swatpamike
Regular Member
First of all let me say that I am new to the forum and only found it by accident while searching the internet for open carry laws for Florida.
I attended my first Open Carry fishing event in Tampa yesterday, June 11, and met some like minded individuals, chatted about firearms and caught a couple of fish. All and all not a bad way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning.
Let me also say that had I just been out on a Saturday morning fishing trip and noticed 4 or 5 guys with guns on their hips I would have had no idea why they were at the pier in the first place. Only 1 of the 5 had a Florida Open Carry shirt and there was no banner or any other indication as to why these 4 or 5 guys with guns were all fishing together on a Saturday morning. Being a supporter of our 2nd Amendment Rights I most likely would have walked up to ask what was going on. In the time I was there I did not notice anyone asking about why we were there and I find that this is contrary to the reasons why we meet in the first place. Please don't get me wrong I am in no way critical of the members I met on Saturday I am only suggesting better ways to promote our group and our cause.
When an Open Carry event is scheduled we SHOULD have at least a banner, t-shirts, buttons and fliers that will give passerbys some indication of why we are there. To do otherwise wastes any chance to educate the general public to our cause.
Inevitably the subject turned to how we could attract more people to our events and spread awareness of our cause. Many suggestions were talked about but the most interesting one was setting up a table at the next local gun show to pass out literature and educating people about the open carry laws, or lack thereof, in Florida. The local gun show is the obvious place to start recruiting supporters as almost all the people at the shows will be supporters of gun rights.
Setting up a table at a local gun show should not be a problem as I feel that we would be welcome by the show organizers. Someone has taken the time to design a logo for Florida Open Carry and I am sure there is a flier in PDF format that has information on our cause and ways to contact the group. Below is a listing of the next few months of Florida gun shows. I don't see why we could not have a table or at least members at 1 or 2 of these shows.
June 18-19 St. Augustine National Guard Armory
190 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www.guntradergunshows.com
352-339-4780
info@guntradergunshows.com
June 25-26 Cocoa Expo Center
500 Friday Road Cocoa FL 32926
www.guntradergunshows.com
352-339-4780
info@guntradergunshows.com
July 2-3 West Palm Beach at the South Florida Fairgrounds
Sports Show Specialists
www.flgunshows.com
321-777-7455
July 9-10 Melbourne Auditorium 625 E Hibiscus Blvd
Sports Show Specialists
www.flgunshows.com
321-777-7455
July 16-17 Palmetto Suncoast Gun Show
1 Haben Blvd
Palmetto FL, 3342
For a complete list of Florida guns shows please check this link out.
www.gunshows-usa.com/florida_gun_shows.htm
I have the weekend of July 16-17 off and have not problem attending the show both days and will even check out getting a table. I will need a banner, signs, and fliers.
If anyone else has ideas please feel free to post them.
We are all working toward the same goal so it is best that we work together.
Cheers
Mike
I attended my first Open Carry fishing event in Tampa yesterday, June 11, and met some like minded individuals, chatted about firearms and caught a couple of fish. All and all not a bad way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning.
Let me also say that had I just been out on a Saturday morning fishing trip and noticed 4 or 5 guys with guns on their hips I would have had no idea why they were at the pier in the first place. Only 1 of the 5 had a Florida Open Carry shirt and there was no banner or any other indication as to why these 4 or 5 guys with guns were all fishing together on a Saturday morning. Being a supporter of our 2nd Amendment Rights I most likely would have walked up to ask what was going on. In the time I was there I did not notice anyone asking about why we were there and I find that this is contrary to the reasons why we meet in the first place. Please don't get me wrong I am in no way critical of the members I met on Saturday I am only suggesting better ways to promote our group and our cause.
When an Open Carry event is scheduled we SHOULD have at least a banner, t-shirts, buttons and fliers that will give passerbys some indication of why we are there. To do otherwise wastes any chance to educate the general public to our cause.
Inevitably the subject turned to how we could attract more people to our events and spread awareness of our cause. Many suggestions were talked about but the most interesting one was setting up a table at the next local gun show to pass out literature and educating people about the open carry laws, or lack thereof, in Florida. The local gun show is the obvious place to start recruiting supporters as almost all the people at the shows will be supporters of gun rights.
Setting up a table at a local gun show should not be a problem as I feel that we would be welcome by the show organizers. Someone has taken the time to design a logo for Florida Open Carry and I am sure there is a flier in PDF format that has information on our cause and ways to contact the group. Below is a listing of the next few months of Florida gun shows. I don't see why we could not have a table or at least members at 1 or 2 of these shows.
June 18-19 St. Augustine National Guard Armory
190 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www.guntradergunshows.com
352-339-4780
info@guntradergunshows.com
June 25-26 Cocoa Expo Center
500 Friday Road Cocoa FL 32926
www.guntradergunshows.com
352-339-4780
info@guntradergunshows.com
July 2-3 West Palm Beach at the South Florida Fairgrounds
Sports Show Specialists
www.flgunshows.com
321-777-7455
July 9-10 Melbourne Auditorium 625 E Hibiscus Blvd
Sports Show Specialists
www.flgunshows.com
321-777-7455
July 16-17 Palmetto Suncoast Gun Show
1 Haben Blvd
Palmetto FL, 3342
For a complete list of Florida guns shows please check this link out.
www.gunshows-usa.com/florida_gun_shows.htm
I have the weekend of July 16-17 off and have not problem attending the show both days and will even check out getting a table. I will need a banner, signs, and fliers.
If anyone else has ideas please feel free to post them.
We are all working toward the same goal so it is best that we work together.
Cheers
Mike
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