Toyota responsible for California gun bans?

[wacki]

Found on this blog:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2005/05/every-blade-of-grass-open-letter-to.html

"Congratulations, idiots. You just lost all future business from me and every gun owner reading this who cares about the Second Amendment."

article copied from here
Toyota Awards $1.12 Million in Scholarships to 100 High School Seniors

Winners at top of class in both academics and community service

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 13 -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., (TMS) rewarded 100 high school seniors with $1.12 million in college scholarships for their commitment to education and community service at an awards banquet tonight.

The winners, who make up the ninth class of Toyota Community Scholars, were chosen from a pool of nearly 10,000 students nationwide nominated by their schools. To be eligible, students must be proven leaders both in the classroom and in their communities.

Based on the countless service projects conducted by the 2005 class, it is clear these 100 students view community service not as an obligation, but a way of life. As one Scholar, Lucia Crenshaw of Memphis, Tenn., put it: "I have found that I am happiest when I am helping others. Although I don't know where I am going or exactly what I am going to do, I do know my community- service involvement will carry on throughout my life."

For the 2005 class, their dreams of making a difference became reality through programs ranging from building "asthma-friendly" rooms for children in homeless shelters, to collecting over 12,500 care-package items for military troops, to raising over $150,000 for cancer-stricken children.

"These students reflect everything that is good about America. Their dedication both to academics and community service is an inspiration to all of us," said Michael Rouse, TMS corporate manager of philanthropy and community affairs. "We are proud to honor and salute 100 of the future leaders of this country."

The scholarships are valued at $20,000 or $10,000 each, over four years, for study at a four-year college or university starting in the fall of 2005. Since the Toyota Community Scholars program began in 1997, TMS has awarded over $10 million in scholarships to 900 students across the U.S.

Theodoros Milonopoulos, a Toyota Community Scholar residing in Los Angeles, is a prime example of the dedication to community service exhibited by this year's class. Through his leadership and effort in the area of gun control, the City of Los Angeles banned .50 caliber sniper rifles, plus reauthorized the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Also, this Scholar - along with the Los Angeles Police Department - organized a rally where 2,000 crime guns were melted down.

Consequently, Milonopoulos, like many of the Scholars, found community service to be the roadmap to what he wants to do in the future. "I plan to become a lawyer after studying constitutional law. It is my dream to serve in Congress so that I can continue to be the voice for our nation's youth."

The Toyota Community Scholars program is administered by Educational Testing Services in Princeton, N.J. The 12 national winners ($20,000 each) and 88 regional winners ($10,000 each) were selected by a panel of college and university admissions officials from across the U.S.

The scholarship winners were guests of honor tonight at an awards banquet in Louisville that was attended by education, community, business and government leaders. Actor/writer/community activist George Takei - who portrayed Mr. Sulu in the television show Star Trek - was the featured speaker.

The two-and-a-half-day program included a tour of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., in Georgetown, which builds the Camry, Avalon and Solara vehicles. In addition, the Scholars cruised the Ohio River on the Belle of Louisville (a historic paddle wheeler), as well as participated in a "ride and drive" that put them behind the wheel of three Toyota vehicles: the Scion xA, xB, and tC.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,415 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motor sports, R&D and general aviation. The company's main website is www.toyota.com .

 

[Fun2Shoot]

Theodoros Milonopoulos, a Toyota Community Scholar residing in Los Angeles, is a prime example of the dedication to community service exhibited by this year's class. Through his leadership and effort in the area of gun control, the City of Los Angeles banned .50 caliber sniper rifles, plus reauthorized the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Also, this Scholar - along with the Los Angeles Police Department - organized a rally where 2,000 crime guns were melted down.

The oft used quote goes something like this:

"Those who have not learned the lessons of history are condemmed to repeat them"

What are you going to do when you are told to "get in the boxcar" ?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I don't think I'd boycott Toyota based on a company they hired to administer a scholarship program awarding a scholarship to a student for anti-gun efforts; but I might well write them a letter about it.

I'd also try and take that student shooting. He sounds like a young, politically active high-school student who doesn't know much about firearms. Educating him on the subject could well give you a young, politically active pro-RKBA advocate.

 

[Nicky Santoro]

It seems more like one of the winners of the Toyota award is also a weenie.
More likely also that the blogger was trying to convey the impression that hoplophobes are among the best and the brightest.

 

[longeyes]

To me it looks like the familiar complex of insidious forces at work: big biz, gov't, and education.

These are the same folks who love open borders.

They have a utopian vision that does not include the members of this forum.

 

[Fun2Shoot]

Regarding the Toyota Motor Company:

"Congratulations, idiots. You just lost all future business from me and every gun owner reading this who cares about the Second Amendment."

Your strongly held beliefs have already been measured and factored into the equation before hand. That is, how many of the present or future potential Toyota owners will be alienated by this type of news.

The answer: a tiny segment.

Therefore, it is gain to pander to the anti's. It makes them feel safer.

 

[ForeverArmed]

Also, this Scholar - along with the Los Angeles Police Department - organized a rally where 2,000 crime guns were melted down.

Crime guns, eh? Were they previously owned by the LAPD's Rampart Division, the members of which routinely engaged in corruption, framing and even murdering numerous citizens?

It's only natural that the LAPD, one of the most thuggish police departments in the country, takes an anti-gun stance.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Your strongly held beliefs have already been measured and factored into the equation before hand. That is, how many of the present or future potential Toyota owners will be alienated by this type of news.

I don't know if you have ever worked in any large organization; but generally they don't display that level of coordination or planning.

You imply that Toyota considered it some strategic marketing decision whether or not to award a single scholarship to a high school student in California. I doubt that Toyota even knew who was receiving the award until the selection was already made and probably didn't care as well. For your implication to have happen, Toyota not only received input from Educational Testing Services (the company they hired to administer the program) concerning all the selections ETS made, they also carefully considered the marketplace and decided it was worth alienating the gun owning segment (about 40-50% of households in America for the past 30 years). All of this work and effort just to award a scholarship?

Personally, I find that conclusion an unlikely one. The whole point in hiring a company to administer a program is that you don't want to make those decisions yourself because you have better things to do with your time. More likely this is just a case of a large bureaucracy - and in any large bureaucracy there will be policies that reflect the personal biases of the thousands of people making decisions within it.

 

[roscoe]

I hear Toyota is currently working on a new ED-209 Civilian Pacification Robot for the United Nations. Start stocking up on black-tip AP ammo now!!

 

[hso]

I've got to agree with Bartholomew Roberts on this. It seems illogical that Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc made any decision taking an anti-gun stance. Remember, also, that this is one student out of 10,000 granted awards, 1/100th of one percent of the kids.

On the other hand, it is an opportunity to point out to Toyota USA that they've potentially offended millions of Americans and that they should make an effort to reach out to those of us that aren't afraid of firearms.

 

[one-shot-one]

just for laughs

oh yeah lets boycott them. they have also made donations to:
Sept. 11 victims, soccer teams, sheriffs depts., fire depts., parilized vets, the YMCA, food banks, youth programs, MS orgs., etc.

http://www.toyota.com/about/community/civic-community/index.html

our 2nd admin. reporters seem to be taking lessions from the main stream media. moutain out of a mole hill to me.

 

[Car Knocker]

Toyota responsible for California gun bans?

I don't see anything in the article cited to support this.

 

[Atticus]

And the UAW supports who?

 

[wacki]

Your strongly held beliefs have already been measured and factored into the equation before hand.

It was not my opinion, but the opinion of the blogger I quoted.

 

[crazed_ss]

Fed AW Ban? The state of CA has had its own more severe ban since I could remember.. 50 cal rifles are also banned at the state level. Arnold signed off on that. You guys gonna stop watching Arnold movies too?

 

[bumm]

>Consequently, Milonopoulos, like many of the
> Scholars, found community service to be the
> roadmap to what he wants to do in the future. "I
> plan to become a lawyer after studying
> constitutional law. It is my dream to serve in
> Congress so that I can continue to be the voice
> for our nation's youth."

Well, it's obvious he hasn't studied the constitution yet. If he still holds his beliefs after he does, he'll probably make a typical congressman.

 

[Fun2Shoot]

I don't know if you have ever worked in any large organization; but generally they don't display that level of coordination or planning.

Well yes Mr. Roberts, to answer your inquiry, large international corporations are all that I have been employed by since 1978. Granted, I am not a "mover and shaker" in these companies, but I am observant.

The real thrust of my post about corporate information mining is not based on my corporate employment the last 30 years.

My statements are based on the questionaires that I receive from major international companies such a Honda and Nissan which are sent out to the customers of these companies, like me. They are greatly interested in their customers likes and dislikes about the products that they manufacture and sell in the USA. They are wise to do so.

This year in our country, Ford Motor Co. lost about 5% market share and GM lost about 8%. Toyota and Honda gained market share. That is due to the fact that American corporations, in general, are dull of hearing and have always been so.

You imply that Toyota considered it some strategic marketing decision whether or not to award a single scholarship to a high school student in California.

Not true. In all due respect, you have assumed an implication on my part. Of course, it is unlikely that the Toyota Motor Co. is a micro-manager of all it's press outputs, but since Toyota USA is based in LA and LA is one of the centers of cultural leverage in the USA, it stands to reason that Toyota would want to tilt public opinion by a politically correct (by West Coast standards) stance on gun control.

This news blurb may just be just a 'tempest in a tea pot'. I don't mean to belabor the point.

However, your questions about my evaluations do merit a response and I hope that my return post is in some small way insightful.

 

[Manedwolf]

Not true. In all due respect, you have assumed an implication on my part. Of course, it is unlikely that the Toyota Motor Co. is a micro-manager of all it's press outputs, but since Toyota USA is based in LA and LA is one of the centers of cultural leverage in the USA, it stands to reason that Toyota would want to tilt public opinion by a politically correct (by West Coast standards) stance on gun control.

And Toyotas are mostly manufactured in KENTUCKY. Yeah, that's a real hotbed of liberalism, there.

Me, I support car companies that build their cars in the US and use US workers. That'd be Honda, who builds them in Ohio, and Toyota, who builds them in Kentucky. Fords are often made in Mexico, now.

That bit of "patriotism" is what I base my decisions on. Not one of the countless donation PR things they might remotely be involved with.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I think if you really want to know who's responsible for gun bans then just look out your window.

(Normally I'd say look in the mirror but generally speaking the people at THR seem to be more politically active than most.)

It's WE THE PEOPLE who are responsible and pointing fingers in any other direction is a prime symptom of the "nanny state" in action.

 

[Zundfolge]

For every 4-Runner or 4x4 pickup they lose a sale on by this boycott, they'll sell an extra Prius to make up for it.

 

[jamz]

Anybody else pick up on the delicious irony?

"Theodoros Milonopoulos, a Toyota Community Scholar residing in Los Angeles, is a prime example of the dedication to community service exhibited by this year's class. Through his leadership and effort in the area of gun control, the City of Los Angeles banned .50 caliber sniper rifles, plus reauthorized the Federal Assault Weapons Ban."

and

"I plan to become a lawyer after studying constitutional law. It is my dream to serve in Congress so that I can continue to be the voice for our nation's youth."

Lesson A: He obviously has not studied constitutional law yet, not even given it a cursory look-over.

Lesson B: Somebody REALLY needs to educate this kid, or he WILL become another CA antigun politico.

 

[crazed_ss]

It's WE THE PEOPLE who are responsible and pointing fingers in any other direction is a prime symptom of the "nanny state" in action.

Exactly.. Californians are responsible for California's gun bans. Ask the average Californian on the street if they support the 50 cal and AW Ban and I bet you they'll say yes.

 

[mljdeckard]

I would be more concerned if Toyota were giving out scholarships only to particular political affiliations. Just because the example mentioned was anti-gun doesn't mean it was a condition to receive the scholarship or that all recipients feel the same, or that Toyota wouldn't have given the scholarship if he had been pro-gun.

This doesn't make Toyots anti-gun any more than every other business of any size in America that prohibits employees from carrying on company property.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Through his leadership and effort in the area of gun control, the City of Los Angeles banned .50 caliber sniper rifles, plus reauthorized the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.

Oh, so LA reauthorized the FEDERAL ban did they...

To Roscoe: love that design! I'll buy that for a dollar!

 

[Ieyasu]

I'd also try and take that student shooting. He sounds like a young, politically active high-school student who doesn't know much about firearms. Educating him on the subject could well give you a young, politically active pro-RKBA advocate.

Not a chance Bart. That kid and his brother have been anti-gun activists for many-many years in Los Angeles. Yeah, he's a young kid, but he's been in the LA Times more than once. I don't have the interest in looking-up their entire history, but this snippet should give you an idea: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1634/is_200310/ai_n9347266

If you take the time to Google, you'll see the kids have founded at least one political group. They have gotten a lot of publicity in the past. This won't be the last you hear from them.

Here's another link: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0001/02/se.16.html

(They're twins)