#IAmAGunOwner

[Mindflayer]

The anti-2A lobby and the media have done a good job portraying we gun owners as one of several types:

• The hunter. These people are "okay". However, this type is starting to be attacked as well.
• The sportsman/skeet/clay shooter. These people are "okay", as long as they are using a single shot shotgun.
• The self-defense gun owner. These people are "crazy".
• The gun owner that shoots for fun. These people are "crazy".

Now, they also break us down into these categories:

• Right wing, old, racist white guy.
• Drug dealer/gangbanger black guy.
• Drug dealer/gangbanger Latino.
• Crazy prepper guy.
• Crazy survivalist guy.

I know many of us don't want to promote that we own guns. I believe, though, that some of us need to be heard. We need to show to the public that we are your next door neighbor, your doctor, your kids' teacher, your mechanic, your accountant. We are normal, well-adjusted folks that believe in the Second Amendment.

Too often we gun folks attack each other. We need to bring it to an end - we're in a real fight, and we can't be split. You can bet your last round that the anti-2A are trying to divide and conquer and we can not give them more ammunition. Beyond that, we need to bring others that may be ambivalent to our side. We can't do that by allowing the media to continue to spin the negative images of us.

I am trying to find a way to start to evangelize this. Perhaps use the #IAAGO on social media sites when making a stance on something. I certainly evangelize when I talk with friends - well, perhaps proselytize is a better term, as I am trying to sway, convince, and convert.

I'm looking for more ideas. Thoughts?

[SHMIV]

I hear ya, MindFlayer. This is why I open carry, and encourage others to do so.

The misinformed public need to see normal people carrying as they go about their daily business. Open carry dinners are cool and all, but I fear that what others may see is simply a gathering of fanatics; not quite the message that we need to send.

We should all make it a habit to OC once or twice a month as we do our errands. And make it a point to smile and be friendly as we do so.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Stratojaxter]

I remember when Romney was running for President, seeing those "I'm a Mormon" ads. I think something similar could work for gun owners if done right.

Imagine a woman laughing with co-workers on her way out the door, then show her at the range getting in some practice during her lunch break. Next, you see her talking with another parent about all the crime in the news while picking up her daughter at the bus stop. Then finally you see her arriving home with her child, saying hi to the neighbor sitting on the porch, before walking in the house, removing her concealed gun from her hip, locking it in the safe, and starting dinner. Throw in some crime stats to make the point that the world is inherently unsafe, and you have a commercial that isn't actually anything that doesn't happen on any given day.

[thekinetic]

As soon as I get my holster and permit for CC I'm going to nearly soley OC, the CC is just a preventive measure in case anyone wants to cry foul. I hope I represent gun owners well!

[Mindflayer]

I agree, Stratojaxter. Don't show scary crime or anything, just someone going about their day. That's a great idea.

[gaudard]

Stratojaxter that sounds like a great ad, maybe you should pitch it to the NRA! I would agree with Mindflayer, you don't need crime stats or anything. Maybe some discussion about a three-gun competition to help my next point?

I don't think the anti-gun folks who would be swayed by this, would make much of a difference. I think they see the AR15 as an automatic killing machine and criminals swarming to gunshows to stock-up on their automatic killing machines. I don't have a good way to change that imagery.

[Stratojaxter]

Mindflayer & gaudard, do you really think the crime stats or mention of high crime would hurt the message? Maybe I give the left too much credit, but they have to be disturbed by the number of abduction attempts, robberies, and general crimes in the news on any given day. Also, I'd be afraid that concentrating on the sporting side of gun ownership would lead to more of the "2nd amendment is about hunting" bs, and would have those opposed to guns asking why someone just practicing for a tournament needs to carry a loaded gun on her hip while picking up her kids.

If our founding fathers thought civilian need for for guns was for hunting or sporting, we wouldn't have a 2nd Amendment...well, maybe we would, as they wouldn't have just skipped #2 - that would just be silly, but you know what I mean.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to feed into the "gun owners are paranoid nutjobs" attitude, but shouldn't the need to defend yourself and your family be part of the message. If so, how do you get that point across?

[Mindflayer]

Stratojaxter, I don't mean to focus on the hunting side, but instead to show a positive image, rather than use the FEAR tactic. Show everyday people carrying to protect themselves, and don't use the criminal to evoke fear.

"NRA members are your neighbor, your pastor, your babysitter. They protect themselves safely everyday. You should, too!"

[Stratojaxter]

Stratojaxter, I don't mean to focus on the hunting side, but instead to show a positive image, rather than use the FEAR tactic. Show everyday people carrying to protect themselves, and don't use the criminal to evoke fear.

"NRA members are your neighbor, your pastor, your babysitter. They protect themselves safely everyday. You should, too!"

Gotcha - I see what you're saying. I think I will try pitching the idea to the NRA. Would be cool if I saw the ad someday

[dorminWS]

HMMMMMMM If my being solicitous of my Second Amendment rights makes me a paranoid nut-job, it must necessarily be because there is absolutely NO chance that the government would ever step out of line such that I would need to exercise those rights to oppose tyranny; right?

Sooo - - If it is true that there is absolutely NO chance that the government would ever step out of line such that I would need to exercise those rights to oppose tyranny, doesn't that mean there also absolutely NO chance I would ever be so offended as to take up arms? And doesn't that in turn mean my arms are absolutely NO threat to the government?

So why are they worried about me having them or getting more of them?

UNLESS, of course, they DO want to take them; in which case, one cannot help but ask WHY they would want to take them.....

I wonder if this wheel I'm on is the wheel WITHIN the wheel, or the wheel WITHOUT?

- - - my head hurts.

[gaudard]

Maybe an interview or two with some criminals about whom they would prefer to rob?

I think if you throw stats into it, the anti-2A will come back with if there weren't any guns then there wouldn't be any gun crime or it would be that much harder for a criminal to get a gun to perpetrate a crime.

[SHMIV]

The folks to focus on are the fence sitters. And the best way to get their attention is to SHOW them that gun owners are not scary people.

The best way to show them is to put aside the silly fear that you'll be the target for the armed robber in Happy Mart, or that someone will club you and relieve you of your weapon, and just practice openly carrying a few times a month while running your normal errands.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Mindflayer]

This video in this thread is exactly what I want to see:

http://vagunforum.net/general-discussio ... 17972.html