Gentlemen,
I’m going to try this again since I’m new to THR and the format is somewhat problematical for me at this point.
For over 30 years I’ve not only watched the political side of the shooting world, I also worked to defend the 2nd, including offering the forums for gun related and political discussions that ran for over 10 years before there was the internet and the related internet SIGs. There was both technical discussion area as well as the political discussion area. These ran as a fair cost all to often that came out of my pocket. (ask Vern, he was using them as well as Ernie Packett (sp?)). In late 85, early 86 I was the one that suggested that Wayne LaPierre be replaced by someone that understood and could present a better case in the public light, Charlton Heston. We need this again more then ever, Wayne LaPierre is NOT an effective public speaker and does more damage then he helps.
And now, we’re in worse shape then ever, and what bothers me most is the fact that the pro gun discussions haven’t changed in 20-25 years. The pro 2nd side has yet to see some of the worst problems we face, let alone the NRA which seems to be stuck in the same mode they’ve had for 25 years now. They do not see crucial issues to saving the 2nd amendment (and do not take this for granted because there are way to many liberals and Democrats that want the 2nd removed/gone – and once that goes, so goes the 1st amendment).
The American public doesn’t even realize the extent to which they get “conditioned”. They have been watching programs and films that have conditioned the younger generations that guns are bad. Even the news no longer even pretends to present the news, it’s all about entertainment and ratings. And in the major cities when anyone does anything with a firearms, they swarm all over it and home the point that guns are bad!.
Even a month or so ago, when one of the news rags on TV ran the story of a gentleman that protected himself from a deranged/mentally unstable individual, he was convicted because the jurors were upset that he had used Hollowpoints in his Colt 10mm to defend himself, instead of using something “less likely to kill someone”. Now these people had no bloody clue what self defense means, what being attacked by a deranged individual (and it was well proven, even in court) can mean. This guy was pristine, well liked, family man, good reputation, the whole 9 yards. What does he and his family have now? A ruined life. They’ll spend every cent on the court battle… they’ll loose their house, friends ,etc etc etc, just because the jurors has no clue what self defense really means, anymore then they understand what realistic self defense is. All they know is Hollowpoints and guns are bad!
Now, does the NRA do anything about this? No. DO they understand the problem, No. I can go on here, but what the NRA really needs is to change their ways, radically and they need someone that understands the media… me. I’ve been working in it for 20 years now and I understand it (I grew up in and around the media on top of working in it), including at many years at 2 of the big 3. I have a plan, but no, I’m not going to go through the entire problem in public, because I can do it better. The NRA at least ought to bring me on board as a consultant, to change what they’re doing. To fix the worst of their problems including their public presence and pulic perception of Firearms and the shooting community.
To revive some of the old programs that were incredibly effective in getting new members, including getting kids interested in proper shooting programs while educating them with better gun handling education, etc etc etc. Educating parents to keep guns locked up. But most of all, to come up with a practical program for making sure that the 2nd lasts more then the next 20-30years. Because as the shooting community shrinks (and it is radically), the NRA’s ability to deal with trying to save the 2nd will diminish. Don't misunderstand me, I do not take anything away from those folks that are getting new people interested in shooting, but please do so responsibly!
Why me? Because I’ve had better ideas then anything else I’ve seen in the past 30 years and I understand how the media works and can be countered most importantly of all. This is far more crucial then “I had an argument with a liberal the other day” BS… what a waste of time!
Most of all, for over tens years of work and thousands upon thousands of dollars out my my pocket, I rarely got a thank you, instead I regularly got death threats because I would not allow discussion of illegal issues. I knew that both the NRA and the ATF were reading the discussion areas. This time, I’d like a return for my work after 30 years of effort, since most people can’t be bothered to even say thanks.
More to come.
I’m going to try this again since I’m new to THR and the format is somewhat problematical for me at this point.
For over 30 years I’ve not only watched the political side of the shooting world, I also worked to defend the 2nd, including offering the forums for gun related and political discussions that ran for over 10 years before there was the internet and the related internet SIGs. There was both technical discussion area as well as the political discussion area. These ran as a fair cost all to often that came out of my pocket. (ask Vern, he was using them as well as Ernie Packett (sp?)). In late 85, early 86 I was the one that suggested that Wayne LaPierre be replaced by someone that understood and could present a better case in the public light, Charlton Heston. We need this again more then ever, Wayne LaPierre is NOT an effective public speaker and does more damage then he helps.
And now, we’re in worse shape then ever, and what bothers me most is the fact that the pro gun discussions haven’t changed in 20-25 years. The pro 2nd side has yet to see some of the worst problems we face, let alone the NRA which seems to be stuck in the same mode they’ve had for 25 years now. They do not see crucial issues to saving the 2nd amendment (and do not take this for granted because there are way to many liberals and Democrats that want the 2nd removed/gone – and once that goes, so goes the 1st amendment).
The American public doesn’t even realize the extent to which they get “conditioned”. They have been watching programs and films that have conditioned the younger generations that guns are bad. Even the news no longer even pretends to present the news, it’s all about entertainment and ratings. And in the major cities when anyone does anything with a firearms, they swarm all over it and home the point that guns are bad!.
Even a month or so ago, when one of the news rags on TV ran the story of a gentleman that protected himself from a deranged/mentally unstable individual, he was convicted because the jurors were upset that he had used Hollowpoints in his Colt 10mm to defend himself, instead of using something “less likely to kill someone”. Now these people had no bloody clue what self defense means, what being attacked by a deranged individual (and it was well proven, even in court) can mean. This guy was pristine, well liked, family man, good reputation, the whole 9 yards. What does he and his family have now? A ruined life. They’ll spend every cent on the court battle… they’ll loose their house, friends ,etc etc etc, just because the jurors has no clue what self defense really means, anymore then they understand what realistic self defense is. All they know is Hollowpoints and guns are bad!
Now, does the NRA do anything about this? No. DO they understand the problem, No. I can go on here, but what the NRA really needs is to change their ways, radically and they need someone that understands the media… me. I’ve been working in it for 20 years now and I understand it (I grew up in and around the media on top of working in it), including at many years at 2 of the big 3. I have a plan, but no, I’m not going to go through the entire problem in public, because I can do it better. The NRA at least ought to bring me on board as a consultant, to change what they’re doing. To fix the worst of their problems including their public presence and pulic perception of Firearms and the shooting community.
To revive some of the old programs that were incredibly effective in getting new members, including getting kids interested in proper shooting programs while educating them with better gun handling education, etc etc etc. Educating parents to keep guns locked up. But most of all, to come up with a practical program for making sure that the 2nd lasts more then the next 20-30years. Because as the shooting community shrinks (and it is radically), the NRA’s ability to deal with trying to save the 2nd will diminish. Don't misunderstand me, I do not take anything away from those folks that are getting new people interested in shooting, but please do so responsibly!
Why me? Because I’ve had better ideas then anything else I’ve seen in the past 30 years and I understand how the media works and can be countered most importantly of all. This is far more crucial then “I had an argument with a liberal the other day” BS… what a waste of time!
Most of all, for over tens years of work and thousands upon thousands of dollars out my my pocket, I rarely got a thank you, instead I regularly got death threats because I would not allow discussion of illegal issues. I knew that both the NRA and the ATF were reading the discussion areas. This time, I’d like a return for my work after 30 years of effort, since most people can’t be bothered to even say thanks.
More to come.
