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A Call to Arms

MT GUNNY

Regular Member
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Jul 21, 2007
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309
Location
Kalispell, Montana, USA
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Suck it up! Get on the offensive.
November 13, 2008

Last Sunday I gave callers 30 minutes to whine, complain, worry, snivel, posture, and generally go through whatever stages of grief worked for them following the election results putting Senator Obama into the White House. After all, we need time to "process" and "deal with it," don't we? (If you missed the show, you can download it at www.guntalk.libsyn.com)

Are you kidding? Suck it up! I have a plan. Many gun owners are living in a fantasy world, meaning they don't know what's going on, don't know how to put it into perspective, and don't have a clue about what is the most effective course of action.

Note the word "effective." Burying your guns is just plain stupid. It's like volunteering to give your guns to the banners, and they don't even have to take action. Give me a break. What's your plan? Dig them back up when tanks are coming down the street? Yeah, right. Time to quit indulging in fantasies, reach in your pocket for some dollars, and buy a clue.

Defense does not win. Hiding does not win. Only going on the offensive will win. But first, some perspective. I started debating this issue in 1967, but it goes back much farther. I have a copy of an article in "This Week" magazine from 1955 titled "Get Rid of That Gun!" It starts out, "The pistol, unregulated and unchecked, is dangerously out of control. Two thirds of all the homicides committed in the United States now involve firearms." It goes on, but it's the same stuff you read today. That was more than a half-century ago!

Why bring this up? Just to show that this is an ongoing battle. This latest setback isn't the end, but it sure is serious. It does mean that we are faced with certain assault on gun rights, and those attacks are likely to come quickly. We have to launch our own broad-based action to beat back the efforts of those who have detailed plans to 1. ban the sale of the most popular rifles being sold (they call them "assault weapons") and used for hunting, competition and personal protection; 2. remove protections against junk lawsuits against gun makers; 3. close gun shows. Their plans were laid out in the web site the Obama transition team put up only hours after the election. Once I started talking about it on the air, though, they took it down. Now, I'm not claiming they did this because of Gun Talk Radio, but then again . . .

Not to worry. We've found the page they took down...Click Here to view (scroll down to the "Crime and Law Enforcement" section). Go take a look at what they don't want you to know.

ACTION PLAN

So, what do we do? I've always believed that we ultimately win the gun culture war by showing the public that firearms ownership is normal, safe, and that we gun owners are responsible neighbors. That's still my belief, but we don't have time for that right now. This new group of gun banners (Hey, Obama's chief of staff was the gun control point man for Bill Clinton!) are going to move quickly.

How can we fight it? Simple. We scare them. I don't really care if they respect us as long as they fear us. I'm talking about putting those elected folks in fear for their careers. There are enough elected Democrats in Congress that can be defeated if they vote for gun bans to stop this movement.

How do we do that? I can come up with only one way. We have to double, then triple, the membership in the NRA. Please, don't bore me with the "But the NRA sends me too much mail." Look, you're in or you're out. If you are out, you are part of the problem. If you are in, you are part of the solution. Get off your butt and join. Buy memberships for all the members of your family.

WE MAKE IT EASY

http://membership.nrahq.org/default....ignid=XR020586

Click the "Join NRA" button above and you can join or buy memberships for others. BONUS! We've negotiated a deal for you. The regular price is $35 a year. You can get it for only $25 a year through our link. Also, you can get youth memberships and associate memberships. That last one is important. Other members of your family might be sharing your NRA magazines, and you may not want to duplicate that, so the associate membership is only $10, and the member doesn't get the magazine.

Why is this important? If Chris Cox, head of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, walks into a Congressman's office backed by three million members, it's one thing. When he walks in backed by 10 million, the reception is totally different. This is pure representative politics. You are sending someone to Washington to represent you. It is the heart of the democratic process in the United States. Right now, the message needs to be clear, and it needs to be backed with political muscle. This is hard ball. It's a knife fight in a phone booth. To lose is to die. We lose our gun rights if the gun banners succeed in the coming battle.

That message we must deliver is, "If you vote for a gun ban, or these other measures, we will send you back home at the next election." Period. We did it in 1994, and regained control of Congress after a 40-year reign by the Democrats, and it was because of their votes for Clinton's gun ban. They need to know we will do it again.

You've heard me say this before. If you are not an NRA member, you are sitting in the wagon, and the rest of us are having to pull your load. We need the help. We need for you to spend the cost of a single box of steel shot magnum loads and join. Then we need you to get your friends to join, or to sign them up.

My new rule. I require everyone I introduce to shooting to join the NRA on the spot. That's right. Hand me twenty-five bucks and I'll go online at www.guntalk.com and sign them up. Anytime someone mentions to me that he or she is a gun owner, I ask if they are an NRA member. If they are not, I embarrass them (if necessary), or do whatever is needed to get them to join.

I'll have more action items for you later, but this is important. This must happen immediately. Sure, you are buying guns, ammo, magazines, etc. So, invest a few bucks to make sure you can keep them!

Do it today.

And...stand by for more incoming.

Tom Gresham
 

gravedigger

Regular Member
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Jul 20, 2008
Messages
221
Location
Franklin, Kentucky, USA
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I am a life member of the NRA, and I encourage others to join, but it is true that the NRA seems to be leaning toward negotiating with the gun grabbers rather than b***h-slapping them into submission. John McCain turned the stomachs of real Americans every time he used the phrase, "Reach across the aisle." Conservatives don't want to "reach across the aisle." They know that you CANNOT find a middle ground with rabid anti-American leftist Socialists. If the republicans had put up another Ronald Reagan, we would have won. We lost because they put up John McCain, who seems unwilling to prove that his captors didn't castrate him back in Nam. Did I vote for McCain? NOPE. I voted AGAINST Obama, so McCain ended up with my vote.

I am looking for the group that will quit pussy-footing around and dealing with the liberals using the Rodney King approach; "Can't we all get along? Can't we all just ... get along?" NO, WE CANNOT.
 
Joined
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baton rouge, Louisiana, USA
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When someone whines about "reasonable" gun regulations, I take this approach.
I ask them, "if your wife or daughter is being raped, would you stand by casually asking the rapist if he's through, yet? Or, would you sheepishly inquire as to whether or not he's HIV positive? Or using a condom?"

I doubt it.

Same with the right to bear arms.
Why people who claim to support a right (gun or any other) allow "some" violation is beyond me. Best I can figure, they're like my mom: doesn't want to do anything confrontational or unpopular, prefers to go along to get along.

Not for me, but certainly seems to be Tom's preference.
When the 3rd American revolution occurs, can't help but wonder which side ole Tom's gonna be on, if any.
 

MT GUNNY

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Jul 21, 2007
Messages
309
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Kalispell, Montana, USA
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You know Ive herd about the NRA doing alot for our rights Right here :http://www.nra.org/9PM Eastern Cam and Company, Give it a listen, then get back to me. Also Ive read all kinds of anti NRA rederic with out Proof to back up statements. I have a very receptive mind to Facts not Hearsay.

This is not to talk down to you, Mark E. I seriously would like to see where the NRA has fouled our 2Amend rights. Ive listened to Cam and all the Interview's he has done for over a year, I have no doubt that the NRA is Forour 2 Amendmentrights.
 
Joined
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baton rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Are you serious? Do you live under a rock, or just come out of a coma?
I guess if you're a HUNTER, yes, the NRA (negotiate rights away) IS your friend.
If you truly understand the real purpose of the 2nd amendment, no, the NRA is NOT your friend.
If you would like to see "where the NRA fouled our 2nd amendment rights, " all you need to do is go back to the very first gun control "laws" and move forward. Just about anything ever to ooze out of a state house or the united States congress has the NRA's fingerprints all over it.
And yes, you ARE welcome.
 

cccook

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2008
Messages
429
Location
DFW, Texas, USA
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I am neither a hunter nor a sportsman. The right to bear ARMS, protected by the Bill of Rights, has little if anything to do with either one. It addresses the people's need to directly defend themselves against physical attacks and the tyranny of government.

My question is, how is the NRA advancing my 2A right to defend myself against the tyranny of government?
 

6L6GC

Regular Member
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Jul 9, 2007
Messages
492
Location
Newport News, Virginia, USA
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I am now, and have been for ages and will continue to be an NRA member but your original post reeks of snobbery of the worst sort. Refusing to help someone learn to (safely) use a gun unless they fork over "membership" dues???? Won't even deal with them unless they're a member???? You gotta be kidding???

Also, I'm sick and tired of this "you're in or you're out" of the gun rights fight being based on membership in the NRA. You are certainly not the only, or the first one, that I've met with that attitude.

The NRA didn't come to Norfolk for Dan, or to NPN to make them drop their illegal gun ban(s) or to Hampton to make them drop their illegal gun bans, or to any number of other localities and call them to task for anything.

The NRA didn't help us (at all) get "shall issue" laws here in VA. In fact we were told that "now is not the right time". The NRA didn't help us get state preemption.

The NRA is good over all, but it is not at all uncommon for the NRA to agree to "compromises" that are a clear stab in the back to gun owners. The NRA warns people all the time about gun bans and encourages people to orgainze and fight back. And, the NRA does the Eddie Eagle program, which is probably the best thing that they do.

However,

The internal (BOD) politics of the NRA is as sleezy as anything the Clintonistas ever come up with and my impression is that they are in it for the money, not to protect our second amendment rights. Which, by the way has nothing at all to do with hunting.

And the NRA (like many gun rights groups) foolishly views other Pro Gun Rights groups as enemies or as competition, rather than as friends. The NRA often does NOTHING on the state level. Not even moral support.

I encourage people to join the NRA and work to make it better. If we could get rid of the second amendment is only to ensure that I can go hunting types, the petty politics, the good ole boy network, and the compromisers in the NRA, then I think that the NRA membership would grow to 15 to 20 million quick. Then the NRA could go on the offense in DC instead of the milque toast, limp wristed stuff they do now.
 

compmanio365

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Apr 21, 2007
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Pierce County, Washington, USA
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I'll just put it this way: The NRA is a BUSINESS......every business is in existence for one thing....to make a PROFIT. The NRA is in business to MAKE A PROFIT off of your fears of the second amendment being taken away. If the second amendment was one day free from the threat of being taken away, the NRA would officially be OUT OF BUSINESS......think about that for a second. Hence, why I am not a member, among many other reasons. OCDO, VCDL, etc etc, have all done more than the NRA, at least in recent years, of making sure our 2A rights are protected, without the political BS, the constant fearmongering, and the neverending compromising to the anti-gun lobbyists. Oh yeah, and the ceaseless requests for MORE $$$$$$....that in and of itself turned me away from the NRA a long time ago.
 

MT GUNNY

Regular Member
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Jul 21, 2007
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309
Location
Kalispell, Montana, USA
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Wow, I posted a articlewritten by (Tom Gresham)someone who is atleast fighting for what he thinks are his rights. Then some one with different views post," LOL, what a friggin' joke." So my Title wasn't to your liking. Then I try to get Info about why the NRA is no good and get: "Are you serious? Do you live under a rock, or just come out of a coma?" What a great way to get a positive word out for pro Gun enthusiast's.

For your Info I am a true Gun enthusiast, I hunt, I'm a competitor in local shooting sports, I contact my state Legislatures, I am alsoa member of the NRA and the RMEF, I spend time each day to try to stay informed on firearm issues and politics.Ive only been aware of the fight for about three years. So pardon me for trying to enlighten myself.
 

6L6GC

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Jul 9, 2007
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Newport News, Virginia, USA
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when you say that you've only been aware of "the fight" for three years that explains a lot. You're still a noobie!!! I don't mean that in a bad way, but most of us have been doing this for years or decades.

If we could take the zeal of someone who is still (relatively) new to "the fight" and combine that with the knowledge gained by the experience of the old timer, then we'd have something.

We all make mistakes from time to time, Lord knows I've made my share. One mistake is blind (or even almost blind) loyalty to an organization, any organization.

Don't think for a minute that just because someone isn't an NRA member that he or she isn't "in the fight".

One final request/suggestion/bit of advice: don't worry so much about being a gun enthusiast and be more concerned with protecting our constitution and the rights it enumerates for citizens and the restrictions it places on the gov'mint.
respectfully,
Ron
 

shad0wfax

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
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Location
Spokane, Washington, USA
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compmanio365 wrote:
How about a "rights enthusiast"? I like the sound of that. The 2A is the one that ensures the rest, but it doesn't mean the rest aren't important and worthwhile.

The term "Rights Enthusiast" is great. I wonder if the media would try to label us as "Rights Nuts" if we started owning the title of Rights Enthusiast.

The 10th amendment doesn't get nearly enough attention. The 1st amendment seems to be the only one that is respected.
 

MetalChris

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Jul 26, 2007
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SW Ohio
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shad0wfax wrote:
The 10th amendment doesn't get nearly enough attention. The 1st amendment seems to be the only one that is respected.
Not for long. You heard of the "fairness doctrine"? If you haven't you should look it up...pretty scary stuff.
 

longwatch

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May 14, 2006
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Virginia, USA
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Thanks for posting this, while the NRA has had a spotty record, there is no alternative with nearly the political power they have. Whether we join or not they are the only group on our side that will be taken seriously in representing our side. I figure if I want them to take a stronger position for our rights then I better get involved, otherwise they will keep on doing what they have been doing. So I signed up to be a life member earlier this year. Maybe it will work, maybe not, but nothing will change if we don't try.
 

longwatch

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mark edward marchiafava wrote:
"Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results."
Albert Einstein
Yup moaning about the NRA fits that bill. No one has to my knowledge has organized the membership to use their member votes to put in the right people on the NRA Board of Directors.
 
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