Pat yourself on the back once for me too bud, as I honestly appreciate it, excuse the inferred sarcasm in patting yourself on the back. Although, I'm not sure what point you are trying to make, there is a good chance there are other people on the MO side of OCDO that attended and others that would have if they could of.
It wasn't meant to be a "pat on the back" at all. It was meant to illustrate the point that I made earlier. A number of members here badmouthing the CCW crowd, yet, when it came to actually showing up and supporting OC preemption here in our legislature, that is where the vast majority of support came from.
The assumption that people here never or hardly got involved in legislation is just that, an assumption, lets keep things empirical. Assumptions lead to misunderstandings, which leads to this. Also, I doubt anyone here has anything but respect for the boys who got the CCW legislation passed.
I've not seen much of it. Most of the time, there is nothing but sour grapes towards the CCW crowd around here, as if they are somehow less patriotic or as if they should be expected put the same vigor into OC preemption as they did into CCW legislation. It's much easier to attract flies with honey, rather than contempt.
Finally, activism and raising awareness is the first step in any policy making. Public input leads to interest aggregation, which are combined into policy programs. So raising awareness is fundamentally part of the policy making process. Raising public awareness and social activism IS a fundamental step in getting preemption passed in our legislator.
Yes, it is, but is in vain without a consistent message and without organization.
Also just as quickly as the "divide" was created, there was a call to mend it , by -me-, only to be reopened by -you-.
You made your "call" to the wrong person. I wasn't the one who started the CCW instructor bashing here in this thread. However, as a CCW instructor, I can tell you for sure that for myself, and a fairly large number of other instructors I know, we do NOT fit the stereotype continually brought up here. I dare say that instructors, as a group, are in a unique position to actually meet and speak face-to-face to more pro-gun people than nearly any other group in Missouri. Seems to me they would be the kind of folks we would want to reach out to, rather than disparage.
The members here are all good people, pushing for the same pro-gun legislation, our aims are aligned with those of the CCW groups and almost all other gun groups IMO. Fundamentally to protect our rights.
Good that you acknowledge that.
Saying "Unfortunately only a handful" down plays that fact that people responded to the call at all. The people who did, were able too. Tthe ones who didn't, either did not know about it or were unable to attend and should not be reprimanded as uninterested or unsupportive of the cause. I know many of these guys, now personally because of their willingness to take time out of their lives to meet, and act for this cause. It is disrespectful to act as an elitist or downplay these folks because they cannot contribute as much as you have. Also, turn your claims of disinterest to the national news spot we just landed 2 days ago.
LOL. You obviously missed the "when" and the "how" in regards to how it was done. It wasn't an invite to a BBQ or a cup of coffee, but I won't bore you with the details.
In addition, I'll be the first to admit that there are many, many people who have been able to contribute much more time, money, and expertise than I to our gun rights causes. I never claimed otherwise. Again, I simply pointed out some of the hyperbole that gets thrown around here. Before we go around talking about how the CCW crowd can't be counted on to support OC preemption, we had better have our facts straight.
So as I said before, if you are only here to chastise and argue about past issues or indiscretions you may have, take it to another thread, or mosey on over to MOcarry and vent.
The same could be said for your self-righteous attitude. Then again, I don't pretend to be in a position to control what others can and can't post to this forum.
This thread is about advancement of ideas and getting involved in the future of the movement. It is about maintaining moral and motivation. You are acting in a very counterproductive and demanding manner. That said, I don't intend to come across as a jerk though I'm unapologetic if I have. If you want to talk about the -next- step instead of what has or hasn't happened, then stay, lets talk.
Be happy folks, we did a major thing bringing all this positive exposure and new members to the OC movement. Lets not let internal strife bog us down.
The "next step" has already been taken. In fact, a series of steps have already been taken. And just so you know, some of us have been trying to end this "internal strife" since long before this meeting made the news.
