I'm talking how do we champion our cause? I personally believe we need to focus much more on ballot-down elections to ensure that Pro-2A politicians (with a pro-2A voting record) maintain control of congress. I don't even care about the POTUS election so much. I get that the power to nominate justices to the SCOTUS has a lasting effect, but honestly we have one candidate who we know for a fact will fight to enact an AWB and restrict gun rights and another who claims to support the NRA but went on record supporting the former AWB in the past. Because of this, I'm going to pick my local congressmen (that share my views, obviously) and put what little political effort I can muster into helping them. I think that will far better serve our cause than stressing over who will be the next president. After all, a president cannot make law, or a ban.
Next, and the more difficult task. How can we, as a group, counter the political push that is trying to make firearms and firearms enthusiasts social pariahs? Comments in another thread likened it to smoking. Before the 90's, smoking cigarettes was rather common. There was a huge push to portray it as dirty and something that needed to be controlled by the government. Obviously smoking is unhealthy and if you smoke indoors you affect everyone in that building... but it is still an issue of personal freedom. Now smoking is socially unacceptable in many places, and Anti-2A advocates seem to be using the same strategy used by the anti-cigarette lobby in the 90's. After all that strategy worked pretty well. I wouldn't say that we need more smokers, but we do need more people in the shooting sports. I will never forget competing in the FFA matches as a teenager or hunting with my friends. I want my kids and grandkids to have the same experience, but at the rate we're going my grandkids may not be allowed to participate. How do we counter the social stigma? Do you think there is a remote chance that there would be any participation in a youth shooting club organized at your church, or local town parks system?
Somehow we have to create a new generation of firearms enthusiasts, and the ones that become do not become enthusiasts should at least be exposed to the fact that enthusiasts are normal people and not whack job gun nuts. The only way I can think of is to sponsor local marksmanship clubs (if even using only air rifles), but I'm sure others have ideas.
Next, and the more difficult task. How can we, as a group, counter the political push that is trying to make firearms and firearms enthusiasts social pariahs? Comments in another thread likened it to smoking. Before the 90's, smoking cigarettes was rather common. There was a huge push to portray it as dirty and something that needed to be controlled by the government. Obviously smoking is unhealthy and if you smoke indoors you affect everyone in that building... but it is still an issue of personal freedom. Now smoking is socially unacceptable in many places, and Anti-2A advocates seem to be using the same strategy used by the anti-cigarette lobby in the 90's. After all that strategy worked pretty well. I wouldn't say that we need more smokers, but we do need more people in the shooting sports. I will never forget competing in the FFA matches as a teenager or hunting with my friends. I want my kids and grandkids to have the same experience, but at the rate we're going my grandkids may not be allowed to participate. How do we counter the social stigma? Do you think there is a remote chance that there would be any participation in a youth shooting club organized at your church, or local town parks system?
Somehow we have to create a new generation of firearms enthusiasts, and the ones that become do not become enthusiasts should at least be exposed to the fact that enthusiasts are normal people and not whack job gun nuts. The only way I can think of is to sponsor local marksmanship clubs (if even using only air rifles), but I'm sure others have ideas.