Based on some the comments posted so far, it would appear sending a simple email is too much to ask of many "activist" gun owners--they'll not only find a reason not to do it, they'll elaborate on how it's a defeated effort from the outset, so why even try?
Look--nobody proposing this effort is under any illusions--if anything, we're among the most cynical of the lot. But you tell me it wouldn't have an effect if ten thousand or more pissed off gun owners sent a no-uncertain-terms missive to one official on one day. Then tell me how much more of an impression it would make to flood his inbox with 100,000. Or a million.
Thanks guys. It would have taken one minute of your precious time.
Why would anyone believe the chatroom warriors will do anything but fold in resignation if anything requiring actual effort and sacrifice is ever asked of them? Some gun owners ensure their own defeat every step of the way, and the damndest thing is, those of us who are carrying water are routed along with them.
Nobody ever won a thing starting out with the mindset that losing was inevitable.
Friday, November 09, 2007
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22 comments:
Sent mine out last night.
And I know the defeatists you speak of. They love to talk about how logical and "realistic" they are. How letter-sending is a waste of time.
They miss the point.
C.H.
Aren't you being a little tough on folks? I mean, writing an email takes at least sixty seconds--that could eat into one's American Idol time.
Sent mine yesterday evening. Took me a few minutes, but I'm a little slow... Still worth it!
I can no longer write a "civil" letter to these people. Everytime I try I keep remembering what they are: mortal enemies, traitors, the worst scum humanity has to offer. My opinions of these .... walking colostomy bags.... keep rising to the surface in my letter. The last time I wrote to anyone in government I was told by people on "my side" that I only made things worse and endangered the cause by pointing out what the authoriturds are and who they resemble historically.
I am glad that there are people who can keep having a dialog with the monsters. I don't think it is a waste of time. It's just that when I really care, I get carried away.
Ah, don't hold back, David, tell us how you really feel. Chill, bro' and don't tase me.You are doing good. What you say is worthy and is influencing more than you know. And I did send mine. Kent, I know how you feel, but I practice controlling my feelings enough to overcome. If you look at the whole, you'll get discouraged. One bite of the shit sandwich at a time. And you gotta believe you got help,overwatch and blessings from the Commander. Read about David being pursued by Saul, 1st Kings. Give them nothing. Including your silence. Take from them what is yours, ours.
Don’t worry David, there are many who wrote, but did not post about it… But I do know what you mean. It would be nice to get MILLIONS of us to get involved.
As to my letter to the OIG, well I took a different tactic. Don’t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet… Think “international headlines”. The ball is in motion and we may be heading for a touchdown….
Sent mine yesterday. I can't for the life of me understand why the same people who got their panties in a bunch about Zumbo won't lift a few fingers to work on a REAL problem.
The Squeaky wheel gets the grease! That is why the loud minority of gun haters are being heard, that has been their tactic all along.
It is those who stand by idly, that are to blame for our eroding rights. Can you imagine if the silent majority began to speak out? Thank you to those who have written and continue to make a difference.
Kent,
If all else fails, cut and paste from someone else's letter if you can't refrain from getting too offensive.
I didn't realize you would think we hadn't done it if we didn't mention it. Here's mine.
***********************************
Dear Sir;
America has a problem with a rogue agency under your purview. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is an agency not only out of control as to law and as to its charter, but it refuses to obey Congress, the law itself nor will it set out written procedures for its testing programs of firearms nor its criteria for audits of lawfully operated Federal Firearms Licensees.
In short, it has declared itself a government and a nation in its own right.
This agency has lost thousands of records in its own offices, yet revokes licenses of dealers for clerical errors as mundane as abbreviating "yes" with a "y'' or misspelling, or forgetting to enter the county along with the state and city on a form 4473 which must be filled out by every purchaser of a firearm at an FFL. For these miniscule errors, which cause not substantive harm to either the populace or the intent of the law, they will revoke a license and put a dealer out of business. In the case of Red's Trading Post in Twin Falls, Idaho the error rate is far less than one percent and all are of the type described above. I add that dealership records meet much more stringent inspections than would the BATFE's own records.
Further, this agency has a habit of trying to deny civil rights to the people it abuses. They have told auditees they were not allowed to speak or write about their plight or in any way make the BATFE's actions known to the public. Where did they get that authority?
Months and months have been spent trying to, and usually successfully, close gun dealers for inconsequential violations that they deem willful even though in many cases the violation came about as a result of full compliance with an agency ruling that was since changed with no notice until the time of the audit. One would almost suspect the agency of making it up on the fly to fullfil an illegal agenda, wouldn't one?
Just recently there were three instances of truly willful violation of firearms laws where the agency's intervention would be warranted, but no action was forthcoming with the exception that local authorities in one venue were notified, three years ago. But no action was taken by the agency as regards the illegal purchase of fully automatic firearms for personal possession by members of the NYC police department using their agency's exemption falsley.
Albany, NY the same thing happened, no action by the BATFE for this federal crime.
Houston, Tx. a police officer as owner of security firm engaged in numerous straw purchases to arm illegal aliens working for him. Another federal crime the BATFE took no interest in.
Yet they have time to spend many months and many thousands of dollars trying to revoke licenses of honest gun dealers for what really amount to bogus violations.
Unlike others who have written you, I do not want to see these people or this agency reined in. I want to see them unemployed and forever barred from any law enforcement role.
I am sick of them and I am sick of complicit government in condoning this behavior. There are thousands like me who wish to see the rule of law re-established and soon there will be millions. Even sheep get tired of being sheared.
No, I am not a gun dealer, just an American who wants his country to abide by law and justice. There is no room in it for criminals such as the BATFE.
OK. A day late, but I sent one. I had to keep cutting out things I wanted to say, but I think I kept it nice. It makes me want to gag, writing to this criminal and pretending he has any authority to do anything. Anyway.....
Re: "I didn't realize you would think we hadn't done it if we didn't mention it,"
That wasn't it, SA, it was belittling bravos at KABA saying why they wouldn't and shouldn't do it out of one corner of their mouth, and boldly talking revolution out of the other--as if someone who won't even send an email is going to do something requiring actual effort and risk. As I wrote privately to Ryan, we get the government they deserve.
Good letter, btw, and Kent, welcome to the club--no one likes slogging through sewage. I don't like sending pleading letters either and prefer to send instructions.
I don't like sending pleading letters either and prefer to send instructions.
"Send instructions"? You sound like one of those radicals who think that those who collect a paycheck for public service should . . . serve the public.
Pretty soon you'll be thinking that oaths to uphold the Constitution are binding, or something.
I sent one too and re-posted it over at Mr. Horsley's blog. Meant to mention it here too, but I've been been in and out all day.
I'm a day late. Usually see a spelling error just as I hit 'send'. Those in power know that letters represent greater numbers than the number of letters rec'd. I'm glad the keyboard doesn't have a 'scream' key. Letters can't hurt. Hey, it may get you on a list somewhere. A man's greatness is known by the greatness of his enemies. Sam
StraightArrow's letter would have taken me over an hour to write, if I could have written it at all.
Good job!. Sam
A little more advance notice would go a long way toward driving up participation.
By the time I read the "I am declaring tomorrow..." it was already past due.
I try to check in here daily w/ my coffee, sometimes more frequently, but occasionally I end up missing a day or two.
How about a week in advance, start the drumbeat and buildup to D-Day?
Anon--agree and wrote Ryan saying so when I received this the day before the event. He agrees too, and as he plans to make this an annual project, we should have plenty of advance notice in '08.
Great letter Straightarrow, I couldn't agree more.
To Sam who posted "Letters can't hurt. Hey, it may get you on a list somewhere. A man's greatness is known by the greatness of his enemies." I thought of that before I sent my letter,but then I signed it with my name and address. If they put me on a list I'll be in good company.
Our enemies may be politically powerful, but they are anything but "great".
I'm sorry, David, but who is this I"m supposed to send an email to? I know it has something to do with Red"s Trading Post and their harassment by the BATFU. But what is the particular name and email addy of the person and/or agency I should send the email to?
Bodisattva, this was a follow up to posts where Ryan asked for an email to the Office of Inspector General and congressional reps. He wanted them to do it several days ago, so the day is over now--here is his original post:
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/11/national-report-atf-abuse-day.html
Sorry if that was unclear--the assumption was that people following this blog on a regular basis would know because it had been posted about previously and links to follow back were provided, but then you'd have to follow those links back too, so I can see where someone coming into this discussion at this point would find it confusing. Anyway, the day has passed and next year, now that we know Ryan plans on doing this again (nobody had advance notice for what it's worth) we will be able to do enough advance announcments to give people heads ups and give more time to spread the word.
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