New ideas for Concealed Campus?

[politicalgeek]

We've been discussing new ideas for future events on our groups page on Facebook.

Some of the ideas thus far:

Firearms Education Week
-trying to educate the general public on basic firearms issue, technology etc.

Take A Freshman To The Range
-just as it says, take new shooters to the range and introduce them

Some of us here in OH may be able to do a group class for the NRA instructors' course to become certified

Probably some more empty holster protests

I don't want to spark yet another debate about CCW on campus, we are just looking for as many fresh, new and creative ideas as possible to help further the cause.

Thanks

EDIT
This is the original post at facebook by Stephen, part of the Concealed Campus leadership, that has prompted some great discussion there. The goal is to work both nationally and regionally to promote CCW on campus.

"This question has been on mind for awhile now. Since sometime between 22-26 October (the dates of the Empty Holster Protest, in case you've forgotten) to be exact.

SCCC leadership sat down a few weeks ago and had a little chat thanks to AIM. We decided, for a time, that for now we would work on the website and keep on educating the masses. While that's fine and dandy for now, the protest brought in 3000 people, hundreds of emails (mostly positive), and countless instances of media attention. We need to capitalize on that and hold another public, nationwide demonstration next semester.

Luckily, Bryce, Mike, and I live well within driving distance of each other (which is purely coincidental, none of us knew each other when we joined SCCC). Over this upcoming break, we plan on meeting up to kick around some ideas. Seriously, the Empty Holster Protest was I think a combination of an idea that one of Mike's friends had and something off of Ohioans for Concealed Carry's forums. My point is that it came around from little more than just kicking ideas around.

So here's what I'm really getting at: SCCC needs another safe, public demonstration. We need something potentially attention-grabbing, perhaps with the opportunity to be educational. It doesn't necessarily have to be newsworthy, but it has to be safe, practical, and something more than 500 people will potentially want to do. The Empty Holster Protest had more than 550 pledged participants (we don't know how many ACTUALLY participated). A good goal would be 1,000 ACTUAL participants from 250 schools in the next one. One thought is a "Take a Newbie to the Range" Day. Get some brand new shooters, find a .22, teach them firearm safety and show them that firearms, when used safely/legally/responsibly aren't all that bad. It's just an idea. For ideas that get listed, if you want to critique them, please use CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, like Pros: and Cons:, not "that's a stupid idea".

So...ideas...ready set go."

 

[memphis]

Girls and Guns? Start a Second Amendment Sisters group for your campus? I think that empowering the defenseless female is one of the more appealing arguments for carry permits on campus.

My spouse is a tenured prof who would carry on campus if she could, but fears losing her job if charged and convicted of a felony. The area around the university is notorious for burglary, robbery, rape, car jacking, and a murder now and then. Pepper spray can be helpful with unarmed pests, but it isn't enough, obviously.

 

[ZeSpectre]

One frustration I have is that, as an administrator, it would be extremely inappropriate for me to push my own agenda on the students... and many of the students have NO IDEA why RKBA is so important.

Wish someone could get 'em motivated.

 

[bogie]

Talk to all your local ranges, and negotiate a few things...

1) Reduced price student memberships. Remind them that it's better to get some money than no money, and that it'll also get people in the door.

2) Reduced price range time - same reasons. Plus, it'll get more shooters.

3) Put fliers advertising this up around campus. Maybe a small ad in the school paper.

---make the opposition spin their wheels on trivialities - if the ad goes in the paper, someone will grouch about it. Get all the momentum outta that person that you can---

4) Offer a FREE safety class to any who want to attend. If someone shows up to disrupt, -calmly- call campus security.

5) You _need_ to recruit someone on the student newspaper. Research who's on it, and see if any of your folks knows any of 'em.

6) T-shirts, stickers, etc...

 

[BridgeWalker]

If there are dorms at your school, then organize range trips/loaner guns for folks who can't get there/can't or don't keep or own guns.

Organize guest speakers on related issues. Should be plenty of room for stuff like that with Heller pending.

 

[htxred]

i think this whole thing is pretty cool, my wife has been wearing my holster to UH here in houston, tx.

 

[politicalgeek]

bogie,

4) is a great idea. I want to get certified as the time becomes available and it sounds like the opportunity may be available to us here in OH at a pretty reduced cost. A Concealed Campus member is going to work out the details

Thanks for the input so far, I'm going to put a link on the facebook thread to this one.

EDIT

Just edited my OP to include comments by one member of the leadership of the Concealed Campus movement.

 

[Oana]

Since I mainly have a Facebook account for reading, not interacting, I'll add my $.02 here:

I like the letter writing idea mentioned on Facebook. A week (or a month) could be designated Concealed Campus Week (Month) and we could write letters to the college papers, local papers, and representatives to raise awareness. Sort of like AIDS or cancer.

Booths were mentioned. Once this thing gets going, putting up a booth during "club rush" or whatever it's called could be useful. (Usually this is in the fall, and wouldn't coincide with the protests, but hey.) Give away freebies if possible. Everyone loves freebies.

Theatrics work. Why not co-opt the anti-gunners' methods? 32 people lying on the ground (fake blood is always fun) with relevant signs and Oleg's posters. Stage a fake attack in the quad if you have emergency buttons/poles/phones. Show the "victim" hitting the button and then have both attacker and victim freeze. Loud ticking clock counts the seconds as your "narrator" says, "Average response time from campus police is X seconds. You can do a lot in X seconds..." Then, rubber gun and the same situation.

Of course, not everything has to be the same across the country. Something like letter-writing could be the main thing to do, and then there could be a list of ideas to go further. Different campuses will have different short-term goals. A campus with a large SCCC chapter and a shooting club might want to stage a "Take a Newbie to the Range" event. A smaller chapter might work on growing their membership another way.

I'll second the motion about female-oriented events. You'd want to pose it as safety vs. tacticool ninja CCW. Have a good speaker talk about self defense in all its forms. Awareness, that sort of thing, in addition to CCW.

One of the tough things about campus carry is that it's in the early stages. Starting a full-fledged attempt at most campuses to dump their anti-gun regulations is going to be fruitless at first. Campuses with smaller chapters need to recruit sympathetic friends, make sympathetic friends (through range days, etc.), and just build support. Then you can go for the gold: changing those regs.

 

[Oana]

Since I mainly have a Facebook account for reading, not interacting, I'll add my $.02 here:

I like the letter writing idea mentioned on Facebook. A week (or a month) could be designated Concealed Campus Week (Month) and we could write letters to the college papers, local papers, and representatives to raise awareness. Sort of like AIDS or cancer.

Booths were mentioned. Once this thing gets going, putting up a booth during "club rush" or whatever it's called could be useful. (Usually this is in the fall, and wouldn't coincide with the protests, but hey.) Give away freebies if possible. Everyone loves freebies.

Theatrics work. Why not co-opt the anti-gunners' methods? 32 people lying on the ground (fake blood is always fun) with relevant signs and Oleg's posters. Stage a fake attack in the quad if you have emergency buttons/poles/phones. Show the "victim" hitting the button and then have both attacker and victim freeze. Loud ticking clock counts the seconds as your "narrator" says, "Average response time from campus police is X seconds. You can do a lot in X seconds..." Then, rubber gun and the same situation.

Of course, not everything has to be the same across the country. Something like letter-writing could be the main thing to do, and then there could be a list of ideas to go further. Different campuses will have different short-term goals. A campus with a large SCCC chapter and a shooting club might want to stage a "Take a Newbie to the Range" event. A smaller chapter might work on growing their membership another way.

I'll second the motion about female-oriented events. You'd want to pose it as safety vs. tacticool ninja CCW. Have a good speaker talk about self defense in all its forms. Awareness, that sort of thing, in addition to CCW. Also try guest editorials/letters to the editor written by people (male or female) with personal experiences. Feelings, with the facts to back it up.

One of the tough things about campus carry is that it's in the early stages. Starting a full-fledged attempt at most campuses to dump their anti-gun regulations is going to be fruitless at first. Campuses with smaller chapters need to recruit sympathetic friends, make sympathetic friends (through range days, etc.), and just build support. Then you can go for the gold: changing those regs.

 

[politicalgeek]

Theatrics could be good. But from some other suggestions and comments, I think we want to stick more to High Road tactics. Everything else is great.