Do we need to spruce up our image?

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bikemutt

bikemutt

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I read today about a local motorcycle group presenting a check to the Shriners who help out children facing enormous health challenges. Then, after a day at the range, I sat next to the president of a local Corvette club who mentioned they'd just presented a $3000 check to a local charity benefiting a cause not unlike the Shriners.

It got me to thinking, how come I never hear about a local range or shooting club sponsoring some charitable event? Maybe I'm deaf to it, or maybe it doesn't happen.

Anyway, it was a sad day for me. I went to the range with an old friend who had a new Sig, I'd normally have tried it out. But now, because we in WA live under I-594, we can't do that. It crossed my mind how easily the electorate traded our freedom for what they perceive as better security. They don't know us because we are invisible. The only public face they see is the NRA whose civic programs center around the shooting sports, understandably.

I'm not sure why I even decided to post this up, maybe I'm just tired of being tarred and feathered because a violent criminal held up a gas station at gunpoint. Or, maybe it's because the "inconvenience" of not being able to share precious moments with friends trying out each other's guns is shoved under the rug of more security for all.

The Bloomberg train is coming to a State near you soon, if it's not already there. It will be stopping here in WA again, I'm certain of that.

In the end, it takes votes to destroy freedom, freedom lost is rarely regained. This is serious business. I think maybe we need to consider other dimensions of being the "good guys".
 
Every year my club has a "Toys for Tots" match in November where the entry fee is a toy for a boy or girl and $35. It usually brings a big crowd because it's a nice prize table also. The Marines also leave with a box full of toys for kids for Christmas. It's definitely appreciated.

I think recently that a skeet match was held for Wounded Warriors at my club.
 
I constantly hear about clubs doing the same locally.
I've donated my time and money doing shoots and raising money for Boy Scouts, Women On Target, Wounded Warriors, and a local battered women and childrens shelter.
We also have a day where we invite the general public out for a day to learn about firearms and how to handle them safely. We also host a free BBQ the same day and provide free range time, guns to use on the range and free ammo.
 
Those are excellent examples but, do they ever make the local news rag, radio, TV? If not, they are invisible.

And you folks who are blessed to live in on-urban areas, the game is different in town. The nightly news here is filled with dirt-bag gun crimes I don't see the need to go into. People, voters, hear the noise from the media, it's cumulative. They never hear the other side, it's all guns and bad guys. Oh, and the other side, if they do hear it, is the "gun lobby" (NRA).

So, we walk into the sprung trap.
 
Good gun deeds never make the news...it goes against the liberal narrative. They don't want to show the good that guns and gun people do.
 
LocoGringo said:
Good gun deeds never make the news...it goes against the liberal narrative. They don't want to show the good that guns and gun people do.
Click to expand...
I agree the media will either never, or rarely present the good that guns do, that is almost a certainty. But doing civic good as gun enthusiasts deserves a better fate in the media, they, the media, have special rights, and responsibilities, their feet must be held to the fire sometimes.

It goes against my grain to seek public credit for acts of generosity, kindness and the like, I've always believed in doing the right thing regardless of who's looking.

But there is one thing I'm becoming certain of; if you don't paint yourself, someone else is going to do it for you, caricatures courtesy Bloomberg and company.
 
bikemutt said:
Anyway, it was a sad day for me. I went to the range with an old friend who had a new Sig, I'd normally have tried it out. But now, because we in WA live under I-594, we can't do that.
Click to expand...

Why couldn't you try your friend's Sig? I594 says this, right:

"Certain other temporary transfers of a firearm would also not require a background check. These include temporary transfers between spouses, and temporary transfers for use at a shooting range, in a competition, or for performances."

Or am I reading I594 wrong, or missing something?
 
Donating money is a faceless endeavor.

Open carry* neighborhood clean-up has the potential to really publicize guns and their owners in a brighter light. Even better if you do it in a metropolitan area with tons of people out and about, think of the exposure...

*Where applicable.
 
stonecutter2 said:
Why couldn't you try your friend's Sig? I594 says this, right:

"Certain other temporary transfers of a firearm would also not require a background check. These include temporary transfers between spouses, and temporary transfers for use at a shooting range, in a competition, or for performances."

Or am I reading I594 wrong, or missing something?
Click to expand...
(f) The temporary transfer of a firearm (i) between spouses or domestic partners; (ii) if the temporary transfer occurs, and the firearm is kept at all times, at an established shooting range authorized by the governing body of the jurisdiction in which such range is located.
Click to expand...

The operative phrase is "and the firearm is kept at all times". No one knows if this means Range rental guns (where they are kept all the time), or, as long as the gun doesn't leave the range during the temporary transfer (don't let Fred handle the gun and go rob a bank real quick).

"all times" means something, I don't know what, no one seems to know what.
 
Radio air time right to our target audience

Most local public radio stations have (at one of the mid-level donation/pledge amounts) a "Have your own day" wherein they will announce a short non-commercial message of your composing.

Usually it is honoring an anniversary or some such, but there is no prohibition against a cause or event. "Today's programming is supported by **** who enjoys the shooting sports."

A couple hundred dollars to put a thought into a large number of Public Radio listeners' ears.

Lost Sheep

p.s. strangely, I composed this thought this morning and was going to start a thread about it, but I spotted yours before I extended the though any further.

When we describe gun-control advocates in demonizing terms, do we hurt or help supporters of gun-rights advocacy?

We may motivate 2nd Amendment supporters with fiery rhetoric, but do we encourage rational debate with which we might win over those in the populace who are undecided?
 
The more thought and effort we put into how to demonstrate to the public we're the "good guys" the less believable the antis are. If every community was aware that "this range" and "that gun club" and "this other collector group" helped with community charities the more our image would solidly improve regardless of Bloomberg and his bought and paid for stooges nationally claim we're selfish.

How many Toys for Tots collection stations are at your LGSs? How many Meals on Wheels volunteers are wearing NRA or local/state gun club hats? How powerful would those messages be?
 
LocoGringo said:
Good gun deeds never make the news...it goes against the liberal narrative. They don't want to show the good that guns and gun people do.
Click to expand...


I believe this to be a symptom of yellow journalism, not political bent. Good news never leads because it doesn't sell. Fear and uncertainty is what brings the eyeballs.. ala 'tune in at 10 to find out the 5 things you do that cause dementia in old age!'. The threat has to be to the individual or have a face they can put on TV.

I suspect a possible solution is firearm related businesses using their profits for social good. For example, using the surplus proceeds from a firearm related business to house homeless veterans in local roach motels and help them transition back into normal civie life.

Then we'd be in a position to have a yellow-journalism counter point: 'new legislation threatens to put homeless vets out on the street! Find out how tonight at 8!'

That, and it'd be a darn nice thing to do. The Shriners REALLY enjoy their parties -- and no one bats an eye at it because they are equally serious about the cause they've taken up.

Perhaps the shooting sports could do the same.
 
No!.....

Speaking from a ton of personal experience, do not donate $ or support any church/gun club/soc group etc that wants to sponsor or house anyone in "roach motels" or extended stay dumps.
I've worked security in a few of these locations and in nearly every incident where a person or "veteran" or "sad sack" case was placed it ended badly.

These places are not the ideal place to house or aid people in crisis.
As soon as the charity or social group leaves sometimes within minutes these people will be out buying/doing drugs, drinking, fighting, stealing, etc.

I saw this occur multiple times. :eek:
It's just not prudent or fair to the members who donate $$$.
 
mrming said:
I suspect a possible solution is firearm related businesses using their profits for social good. For example, using the surplus proceeds from a firearm related business to house homeless veterans in local roach motels and help them transition back into normal civie life.

Then we'd be in a position to have a yellow-journalism counter point: 'new legislation threatens to put homeless vets out on the street! Find out how tonight at 8!'

Perhaps the shooting sports could do the same.
Click to expand...
Social causes are nice and all, but is it reasonable to expect a private company to give up profits for a social cause? I've never worked at a gun store, but from everything I've read and heard, they're lucky to even make much of a profit, much less donate it to some social cause. Businesses exist to make money providing a good or service. What they do with their profits is none of my business.

I'm with Rusty. You can't force someone to pull themselves out of the gutter. It's well intentioned, but if the person doesn't seek help, giving it to them isn't going to do much good. It's better to work with some charity that has experience with people who are in difficult times rather than trying to do something directly. Also, as Rusty hinted, due diligence in how the organization helps is important to know.
 
Doesn't matter what we do for our image, or how much we help others in the community in need.

Anti gun groups don't care, and consistently ridicule efforts made.

Bloomberg won't be swayed, it's not going to happen no matter what we do.

That said, I don't live my life with a superficial image of myself, I try to do what I say and say what I do. I could care less how my life and values look to an anti. I don't have to justify anything for them, they are the ones that need to show compassion for others.
 
A - There is no "we", stop playing collectivist

2) Yes, local clubs/ranges/civil rights groups/etc do charity stuff frequently near me, the local news doesn't care, and the hopolophobes don't care (I know, I repeat myself)

III. Stop acting like "we" are associated with "gun crime", you're essentially succumbing to the anti-rights crowd, allowing yourself to be lumped in with criminals. I will not be lumped in with violent scum, and I don't appreciate your implication that I could be.
 
I read today about a local motorcycle group presenting a check to the Shriners who help out children facing enormous health challenges. Then, after a day at the range, I sat next to the president of a local Corvette club who mentioned they'd just presented a $3000 check to a local charity benefiting a cause not unlike the Shriners.

It got me to thinking, how come I never hear about a local range or shooting club sponsoring some charitable event? Maybe I'm deaf to it, or maybe it doesn't happen.
Click to expand...

Every year a range in Columbia, SC does a Toys For Tots USPSA match. Total cash raised this year was $7088 in addition to quite a bit of actual toys. I know there was a local news crew out this year that did a story on it (pretty sure they've been there in years past too).

I'm guessing its happening but you're just not hearing about it.

https://www.facebook.com/events/730298583682710/

Pretty sure there's a club up in NC that does an annual charity match as well (I *think* that one is for an autism related charity, but I'm not positive on it).
 
Yo Mama said:
Doesn't matter what we do for our image, or how much we help others in the community in need.

Anti gun groups don't care, and consistently ridicule efforts made.

Bloomberg won't be swayed, it's not going to happen no matter what we do.

That said, I don't live my life with a superficial image of myself, I try to do what I say and say what I do. I could care less how my life and values look to an anti. I don't have to justify anything for them, they are the ones that need to show compassion for others.
Click to expand...
The point is not to sway the antis, that's not going to happen anytime soon. It's the folks who know little to nothing about guns or gun ownership who need to be shown that we are not the problem, that we are good people going about our business, making a positive contribution to society, etc. When all this group hears for the most part is what the generally anti-gun media feeds them, then around election time along comes Bloomberg and Company to paint us in a less than complimentary way, they won't think twice about voting away our rights because we don't matter to them.
 
Simple and Accessible Process:

The initiative is simple: it makes sure that anyone buying a gun in Washington State passes the same background check, no matter where they buy the gun and no matter whom they buy it from.
When a private seller and buyer arrange to meet in person to conduct the transfer, they would meet at a licensed dealer, instead of in a parking lot or another public place.
The buyer and the licensed dealer would proceed as if the buyer were trying to purchase from a dealer. The buyer would complete the proper forms, and the dealer would call in the background check—in the exact same way as if the dealer were selling a firearm from its own inventory.
This initiative simply has private sales go through the same process people have been using successfully for years when purchasing from a licensed dealer.
This is an accessible process. 98% of Washingtonians live within 10 miles of a dealer. In fact, there are twice as many licensed gun dealers in Washington as there are US post offices.
Private parties complying with the background check requirement are exempt from sales tax.

Reasonable Exceptions – background checks are not required for:

Gifts between immediate family members
Antiques and relics
Temporary transfers for self-defense
Loans for lawful hunting or sporting activities
Click to expand...
Bikemutt, I don't see anything in the above that would prevent you from shooting a friends firearm. Please read the "Reasonable Exceptions - background checks are NOT required for."
Hysteria of this kind is one of the worst enemies those of us who enjoy the shooting sports have. And the worst part it's self inflected.
 
oldbear said:
Bikemutt, I don't see anything in the above that would prevent you from shooting a friends firearm. Please read the "Reasonable Exceptions - background checks are NOT required for."
Hysteria of this kind is one of the worst enemies those of us who enjoy the shooting sports have. And the worst part it's self inflected.
Click to expand...
You need to read much deeper than the initiative's sales pitch, I'm sure you can find the full text with a simple search.
 
It got me to thinking, how come I never hear about a local range or shooting club sponsoring some charitable event?
Click to expand...

My club, Metacon Gun Club, in Simsbury CT does a big canned food drive this time of year. We donate a load of stuff to the local shelters.
 
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