Raggs
Regular Member
Can MGO, MOC and MCRGO come together and make one powerful 2nd amendment group?
Can MGO, MOC and MCRGO come together and make one powerful 2nd amendment group?
I say no. Each group has a different and focus different operating methodology. What's more is one of the groups doesn't even have Popular elections from a membership. Their Board of Directors chooses their successors, kind of like a "good old boy club".
One group has paid staff, the other two are 100% volunteer.
It's group has a different purpose and the contraption. Oftentimes when we talk to legislators, I am the bad cop and Brady is the good cop.
It seems to me that this way we are also splintered.
Here's an observation- if you have a paid membership in more than one organization, your 'presence' is multiplied.
Example; we have three organizations with paid membership of 100 each, when combined, the press releases say that the 'combined membership of x, y and z (300 paid members) demand that their legislators strike the letter 'Q' from the alphabet.'
Yeah, its just 100 people, but they all have paid membership in all three groups.
Modern math meets political science.
I encourage EVERYONE to become a paid member of EVERY legitimate pro 2A group in Michigan; in numbers, there is strength. (You can skip the impotent ones.)
I encourage EVERYONE to become a paid member of EVERY legitimate pro 2A group in Michigan; in numbers, there is strength. (You can skip the impotent ones.)
The problem with having a political voice to get things done on a wider scale isn't so much money for memberships, as a lack of unified participation. It is both a blessing and a curse to have the midwest work ethic on our side. Everyone wants to jump on board and get things done, yet many want to do it their own "better" way. Others turn it into a pyramid scheme and destroy organizations.
For those reasons, we have accomplished a lot, yet we lack the united front enjoyed in states like Arizona and Virginia.
What is needed is an agreement of goals and desires in terms of gun rights, and emails going to all in these different org's, and anyone else who wants them, in order to call people to action, be it writing emails, calling in, showing up places or sending money as the case may be. Specialized legal or political moves can already be done by leadership of the different orgs as it exists now, and doesn't really require too much more thought apart from what already exists. All that is needed is simple agreed upon goals, and coordinated communication which really shouldn't be all that hard with the internet.
The problem with having a political voice to get things done on a wider scale isn't so much money for memberships, as a lack of unified participation. It is both a blessing and a curse to have the midwest work ethic on our side. Everyone wants to jump on board and get things done, yet many want to do it their own "better" way. Others turn it into a pyramid scheme and destroy organizations.
For those reasons, we have accomplished a lot, yet we lack the united front enjoyed in states like Arizona and Virginia.
What is needed is an agreement of goals and desires in terms of gun rights, and emails going to all in these different org's, and anyone else who wants them, in order to call people to action, be it writing emails, calling in, showing up places or sending money as the case may be. Specialized legal or political moves can already be done by leadership of the different orgs as it exists now, and doesn't really require too much more thought apart from what already exists. All that is needed is simple agreed upon goals, and coordinated communication which really shouldn't be all that hard with the internet.
I don't know that even this is possible.
I hereby call upon the leadership of MOC, MGO, MCRGO..................
To comment on Michiganders post AZCDL now has 8,000 paying members & is a 100% volunteer org. It can be done in MI too, if we can get past the rifts to become a serious force. As it stands now some things are getting done, this is great news. Now, imagne this super group with 10,000 paying members & a annual budget of $500,000. Such a group could move Mountains in Lansing. What most in Lansing won't admit is this: even a small active group can cause them considerable pain. Hell I forced a state rep. to take out a large loan to maintain the seat in the house they had. My staff & budget? Two volunteers and two hundred dollars worth of fliers. They narrowly won their re-election bid (500+) votes. My point: well organized, well funded groups are enough to make folks in Lansing wake up in the middle of the night with "cold sweats".
In short - in Lansing money speaks volumes. with it a group is respected/feared. Without it they are a bunch of zealots to be blown off and ignored. Not right, but that's the cold hard truth.
There are 2 100% volunteer organizations in Michigan. Pick one, join it...or start your own.
I noticed you did the former already