August 1st "Shall Issue" Protest in Annapolis, MD
- Thread starter boxcab
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Yellowfin
Member
Some advertising in gun shops, ranges, Facebook, NRA publications, etc. is in order. It's a tough task but that's what it's going to take. Other forums like AR15.com are also good for it.
I think this kind of action is Great... It's about time Gun Owner's got together and did something --The politicians will notice. A good Peaceful protest can go a very long way.
PM me if you guys need some Wristbands I'll hook you up.
PM me if you guys need some Wristbands I'll hook you up.
Got my Official, Approved, and Blessed Permit from the City of Annapolis today. Law enforcement has been talked to and their troops are aware of our protest, the Maryland AG wished us luck (even though he is Anti) as well as the Governor.
Letters went out to the Papers, radio and TV stations two weeks ago, no response as of yet.
All we need now is for a good turn out. The only way we can make an impression on the Representatives and the Press is to field a lot of bodies. This is an easy protest... no slogans, no speeches, no yelling. Just come enjoy the city with us, make a showing of your empty holster while you’re shopping and dinning, and experience what it would feel like to exercise your rights. We will get there some day.
-Boxcab
Letters went out to the Papers, radio and TV stations two weeks ago, no response as of yet.
All we need now is for a good turn out. The only way we can make an impression on the Representatives and the Press is to field a lot of bodies. This is an easy protest... no slogans, no speeches, no yelling. Just come enjoy the city with us, make a showing of your empty holster while you’re shopping and dinning, and experience what it would feel like to exercise your rights. We will get there some day.
-Boxcab
XDMfan40
Member
I am deifinitely interested. Any type of peaceful demonstration for our right to carry is a good one. Let me know how to sign up for this.
See the original post, there is a link over to Maryland Shooters that has the up-to-date info. Basicly, just show up. I'll be at the end of Main Street from 12 Noon to about 1 or so. Stop by, introduce yourself and then enjoy Annapolis. No sign up and none of that pesky officialism. We are the citizens of Maryland out and about our business and entertainment. The Open Holster is a sign to each other and the general population that we exist and are out in society.
The protest is only a week away! I'll see you all there! Bring a positive, friendly attitude, an empty holster, your family and enjoy your time in Annapolis!
-Boxcab
NotSoFast
Member
Voting and repeated and frequent email/mail/phone calls to representatives is the best way to get things stopped or started.
The local paper has picked up on our protest-
Maryland Gazette - Open Holster Protest
Come on out and join us.... the number of participants matters! We need to keep the attention of the Press and that requires us to put on a good showing.
-Boxcab
Maryland Gazette - Open Holster Protest
Come on out and join us.... the number of participants matters! We need to keep the attention of the Press and that requires us to put on a good showing.
-Boxcab
DHJenkins
Member
Ok, here goes:
If you want 'good' media coverage (TV), form an organization that doesn't have anything to do with shooting in the title. Something like "Maryland Citizens for Equality". (take a lesson from SARC)
Put up a professional looking website with said organization name.
Find someone amongst your numbers who can articulate your stances/opinions well on camera. Keep your opinions based on equality, safety, etc... Don't make it about guns.
A week before your scheduled events, issue press releases to all of your local media outlets.
The idea is to play the (TV) media the way they play us. If you play by their rules, you'll get far more accomplished than simply staging a protest and expecting them to show up; or, worse yet, having them show up and paint your group as a bunch of 'gun nuts'.
(TV) Media attention means exposure. More exposure will likely lead to more 'members', which means larger protests, which will draw more media, etc...
This strategy worked very well for a certain 1st amendment issue I worked on a couple of years ago. Our 'spokesperson' even made it on CNN, and was actually called upon to comment on other, unrelated freedom of speech issues for months after our particular issue was resolved.
Thanks for your input, let me run through these sugestions, remember we do not live in Texas where guns are not seen as the tool of the Devil...
Sounds like a Seinfeld episode, "create a group about nothing". (Sorry, cheap shot, just kidding) How do we get people to join this group? Why would they join this group? How do we get them to work for this group? A group without members is not much of a group. Getting people to work for the cause here in Maryland is the tough part. If we had motivated people we would not have a problem. If we do get TV time and we don't "have anything to do with guns" in our name, how does that help our plight?
Doable.
We have someone that can do this, but guns, or lack there of, is the topic.
Done that , only one paper showed any interest. The press in Maryland just want horror stories about guns.
How do the media "play us"? You are not very clear here. How do I "play them"? I have notified them of the event, offered to provide more info and/or interviews... how do I make them cover us?
No argument here. How do we get them to cover our event? If the Press does not show up, what then?
Thanks for the example, you have obviously been there, done that. Unfortunately, 1st Ammendment and 2nd Ammendment issues are not viewed the same by any media outlet. They tend to be bias towards their own Ammendment. So how do we get our spokesman face time on CNN? Do you know of a CNN reporter that might want to do a possitive story on Shall Issue and Open Carry gun laws?
I am not trying to be an ass, but the devil is always in the details. In order to get our message out (Shall Issue CCW and Open Carry) we need to talk about guns. Yes, it will be wrapped in a public safety message, but the Press is not interested in facts here in Maryland (or most of the rest of the country). The only story they run is on "automatic, pump shot guns" being used in a crime. It is not funny, we need to break the ice and I can use any constructive advice that can be used.
In the mean time, we are still ON for this Saturday in Annapolis, we hope to build on this protest, rally some troops and get enough people to get the Presses attention.
-Boxcab
Sounds like a Seinfeld episode, "create a group about nothing". (Sorry, cheap shot, just kidding) How do we get people to join this group? Why would they join this group? How do we get them to work for this group? A group without members is not much of a group. Getting people to work for the cause here in Maryland is the tough part. If we had motivated people we would not have a problem. If we do get TV time and we don't "have anything to do with guns" in our name, how does that help our plight?
Doable.
We have someone that can do this, but guns, or lack there of, is the topic.
Done that , only one paper showed any interest. The press in Maryland just want horror stories about guns.
How do the media "play us"? You are not very clear here. How do I "play them"? I have notified them of the event, offered to provide more info and/or interviews... how do I make them cover us?
No argument here. How do we get them to cover our event? If the Press does not show up, what then?
Thanks for the example, you have obviously been there, done that. Unfortunately, 1st Ammendment and 2nd Ammendment issues are not viewed the same by any media outlet. They tend to be bias towards their own Ammendment. So how do we get our spokesman face time on CNN? Do you know of a CNN reporter that might want to do a possitive story on Shall Issue and Open Carry gun laws?
I am not trying to be an ass, but the devil is always in the details. In order to get our message out (Shall Issue CCW and Open Carry) we need to talk about guns. Yes, it will be wrapped in a public safety message, but the Press is not interested in facts here in Maryland (or most of the rest of the country). The only story they run is on "automatic, pump shot guns" being used in a crime. It is not funny, we need to break the ice and I can use any constructive advice that can be used.
In the mean time, we are still ON for this Saturday in Annapolis, we hope to build on this protest, rally some troops and get enough people to get the Presses attention.
-Boxcab
Excellent turnout today.
About 75 people showed up to show support for this initiative, and that's not a bad turnout for a hot, humid summer day.
Many participants engaged the curious and handed out fliers to those interested.
It was a peaceful, relaxing and fun day.
Excellent organization Boxcab.
About 75 people showed up to show support for this initiative, and that's not a bad turnout for a hot, humid summer day.
Many participants engaged the curious and handed out fliers to those interested.
It was a peaceful, relaxing and fun day.
Excellent organization Boxcab.
Thanks to everyone that could attend. Some pictures and after action reports can be found in the original thread over on MDShooters ( http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=19527 ).
We are all ready planning the 2ndOpen Holster Day. We are looking at the Baltimore Inner Harbor in early November if we can get the permiting done. Keep looking here and over at MDShooters for more info. We need to double our numbers at every event! Come make a difference.
-Boxcab
We are all ready planning the 2ndOpen Holster Day. We are looking at the Baltimore Inner Harbor in early November if we can get the permiting done. Keep looking here and over at MDShooters for more info. We need to double our numbers at every event! Come make a difference.
-Boxcab
What were the lessons learned that you can share with those that are interested in doing something similar?
Great question. I'll give a little insight, but Boxcab can give the full sccop.
I wore a plastic 1911 holster on my right hip. It wasn't "obvious" enough. Next time I'm going to wear a red leather holster more to the small of my back. Black holsters just look like cell phone cases a lot of the time.
Having the permits and all local LE contacted probably helped make the event go so smoothly. As far as I know not a single participant was stopped or harrassed. Some officers waved at us which is no surprise; of course many if not most LE are sympathetic to our cause.
The media did a little reporting on the event beforehand; I haven't seen today's paper to look for any follow up. In the little reporting they did, they had quotes from the organizer and from the local police department. The police dept's quotes, while not supportive of the event were very fair. For the next event we'll need more media interaction....tons more...but we'll need to control it the best we can as well. The media loves to hone in on the crazy guy wearing all camo, burning effigys of the current President and speaking of revolution.
Fortunately we had nobody like that there. Megistopoda
Member
Heck ... in the places where open carry is perfectly lawful, most people wouldn't have noticed the 1911 in the holster. That's my experience, anyway. It sucks to protest and then not have people even notice you!
This state's pro-gun efforts were abandoned for over 35 years which is why we're in the position that we're in which is playing catch up to every other state contiguous to Maryland.
It takes time to change that direction and we've been steadily doing that as evidenced by the lack of any significant anti-gun legislation in the last 5 years. Now that we've learned how to mount a good defense, it's time to teach gun owners to go on the offense and make changes in our favor.
It takes time to change that direction and we've been steadily doing that as evidenced by the lack of any significant anti-gun legislation in the last 5 years. Now that we've learned how to mount a good defense, it's time to teach gun owners to go on the offense and make changes in our favor.
Novus Collectus
Member
There is one very important thing to know, WE showed up and participated. WE were able to have 70+ fellow gun owners show up and participate.
This is the first protest, it was a learning lesson for future events, a motivational excersise to get more involved (exponentially), and it was to show the GA members what we are about to do comming up. Sure, they may look at this as being small, but when they see more of these and bigger participation they will realize this is growing and needs their attention or else it will catch them off guard.
This event was a great success and should be supported by you and others so the next one is even bigger. There is ONE organization that is fighting for all the MD gun rights and that is MSI. There are other gun clubs that are doing an excellent job as well fighting for the MD gun owner, but they are restricted to the best interest of their gun club, but more importantly the active gun clubs are joining forces with MSI in the fight. Helping MSI also helps their efforts and to dissuade people from helping MSI is hurting the MD gun community.
If you have doubts about MSI, then check around at the more active gun clubs and such like the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore for instance. You will discover we are on your side and as we grow the more powerful your voice will be in MD. Typing on a gun board dissuading the very people we need to join to make us all stronger does not help.
By the way, I was the one who was the contact for the MSI booth in June. It was a great success on many levels, but the most success was about it getting our feet wet and learning from our successes and mistakes. Getting out and actually participating is the first step towards activism, not the being critical after the fact when you did nothing yourself.
Come join us next time instead of writing about how you think we wasted our efforts.
There was also another event this year during the General Assembly session which I was involved in. We targetted a particular politician (Frosh) in his own district. We only had about seven or eight (including me) came out and do the labor of handing out thousands of fliers over a few weeks period. Another dozen or so offered funds (all turned down except for one because we printed up our own fliers). AGC and MSI were not involved in this event, but both sent the call out for volunteers and people responded.
During the GA session during this time many of us showed up at the hearings with a number of new people.
This led to the booth at the comunity event far away from the area of the flier handout event above. Another group of people participated and I think the number was about ten people manned the booth in shifts (most were not at the flier handout).
This led to the idea of the open holster protest where 70+ people participated.....we are growing, we are growing fast and the only thing that will stop the momentum is if some people try to dissuade others and claim our great advances in recent months or years were pointless.
MDShooters has helped all this occur, but we probably have more MD gun owners reading ARFcom and THR combined. If we can get these people to hear the message and participate, then MD's gun laws will be better changed in short order. Please help us recruit other THR members who live in the area instead of saying things which might turn some away from joining the cause we all share.
This is the first protest, it was a learning lesson for future events, a motivational excersise to get more involved (exponentially), and it was to show the GA members what we are about to do comming up. Sure, they may look at this as being small, but when they see more of these and bigger participation they will realize this is growing and needs their attention or else it will catch them off guard.
This event was a great success and should be supported by you and others so the next one is even bigger. There is ONE organization that is fighting for all the MD gun rights and that is MSI. There are other gun clubs that are doing an excellent job as well fighting for the MD gun owner, but they are restricted to the best interest of their gun club, but more importantly the active gun clubs are joining forces with MSI in the fight. Helping MSI also helps their efforts and to dissuade people from helping MSI is hurting the MD gun community.
If you have doubts about MSI, then check around at the more active gun clubs and such like the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore for instance. You will discover we are on your side and as we grow the more powerful your voice will be in MD. Typing on a gun board dissuading the very people we need to join to make us all stronger does not help.
By the way, I was the one who was the contact for the MSI booth in June. It was a great success on many levels, but the most success was about it getting our feet wet and learning from our successes and mistakes. Getting out and actually participating is the first step towards activism, not the being critical after the fact when you did nothing yourself.
Come join us next time instead of writing about how you think we wasted our efforts.
There was also another event this year during the General Assembly session which I was involved in. We targetted a particular politician (Frosh) in his own district. We only had about seven or eight (including me) came out and do the labor of handing out thousands of fliers over a few weeks period. Another dozen or so offered funds (all turned down except for one because we printed up our own fliers). AGC and MSI were not involved in this event, but both sent the call out for volunteers and people responded.
During the GA session during this time many of us showed up at the hearings with a number of new people.
This led to the booth at the comunity event far away from the area of the flier handout event above. Another group of people participated and I think the number was about ten people manned the booth in shifts (most were not at the flier handout).
This led to the idea of the open holster protest where 70+ people participated.....we are growing, we are growing fast and the only thing that will stop the momentum is if some people try to dissuade others and claim our great advances in recent months or years were pointless.
MDShooters has helped all this occur, but we probably have more MD gun owners reading ARFcom and THR combined. If we can get these people to hear the message and participate, then MD's gun laws will be better changed in short order. Please help us recruit other THR members who live in the area instead of saying things which might turn some away from joining the cause we all share.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Looks like the only meaningful dialog left to have would be to plan the next event.
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