suggest.
You will find that many of the people in local clubs are on a first name basis with your local state senators and representatives. This makes things a lot easier in terms of getting correct information passed down to the masses. The other great benefit of getting involved locally is that someone might have parts for that old gun you are trying to repair. Don’t be shocked when someone says “I know a guy that has that part.” Also local clubs oftentimes will get group discount rates on ammunition, guns, accessories or training classes, and who doesn’t like a good deal?
#2 Work to break the stigma
Not everyone will come around from the dark side and get involved with the shooting sports. Just like a doctor can’t save all his patients, we can’t turn every anti gunner into Ted Nugent. Breaking the stigma of gun ownership that the leftist media has placed on us is a never ending battle. It must be attack methodically and systematically, just like the media has done to us. If you get the coworker in the office that says “Oh my god you shoot guns” and recoils in horror, that IS NOT the time to go off half cocked and tell them to eat a bag of dicks. It is the time to let it roll of your back and later remind the person that everything can be dangerous and scary when you don’t understand how it works. Maybe remind them elevators use to scare every child until they realize they aren’t going to plummet to their death, statistically speaking.
#3 Learn to engage your brain before your mouth
It goes hand in hand with number two. If you can’t control your mouth you are going to do more harm than good to the gun community, I can promise you that. Learn the skill of listening, I’m not telling you to not be pissed off when people say stupid things, but you don’t have to engage 100% of the debates 100% of the time. Not only is it counter productive it is emotionally draining, save your energy. Our enemy the anti gunners love when people step up to the podium at public events and spout foot stomping rhetoric like a 6 year old. It provides them nice sound and video bites they will use later for their campaigns. Don’t be that guy or gal.
#4 Offer to take someone shooting for the first time
It’s not that complicated I assure you, if you are going to go this route, do it safely and take into account the huge amount of anxiety a new shooter might have. Kicking them into the deep end with a .375 Holland & Holland is just going to slam that door forever. I wouldn’t have a problem asking the person if they wanted to start with a pellet rifle and work up from there. Safe reactive targets are fun to shoot, I personally never grow tired of them. You can also get them to try some shooting games or print out some free targets from sites like www.targetz.com, or mytargets.com. The more relaxed and fun you can make it the more they will want to try it again.
#5 Get Informed
Stay up to date on the politics of the leftists. Know what gun legislation or issues are coming up in your community. Work to dispel the fear mongering that gets so easily spread anytime there in an act of senseless violence that the anti gun media is trying to capitalize on. This can be a tireless struggle but if you are connected to a local shooting community then you will have a better handle on these things. Most local clubs are well informed and pass correct information onto their members.
This by no means is a one sized fits all list but it’s a start. If you are a gun owner you need to get active in supporting the elected officials that support the 2nd Amendment. Look what happened in California this week to gun owners, all it takes is a governor who has an agenda and no resistance and large amounts of guns and accessories are suddenly illegal. Today’s its military style sporting rifles, tomorrow its scary pistols, and then before you know it some politician is calling your Winchester model 70 a “sniper rifle”. It sounds far fetched to some but it can happen.
If you have any questions or comments drop them in the comments section and that we will be sure to get back to them. Until then Get involved, and have fun at the range
Rick
Links to Free Target Sites:
(Feature Image:Nra.org)
