Sorry for the long post but hopefully you guys will read through it.
Ok so by know we should all know that I594 is a very very bad bill and we need to vote against it. Not only that but the other side has millions more than we do so we truly need every ounce of grassroots effort we have to stop this thing. So, in this thread post all your ideas and any events you know of that are geared toward educating the public on how bad I594 is.
Here are my ideas. They are just in the order I'm thinking about them and not in an order of importance.
First, don't assume we are preaching to the choir. If you know people who are gun owners or are gun friendly make sure they know the details of I594 and are voting against it (and preferably also voting for I591). Here is an example, a while back I saw one of my neighbors open carrying (I live in a condo), I've said high to him a few times but never really had a conversation. One night I was taking out the trash and ran into him and I could tell he was conceal carrying (printing hardcore). I asked him about how I saw him open carrying before and if he was trying to make a statement. He was a little taken a back but I told him I was a pro gun guy with a conceal carry permit and was just curious if he was someone who liked to do the open carry stuff bringing attention to gun rights. He said no it was just easier for him sometimes. We had a long talk about guns and I asked him about I594 and I591 and he hadn't hear of either (how I don't know) so I explained them both and he said he would vote for I591 and against I594. I ran into him again just the other night. He works construction and he said he has been telling everyone he knows and they are all on board with him. He even knows some people who aren't really into guns but after explaining the details they agree 594 is lame and will be voting against it. So, moral of the story, do not assume just because you know someone who you think are pro gun that they are voting against 594.
Second, find opportunities to talk to people about 594. I work in IT and one of my coworkers mentioned something about how they hate Microsoft. I told them not to even get me started on Microsoft as I was in a particular hateful mood towards them beyond just the usual IT reasons. They asked what was up and I said it was political and probably shouldn't talk about it at work. They probed me to say it anyway so I told him about I594 and how Balmer, Gates and Allen have all dropped a million on it, with the exception of Allen who's dropped half a mill. After explaining the bill he agreed it was lame even though he doesn't disagree with background checks per say and would be voting against. (We also discussed "assault weapons" and I educated him that there is no such thing and they are cosmetic features, now he agrees with that too). A few minutes later he came back and said he did some research on his own and it was even more messed up than he thought and he most certainly would be voting no on 594 and yes on 591 (I hadn't even mentioned 591 to him.
Third, if you haven't heard or seen there is an event in Seattle in October to try and spread the word on how bad I594 is. Dave Workman wrote about it here <broken link removed> It is in Seattle October 18th Westlake Park from 11am-2PM.
Fourth, spread this debate around as our side did a good job on laying out why I594 is bad and there was lots of talk on the transfer part <broken link removed>
Fifth, speaking of spreading things around, anytime Dave Workman posts an article about I594 you should share it far and wide.
Sixth, hit up social media wherever you can. I've been following the #yeson594 recently on twitter and have been trying to post counter tweets correcting the anti's whenever they make false statements or try and claim letting your buddy shoot your gun is not a transfer. I'm hoping that if people check out that hashtag and they are on the fence they may be inclined to research a bit further and find the truth and vote no. Or maybe a husband to one of these demanding mommies will have been listening to his wife's lies and might see some of the tweets and start thinking for themselves and actually vote no instead of yes... hey one can dream right...
Sixth, an idea I saw somewhere on facebook suggested using chalk to write on sidewalks NO ON I594 in busy places like games, concerts or even bus stops. I'd say go one step further and just put "thetruthabout594.com" or "thetruthabouti594.com". I'd say to put Voteno594.com which is where those sites point to which is the NRA detailing why 594 is bad but the anti's took NoOn594.com and NoOnI594.com which point to the yes on 594 page and I would hate for someone to think they will check out "voteno594.com" and by the time they get home or online somewhere to look they remember it as one of the others... I know who took the sites thetruthabout594.com and thetruthabouti594.com and pointed them to the NRA's voteno594.com page. They are considering creating a page of their own that starts off more basic and has more detailed info below so when people hit it they can get the bullet points and then if they want more info they can check out more of the page. The NRA site is very good but they don't like that it has the NRA branding on it which could turn away some people or cause them to not fully believe what is there. Until they have the time to get the page in place though it is directing them to the NRA site instead of just a placeholder so feel free to give out that site or the VoteNo594.com page, but like I said one could easily hit NoOn594.com instead and get the anti's page.
Seventh, contribute to the Yes on 591 campaign. If 594 passes this may be our only way of blocking it for 2 years. Who knows what will happen at that point but it will have to be sorted out by the courts. I've been meaning to drop some cash to them but I haven't had much extra cash. I should have some next pay check though and I'm hoping to get them $50 bucks, about the cost of a background check.
Eighth, slap on those bumper stickers and throw up the yard signs. I need to find where I can pick them up, I just missed the Monroe gun show and I'm sure they had them there. I thought it was next weekend but I had my dates confused. If you can't find them use some of that window marker stuff to write on your car windows. Just try and write neatly so it doesn't look too redneck.
ninth, if you live in a condo or an apartment that has a community board where they let you post stuff post up some fact sheets about I594 and leave some pamphlets.
Above all else make sure to VOTE when the time comes. We need a turnout at the polls.
Anyway, that's all for now. Sorry again for the novel but we are up against a well financed machine and if they win it will just get worse in the future because they will think they can buy campaigns.
Ok so by know we should all know that I594 is a very very bad bill and we need to vote against it. Not only that but the other side has millions more than we do so we truly need every ounce of grassroots effort we have to stop this thing. So, in this thread post all your ideas and any events you know of that are geared toward educating the public on how bad I594 is.
Here are my ideas. They are just in the order I'm thinking about them and not in an order of importance.
First, don't assume we are preaching to the choir. If you know people who are gun owners or are gun friendly make sure they know the details of I594 and are voting against it (and preferably also voting for I591). Here is an example, a while back I saw one of my neighbors open carrying (I live in a condo), I've said high to him a few times but never really had a conversation. One night I was taking out the trash and ran into him and I could tell he was conceal carrying (printing hardcore). I asked him about how I saw him open carrying before and if he was trying to make a statement. He was a little taken a back but I told him I was a pro gun guy with a conceal carry permit and was just curious if he was someone who liked to do the open carry stuff bringing attention to gun rights. He said no it was just easier for him sometimes. We had a long talk about guns and I asked him about I594 and I591 and he hadn't hear of either (how I don't know) so I explained them both and he said he would vote for I591 and against I594. I ran into him again just the other night. He works construction and he said he has been telling everyone he knows and they are all on board with him. He even knows some people who aren't really into guns but after explaining the details they agree 594 is lame and will be voting against it. So, moral of the story, do not assume just because you know someone who you think are pro gun that they are voting against 594.
Second, find opportunities to talk to people about 594. I work in IT and one of my coworkers mentioned something about how they hate Microsoft. I told them not to even get me started on Microsoft as I was in a particular hateful mood towards them beyond just the usual IT reasons. They asked what was up and I said it was political and probably shouldn't talk about it at work. They probed me to say it anyway so I told him about I594 and how Balmer, Gates and Allen have all dropped a million on it, with the exception of Allen who's dropped half a mill. After explaining the bill he agreed it was lame even though he doesn't disagree with background checks per say and would be voting against. (We also discussed "assault weapons" and I educated him that there is no such thing and they are cosmetic features, now he agrees with that too). A few minutes later he came back and said he did some research on his own and it was even more messed up than he thought and he most certainly would be voting no on 594 and yes on 591 (I hadn't even mentioned 591 to him.
Third, if you haven't heard or seen there is an event in Seattle in October to try and spread the word on how bad I594 is. Dave Workman wrote about it here <broken link removed> It is in Seattle October 18th Westlake Park from 11am-2PM.
Fourth, spread this debate around as our side did a good job on laying out why I594 is bad and there was lots of talk on the transfer part <broken link removed>
Fifth, speaking of spreading things around, anytime Dave Workman posts an article about I594 you should share it far and wide.
Sixth, hit up social media wherever you can. I've been following the #yeson594 recently on twitter and have been trying to post counter tweets correcting the anti's whenever they make false statements or try and claim letting your buddy shoot your gun is not a transfer. I'm hoping that if people check out that hashtag and they are on the fence they may be inclined to research a bit further and find the truth and vote no. Or maybe a husband to one of these demanding mommies will have been listening to his wife's lies and might see some of the tweets and start thinking for themselves and actually vote no instead of yes... hey one can dream right...
Sixth, an idea I saw somewhere on facebook suggested using chalk to write on sidewalks NO ON I594 in busy places like games, concerts or even bus stops. I'd say go one step further and just put "thetruthabout594.com" or "thetruthabouti594.com". I'd say to put Voteno594.com which is where those sites point to which is the NRA detailing why 594 is bad but the anti's took NoOn594.com and NoOnI594.com which point to the yes on 594 page and I would hate for someone to think they will check out "voteno594.com" and by the time they get home or online somewhere to look they remember it as one of the others... I know who took the sites thetruthabout594.com and thetruthabouti594.com and pointed them to the NRA's voteno594.com page. They are considering creating a page of their own that starts off more basic and has more detailed info below so when people hit it they can get the bullet points and then if they want more info they can check out more of the page. The NRA site is very good but they don't like that it has the NRA branding on it which could turn away some people or cause them to not fully believe what is there. Until they have the time to get the page in place though it is directing them to the NRA site instead of just a placeholder so feel free to give out that site or the VoteNo594.com page, but like I said one could easily hit NoOn594.com instead and get the anti's page.
Seventh, contribute to the Yes on 591 campaign. If 594 passes this may be our only way of blocking it for 2 years. Who knows what will happen at that point but it will have to be sorted out by the courts. I've been meaning to drop some cash to them but I haven't had much extra cash. I should have some next pay check though and I'm hoping to get them $50 bucks, about the cost of a background check.
Eighth, slap on those bumper stickers and throw up the yard signs. I need to find where I can pick them up, I just missed the Monroe gun show and I'm sure they had them there. I thought it was next weekend but I had my dates confused. If you can't find them use some of that window marker stuff to write on your car windows. Just try and write neatly so it doesn't look too redneck.
ninth, if you live in a condo or an apartment that has a community board where they let you post stuff post up some fact sheets about I594 and leave some pamphlets.
Above all else make sure to VOTE when the time comes. We need a turnout at the polls.
Anyway, that's all for now. Sorry again for the novel but we are up against a well financed machine and if they win it will just get worse in the future because they will think they can buy campaigns.
