I ran across an interesting site that has a pretty nifty PR idea.
http://www.gunssavelife.com/
The button is on the left, titled (strangely enough) "'Burma' signs".
"Burma Shave" Sign Headquarters
"Origins
Many Americans of the "older generation" are indeed familiar with Verse by the Roadside -- the Burma-Shave slogans which dotted American roadsides between the period 1927 to 1963. Guns Save Life dot com has spearheaded the "Return of the Burma's" as a means of providing information and even entertainment for those plying the highways and by-ways of Central Illinois and beyond.
The objective of each sign set is to proclaim a basic truth, and to provide the viewing public the means to find out more, such as by contacting our web site.
Our First Signs
The first set of signs erected by Guns Save Life dot com went up on I-74 east of Urbana, Illinois in the spring of 1998. The first set, consisting of three signs, proclaimed the simple truth, GUN CONTROL --- DISARMS VICTIMS -- NOT CRIMINALS. Based upon positive public reaction received, our group has expanded the concept to a basic four-line message followed by a fifth, "tag line" sign. In our case the tag line makes a summary statement as well as provides a web site address."GUNS SAVE LIFE.COM"
More signs!
Following the appearance of our first sign set on I-74 east of Urbana in 1998, other area land owners interested in American ideals noticed the signs and approached us through word-of-mouth inquiring how they might get a set of signs on their property. The result has been a systematic sign building and placement effort. The signs are now seen along various area interstates (and soon on major state highways). We estimate that every sign set is now viewed by at least ten-million passing motorists annually. In general, the Guns Save Life dot com orchestrates the erection of new signs. A number of different tasks are involved, these being; site procurement, slogan authorship/creation, construction and printing of panels, on-site erection, fund raising to cover expenses, legal counsel, and web site support.
Site Procurement: The task of site procurement is complex, but it does happen. Friends of the Second Amendment (meaning patriotic Americans who believe in the Constitution) are referred to us or contact us. One of our membership visits with the local landowner and inspects the site for suitability. Once the "go-ahead" is agreed upon, the materials are ordered and a work-day is scheduled.
Slogan Authorship/Creation: Interestingly, we get candidate slogans from many sources. We have several members who are creative in writing slogans, and we have other members who serve as editors and selection judges. At present, Guns Save Life dot com has approximately 250 finished slogans. From these an editing committee has reduced the best candidate list down to about 25. Finally, as a new slogan is about to be ordered for a site, a decision is made by editors. If you, upon browsing our site, have a candidate slogan to suggest, please do so. Contact either Richard Klein or Tom Menner.
Construction: As much as possible of the panel construction is done off-site and in a shop environment. This includes plywood cutting, installation of trim, and mounting of stiffeners. The printed messages are ordered from an area print shop.
Erecting the Signs: Most sets of slogans consist of five sign sets. A desired spacing of about 200 feet between signs is maintained on most highways, and this permits a comfortable two-second read time per sign for passing motorists. Construction and erection amounts to setting in place tens posts and attachment of backing panels that carry the printed slogans. A three person work crew can generally install a set of sign panels in about three hours with the right tools. Once in place, the condition of the signs is monitored by area members to cause the grass and weeds to be kept trim, and to repair any damage such as by windstorm.
Fundraising: Each five-panel set costs slightly more than $300. The necessary funds are raised by a variety of means such as donations, group fund-raising activities and other special events (such as an annual rummage sale of donated items). As a group, we have found that generation of funds, such as by donations, comes at about the same rate as fund expenditures. Because of requests for sign panel sets in more distant areas, the Guns Save Life dot com will assist other groups and individuals with the slogan and sign placement, but we generally ask that each area generate its own funding support. Moreover, for distant sites, it is very helpful if the locals can provide their sign posts, as well as a small tractor with posthole digger.
Legal Considerations: In most states laws prohibit digging (especially with powered equipment) without first getting a dig-permit from the state or other agency. In Illinois, for example, a dig permit can be obtained marking the site and then by calling J-U-L-I-E several days prior to digging. There is no cost for obtaining a dig permit. Second, any group or individual contemplating erection of signs along a public roadway should be aware that regulations exist concerning "commercial advertising." For example, the Code of Federal Regulations restricts placement of commercial billboards. Fortunately, the founding fathers granted us the Bill of Rights, and the first article in the Bill of Rights addresses the notion of Free Speech. In short, the signs erected by the Guns Save Life dot com constitute expressions of Free Speech, and thus are exempt from those laws restricting outdoor commercial advertising. Our association has retained counsel, and the opinion of the counsel is that we are exercising free speech. Other examples of free speech include churches that place religious messages, and politicians who post signs saying "Vote for Joe." In summary, so long as you or your group have a landowner's permission and post signs on private property within the bounds of the First Amendment, and if you get a dig permit, you are on solid legal ground. Yes, governmental agencies may harass you with dunning letters, but the Guns Save Life dot com would welcome the chance to go to court in such matters.
Web Site Support: Our goal is to provide meaningful information to the public, as well as a means for the public to access supporting documentation on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Current sign sets in place are as follows:
GUN CONTROL -- DISARMS VICTIMS -- NOT CRIMINALS
GUN CONTROL -- IS RACE CONTROL -- NOT CRIME CONTROL -- AND IT'S UN-AMERICAN
MY MOM SLEEPS SAFE -- HER PISTOL IS NEAR -- THUGS STEER CLEAR -- OR BANG THEY HEAR
SOCIETY IS SAFER -- WHEN CRIMINALS -- DON'T KNOW -- WHO'S ARMED
IN AUSTRALIA -- CRIME WAS LOW -- GUNS WERE BANNED -- AND CRIME DID GROW
ON UNARMED FOLKS -- THUGS DO PREY -- ILLINOIS LAW -- KEEPS IT THAT WAY
WHEN GUN CONTROL -- HAS US BEAT -- CRIMINALS WILL -- OWN THE STREET
THE RIGHT TO -- CARRY FIREARMS -- IS THE RIGHT TO -- PROTECT YOUR FAMILY
EVERY YEAR -- 2 MILLION TIMES -- ARMED CITIZENS -- PREVENT CRIMES
DISARMING VICTIMS -- WON'T STOP CRIME
Note: the present locations are on I-74 ranging from Farmer City east to Fithian Illinois. Four sets are on westbound I-74, and two sets are on Eastbound I-74. Approximately six additional sites are in the planning stages including I-72, I-57, and several state highway locations.
Gun Owner Response
Guns Save Life dot com has been pleased and even overwhelmed by the response to our sign slogans. Response has come from many quarters of society. Americans who respect the Second Amendment have been very supportive. The support manifests itself in many ways ranging from E-mail responses, telephone calls, support and donations at area gun shows, CB chatter along the highway which we monitor from time to time, and oral feedback. In short, the area pro-gun community is proud of these signs and doesn't hesitate to tell us so.
The media has also noticed, to the point that The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette wrote a feature article on February 19, 1999 that included color photographs on the front page. (This article is also available here.) A few months later, the Monticello newspaper had a front page story about the signs.
The Oliver North radio show even discussed the Burma-Shave signs one day in the Spring of 1999.
Other pro-gun groups in other areas of the State of Illinois are organizing so as to get signs in their areas. We have even had pro-gun groups in areas as distant as Florida express an interest in adopting the roadside sign slogans. As these locations come on-board, we will make an effort to keep the web site current.
Of course, the anti-gun community has noticed these signs. We hope to educate the entire community as to one basic and undeniable fact, that being, "Guns Save Life." We say that because in virtually all responsible and scholarly studies that examine the facts, society is safer when citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. Yes, the opposition can cite isolated instances of an anecdotal nature of some unfortunate situation where some innocent person was injured or killed by a gun. The truth is that anecdotal information fails to look at the society as a whole, and it fails to measure the good which guns in the hands of honest citizens can do.
The most zealous anti-gunner is invited, for example, to read the book "More Guns, Less Crime" by University of Chicago professor John Lott. Moreover, upon such reading, if a flaw exists in Lott's logic or in his findings, the critic or skeptic is challenged to present an acceptable scholarly rebuttal. The definition of "acceptable" means just not that the offering critic likes it, but that a learned society will peer review and publish the rebuttal and its findings. The point is that Lott's work has withstood all attempts to date by the anti-gunners to discredit the Lott work in a scholarly forum.
An Invitation: If you feel that American freedoms are at risk, and if you would like to join or assist in our efforts, you are cordially invited to join, to respond, or to even help support our work through a donation of time, materials, land site acquisition, or even dollars. Please feel free to contact either Richard Klein or Tom Menner.
Last updated: April 2000"
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited September 23, 2000).]
http://www.gunssavelife.com/
The button is on the left, titled (strangely enough) "'Burma' signs".
"Burma Shave" Sign Headquarters
"Origins
Many Americans of the "older generation" are indeed familiar with Verse by the Roadside -- the Burma-Shave slogans which dotted American roadsides between the period 1927 to 1963. Guns Save Life dot com has spearheaded the "Return of the Burma's" as a means of providing information and even entertainment for those plying the highways and by-ways of Central Illinois and beyond.
The objective of each sign set is to proclaim a basic truth, and to provide the viewing public the means to find out more, such as by contacting our web site.
Our First Signs
The first set of signs erected by Guns Save Life dot com went up on I-74 east of Urbana, Illinois in the spring of 1998. The first set, consisting of three signs, proclaimed the simple truth, GUN CONTROL --- DISARMS VICTIMS -- NOT CRIMINALS. Based upon positive public reaction received, our group has expanded the concept to a basic four-line message followed by a fifth, "tag line" sign. In our case the tag line makes a summary statement as well as provides a web site address."GUNS SAVE LIFE.COM"
More signs!
Following the appearance of our first sign set on I-74 east of Urbana in 1998, other area land owners interested in American ideals noticed the signs and approached us through word-of-mouth inquiring how they might get a set of signs on their property. The result has been a systematic sign building and placement effort. The signs are now seen along various area interstates (and soon on major state highways). We estimate that every sign set is now viewed by at least ten-million passing motorists annually. In general, the Guns Save Life dot com orchestrates the erection of new signs. A number of different tasks are involved, these being; site procurement, slogan authorship/creation, construction and printing of panels, on-site erection, fund raising to cover expenses, legal counsel, and web site support.
Site Procurement: The task of site procurement is complex, but it does happen. Friends of the Second Amendment (meaning patriotic Americans who believe in the Constitution) are referred to us or contact us. One of our membership visits with the local landowner and inspects the site for suitability. Once the "go-ahead" is agreed upon, the materials are ordered and a work-day is scheduled.
Slogan Authorship/Creation: Interestingly, we get candidate slogans from many sources. We have several members who are creative in writing slogans, and we have other members who serve as editors and selection judges. At present, Guns Save Life dot com has approximately 250 finished slogans. From these an editing committee has reduced the best candidate list down to about 25. Finally, as a new slogan is about to be ordered for a site, a decision is made by editors. If you, upon browsing our site, have a candidate slogan to suggest, please do so. Contact either Richard Klein or Tom Menner.
Construction: As much as possible of the panel construction is done off-site and in a shop environment. This includes plywood cutting, installation of trim, and mounting of stiffeners. The printed messages are ordered from an area print shop.
Erecting the Signs: Most sets of slogans consist of five sign sets. A desired spacing of about 200 feet between signs is maintained on most highways, and this permits a comfortable two-second read time per sign for passing motorists. Construction and erection amounts to setting in place tens posts and attachment of backing panels that carry the printed slogans. A three person work crew can generally install a set of sign panels in about three hours with the right tools. Once in place, the condition of the signs is monitored by area members to cause the grass and weeds to be kept trim, and to repair any damage such as by windstorm.
Fundraising: Each five-panel set costs slightly more than $300. The necessary funds are raised by a variety of means such as donations, group fund-raising activities and other special events (such as an annual rummage sale of donated items). As a group, we have found that generation of funds, such as by donations, comes at about the same rate as fund expenditures. Because of requests for sign panel sets in more distant areas, the Guns Save Life dot com will assist other groups and individuals with the slogan and sign placement, but we generally ask that each area generate its own funding support. Moreover, for distant sites, it is very helpful if the locals can provide their sign posts, as well as a small tractor with posthole digger.
Legal Considerations: In most states laws prohibit digging (especially with powered equipment) without first getting a dig-permit from the state or other agency. In Illinois, for example, a dig permit can be obtained marking the site and then by calling J-U-L-I-E several days prior to digging. There is no cost for obtaining a dig permit. Second, any group or individual contemplating erection of signs along a public roadway should be aware that regulations exist concerning "commercial advertising." For example, the Code of Federal Regulations restricts placement of commercial billboards. Fortunately, the founding fathers granted us the Bill of Rights, and the first article in the Bill of Rights addresses the notion of Free Speech. In short, the signs erected by the Guns Save Life dot com constitute expressions of Free Speech, and thus are exempt from those laws restricting outdoor commercial advertising. Our association has retained counsel, and the opinion of the counsel is that we are exercising free speech. Other examples of free speech include churches that place religious messages, and politicians who post signs saying "Vote for Joe." In summary, so long as you or your group have a landowner's permission and post signs on private property within the bounds of the First Amendment, and if you get a dig permit, you are on solid legal ground. Yes, governmental agencies may harass you with dunning letters, but the Guns Save Life dot com would welcome the chance to go to court in such matters.
Web Site Support: Our goal is to provide meaningful information to the public, as well as a means for the public to access supporting documentation on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Current sign sets in place are as follows:
GUN CONTROL -- DISARMS VICTIMS -- NOT CRIMINALS
GUN CONTROL -- IS RACE CONTROL -- NOT CRIME CONTROL -- AND IT'S UN-AMERICAN
MY MOM SLEEPS SAFE -- HER PISTOL IS NEAR -- THUGS STEER CLEAR -- OR BANG THEY HEAR
SOCIETY IS SAFER -- WHEN CRIMINALS -- DON'T KNOW -- WHO'S ARMED
IN AUSTRALIA -- CRIME WAS LOW -- GUNS WERE BANNED -- AND CRIME DID GROW
ON UNARMED FOLKS -- THUGS DO PREY -- ILLINOIS LAW -- KEEPS IT THAT WAY
WHEN GUN CONTROL -- HAS US BEAT -- CRIMINALS WILL -- OWN THE STREET
THE RIGHT TO -- CARRY FIREARMS -- IS THE RIGHT TO -- PROTECT YOUR FAMILY
EVERY YEAR -- 2 MILLION TIMES -- ARMED CITIZENS -- PREVENT CRIMES
DISARMING VICTIMS -- WON'T STOP CRIME
Note: the present locations are on I-74 ranging from Farmer City east to Fithian Illinois. Four sets are on westbound I-74, and two sets are on Eastbound I-74. Approximately six additional sites are in the planning stages including I-72, I-57, and several state highway locations.
Gun Owner Response
Guns Save Life dot com has been pleased and even overwhelmed by the response to our sign slogans. Response has come from many quarters of society. Americans who respect the Second Amendment have been very supportive. The support manifests itself in many ways ranging from E-mail responses, telephone calls, support and donations at area gun shows, CB chatter along the highway which we monitor from time to time, and oral feedback. In short, the area pro-gun community is proud of these signs and doesn't hesitate to tell us so.
The media has also noticed, to the point that The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette wrote a feature article on February 19, 1999 that included color photographs on the front page. (This article is also available here.) A few months later, the Monticello newspaper had a front page story about the signs.
The Oliver North radio show even discussed the Burma-Shave signs one day in the Spring of 1999.
Other pro-gun groups in other areas of the State of Illinois are organizing so as to get signs in their areas. We have even had pro-gun groups in areas as distant as Florida express an interest in adopting the roadside sign slogans. As these locations come on-board, we will make an effort to keep the web site current.
Of course, the anti-gun community has noticed these signs. We hope to educate the entire community as to one basic and undeniable fact, that being, "Guns Save Life." We say that because in virtually all responsible and scholarly studies that examine the facts, society is safer when citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. Yes, the opposition can cite isolated instances of an anecdotal nature of some unfortunate situation where some innocent person was injured or killed by a gun. The truth is that anecdotal information fails to look at the society as a whole, and it fails to measure the good which guns in the hands of honest citizens can do.
The most zealous anti-gunner is invited, for example, to read the book "More Guns, Less Crime" by University of Chicago professor John Lott. Moreover, upon such reading, if a flaw exists in Lott's logic or in his findings, the critic or skeptic is challenged to present an acceptable scholarly rebuttal. The definition of "acceptable" means just not that the offering critic likes it, but that a learned society will peer review and publish the rebuttal and its findings. The point is that Lott's work has withstood all attempts to date by the anti-gunners to discredit the Lott work in a scholarly forum.
An Invitation: If you feel that American freedoms are at risk, and if you would like to join or assist in our efforts, you are cordially invited to join, to respond, or to even help support our work through a donation of time, materials, land site acquisition, or even dollars. Please feel free to contact either Richard Klein or Tom Menner.
Last updated: April 2000"
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited September 23, 2000).]
