Non-WI members: what will you do to help?

[Monkeyleg]

After today's betrayal by just two Democrat legislators, it's pretty obvious that WI will only get CCW if Jim Doyle is ousted as governor, and the Republicans keep their majority in both the senate and assembly.

Before I ask Wisconsin Concealed Carry Association volunteers to go out and put in hours upon hours, I'd like to ask other THR members what they might be willing to do.

If you're not in Wisconsin, the only thing we can ask is for you to contribute to our political action committee. $10, $20, $100, $1000...any amount will help.

And the reason I ask is that I won't ask volunteers to put in time for a few bucks.

Please let me know if you're willing to make WI a Free State.

 

[TrapperReady]

Where do you want the money sent?

When and where do you need volounteers?

I can and will send money. Depending upon schedules, I would be willing to help with my time as well. I'm also stepping up the "friendly discussions" with every fence-sitter I know.

 

[Johnnybgood]

If we weren't in the process of trying to put

a new governer (BILL BRADY hopefully) in to take Blagoiavichs place I would be happy to help. Unfortunatley all my money and time is tied up into getting us a governer who doesn't cow tow to the Dictator from Chicago. When we get our stuff together I will be happy to help you and yours.

 

[foghornl]

If someone has some 'tar', I have several old feather pillows I can donate...

Seriously, where can I send a few bucks? I don't have much spare cash right now...Looks like I'm gonna get ANOTHER beating at the Form 1040 windows this year.

 

[357wheelgunner]

I don't understand how money will help get this taken care of. You can't buy changes in ignorant attitudes. I'd vote for some open carry marches through Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and some of the other good sized cities across the state.

I grew up in Wisconsin, spent 19 years of my life there. I moved away the first chance I got due to the political BS there. Imagine a whole rural state controlled by nutjob liberals in just two cities, Madison and Milwaukee. Same thing in Illinois, only Chicago is big enough to be it's own state so it's no wonder theycontrol all of Illinois. I always wanted to see CCW legislation passed in Wisconsin, but I got sick of waiting for CCW to be legalized so I moved to Tennessee where the atmosphere is already overwhelmingly conservative.

I don't see CCW happening anytime soon in Wisconsin, even if/when it does go through it will be just like Minnesota where every store window you see has one of those damnable signs in it. The people of Wisconsin are the perfect example of the "guns are for hunting, I don't care about self defense" crowd which is why you don't have CCW yet.

Good luck getting it passed though, maybe I'll move back with my new family if you guys can change things. Wisconsin is pretty country but I just don't think the people there are ready to deal with the idea of normal citizens walking around with pistols.....

 

[Trip20]

I don't understand how money will help get this taken care of. You can't buy changes in ignorant attitudes.

The money is to help elect as many republican candidates (or, I should say "pro-gun" candidates) as possible. It has absolutely nothing to do with changing ignorant attitudes.

The people of Wisconsin are the perfect example of the "guns are for hunting, I don't care about self defense" crowd which is why you don't have CCW yet.

Wrong. We don't have CCW yet because of the governor. Not because of any "crowd." Doyle is the only thing that stands in our way.

So, throw us $20 and we'll do our best to make WI a place you can move to with your new family.

 

[Old Fuff]

Those that live outside of Wisconsin can do three things at least:

Contribute money: The way things work, politics is an expensive game - particularly when the incumbents write the rules to favor themselves.

Contribute data: Names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses are solid gold to someone running for public office. As an example, in Arizona one of our very pro-gun senators is coming up for reelection, and by coincidence after I attended a gun show where I filled out a card with my name, address, etc. to be in the running for a door prize, I received an e-mail from his campaign asking if I’d help. I think a couple of thousand people might have gone through that show.

Offer advice: Which is good if it’s backed by experience in other states.

And yes, we all have a stake in this fight, not just those that live in Wisconsin.

 

[halvey]

I don't understand how money will help get this taken care of.

Campaigns 101: It's marketing. Marketing will get out the vote. Marketing takes money.

I don't see CCW happening anytime soon in Wisconsin, even if/when it does go through it will be just like Minnesota where every store window you see has one of those damnable signs in it.

What are you talking about?? Very few business put up signs to begin with, a lot took them down shortly thereafter and the few that are left are posted improperly. NO major retailers are marked. No major banks are.

 

[AJ Dual]

I don't see CCW happening anytime soon in Wisconsin, even if/when it does go through it will be just like Minnesota where every store window you see has one of those damnable signs in it. The people of Wisconsin are the perfect example of the "guns are for hunting, I don't care about self defense" crowd which is why you don't have CCW yet.

The last few iterations of the bill also had a combination of sinage AND verbal notification. So if you had a permit, went into a posted business, somehow "got made", AND the proprietor or staff asked you to leave, AND you then refused, AND the police were called, AND you then still refused to leave, you would be charged with misdemeanor treaspass.

If you followed the common mantra: concealed means concealed, no one's the wiser. The law essentialy gives a HUGE wink 'n nod to the concept of "don't get caught". It's very lax, and IMO, a good balance between the personal right of self defense, and "plausible denial" for liability reasons on the very remote chance a permit holder do something stupid on their premises. The criminals just go where they wish as it is.

I do agree that we need to get the "sportsmen only" crowd more involved. What we did just helped IMO, this is now THREE legislative cycles where CCW has been a big deal. That's getting the word out to people we haven't been able to reach directly. We've been gaining momentum or at least maintaining it each time with that exposure. Otherwise, how to better get them involved, or tie CCW to something the hunters want is a common thread here, we're brainstorming about that often. In WI, "What the hunters want, the hunters get" is a common theme in our politics. We do need to tap into that.

 

[Spot77]

How about setting up a Paypal account so we can donate? I know Paypal is anti, and they take a % of whatever is sent to you.....but I think a lot of people would go through a few mouse clicks to throw some cybercash your way.

I know I don't use Paypal for purchases anymore, but I have some money left in the account. What a great way to use it.


Didn't the Paypal account work well for the server upgrade here at THR?

 

[KAR120C]

Ya, I'll send $100 to the cause. In fact I came here looking to do that. Provide a link please.

I'm in MN but travel to WI often. This really p*sses me off. I live in fear that one day I'll forget to disarm when I cross into WI, get pulled over on some minor traffic issue, then discovered to be carrying

Also, Meth is the number 1, 2, and 3 problem in the county where our cabin is. I really don't like driving up to the place unarmed. We've been buglarized before, I don't want the next time to end with me surprising a paranoid and violent meth head.

Other steps I'm taking... I have friends in WI who are conservative, but not into guns. I've taken them shooting, and they are starting to get into guns. They have family in other parts of WI that they visit often. I'm educating them about self defense issues, and encouraging them to do the same with their family.

 

[Trip20]

KAR120C: Donate to our political action committee, the WCCM.

The WCCM is all-volunteer, and every dime goes to pro-gun candidates.

Please send any amount you can afford to: WCCM, 3263 S. 45th St., Milwaukee, WI 53219.

The maximum PAC donation for a governor's campaign is $42,000+. We need to raise the full amount, plus raise enough to help keep the legislature in Republican hands and get rid of Van Akkeren and Steinbrink.

Thanks a lot, friend.

 

[Smurfslayer]

Best wishes...

I do sincerely wish you well in your endeavor to get carry...

However, I would just like to point out that your chances of ringin success via internet forum posting is pretty low. I know first hand from lobbying to get the odious NPS ban repealed. Lots of people here and on other forums have loads of time to whine, complain and moan about particular aspects of your particular crusade - in my case the Parks ban, but when all the dust settles you're left with maybe 3 or 4 posters who follow up. As I'm relatively new to the lobbying game, I don't have all the answers, but a lot of it has to do with some of our respective 'apolitical' nature I'm sure.

There is an old email from the early days of the 'net which whimsically asked how many (usenet/BBS/email list/ etc) it took to change a light bulb. Sadly, the answers are all too true... You can't rely on the internet as the primary source of your efforts. It is but a tool in the toolbox to be used as appropriate. The best results are obtained by using as many different methods of gathering support as you can. Gun show flyers might help, post cards, meetings with legislators... it has to be a varied effort.

Check out my website, to get an idea of what it's taken to get the NPS repeal this far...

HTH

 

[Templar223]

I'm going to 'help' by staying home during the NRA convention.

Why put several hundred bucks into the Wisconsin economy?

John

 

[AJ Dual]

I'm going to 'help' by staying home during the NRA convention.

Why put several hundred bucks into the Wisconsin economy?

John

If you were seriously planning on going until now, I'd still come. The political message from the NRA convention's attendance would far outweigh the value of any boycott. Get one of those "This dollar was spent by a law-abiding gun owner" stamps, and pay for everything in cash if you must.

You could also eat all your meals at Wiesngerber's/Third Street Pier downtown. One of the local affiliates interviewed the manager as a "representative business" about the potential for CCW passage, and he said "Our policy will be, if it's legal, don't ask, don't tell…"

Not shabby for a resturaunt with a dress code at night. (Just Third Street Pier. The Wisengerber's side is casual, stick-to-yer-ribs German menu…)

The upcoming NRA convo is the first time something's actualy come to Milwaukee that I'm excited about. It's not like we get any other good conventions here.

 

[Janitor]

KAR120C: Click Here for information on how to place a donation to the Wisconsin Concealed Carry Association (WCCA).

Thanks for posting that. A check will be on the way within the next couple days.

(already hitting on gunnies where I work to do the same)

 

[Monkeyleg]

For those who don't like PayPal for whatever reasons, mail a check to: WCCM, 3263 S. 45th St., Milwaukee, WI 53219.

Smurfslayer, I don't expect a huge response from THR members, but every dollar helps.

We're going to have some fund-raising shoots coming up, including submachine gun shoots for those who've never had the experience of shooting full-auto. $40 to shoot the rock n' roll gun of your choice, and that amount goes to pro-gun candidates.

Also, AACFI is recruiting more instructors in Wisconsin, and they'll be urging students to contribute $50 to the WCCM. In 2004, just two instructors brought in roughly $14,000 in contributions.

Moderators, is it possible to have this thread made into a sticky? I think a lot of people--especially those from Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa--have a vested interest in "regime change" in Wisconsin.

 

[Trip20]

Janitor, and anyone else interested:

I edited my post above to correct the information where donations should be sent. I copied the information from a post by Dick Baker (a.k.a., Monkeyleg). I was steering someone else to the WCCA website, when infact the donations are needed for WCCM. See my post above, please.

Thanks again.

 

[Gray Peterson]

Monkeyleg,

At this point, I think Open Carry walks is a good idea.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Lonnie, some WCCA volunteers discussed the idea, but never pursued it. My mistake.

A member of Ohio's CCW group warned me that such walks are "a bell to be rung once," meaning that the media will only pay attention once.

I was hesitant to ring that bell, because I wasn't sure if this was the right time. Well, it was.

Depending upon how the fall elections go, we may need to ring that bell. Hopefully not. One of our volunteers is a county prosecutor, and he advised against doing so.

But this is about money. Politics is all about money, and I don't mean that in a negative way.

It takes dollars to print yard signs, literature, buy TV and radio time, conduct polls, do direct mail, and other things. Lots of dollars. Even a lowly assembly race can easily cost over $100,000.

That's why I'm here on this thread, shamefully typing for dollars.

 

[Car Knocker]

Check's in the mail.

 

[MGLouie]

Monkeyleg

I still have the proposal for open carry walk in my files. Would have to edit it some because the guy who did the proposal is no longer in Wisconsin.

Let me know if you want to look at it.

 

[Strings]

Some places, we could get away with an open carry march. Here in Manitowoc, it would be a cinch: the Chief has stated point-blank that open carry is legal, so no problem. However, to be effective, they'd have to be in places like Milwaukee, which would probably have all of us in adjoining cells...

Oh... this...
>Wrong. We don't have CCW yet because of the governor. Not because of any "crowd." Doyle is the only thing that stands in our way.<

There ARE two "crowds" that have contributed to the problem. One is the "Dey ain't after my tirty-tirty der hey" "sportsmen". The other group is the "We're voting for Ed Thompson, 'cause Libertarians are better than Republicans" folks (and I hear he's running again :banghead: )...

I've had more people ask me what was going on with CCW this time around than any other. However, if the odds don't change somehow during the next election, I don't see as we should even bother: insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. We've tried when Doyle was strong, we've tried when Doyle was weak. Unless we get rid of Doyle, or get an overwhelming Republican majority in the Assembly and Senate, then we're demonstrating our insanity...

If we don't get one of those two situations, expect DC to have CCW before we do...

 

[foghornl]

The "open Carry Walks" helped A BUNCH here in Ohio...Particularly the one very close to Guv. Booby Daft's mansion.***

It is now called the Buckeye Firearms Association, but Ohioans For COncealed Carry sponsored those walks. Here is the website:

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org

Then follow the links of the left side of the home page...read news, etc

***Soon to be term-limited out Guv. Bob Taft...although Booby Daft is a much more fitting name.....

 

[MGLouie]

I doubt open carry marches will happen in Wisconsin. We have a hard time getting people to volunteer at gun shows to help. Doubt they would show up for something that they could get a ticket for.

If, and it's a big if, we do get a march together it should be in a friendly city to show we are not lunitics. The media will portray us as such.