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As I mentioned in my recent new member introduction thread, I'm quite new to the firearms community. Before becoming part of this community, I can say I was fairly oblivious to the issues facing gun owners. Case in point: I have no recollection whatsoever of the events and discussions leading up to, nor the actual passing of the 1994 Federal AWB. As a result of my inexperience, I have a difficult time judging the current situation in OR and WA, except to think back to spring of last year when, as a newly minted gun owner, I was horrified at the thought of losing a large part of my new-found sense of empowerment and freedom to Oregon's IP-43 ballot initiative. I was in a bit of a panic at the time, spent a fair amount of money, and bought a lot of the things I thought I might later want, but not be able to get. After IP-43 was defeated, however, and the dust settled, I felt as if I had perhaps overreacted. I am wondering now whether the same scenario will play out this spring, or will it be different this time? My feeling is that the current situation is more serious, and there is a threat of losing significant rights to the legislative onslaught that has already begun. Yet there seems to me to be no discernible organized-resistance effort. Or, again, is it my lack of experience leading me to believe this is the case?
To be sure, there has been a lot of very good information researched and shared, and thoughts exchanged by NWFA members via threads on this site. One small rally has taken place, money is on its way to OFF, GOA, etc., some letters have been written to representatives. Does this represent all one can do in the short term? When I imagine the organization and effort of the anti-rights groups, it still seems to pale in comparison. I would think the current effort needs to be handled like any large project: with leaders, a plan, tasks, and ultimately people who are responsible for delivering results.
As a bare minimum, there ought to be one thread per State (OR, WA) on this site dedicated to fighting the year's anti-rights legislation, and updated regularly. The thread would include relevant information and links to the proposed legislation, and a checklist for each person to work through. A lot of this information is likely already here on the NWFA site, but scattered throughout the various threads.
The next pro-rights protest (and there needs to be one) should be organized in a way that the maximum number of people turn out. I could be wrong, but when a protest numbers in the hundreds, I would almost say the event was counter-productive. Can we get thousands next time? As a bare minimum, how about using a simple tool like doodle (Doodle: easy scheduling) that allows people to pick a range of dates, and the tool generates the best option? The tool would also give an estimate of the number of people attending, and seeing that number growing could work like a feed-back mechanism to increase attendance. Who would want to miss a pro-rights protest numbering in the thousands?
These are just some first thoughts, and they only begin to scratch the surface of the topic. I believe we have a large number of people in the firearms community that, despite job and family obligations, would be willing to help fight, but what is lacking are leaders with both time and experience to organize the effort. So I'm left with the feeling that everyone just continues to wait for something to happen while, at least for the short-term, time is running out.
Or am I misreading the current situation? I sent my money to OFF, wrote to my representatives, so now I can dust my hands-off and rest-assured that the remainder of the fighting is taking place somewhere behind closed doors, and the cavalry, if needed, stands ready, hidden on the other side of the hill?
To be sure, there has been a lot of very good information researched and shared, and thoughts exchanged by NWFA members via threads on this site. One small rally has taken place, money is on its way to OFF, GOA, etc., some letters have been written to representatives. Does this represent all one can do in the short term? When I imagine the organization and effort of the anti-rights groups, it still seems to pale in comparison. I would think the current effort needs to be handled like any large project: with leaders, a plan, tasks, and ultimately people who are responsible for delivering results.
As a bare minimum, there ought to be one thread per State (OR, WA) on this site dedicated to fighting the year's anti-rights legislation, and updated regularly. The thread would include relevant information and links to the proposed legislation, and a checklist for each person to work through. A lot of this information is likely already here on the NWFA site, but scattered throughout the various threads.
The next pro-rights protest (and there needs to be one) should be organized in a way that the maximum number of people turn out. I could be wrong, but when a protest numbers in the hundreds, I would almost say the event was counter-productive. Can we get thousands next time? As a bare minimum, how about using a simple tool like doodle (Doodle: easy scheduling) that allows people to pick a range of dates, and the tool generates the best option? The tool would also give an estimate of the number of people attending, and seeing that number growing could work like a feed-back mechanism to increase attendance. Who would want to miss a pro-rights protest numbering in the thousands?
These are just some first thoughts, and they only begin to scratch the surface of the topic. I believe we have a large number of people in the firearms community that, despite job and family obligations, would be willing to help fight, but what is lacking are leaders with both time and experience to organize the effort. So I'm left with the feeling that everyone just continues to wait for something to happen while, at least for the short-term, time is running out.
Or am I misreading the current situation? I sent my money to OFF, wrote to my representatives, so now I can dust my hands-off and rest-assured that the remainder of the fighting is taking place somewhere behind closed doors, and the cavalry, if needed, stands ready, hidden on the other side of the hill?
