In light of recent events should we lay low?

[HOME DEPOT GEORGE]

I'm as much of a 2nd amendment supporter as anyone out there but in light of recent events is it really a good idea to have major shoots like knob creek? The last news show I saw on MSN about kids and guns they showed an event like knob creek and I'm sure anyone who was on the fence now looks upon most gun owners like a bunch of nuts. Lets keep this civilized so it doesn't get locked and not discuss the shootings but what can be done to keep people from looking at gun owners like psychos.

 

[Gamera]

We're not guilty criminals. So we shouldn't act like it

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

I believe if we start to hide and call off events they are gonna think we have something to hide, and that we are nuts we have to show we are loving family people who happen to enjoy are guns and shooting.

 

[kingpin008]

We're not guilty criminals. So we shouldn't act like it.

Gamera wins the thread.

The fact is, the more events like Knob Creek there are, the more the public will see that gun owners aren't psychotic loners sitting at home stroking their Evil Black Rifles while quietly humming the Battle Hymn of The Republic.

During times like this, when there have been a spate of senseless mass-killings and other acts of criminal violence against innocents is exactly the time that we need to be putting our best face forward, because it's the time when the anti's will be crowing the loudest for all our evil scary guns to be banned forever.

In short, hiding accomplishes nothing for us, but everything for our enemies. It's a poor strategy, no matter what may be happening around us.

 

[bigfatdave]

During times like this, when there have been a spate of senseless mass-killings and other acts of criminal violence against innocents is exactly the time that we need to be putting our best face forward, because it's the time when the anti's will be crowing the loudest for all our evil scary guns to be banned forever.

Agreed.
As always, be an ambassador for your sport, and an example of what a citizen does with his/her civil rights.

 

[BCCL]

We're not guilty criminals. So we shouldn't act like it

Nuff said!

 

[Rockwell1]

Now is also an excellent time to contact our elected representatives and remind them it was the criminals not the guns that comitted the crimes.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've never hidden the fact that I'm a gun owner, and I'm not going to start now.

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Anybody that drives this far out in the country probably won't be taken aback by the sight of me walking around the acreage with various firearms.

 

[bang_bang]

I use my firearms for the following:
1) Hunting
2) Defending myself and my family
3) Enjoyment/hobby, as in target shooting (which goes along with both 1 and 2)

Just because a couple of nutjobs go kill cops, the elderly, or everyone in an immigration office doesn't have any influence on me. Blaming all gun owner for these recent events is like blaming every rock I see for the paint chips on the hood and bumper of my car. Those people who point fingers at us is just a prime example of how ignorant our country can be.

Yes I own guns. No, I'm not giving them up.

Also...the news only tell the bad stuff. It never says "A THR senior member, known as bang_bang, handled his firearms in a safe matter with no harm done to himself or to others for the 20,000th time today." News is never good anymore, even if it is something to be thankful for.

 

[KelVarnson]

NRA Should Respond

The NRA should be issuing immediate statements when these incidents occur, strongly condemning the actions of the perpetrators, and tactfully explaining how laws won't prevent these types of things.

Except of course laws that allow responsible people to carry, and SHOOT BACK. Sadly, this is the only effective tool to combat such events.

Tacky? Maybe, but you know Brady et. al. will be making hay with this.

 

[PT1911]

until those who are legally carrying and legally purchasing their firearms begin committing crimes (rate is extremely low right now..) I see no reason to lay low or hide at all... I think it is rediculous that when people are killed by some rampaging psyco in an area where it is difficult to legally acquire firearms people think it shows a need for stricter laws... Do these people not realize it wouldnt fix the problem in any way, only make it worse?


like saying.... that drunk driver was driving a stolen jacked up 4 wheel drive when he hit the school bus and killed all those kids, guess we need to make trucks illegal... ***? nevermind he was driving (illegally) a vehicle he had acqired illegally...

 

[ants]

This is a good thread. There is nothing of which we should be ashamed. We are right, not wrong.
It is ever important to act and speak responsibly. This lets others know who we really are.

I'm still concerned about gun owners who insist upon inflammatory statements of bravado.
"Cold dead hands" comments uttered by gun owners will not make us sound responsible. Even if it is true.
And, as always, actions speak louder than words. Act responsibly.

 

[catspa]

bang bang:Also...the news only tell the bad stuff. It never says "A THR senior member, known as bang_bang, handled his firearms in a safe matter with no harm done to himself or to others for the 20,000th time today."

Knowing their anti slant, they'd probly say, "A THR senior member, known as bang_bang, handled his firearms for the 20,000th time today, bringing him one day closer to the inevitable breaking point when he will suddenly hose down his neighbors."

See, the thing is, we have no control over them. They spew whatever they spew regardless of what we do or don't do. But we do have control over our own actions, and when we enjoy our sport responsibly, arm ourselves to defend our families, and support our troops who put themselves in harm's way everyday, we uphold the American 2A tradition and show that our side of the story is the reasonable one.

"Sure I like to shoot - it's an individual sport that requires mental discipline and physical control, and the results are right there, no umpire or referee to cuss at.

Sure I like to hunt - it requires physical fitness and the skills of an outdoorsman, it reminds me of how the pioneers survived when this country was young, and if I'm successful it provides me with good wholesome red meat so I don't have to be a vegetarian.

You better believe I'll defend my home and family - that's a basic human right. Any animal will do the same if cornered. The difference is, I don't have to protect myself with my teeth and claws. I have more effective options.

The news media? Got no idea where they get all those goofy ideas, but if they figure decent people are the problem and criminals deserve a free hand, they're full of shiite."

Parker

 

[Phydeaux642]

I have not done anything wrong and I won't act like I have. I don't advertise the fact that I enjoy shooting, but that's because I don't want to draw the attention of the nutjobs that are out there. However, I do really enjoy talking about guns and shooting with people that are also shooters.

 

[longdayjake]

I light of recent events I think we should speak out against violence and killing police officers. Not get quiet and hide away. Ignoring the problem never solves anything. Sometimes I wish I could read more posts that were anti-criminal then the anti-government/cop posts I see here every day.

The media is feeding the lunatics of the world eye candy right now. I find it repulsive that our congress can limit the amount of times I see the twin towers fall but they allow the media to spend days and weeks giving the life history of all the evil criminals that shoot up places. I value my first amendment as much as the second amendment , but if they are going to limit what I can see on TV they should limit the stuff that gives lunatics the idea that they can get attention by shooting up the world rather than the images that created the unity and patriotism of 9/11.

 

[Ned Kelly]

We should stay as vocal as possible. When we start to lay low than the feds can single people out. When people hang together and share a common voice it is much more difficult for the government to isolate and prune guns from people one household at a time.

Surprisingly on the internet women seem to be much more fearless and audacious in standing against the current potential climate than us men are.

We should never fall into the trap of believing that we can write off a segment of the population as scapegoats. That segment losing it's right to bear arms.

There are already too many laws on the books to "prevent" crime. Crime simply happens despite laws. It's unavoidable. It is a force of human nature.

Taking a policemans life is not good but his life is no more valuable than the life of some vague immigrants.

I would be really interested in learning the details of what the domestic disturbance was that brought those policemen to that man's door.

 

[Davionmaximus]

Check my signiture.

 

[wyocarp]

What we need is for some more good carrying citizens to stop some of these shootings with their carry gun.

 

[rojocorsa]

A well regulated Milita, Being necessary to the Security of a Free State; THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.

And we need to make that as clear as possible.

Sorry but I'm only preaching to the choir right now.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

does the cooking network take a hiatus when someone is murdered with a common kitchen knife?

 

[Wesson Smith]

I guess the larger question for me is why there seems to be so many morons out there that are totally incapable of dealing with the everyday ups and downs of life. I suppose it's one with no clear-cut answer.

 

[OcelotZ3]

The only problem is that the general public knows that there is "panic" gun/ammo buying going on, and the guy who killed the police officers was running off of similar paranoia. The key is to differentiate "us" from him.

The problem I see is that there are MANY paranoia-laden rants against "the current socialist government", "gun-grabbing Obama", "communist Democrats", etc. on forums such as these, which just stokes the people on the edge such as the shooter and moves them further out and possibly over the edge. So far from the news reports, it appears that this was pre-meditated, based on the call to his friend, wearing a bullet-proof vest, making anti-government rants to his friend on the phone right at the time of the shootings, etc.

Any person who wants to link the shooter to the people on these forums doesn't have to make a huge leap to do it, and there will be at least a minor piece of truth in it due to the paranoia.

All of course in my opinion. I'm sure that most everyone here disagrees with me, and that's okay. Just wanted to put out another point of view.

 

[Suicide*Ride]

I'm not gunna "Lay low"!! (hide)

Phydeaux642 said -

I don't advertise the fact that I enjoy shooting, but that's because I don't want to draw the attention of the nutjobs that are out there.

How can advertising your enjoyment of shooting draw attention to the nutjobs??

I don't know where Knob creek is, but that is what we all need to do. Right now.... Go out right now & voice your opinions about the "nutjobs", while proving how safe you/we are as a group. (Gun owners)

I live in a OC state, & if a bunch (more than 20!) of us shooters got together for a "Meet & Greet", I'd call every one of the news networks to attend, just so "the rest of the non-gun owning people" out there could see just how safe we as a group are.

We have a voice too..... Stand up & be heard!!

Gamera -

We're not guilty criminals. So we shouldn't act like it!

+ 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (I know I'm only 1 but I'm pissed off)

 

[dmazur]

Let me apologize in advance for a comparison that is not perfect -

As I remember reading (it was slightly before my time...), there was considerable public outcry against "hot rods". AHRA was instrumental in getting public acceptance of these cool cars, and finding a safe place for them to race. The beginnings of modern drag racing, as I understand it.

Now not everyone is involved in drag racing, but almost everyone understands there is a legal manner in which this is conducted, and that "drag racing on the streets" is illegal.

The parallel to shooting might be the NRA, CMP (DCM before it) and other organizers and supporters of the shooting sports. It doesn't matter if it is for target or for hunting, these organizations try to emphasize safe enjoyment of the shooting sports.

What is kind of new, and a stretch for a lot of people, is the concept of self defense with a gun. IDPA and similar organizations support the sport within our own ranks, but I'm not sure they are doing an adequate job of PR. The public may not understand this is an entirely legal and acceptable use of guns.

The parallel gets fuzzy because the drag-racing and target-shooting comparisons had separate locations for the sport, not the normal spaces we all use in common. Self-defense introduces the idea of CCW, which a lot of folks just can't get used to.

So, I wouldn't hide. I'd try to think of some way, any way, that we can make progress along the lines of public acceptance.