Suburban New York... increasing participation - but how?

[parsimonious_instead]

I've become increasingly active in local pro-RKBA. Partly because the other side is getting larger, louder and more organized, mostly because I care passionately about the issue.
During the last public hearing I attended, which was a discussion about banning vs. further tightening rules on gun shows held at our County Center, an old expression popped into my head: "I worked like heck and wore a red shirt." A LOT of anti-gun people showed up - and without even speaking lectern and mike, they said a lot, by wearing bright red shirts saying, "Moms Demand Action"
I noticed that on our side, it's always the same, core group of about 8-12 guys.. If we wear camo or NRA or other RKBA regalia, of course we're the marginalized, "rednecks." If we wear "normal" or even "nice" clothes we just look like any other attendee. No visual impact.
Anyhow, even though the county-level RKBA group (Westchester County Firearm Owner's Association) has a mailing list and routinely notifies the rank and file of upcoming public fora related to gun shows and attempts at local gun restrictions, we're struggling to boost the number of people who attend, and/or speak out.
Has anyone on THR encountered trouble with motivating the troops and getting faces to show up? 90% of them take place *outside* of work hours. Any suggestions?
One bright spot is that two local indoor ranges opened up recently, they're usually pretty packed with new shooters. And applications for Westchester/NYS "Pistol Permits" are swamping the clerk's office.

 

[jdc1244]

The perception of ‘us/them,' ‘our side/their side’ is sophomoric, unwarranted, and counterproductive.

Those advocating for certain firearm regulatory measures – provided those measures are consistent with current Second Amendment jurisprudence – are neither ‘anti-gun’ nor ‘anti-RKBA.’

This sort of hostile, inaccurate rhetoric serves only to reinforce the negative image far too many have of gun owners, and undermines the efforts of gunowners to promote a positive image of the gun-owning community, and a regulatory agenda positive to gunowners.

Rather than focusing on crowd size and participation, instead get on the list of recognized speakers, present government officials and attendees of the meetings with objective facts and documented evidence in opposition to proposed firearm regulatory measures, where such arguments are the most persuasive and successful.

As far as being referred to as a ‘redneck’ is concerned, he who resorts to an ad hominem attack has already lost the argument.

 

[RPRNY]

Unlike jdc who seems to have time traveled from some more civilized version of America to insult you, I, having lived in Westchester myself, appreciate your concerns. Attempting to ban gun shows at the county center, which they did before Astorino was county executive and he has since vetoed several times, is neither a reasonable nor an appropriate restriction on firearms. It is a politicized effort to diminish the social acceptability of firearms ownership by people opposed to others exercising their civil rights.

Having been active in the RKBA movement, such as it is, in Westchester and a founding member of (now defunct, I understand) W2A, I understand your frustration. Pro civil rights activists there are beat down by the constant assault while the anti-gun, anti-liberty crowds of ignorant leftists that plague Westchester and its environs are ever ready to engage in hostile, inaccurate rhetoric to impose their ignorant views.

Crowd size absolutely does matter at public hearings, as does visibility. Sadly, I cannot offer any suggestions on how to turn out more people. As to visibility, your point is well made. The suburban swells and shrieking women of the county legislature will look down their long and crooked noses at the vile straight, white men in their camo or, God forbid, the bloody NRA's gear. Getting everyone in white polos with a discrete logo would help but given the challenge of getting folks to turn out, not easy. Conservatives are not 'joiners' and unlike the Left don't need the safety of numbers to foster group think.

Westchester is lost to rational discussion. It has largely been assimilated by the Leftist Borg. Raising money for pro-2A attorneys and the handful of sensible politicians , keeping Astorino in office, and getting someone to mount a credible challenge to the likes of that vile witch, Amy Paulin, a leading anti-civil rights activist in the State legislature, are probably more productive. Good luck.

I left.

 

[hso]

even though the county-level RKBA group (Westchester County Firearm Owner's Association) has a mailing list and routinely notifies the rank and file of upcoming public fora related to gun shows and attempts at local gun restrictions, we're struggling to boost the number of people who attend, and/or speak out. ... Has anyone on THR encountered trouble with motivating the troops and getting faces to show up?

That's the biggest problem for our side. People simply don't want to get involved with anything more than complaining from their couch.

Whenever one of these opportunities pops up, make it a point to "sweeten the pot" with a get together before or after near the meeting so it isn't just the struggle of protecting the 2A against the Bloomberg proxies. Add some fun to the fundamental work to protect your rights.

If polos or T-shirts or caps are too expensive to have made up, get well designed pro2A tags like at the NRA convention that supporters can clip to shirts or bright colored lanyards so we're seen as a group. They're relatively inexpensive and they can be handed out before the meeting and taken back up to be used again.

 

[bikerdoc]

Out state organization VCDL, encourages county, city, town, even neighborhood events like dinners with wives or kids days.
We have a monthly meetings, and have booths at community functions.

We have shirts, stickers and give out key chains.
We started small 20 years ago and today we are state wide .org with considerable political clout.

 

[Stubert]

In the gun club that I am in, 30 hours work time is required per year. When there is an event that needs people, We will let you apply the hours that you were at the event towards the work hours for the year. It helps get people motivated.

 

[Walkalong]

Nice idea there Stubert.

The OP makes a great point, the antis are putting on a show and that makes a difference with some legislators and influences some voters.

We need to be seen and heard, in a polite, peaceful, but steadfast manner.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

I appreciate everyone's replies. Looks like lackadaisical participation is rather endemic to our culture, and seems to be a bit difficult to overcome. Stubert's idea is a great one, but there simply aren't any clubs in my area
that have a "sweat equity" option or requirement as part of one's membership. Despite our now having a VERY pro-2A friendly President, likely 2A friendly Supreme Court nominees and prior decisions like Heller, gun control
does appear to have a future, and it's this: a harrowing patchwork of local laws and ordinances, like banning or highly restricting gun shows, creating new gun free zones, local ammunition taxes, etc. In non-preemption states
the sky is the limit, sadly. And we need to fight this every step of the way - RPRNY has my situation here in lower NY nailed to a T.