First to Dave, and Ruby too, I would hope you can see your way back to the forum. Dave, you in fact did good things for the group, set up breakfasts, got a local Denny's on our side who supported us with enthusiasm, those things count. Second, in the spirit of the absolute goal of normalizing it, we will encounter a wider array of viewpoints, some will of course be more assertive than others. Being the Internet, people will sometimes "let their hair down" or express themselves with more zeal than they would in person. This is a common factor with growth. Where once a smaller focused group existed, a larger body of more "Normal" people now exists, and this will continue to grow. The trade off is an obvious one, and one we must all be prepared for: the fact of normal people and their normal issues now carrying firearms... As part of the afore mentioned "Second group" reaping benefits, we owe those before us the respect that their methodology ultimately put us in the direction we are now- and many who followed closely will adhere to the methodology in an effort to continue the strong push forward. But we all in the end must recognize the true nature of a normalized progression, where we will ultimately shed the skin that a small tightly focus group can wear, and embrace, or at least realize, that many many others will not follow the original methodology, and will open carry a firearm, and will deal with society, law enforcement, and each other (fellow open carriers and arms owners) as they "normally" would deal with anything else. Some get a parking ticket and deal with the officer one way ... others deal with them in a completely different way. Same with random encounters with anti-gunners, sheeple, curious questions, etc, etc, etc......
- This whole thing is becoming rather........ well....... normal.
- Welcome to Open Carry Washington 2010 - almost normal now guys.
- Dave, Ruby, Others who may consider leaving: I hope you will reconsider to stay and press on with the rest of your now normal fellow OCers - I really Do.
Bat