Gun owners to send used targets to legislators

O

Oatka

New member
While there is some controversy over this (among gun owners, when isn't there controversy? :) ), the deal is going down, regardless.

And another miracle - an even-handed gun article from the Houston Chronicle - was that a pig I saw that just flew by? The editor is at: hci@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/578341

Gun owners to send used targets to legislators

By T.J. MILLING
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle

Gun control opponents are being urged to shoot it up at their local gun ranges on Father's Day in what is being billed as the 50 Million Round March.

Participants in the event, a response to the Million Mom March on Mother's Day in Washington, D.C., will then be encouraged to send used targets and spent shells to legislators and the White House.

"I think that's a very intense step, and I think some people will probably do it," said Alan Korwin of Bloomfield Press in Phoenix, which faxed out press releases announcing the event. "The notion of an armed public is a balance of power and a deterrent to tyranny, and I think that's the notion behind that."

The march is providing a special target with a quote from Thomas Jefferson about the benefits of shooting spiraling toward the the bull's eye. Organizers have asked that no bullet-riddled silhouettes or pictures be used.

The Secret Service was not concerned about the possibility of thousands of shell casings and shot-up targets arriving in the nation's capital.

"If it's just sending targets and shells, we wouldn't have a comment on that," spokesman Marc Connolly said.

The Million Mom March president, Mary Leigh Blek, said the gesture just shows how out of touch gun advocates are.

But Jeff Head, an Emmett, Idaho, engineer who came up with the idea, said the march is a symbolic gesture by gun owners to their leaders and a fitting retort to the mom march. He said the Father's Day shootout is just the first of many on national holidays such as Independence Day.

"You don't have to go to Washington, D.C., to make a difference," he said. "Go down to your local range, shoot responsibly and send a letter, and you'll make a difference. It has kind of captured people's imaginations."

Head's Web site, www.50mrmarch.com , had received more than 90,000 hits by Tuesday, and gun ranges around the country had agreed to take part.

Anthony Saragusa, general manager of Top Gun of Texas in Houston, is gearing up for the day, but he only supported sending targets -- not shell casings -- to politicians.

"I think the targets would do fine," he said. "I think the spent casings is a waste of time. You can go overboard on these things. We're kind of down the middle. We're not radical one way or the other. I was worried it was going to be too radical, but I don't think it's going to be that way."

-- 30 --

If any of the TFL distaff side takes part, here's an interesting suggestion from a FreeRepublic poster: ". . . make sure you include a lipstick "kiss" on your targets so's they know they're from a Gal!".

Seems to me to be a pretty good way to counter the MMM b/s.

Also, check this out:
http://www.myplanet.net/jeffhead/50MRMarch/endors.htm



[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
DO NOT DO THIS. I am sorry even given my background and love of firearms I would take this as a threat. I would not recomend this to anyone. Send a letter, send an email, call them. But do not send a bullet, empty brass, a target, etc.
 
I agree with Kevinw ... something like this can be seen as a threat which is the last thing we need and it could also land you in hot water as well.
Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
fud-nra.gif
 
FUD and Kevin, ANYTHING can be seen as a threat, including those letters you suggest. "Ooooo, those scary gun nuts are telling me to stop making new laws!"

[rant]
Furthermore, threats are GOOD. They put the thugs on notice that it's a really-really-REALLY bad idea to arouse the anger of people with guns, which they seem to have forgotten. Justifiably so, I'm sorry to report.

Playing by the rules has gotten us where we are now. Stop cowering and being nice. Put the bastards in their place. My g-d, people, WE are the ones upon whom the fate of the country rests!

Remember that scene in "The Replacement Killers," where Chow-Yun Fat places a single 9mm cartridge in front of the restaurant manager? Can you imagine how utterly terrified the thugs would be in that position?

I say again: do not bow to those who fret and complain about our unwillingness to submit to tyranny (or "compromise," in their lingo). They already consider us to be subhuman troglodytes, so why not drop the pretense of niceness? Why not stand up for yourselves and say, "Yeah, I'm a gun owner! Think about what that means before you try anything stupid!"

[/rant]
 
If you want to make sure that your target that you send to your legislators is not
mis-taken for a threat, simply type or
print in indellable ink your message to them right on the front or back of the target.

This way, it says right on the target that in no way is the target to be
misconstrewed as ant type of threat but instead is meerly a way to get our legislators attentions concerning the dangers
to freedom and our constitutional rights that is represented by so called mislabled "Gun Control" which is really
meant by some to be People Control.

The Framers of the Constitution meant for the American people to be armed to the same
extent as a modern infantryman is armed,
so that guns in the hands of the law abiding
would serve as a check and balance and a cause for pause, to a tyranical government, now out of control.

Further gun control aimed at the law abiding instead of aumed at criminals will not be tollerated and any politician who votes for such will be voted out of office
and replaced by a pro-gun canadate.

80 million voting gun owners can accomplish this.


WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF ANTI GUN SOCIALISTS
TRYING TO STEAL OUR SECOND AMMENDMENT RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.THESE SOCIALISTS ARE NOT TRUE AMERICANS and in my opinion should be viewed as enemies domestic of the Constitution and breakers of their sacred oathes of office.


We, all of us, stand upon a crossroads, between the American that has stood us in good stead for the past 225 years and the
Socialists dreams of a New World Order and as a concerned American , I can no longer sit back and be silent as I watch America
turn into some socialist big brother, nanny government state where adult citizens are treated like ill behaved and badly brought up childern.
[This message has been edited by ernest2 (edited June 14, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by ernest2 (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
Jeff Head is a personal friend of mine. I've been involved with this here in Virginia almost from the start. We've discussed this at some length, actually.

You are your own person, and you have to decide what your "comfort zone" is. As far as I am concerned, the Second Amendment is a passive threat unto itself. If you want to send a couple of targets, I find nothing wrong with it. Just make sure there aren't any photos of certain politicians taped to them prior to you shooting the paper full of holes. And only send in the REALLY good ones if you're gonna. I recommend writing the caliber of the bullet used and the range at which it was shot on the target.

I also agree with Coinneach. Depending on the tone of the letter it could be construed as just as much a threat as any piece of brass or a target. And a "gentle reminder" is something that some of these folks appear to be in dire need of.

We've had over 200 years of peaceful transitions of power in this country. That is due in no small part to the fact that the citizenry is armed. An older gentleman, who I have gotten almost to the same radical position of freedom that I hold on this issue, made that point to me the other day. He said I had made him start thinking about such things for the first time in his life, and he's in his 60's. Events like this DO help in such efforts, too. Take a non-shooter along with you if you can.

I'll be taking a lot of pictures and getting to meet some folks in person on Sunday who I had only previously spoken with via e-mail, posting on the Net, or (a couple) over the phone. There are four ranges here that are participating, and I'm gonna try to get to each of them at some point so I can meet the folks who are shooting. I imagine those photos of smiling families blasting away down-range would be at least as good as a two-inch group at 25 yards.

But it's all about perception. Do we want to generate a sense of warm fuzziness about firearms ownership in the politicians who stand against us, or do we want to scare the bejeezus out of them. If you stop and think about it for a minute, only one of those is really an option.

That being said, if you take a look at the web page http://www.50mrmarch.com , you will see that Jeff and the other folks who have put this idea into motion do NOT recommend sending in targets or brass. They would much rather see you reload the brass, for one thing. :) They also do not DISCOURAGE it. Like I said, each of us is an adult, and each must determine for himself what is and is not to be done. As with anything in life, there are potential risks involved, but I suspect that they aren't going to go and arrest everyone who sends them a bullet-riddled target. It is possible that I am wrong, though, and that it could end up getting very ugly.

You decide.

[This message has been edited by Bob Locke (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
Non-action will bring about loss.

It's time to make these bastards in the Logic Free Zone of D.C. to take us seriously.

If you don't agree with sending brass and targets, then you should read The Window War.

It's time to get off your asses and stop waiting for someone else to protect your rights for you. If you don't act soon, you deserve what you will get... total violation of your rights by your elected ruling class.


Live Free or DIE!
 
FWIW, I am not all that happy about sending shot-up targets. Speak softly and keep tabs.

Other ways to persuade or make a point exist...that do not lend themselves to bllody shirt waving by the recipients.

YMMV
 
That's the point, Oleg. If you're not happy, then don't do it. Each man (or woman) must make up his own mind. No one is trying to tell anyone else what they must or must not do. This is, after all, a free country.

For now, at least.
 
Sending in targets is fine, just pick your targets carefully. To send in an NRA approved bullseye target with a 10 shot group at 7 yards and a note that said, 'I shoot and I vote.' is one thing. To send in a picture of Clinton with devil horns drawn on him, and 'TRAITOR', 'ANTI-CHRIST' or 'RAPIST' written across his forehead with a 100 yard 3 shot group in his left eye would probably NOT be a good idea. One is personal expression protected under the first amendment, the other might be taken to mean something.
 
"Damn, Hunny, I think I'm going to have to go to the range this weekend. ;)" "BTW, do you have a stamp or two? :)"

------------------
BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!
Defend the Constitution from the foreign threat!!!!

"Man killing is nasty business"---Finn Aggard
 
FWIW - For those who would like to send in a target, but won't be near a range - I just miked a regular #2 pencil and it is so close to .30 cal, the difference is negligible. ;)

"I shoot - and vote" is OK. Here's other suggestions: "I exercised my Second Amendment right today." Add "Thanks for defending it." where appropriate. For the others, "I exercised my Second Amendment right today - and now I'm exercising the First." That should eliminate any perceived threat factor.

------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.


[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
Guys, I'm staying well out of this one, because I'm a foreigner and, quite frankly, it's none of my damned business.

However ... I do wish the organisers had asked an editor to look at the text beneath the target before sending it out.

"unequivocable" -- unequivocal
"unalienable" -- inalienable
"familes.!" -- families!
"deny us of" -- deny us

There are some other quibbles (like the inappropriate use of "enumerate"), and I'm probably being picky -- but I don't believe in giving the antis any opportunities to point the finger and mutter phrases such as "uneducated rednecks".

I'll shut up and back on out of here now, with hands held protectively atop my head.

B

[This message has been edited by Bruce in West Oz (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
As Coinneach pointed out, anything can be perceived as a threat.

We're dealing with seriously disturbed people anyway who routinely deny reality, so why not send a shot up target?

Bruce,
Ever thought of teaching English over here in Japan? I know a nice air rifle range in Nagoya...



[This message has been edited by Munro Williams (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
Just look at the results of the media's propaganda... Here we are a group of gun owners afraid to send our reps a copy of our target... Hell we should be proud of how good most of us can shoot. We should be proud to let our reps know how good we can shoot.

We really have to change our attitude. This reminds me of when the gays came out of the closet. Up until then they were afraid of what others would think...

If we continue with this type of attitude, instead of being proud of what we are, then we only give credibility to their charges that all gun owners should be ashamed. I say NO! I'm a proud gun owner and I will send in my target to let my rep know where I stand on the issue.



------------------
Richard

The debate is not about guns,
but rather who has the ultimate power to rule,
the People or Government.
RKBA!
 
If you think anyone will actually look at these targets closely, you're crazy. The impact will be if a hundred large trucks full of bundles of targets appear at the Capitol steps and asks who wants to take delivery.

This is a media event just like the MMM or the Promise Keepers or the Million Man March. The point is to impress on congress in real terms how many folks care about an issue and a hundred delivery trucks pulling up to the Capitol filled with shooter's targets cannot
be ignored.

However, if only one or two trucks show up, we would be well advised to not bother. Maybe there are better ways to make a difference? Like lobbying Congress the way the NRA currently does? Something these folks should consider is that this in-your-face tactic doesn't sell to a lot of gun owners out here no matter how much we all agree on the issue.

[This message has been edited by proximo (edited June 14, 2000).]
 
Agree with Coinneach. Send the targets. No one's going to to take them as such a threat as to get you in trouble, given the publicity about this.
 
good idea, I'm up for it...

One simple thing to write on your target

Support our 2nd amendment rights and I may support you in November.

A letter would also be appropriate.

------------------
Peace through superior firepower...
Keith

If the 2nd is antiquated, what will happen to the rest.
"the right to keep and bear arms."
 
I've said it before and will say it again:

DO NOT DO THIS! You are fooling yourselves if you believe sending targets and shell casings will garner positive political support for the RKBA.
 
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