Activism Wanes

Save Our State said:

Ah.....
You are under the mistaken premise that all the UOC'ers were pursuing the exact same goal. I don't think we all are. I cannot speak for everyone here, or every OC'er who uh...rode their horses....., but I did not always do so as an infantry soldier for the gun rights crowd. I did so for all rights. I did so for the culture, the tradition, and the educational effort. Some of us believe that it is as important to educate the next generation and the present one about how ALL rights are being treated, and the 2nd amendment was just one in a parade of attacks on our freedoms. I don't really care for your assessment of our effort based upon your interpretation of our goals. One thing is being highlighted by our effort, and that is that there are powerful forces out there taking away our rights and freedoms. Also, that saying you have rights, is not the same as practicing them. There's no real repercussion to making a verbal or written claim as to your rights; Our government has always tolerated a good measure of bragging. But practicing a right is becoming more and more of a hazard. OC'ers have shown that our government is becoming less and less tolerant of practicing a right in public. It's not just the guns; it's a pattern of abuse we are highlighting

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I have a question; How are anyone's goals relevant in light of our current circumstances? Particularly- Did anyone's reasons for doing what they thought was right have any effect on the legislature's response?

Personally, I think it is completely irrelevant what our goals were- whether it was for personal defense, a demonstration of legal activity, promotion of the 2nd amendment, or a media grabbing protest instigated by sniveling, small-minded, hang-wringing, oath-breaking, porcine assemblymember- the outcome was the same. Regardless of the goals we had in mind, none of them fit into a strategy that took into account that our state house is populated by a majority of socialist democrats who have carte blanche to pass whatever legislation they desire. Ultimately, whatever they dont approve of will be banned, and likewise, whatever they support, becomes mandated. They are no respecters of rights- speech, assembly, armed self-defense, privacy or property.

Your suggestion that UOC'rs did not share the same goal, also hints the reason why the movement has stalled even though there is not a blanket prohibition. Those who were doing this as a demonstration that open carry is legal, can no longer say "It's perfectly legal." Those who promoted the 2nd amendment or carried for personal defense have elected to transport in the narrowly defined circumstances under law... which does not typically draw group participation. And the protest of the p*ssies in the state house has netted nothing but increased distain of their anti-libertarian values, since any display has been made impractical.

In order to restore our movement, gun rights supporters must unify behind something that is effectual in spite of the state legislature's best efforts to hinder our abilty to keep and carry firearms in public. We must find their kryptonite and build our shield out of as much of it as we can find and exploit the seperation of powers within our government. Many of us believe that kryptonite can be found in the rulings of the Federal judiciary - since we cannot rely on California's executive, legislature, or courts to protect our rights.

This, however, does not fit in the timetable most would like- and getting back to loaded open carry as we deserve, will only advance on a geologic schedule.

ConditionThree said:

I have a question; How are anyone's goals relevant in light of our current circumstances? Particularly- Did anyone's reasons for doing what they thought was right have any effect on the legislature's response?.

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I'm not just reaching out to the legislative body. As you stated, they have their own agenda. The way I see it at this point is that I, We, need to start accumulating people who think along our lines and begin to pool up more often. At this point, I don't believe the legislature will ever respect the constitution, state or federal, or the broader electorate's wants, demands, rights, no matter the outcome of legislation, court rulings, and/or votes. I believe we will be bullied, arrested, slandered, Libeled, or whatever it takes to have our rights taken away. the thrust of my effort is not sitting in those committee hearing rooms at the capitol anymore, because pretty much nothing I've done there has worked. I'm hoping to cause the legislature to react to me/us, rather than us reacting to them first all the time. At least we started to become relevant with OC. The effect may have not been desirable, but let's admit that we were going there anyway, either by legislation in the statehouse or in practice by law enforcement. The legislature has been responding the same way for the past decade regardless of what we do or don't do.
at the risk of off-topic, I'd point out the issue of illegal immigration as a case in point. remain silent; more illegals come and get more from us for nothing. Speak out and be villanized in addition to seeing more legislation favoring illegals. This state legislature does what it wants, and federal law be damned, except when it favors them. Expecting the gun issue to be any different is probably not sane thinking