vcdl at wilderness festivile

[heyrakes]

hey gang

i went to help at the wilderness trial festival in Christainsburg Saturday. thanks to John and his mother and father and Dave. i think we had a very successful event. gave out hundreds of "Gun Saves Lives" sticker and sold lots of paraphernalia, and made hundreds of contacts for the VCDL

good time was had by all

i had three anti's, that would admit to it. one did not even try to talk and just walked off two tried to use the old hand that guns do kill (which i pointed out they didn't and offered a hundred dollar bet mine wouldn't) then there was the ___ #of people that were killed today (i pointed out that there were a least 1,400 people saved by guns today and that 80 million people didn't shoot anybody today). one guy tried the "my friend got shot" (to which i pointed out, if his friend had had a car wreak would he blame the car). to which case they would just say AAARGH and walk off


i had three people from other countries. one was from England, but when i started to point out the crime rate in England they walked off. one was from France and wanted to understand the concept of GSL. so i explained the fire extinguisher concept to him and i think he got it so then he took a sticker from me

another guy was from Saudi Arabia. he had his wife and kids with him. we went over the seat belt and extinguisher, and also how my gun has saved my life several times, even though i never had to shoot anyone with it. he thanked me and took a sticker

i did finish up as we were closing with a lady that had a terrible hopolophobia to guns, but the reason was that several years ago some man had said he was "going to kill all the *******" and had shot her husband. we actually had a good discussion. she was not against guns just couldn't understand why any body would want one. i pointed out that the man that shot her husband could not have legally bought the gun, that there were laws against someone with mental treatments getting one that the man broke the law in that prospect alone. but i used the to point out if her husband had been hung with a rope would she be against ropes?. i also pointed out that gun control was old Jim Crowe laws to keep black people from getting guns to defend themselves. since she was not for taking my guns away from me. by the time we were done with our talk she agreed that banning guns would no better than banning alcohol or drugs

i actually do like to talk to antis. i hope to do some more non gun shows again. i can't tell you what the others ran into. but i did notice John wagging his head a few times

[Reverenddel]

Someone has to challenge them. The problem in their world, is that most anti's start fluttering their widdle hands, going "BAD! GUNS ARE BAD!" and the other lil' anti's start fluttering their widdle hands going "YES! BAD! GUNS BAD!"

I'm glad someone else is fighting 'em too.

You just get tired of feeling alone, carrying the water for all the gun owners too friggin' lazy to write a letter, e-mail, make a phone call, take a couple hours, and go to a rally, or down the General Assembly.

NRA has good election phrase, "ARE YOU ALL IN!?!?"

[ShotgunBlast]

Someone has to challenge them. The problem in their world, is that most anti's start fluttering their widdle hands, going "BAD! GUNS ARE BAD!" and the other lil' anti's start fluttering their widdle hands going "YES! BAD! GUNS BAD!"

I'm glad someone else is fighting 'em too.

You just get tired of feeling alone, carrying the water for all the gun owners too friggin' lazy to write a letter, e-mail, make a phone call, take a couple hours, and go to a rally, or down the General Assembly.

NRA has good election phrase, "ARE YOU ALL IN!?!?"

Your influence on others might also be partially determined by how you look at the conversation. Instead of "challenging" or "fighting" (your words) I look at it as an educational process and I've had good success so far. Of course for all I know many years ago when you first started with firearms you might have thought of it as educating too, only to be worn down over the years with onslaught after onslaught of anti-gun rhetoric until cynicism took over and formed your current outlook.

But if that's the case, you might consider not engaging in the "fight" and instead let those who still look at it as an educational process carry the flag (VCDL president Philip Van Cleave comes to mind). And like you mentioned, there are still many ways to contribute to the overall cause even if you're not on the front line.

[0007dad]

Dang! Now I wish I'd gone downtown Sat!

[Reverenddel]

Gun Rights didn't make me cynical.

Looking at the electorate did. Watching Americans turn from functioning members of society to "What's In It For Me?" chattel did. Seeing people who cannot have a simple disagreement without it turning into a shouting match did. Letting others fight the battles you believe, whilst you sit on the sidelines did.

I keep my mouth shut, and use my own judgments in the "fight". Like any fight, I let people take a few good swings. My personality can handle it.
However, when you enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed person, you feel kinda bad for their moronic view of firearms, life, and what's owed them in general.

That being said, my acerbic nature is tempered with humor, but always a grain of truth.

[VACoastie]

Haha, I gotta have a beer with Rev, I have a feeling you and I would get along well. That's where a lot of my frustrations with society stem from as well. Everyones got a big bark, but few have that bite. Fewer then want to keep that bite locked down... Too much work, not enough time in my schedule, well it doesn't effect me now, those are a lot of excuses I hear from people who complain about issues.

Well guess what? Complaining got nobody anywhere... Get off your lazy butt and make a significant contribution or shut it! Simple as that.

Thanks for doing what you do out there too rakes, I know that can be quite the hassel.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[heyrakes]

personally i like to talk to the anti's. i have found that they rant and rave till they run out of stupid things to say (takes about 3 seconds) then you can calmly dispute anything they have to say.
as Joe Friday says "just the facts ma'am"

and i do get tickled at some of the stupid things they say too

[0007dad]

From the local paper
http://www.flickr.com/photos/newrivervalley/7992858394/

[heyrakes]

thanks 0007DAD. was this in the local paper or on line?

[0007dad]

I think it started in the paper then found it's way online.