I was at every single city council meeting that pertained to fixing the contract, fought just as hard as everybody else. This was never about bringing guns to the festival! It was about getting a illegal clause removed from the contract. That mission was accomplished. We won! The media has moved on to something else. They aren't going to know if one OCer shows up or 100 do.
The fact of the matter is just because firearms are allowed doesn't meen this is an OC friendly event. I think if the anti's go to a place expecting to see guns and don't see any makes more of impact then going there and rubbing it in there faces. Hopefully they realize that they made a big f'ing deal out of nothing. Showing up and getting noticed just gives them fuel for the fire. I you wanted to make an impact you should have came to some of the meetings.
Why would I go to a crowded place were I know im not welcome and could be harrassed? No thanks, ill go someplace were I can have fun that weekend.
Your, and everyone who was involved in the Royal Oak thing, efforts are appreciated more than you know. By more people than you are aware of. Many of us are proud of all of you... and rightfully so!
Please understand that there are quite a few people who may not have been involved in Royal Oak but are devoting a lot of their time working with other cities and villages all over Michigan with illegal ordinances. Some of these people work entirely on their own and attend council meetings all by themselves while OC'ing without asking for help from the OC community. Not because help isn't available when asked for but because they believe that what they are doing is the right thing and they are willing to stand up all alone and get it done.
The following is offered as explanation... not directed at any individuals or groups...
We here in the OC community understand it is never about guns but is all about taking government to task and requiring them to live by the same laws we have to live by.
But the anti's and the general public view the issue differently. They view it through the lens of ... guns.. guns... those scary guns.
Now having won this victory to simply walk away and not attend would be, to the anti mind, an admission of everything they accused us of... grandstanding, pushing an agenda, looking for lawsuits, and every other outlandish accusation seen so far. It would turn a victory into a surrender to the anti agenda. They would claim those macho breast beating gun nuts didn't have the courage to face the public at the festival itself... it would be viewed as a sign of weakness and OC would become something to be mocked.
To the general uninformed public not attending would leave them confused and wondering... why, if this was so important, didn't the OC'ers attend after winning the fight to be able to legally attend?
And both of those groups would begin to dismiss OC and OC'ers as paper tigers not worthy of respect or consideration.
Yes the real truth was this was about bringing Royal Oak into compliance with the law. But to everyone not directly involved in it the media's portrayal of a bunch of gun nuts pushing their 2nd Amendment is the lie they heard/read.
Also.... going into a crowded place where an OC'er knows he is not welcome and could be harassed is exactly what we do... many of us do this every day, day after day everywhere we go, during our daily lives. And it is what the folks did when attending Royal Oak council meetings. It is how OC will become normalized.
Attending AB&E while OC'ing isn't rubbing anything in anyone's face.... it is exercising the right to bear arms and doing it in a legal manner. Exactly what was fought for by everyone standing in those meetings. Attending AB&E shows the people that OC'ers believe what they fought for was worth fighting for.
Having said all that.... this is a free country. Each individual has the right to decide to attend AB&E or not to attend. For what ever reason(s) that person may have. And no one has the right to disparage that choice. And I, for one, will not do that.
