"The whole world is watching now. We must be nothing less than fabulous."

[noops]

While I can easily agree with the Highroad principle, I fear we are preaching to the choir once again. How many non gun-owning people come here and expose themselves to our rhetoric?

I think you guys would be surprised. The problem is we don't always take the high road. We immediately assume that all Liberals/Democrats are anti-gun, when the Oct 20 Gallup poll showed that not to be true at all. I grew up in Massachusetts where Mass liberals are definitely more anti-gun that some other places. I live in Oregon now where even some of the most liberal types here own guns. Heck, even the hippies' got guns out here. We're a shall issue state, with little to no real limitations (unless compared to Vermont maybe) that is a swing state that is currently mostly Democrat.

So the Liberal bashing that I see often turns potential converts away. You don't need to get all the liberals. Polls (most recently Gallup, 10.20) have shown that between 36 and 41% of Democrats own guns, and 46-55% of conservatives. That's not as much difference has people would think (although lack of ownership doesn't necessarily translate into political support one way or the other). In this country, you need the swing voters to keep things rolling by politics and popular support. Get Democrat gun ownership up to 50+ percent, and you've got powerful forces allied on issue.

I myself was registered independent until recently, and registered Democrat more recently. But, I've been around guns my whole life. However, myself and others like me are often afraid of these boards because of liberal/Dem bashing. Try to remember that liberals, just like conservatives shouldn't all be painted with the same brush. In Oregon, our state democratic party has tried hard to leave gun legislation OFF the table (except for the d-bag Gunny Burdick). In fact, at a Quarterly Democratic meeting for the state's Democratic Party a resolution was passed that the Democratic Party in Oregon specifically recognize our rights to bear arms.

So ease up on the dem bashing. I myself have converted at least 3 or 4 "liberals" out here in Oregon, and I know they have done some of the same. You don't need them all, but we do need some high road. Liberal bashing does make even the swing liberals (on this issue) turn away. We haven't learned to disagree on other issues without becoming violently disagreeable about this one, because too many broad strokes get painted. Will you get all or even most of the other 60% of liberals? No way, but if you can get just 10%, it's huge. We call our congress critters, and if you can reduce Democrat support for Gun Legislation by just a few congress critters, you've won the battle.

Noops

 

[Trisha]

Just remember, being truly fabulous, without pretense, without lapse, with spontaniety and tastefully accessorized year in and year out can be tiring.



Building the mental discipline and intellectual stamina concurrent with being a gentleman or a lady in these days is worthwhile; some may stumble in your vicinity. And who you chose to be inside will find ways of being manifest outwardly. . .

 

[buzz_knox]

We call our congress critters, and if you can reduce Democrat support for Gun Legislation by just a few congress critters, you've won the battle.

With Dean, Pelosi, Kennedy, Schumer, etc in control of your party, reducing support for gun control is an impossibility. Those who want to get reelected will be beholden to the ultra left wing who control the purse strings and the agenda.

 

[bearmgc]

Good topic Green Lantern, +1!

 

[grampster]

I concur with the thinking of our fellow members regarding our behavior on THR.

This is a place for us to learn, to be reminded, to be encouraged, to debate (while controlling our emotions--tough thing to do when one is passionate about something) and to hopefully cause those guests who come here wondering what THR is all about, to come to understand how fragile our rights are and that we must work to keep them.

Being a keyboard commando only chases away those that we should be trying to embrace. However, good satire presented skillfully is also appreciated, as there is nothing better at the end of a trying day as a hearty guffaw.

Oh, before I forget, .45's are only for wusses that don't have good placement skills.

 

[pax]

How many non gun-owning people come here and expose themselves to our rhetoric?

THR threads come up in Google searches all the time.

Currently online: 1264 (289 members and 975 guests)

Even if you assume that there are a hundred bots data-gathering at any given time (a very high number), and that 1/3 of the 'guests' are just members who haven't logged in (also an overly high estimate), that still leaves an awful lot of non-THR people reading what we write here.

pax

 

[sm]

FTF wrote:
Why should I be required to "take the high road" to keep my inalienable rights?

You don't. You have that right. As a member of THR, and one that agreed to Rules of Conduct, Oleg, Staff, and General Membership have a right as well to express the adherence to Rules of Conduct, and to further the THR Misson Statement.

You register at The Firing Line [TFL] again : You don't. You have that right. As a member of TFL, and one that agrees to Rules of Conduct, Rich Lucibella , Staff, and General Membership have a right as well to express the adherence to Rules of Conduct, and to further the TFL Misson Statement.

There is more to reponsible firearm ownerhip than firearms. -me

Robert Ruark shared in The Old Man And The Boy , through the "Old Man" ,his Grandpa, how a person behaves, carries themselves in life is the measure of a Person's worth. Not his words, instead how he acutally lives life.

The Old Man shared how one treated dogs, respected the quail Always Respect the Quail , gained persmission to hunt, and shared part of the game taken - spoke volumes of a man's true character.

I just had Three Friends in Three days. None of these were members of THR or any gun forum. First lady died and while she was being Cremated, the second one died, while at the crematory with here, the 99 year old man died.

All Three reponsible firearm owners. The ladies fought a hellish battle with Cancer one for near 4 years, the other two years. Carried themselves very well throughout the tough times.

The Gentleman, just his time to go I suppose. Now the ladies passed forward to new shooters their own way. The Gentleman, heck at 94 he gets a new knee and gets fussed for standing to teach a new shooter, so he sat on a stool to keep the home health nurse from having a stroke.
At 96 got himself a new hip, again fussed at for standing to assist a new shooter, and for shooting a 12 gauge, so he grabbed a 28 gauge and "if ya'll will quit fussing, I got some folks wanting to learn something here"

None of these three ever posted on a Gun Forum. They did Preserve Freedom, they fought Tyranny. And passed on Mission Statements of THR and TFL - and these folks had no idea who, or what a THR or TFL is about.

I passed forward the guns the ladies had to the kids they were to go to. The Gentleman, he already did that some years ago. He does have some kinfolks he wants to have something, and in a coffee can is the cash. Life Memberships to NRA, and some extra folding money for any other RKBA matters they want to do.

I figure the 6 month old will only understand the Coffee Can, given a bit of time, he will understand all this better, I am pretty sure the bigger kids also getting life memberships will pass all of this onto on to him.

One does not have to be a member of THR, or TFL to take the highroad.

Always Respect The Quail.