August 1st "Shall Issue" Protest in Annapolis, MD

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boxcab

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Event: 1st Open Holster Day in Annapolis, to protest Maryland’s lack of “Shall Issue” for law abiding citizens.

When: August 1st, 2009 (Time 12 Noon until 6:00pm)

Purpose: To have a large, completely peaceful and unarmed gathering of supporters of “Shall Issue” laws in Maryland. We will be wearing empty holsters in protest of the current “Discretionary Issue” system that sees Handgun Carry Permits issued only to those politically connected or dealing in extraordinarily large amounts of physical cash or the occasional person who can meet the impossibly high burden of proof needed to receive one for self defense.

How to Participate: This is a completely grass-roots event. There will be no formal meeting place (See updates at link below). The intent is to have a nice day with the family and friends in Annapolis, shopping, eating and sight seeing while wearing, in plain sight, an empty holster. You will know others participating in the protest by their open holsters. Stop, introduce yourself and make a new friend. We will provide a flyer that you can hand out to anyone curious as to why you carry an empty holster.

Basic Safety Rules: All holsters must remain empty at all times. Do not put toy guns, training guns or the like in your holster. We want to emphasize the emptiness of the holsters and our lack of protection. We do not want any misunderstanding with local officials (See below). The holster will simply be a fashion accessory, symbolizing our vulnerability to criminals.

Getting the Word Out: Letters will be sent to local Law Enforcement Agencies notifying them of the event and to presence of our empty holsters. Additional notification will be sent to the Governor, the Attorney General and select Legislators.

Long Term: We intend to have additional Open Holster days, in Annapolis and other areas in Maryland. The plan is to build on each Open Holster day, gathering more protesters to join us next Spring, during the Legislative session, to take the protest to the next “Shall Issue" bill hearing. Join us, make friends and help the movement to get Shall Issue Conceal Carry in Maryland.

More Up-to-Date Information and Disussion: http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=19527

Come and Join Us!
Bring Your Family!​

-Boxcab
 
Sounds like an "empty" protest to me. What you people really need to do is vote some like minded people into office. Personally I think your protests will be ignored and if not ignored, simply laughed at.
 
Wow...thanks for those encouraging words of wisdom. :rolleyes:

For anyone with something productive to add, we look forward to having you join us for this event. MD gun owners have spent the last 5 years turning the tide against the passage of anti-gun legislation and it is now time to press the offensive action of getting pro-gun legislation enacted.
 
Sounds like an "empty" protest to me. What you people really need to do is vote some like minded people into office. Personally I think your protests will be ignored and if not ignored, simply laughed at.
Click to expand...

This attitude has gotten us the following...

National Firearms Act (1934)
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (1968)
Gun Control Act (1968)
Firearms Owner's Protection Act (1986)
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993)
Federal Assault Weapons Ban (1994) (now defunct)

I wonder how George Washington , Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock would answer your retort?

I truly believe that by staving off future gun control in States like CA, NY, IL, MD, NJ and the like will help slow the expansion to what some call "the free states". Running away and only facing the easy fights is one way to go, but I prefer to stand and fight for what is mine. I hope you benefit from it.

Anyone who cares to join our rag tag band of brothers is welcomed. We will be the ambassadors of freedom. Bring your family, a positive attitude and an empty holster.

-Boxcab
 
My reply was meant to address the manner of your protest not the protest itself. I'm all for your cause just not at all impressed with the way you have decided to do it. You will need a massive turnout to even get any attention.

Hope that it works for you but maybe a little more thought needed to be put into it.:confused:
 
Wish I were there to protest peacefully, good luck, if there is anything a former MD resident can do, let me know
 
My reply was meant to address the manner of your protest not the protest itself. I'm all for your cause just not at all impressed with the way you have decided to do it. You will need a massive turnout to even get any attention.

Hope that it works for you but maybe a little more thought needed to be put into it.
Click to expand...

Please continue... we are open for productive ideas.

What you people really need to do is vote some like minded people into office.
Click to expand...

Yep. You're right.

Now, how do we begin to rally the troops, get people educated and involved? How do we change people’s minds so they vote for the correct person?

If starting a small protest and working to grow our numbers leading up to the next election is a waste of efforts, what do you suggest? Honestly, I would love a “cook book recipe” I can follow to success. If you can provide examples of successes and failures, and the analysis of why things did or did not work, I would be much obliged. This is the kind of information many Pro Gun Activist would love to have.

Thanks in advanced for your help.

-Boxcab
 
Sounds like an "empty" protest to me. What you people really need to do is vote some like minded people into office. Personally I think your protests will be ignored and if not ignored, simply laughed at.
Click to expand...

Wow... what a defeatist old grump. Frankly, not every place in America can just magically muster up enough votes to instantly change things. Some cities and states are filled with far too much ignorance about guns to pull that off. Sometimes, you have to take it to the streets and peacefully educate people of your cause.

I say go for it, and more power to you. My goal is to get rid of CCW licensing in all 50 States... to become free States like AK, or VT. However, I could temporarily settle for 50 States of "shall issue" in the mean time.
 
We are still looking for Pro 2nd friends to join us. Maryland needs to change, come help us get the word out.

-Boxcab
 
I wish you the best. It seems that MD is populated by too many people like my sister and her husband. They both worked as campaign volunteers for McGovern, Clinton and O'Bama and thought all three were too consertative.
 
I can see Model of 1905's point. If you have no meeting place, no T-shirts, no signs, etc. how are most people and especially the media going to know what exactly you are doing?? Why not have a rally somewhere to garner media attention, then wander around Annapolis wearing empty holsters along with a t-shirt or something to maybe reach some more people?
 
If you have no meeting place, no T-shirts, no signs, etc. how are most people and especially the media going to know what exactly you are doing?? Why not have a rally somewhere to garner media attention, then wander around Annapolis wearing empty holsters along with a t-shirt or something to maybe reach some more people?
Click to expand...

Such an organized protest involves permits and the possibility of paying for Police “crowd control”. We are a grass roots effort. We are producing a flyer for distribution… it is a start, as the OP states. We are testing the waters and are starting to desensitize the public and local law enforcement. We plan to expand right up to the next Legislative session. Other dates are in the works.

Any hopes that the Press will give us the time of day are misguided. At most we can only get negative press here in Maryland.

T-Shirts, press releases and protests on the steps of the Governors mansion are only a dream at this point. We need to get people involved here in Maryland and that is an up hill battle. If we have 50 people show, I will call the effort a blazing success. If protest #2 doubles that number, we will roll up a more organized and visible protest. Nothing shows failure like two protestors in front of the cameras. We hope to avoid that.

Come join us and watch the movement grow.

-Boxcab
 
Dear Boxcab,
I think this is an AWESOME idea. My business is located in Pasadena and I live in Glen Burnie, MD, and I will do everything in my power to set a schedule around my shop, my employees, and my family, to have as many empty holsters out there as I can.

I am coming to support you and OUR cause for sure, but I would also like to agree with others that suggest we have a centralized location. Maybe we could very carefully and peacefully collect together on the lawn in front of the court on Rowe Blvd. Or maybe we could all meet for lunch down at the lunch section downtown and walk up the street to the courthouse on the circle. I don't know, anything, but something structured to "pull and pool us together" if you know what I mean.
 
Hi Boxcab,

If I may be so bold as to make a recommendation? I hate to say it, but as it stands, I can kind of see 1905's point.

I think that your model for protest is actually very good.... as a second step. I think your first step should be to protest somewhere that you can get some media attention, perhaps in front of a sheriff's office with the power to issue, a city hall, or a state capitol building. Let the media know you're going to be there. Can you get 100 people? Do you have a state NRA analogue that can help get you some bodies? If you can get a reporter to ask you any questions, try to work in that you're group will be out and about, doing normal things with empty holsters.

If you can manage to get your 20 seconds of news coverage somehow, then the weight of your "out and about" shopping day will be magnified in a meaningful way. Instead of just being oblivious, scared, or ignored, you will likely get a significant number of people to interact with you, since they saw it on the news or read about it in the paper. That's when your model will start to shine... educating people one person at a time. Of course, there will be lots of ignorance, but I'm assuming you knew that.

For what it's worth, I was trained in psychological operations by the Army, and had a chance to work on my skills in Baghdad. This is what I would do.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the constructive criticism and suggestions, they are appreciated.

Maybe we could start a massive letter writing campaign also. That would be something new and really effective, IMO.
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Yep, we have been doing just that. Take a look over at http://www.mdshooters.com we have been growing and working to get people involved. We provide tools and contact information for all relevant legislation. This years participation was better then last years, but the growth is slow.

I am coming to support you and OUR cause for sure, but I would also like to agree with others that suggest we have a centralized location.
Click to expand...

Keep looking at the master thread [ http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=19527 ], I will be at the end of Main street down by the docks from 12 till 1 or so. Stop by and introduce yourself. I want to get a head count and maybe some pictures of empty holsters to send to our legislators. Watch that thread for more info as the date approaches.

I think that your model for protest is actually very good.... as a second step. I think your first step should be to protest somewhere that you can get some media attention, perhaps in front of a sheriff's office with the power to issue, a city hall, or a state capitol building. Let the media know you're going to be there. Can you get 100 people? Do you have a state NRA analogue that can help get you some bodies? If you can get a reporter to ask you any questions, try to work in that you're group will be out and about, doing normal things with empty holsters.

If you can manage to get your 20 seconds of news coverage somehow, then the weight of your "out and about" shopping day will be magnified in a meaningful way. Instead of just being oblivious, scared, or ignored, you will likely get a significant number of people to interact with you, since they saw it on the news or read about it in the paper. That's when your model will start to shine... educating people one person at a time. Of course, there will be lots of ignorance, but I'm assuming you knew that.
Click to expand...

The press in Maryland is very anti-gun. We are notifying the press, providing contact information and offering to talk ahead of time. I do not expect to hear from any of them.

When we had over 140 people one of the hearings, the press only wanted to talk to the Brady representatives and their guests. Less then 10 people (many not even Maryland residents!) testified on the side of the Brady campaign and we had over 140... but the press did not care.

Getting arrested and having your 10 gun "arsenal" confiscated by the police is the only time a Pro-gun advocate can get press time in MD.

We are working on it. Having several hundred gun owners protesting would be one way... we just need a few hundred more protestors.

The NRA does very little in MD. They are looking for more support from the people, we are trying to get that for them.

Those that can come, please do.

-Boxcab
 
boxcab said:
This attitude has gotten us the following...

National Firearms Act (1934)
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (1968)
Gun Control Act (1968)
Firearms Owner's Protection Act (1986)
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993)
Federal Assault Weapons Ban (1994) (now defunct)

I wonder how George Washington , Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock would answer your retort?

I truly believe that by staving off future gun control in States like CA, NY, IL, MD, NJ and the like will help slow the expansion to what some call "the free states". Running away and only facing the easy fights is one way to go, but I prefer to stand and fight for what is mine. I hope you benefit from it.

Anyone who cares to join our rag tag band of brothers is welcomed. We will be the ambassadors of freedom. Bring your family, a positive attitude and an empty holster.

-Boxcab
Click to expand...
Outstanding My Brothers...
Though I'm in Boise, Id. I believe in your fight and your cause. I see the ideals behind your mute protest and support you in your endeavors.
Good Luck!!!!
Fight for the Right!

Dutch1911
1/*
 
BoxCab, Great idea! I'm a former Annapolitan. I feel for you there. There are a number of reasons I chose to to move from that area, Absurd taxes and 2nd A rights being big ones. Keep up the good work.
 
Time getting short for our "Open Holster Day protest. I have heard back from the Govenors Office, the Attorney Generals Office and the Annapolis Police. Everything is a go!

Marylanders need to start standing up for your Rights.

Come join us August 1st, it will be the start something good.

-Boxcab
 
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