National Family Firearms Day.. A proposal..

[Barbara]

I already posted about how much fun and (we think) successful our Kid's Day event was last Saturday, despite rain and all.

Pics here..not that many kid's pics because of us forgetting to ask permission. http://www.firearmsalliance.org/FFDPics.htm but you get the idea.

It's been proposed that we consider doing this annually, and doing it nationally. Not me, personally, of course, but that we set a date (Like June 17th, 2006) and try to get someone or group in each state to do the same thing at the same time.

The idea is to get as many kids involved as possible, plus I can't say enough about how much of a blast this was.

Anyway, we made all the mistakes this year, so that's out of the way and we'd be willing to help any other group with advise, suggestions, etc.

All that's really needed is:

-A place to have it. Gun clubs love this stuff.
-Some scoped .22s.
-Some .22 pistols and revolvers.
-A couple 20 ga. youth models.
-Hot dogs, etc.
-Certified instructors and ROs.
-Someone to get some activities going. We had a K9 unit and a Cowboy Action demo..you could do Civil War reenacters or whatever.

By everyone doing it on the same day, we could get national coverage and probably better donations of stuff on a national level. I wrote to a lot of companies for donations and ended up getting some stuff and we're just a little podunk group in Michigan, so doing someone on a national level may bring out something better. It's also very likely a national organization or two would get involved (I know a few people and would be glad to check into this if we can get something going.)

Anyone interested in doing this?

 

[Trebor]

One national day or weekend is a good idea. Talk to someone at the NRA and the NSSF about coordinating a good date and getting the word out to clubs and organizations.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'll pitch in. I wish people had done this when I was a kid.

 

[Barbara]

Yep, I have some people at the NRA and SAF I can talk to. I'm sure they'd be glad to help with this if we could get something going.

I also have some contacts I made from this event, as far as donations, activities, etc. I'd be glad to help coordinate this (did I just say that??) if we can get something going in several states at once.

Man, Rob..missed you again..heard there was a match this weekend, but my hands were full.

 

[Barbara]

Bump..

 

[P95Carry]

Barbara - excellent notion but certainly I think something would need to come from NRA perhaps - to ''herald'' and promote the idea widely.

After that I feel we could make this a most effective event nationwide.

 

[Barbara]

Bah, I disagree..

The idea is not necessarily a national event but to get people in many locations doing the same thing at the same time.

Why do you need the NRA to contact your local club and ask them if you can do this? Why do you need the NRA to do it? I think the NRA would support it and I'll be glad to contact them, but this is *not* something they're going to be willing to do the work on..people have to step up and do it themselves.

What's that saying about thinking it can't be done gets in the way of actually doing it.

There are ~10,000 people registered here..all it takes is 10 or 20 or 40 to step up and say they're willing to work with a local club to make this happen.

Or they can talk about where they'll bury their guns when jack-booted ninja-bears attack.

 

[Barbara]

Plus, I'm giving you a year's notice, for Pete's sakes!

 

[P95Carry]

Hey Barbara - whoah!!

My mention of NRA was purely so as to exploit the promotional aspect - sure we can do it from here - and I daresay get to almost having something in every state - tho agreed - that is not a prime goal in itself.

If it was promoted more high profile - not to clubs even - just the membership - we could just see the event in every darned county, not just in each state.!

Only looking for making it bigger and getting the publicity too - that's all!

 

[Barbara]

Ah, ok. I'm just so used to people telling me things can't be done and then I have to go prove them wrong and all, I jump the gun sometimes.

If we get 10 people in 10 states who say next June 17th, they're willing to put this on at their club, or get a club to do it, I'll get some national coverage for us.

If we get 20 people in 20 states who say they're willing to work on this project, I'll spend 10 hours of my own time this year on each state to work on their project..getting legal releases, getting press info out, arranging activities, whatever it takes.

Fair enough?

 

[P95Carry]

Fair enough?

You betcha!!!

 

[fjolnirsson]

I don't have any "contacts" with the local clubs just yet, but I'm willing to try and make this happen in my area. I think I know some folks who would be interested.
Barbara, I think this is a great idea you've got. I applaud you for bringing it up!
We all talk about what we can do to help turn the tide of gun control. Lots of folks make new shooters here and there. If we can start them this young, and reverse the damage done by media influence early, we can make a new generation of gun owners spring into being!
June 17th, you said?

 

[Standing Wolf]

...I think something would need to come from NRA perhaps...

[WINK] Hey, let's not start compromising just yet, eh? [/WINK]

Seriously: everything that needs to be done could be made to happen at the local gun club and state association levels. A public relations campaign isn't exceedingly difficult to muster. I predict within two or three years, the lion's share of clubs and organizations would be glad to participate: some are leaders, and some are followers. The N.R.A. will get on board once it's apparent the event has begun to gather momentum.

 

[Trebor]

I agree with Barbara's idea that this should be a "bottom up" grass root effort. Start by holding a second event and try to get some other clubs involved. See if the NRA or the NSSF would be willing to promote it. If not next year, then the year after that, after it's gained some momentum.

Get some pro-gun bloggers involved. Anyone hear of "National Ammo Day?" Kim DuToit started that on his blog and it's moved to a wider circle.

Get the message out through the mainstream media as well. Send out some press releases and invite some reporters ahead of time and then follow up afterwards to get the follow up stories in the paper.

For next year, one thing to watch for is to make sure that the clubs are separated far enough geographically that they don't compete for the kids. You woudn't want all three clubs in the Lansing area to participate, probably. (Then again, maybe you would...)

Barb's idea is sound and this could become a big thing.

 

[nhhillbilly]

Enfield Outing Club

The Enfield Outing Club, Enfield NH will be holding their second NRA Basic rifle course for free to any person age 10-19 in August. Last year we had about 10 kids take the course all but one passed. Great time and made some new shooters.

 

[fjolnirsson]

Btt.

 

[Barbara]

Excellent, nhhillbilly! Young is the way to go.

I should have renamed this thread "When Bears Attack!"

I'm going to write to a few people I know and see what they think..

 

[Neva]

I know I had fun, the kids had fun, the parents had fun...... it really was great...

 

[280PLUS]

I should have renamed this thread "When Bears Attack!"

As long as you don't post any links to pictures of guys ate up by bears.

I'm in, I'll do what I can. Can we pick a day to shoot for? (no pun intended)



(Ninja Bears, good one LOL...)

 

[Nightfall]

Hmm, I wonder if VCDL would be willing to help organize this kind of thing in Virginia?

 

[280PLUS]

I missed the June 17th date posted earlier here. I'll "shoot" for June 17 2006.

 

[Azrael256]

I'm in for lending a youth model .22 rifle and a crate of ammo. I'm sure I can get my brother in on it, too. I'll bet my sister will lend her .22s as well. I don't know anything about clubs in the Dallas area, but I'm sure I can find out.

 

[Barbara]

Great!

I just sent out 18 emails to various state's groups and a Canadian one..typically, I can expect to hear back from 2 or 3 tomorrow and 2 or 3 later on..

I wrote to:
Canada
Arizona
Virginia
Colorado
Georgia
Kentucky
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New York
South Carolina
Texas
Wisconsin
Maryland
Minnesota
Tennessee
Oregon
Utah
Connecticut


If you all live in other states besides these..can you tell me who to contact there? If I write as well as you contacting them as a resident and/or member, we'll probably have better luck at this. If ou already live in one of the states up there, can you contact them about taking part in this?

 

[Barbara]

Hey, 280PLUS..I see you live in Connecticut..I missed that! I tried to write to states where no one had posted here. I wrote to the Connecticut Sportsmans Association..that ok? If not, who else could help get this moving? Are you a member of any clubs or organizations there to help get volunteers?

 

[Barbara]

Ok, missed your location, too, fjolnirsson (must write these things down.)

I wrote to the Oregon group, too..if that's not good, let me know.