Waiting room campaign

[Blackbeard]

While I was at the doctor today in the waiting room, I had an idea for promoting firearm acceptance. I wondered what would happen if I were to leave a gun-related periodical or a Midway catalog or something among the other magazines & newspapers in the waiting room. It might get into the hands of someone and make him think. On the other hand, there's a high potential for a backfire -- someone perceiving it as a threat -- and the incident ends up on the 6 o'clock news.

Is there any good way to do this? It could be anywhere that people wait -- doctor offices, DMV, airports, airline seat pockets, etc.

 

[langenc]

Drop them off at the places mentioned-dont send them to the dump-excuse me landfill.

Drop them off and check about a week later and see if still there. I usually dont see them too long. Did they end up in the trash can via the housekeeper or did someone take them home to read? I often wonder.

 

[scout26]

I do it all the time. Since I'm in and out the Hospital and Doctor's offices frequently, I often bring reading material. When I've finished one, I just carefully remove/cut my name/address and put it in the bin or lay it on top of the pile of magazines.

They are surprisingly well-thumbed when I when I'm back the next time.

 

[Robert Hairless]

My hunch is that it would be better to leave copies of NRA magazines that can be read and perhaps influence non gun owners instead of gun or ammunition catalogs that would puzzle or even upset them.

 

[WildeKurt]

I agree with Hairless. Some material might freak out the queasy. I don't think I'd leave a copy of Front Sight the USPSA rag. Midway or Cabellas catalogs might be interesting. Especially Cabellas.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

I got thrown (ordered to leave) out of a hair cutting salon (used to be called a barbershop) because I brought Guns & Ammo in to read while I was waiting for a haircut. The woman who owned the place said she did not allow such stuff in her place. I have often wondered what she would have said, had she known how many times I sat there with my Taurus 357 snubby in my pants. Probably would have keeled over on the spot.

 

[BridgeWalker]

I very publicly read American Rifleman in waiting rooms. I'll start leaving 'em behind if I'm done with them.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[P5 Guy]

Break Room

I did that at work a few times and the shift manager took them and threw them away.

 

[basicblur]

My hunch is that it would be better to leave copies of NRA magazines

Yup...I've often thought about possibly paying for/having copies of the NRA's "America's First Freedom" magazine delivered to a couple of local college libraries, but figured some PC librarian/administrator would freak and not allow 'em on the shelf.

 

[Blackbeard]

I'm not suggesting going through "official" channels to get these publications out there. I'm saying take it there yourself and leave it behind.

Other good places:
- Auto service centers/oil change shops
- Starbucks
- Hairdresser/Barber

Bad places:
- Psychiatrist waiting room
- County jail
- Courthouse

 

[langenc]

Grandpa-better find another barber but in the process you might remind the lady that it is her right not to have "such stuff on the premises"-BUT it is also your right to spend your money elsewhere. If you need some business cards depicting that PM me.

 

[v35]

I got thrown (ordered to leave) out of a hair cutting salon (used to be called a barbershop) because I brought Guns & Ammo in to read while I was waiting for a haircut.

The only reason I go to my barber is that he always has an adequate supply of Guns & Ammo (or American Rifleman) lying around.

The day it becomes a "hair cutting salon" will be the day I find another barber...

 

[ilbob]

I think its a good idea, although it is not new. Various entities have suggested such things in the past. Bring one with you to read the next time you are there, and just leave it for the next person. Black out your address first.

The worst thing that is likely to happen is it gets tossed out. You were going to do that anyway.

 

[dirtyjim]

back about 6 or 7 years ago while i was being treated for cancer i had to go to the hospital almost daily for the first few months then several times a month for over a year. i would leave coppies of my gun & hunting mags along with old copies of sgn in the waiting areas. a few of them stayed around for a week or two but most were trashed as soon as i left

 

[jdorian]

Bridgewalker? Can you save them and lets some friends read them first?

 

[learn2shoot]

I was in a high end spa type boutique (waiting for my wife who was getting a manicure) and found a copy of Soldier of Fortune. I was quite amused

 

[Grizzly Adams]

The doctors I use have hunting, fishing, and shooting magazines in their waiting rooms!

 

[John4me05]

I would make it more personal...
Ask the doc or whoever face to face if you can leave the material... When they agree be sure your name/addy are colored over/removed... When you return or check in periodically (no pun intended) and if they are gone ask the doc face toface again if they disagreed with your choice of reading material or what the reason was it is gone... If confronted they may be more inclined to leave the next batch if they removed them to avoid a possible embarrasing situation...
If they didnt remove them then you now others have taken a liking to them and you may have helped bring another sheep into the fold...

Now i aint sayin throw him against the wall confront him.. Just do it like asking your child if they took a piece of candy or something... I guess confront is too strong a word..

 

[keeleon]

This is actually a pretty interesting idea. I always hate waiting in places with my wife when there is nothing interesting to read. and it's funny looking around seeing the other guys reading "Cosmo" just like you, even though you can tell they don't want to.

What about takign it a step further and printing out something like Oleg Volk's posters and inserting them into all the other magazines? Really trick the suconsconcious of someone who might be scared of "Guns and Ammo" into accepting the logic of why one might want to protect ones self.

Guerrillia Marketing FTW!

 

[BridgeWalker]

Bridgewalker? Can you save them and lets some friends read them first?

I might be able to do that...

 

[Sage of Seattle]

First time I spotted Garden and Gun was in my fiancee's doctor's office in Virginia. It was with the doc's name on it, too, so it wasn't a magazine drop, either.

Needless to say, that's one doc that I can work with!

(and my fiancee gave me a subscription to it for Christmas.)

 

[Blackbeard]

What about takign it a step further and printing out something like Oleg Volk's posters and inserting them into all the other magazines?

Oooh, fake magazine inserts -- I like that idea even better. After all if it's in Cosmo it must be true, right? Also much harder for an uppity anti to locate and remove.

 

[jdorian]

Yes, but have you ever read Guns and Ammo on an airplane? And then have the person next to you ask questions about if its legal to carry a weapon in your luggage and you get into a long conversation about how to legally do so?

 

[xsquidgator]

Quote:
What about takign it a step further and printing out something like Oleg Volk's posters and inserting them into all the other magazines?
Oooh, fake magazine inserts -- I like that idea even better. After all if it's in Cosmo it must be true, right? Also much harder for an uppity anti to locate and remove.

Project Mayhem! (Someone mentioned the Fight Club reference in another thread about the knotted pistol barrel statue in front of the UN, and this is a good opportunity to plug for Tyler Durdin)