Notes from the Resistance...
First of all, not everyone is in the choir. The people in the pews — some not even paying attention — aren’t. The choir is comprised of activists, people who make and keep a regular commitment to practice, to improve, to work together and to perform. Appreciating (or not) the results of their efforts does not make one a member of the choir. [More]Information is put out there to be used, not just consumed.
You're preaching to the choir.The following is from "You Say You Want a Revolution?," published several years back in GUNS AND AMMO:
If only this assumption was true. We would be invincible!I have no way of knowing if the comment poster who was the catalyst for this rant is in "the choir" or not, and don't mean to imply otherwise. It's just that I see this comment tossed around cavalierly by others, and think it important to point out the reality, that most who claim membership are giving themselves more credit than they're due.
The choir is comprised of the volunteers up there doing the work, singing. These are the people who learn the music and the words and the programs. They take significant time out from their demanding professional and personal lives to practice, to learn and to perform. And they’ll do it again next week, and the next.
The overwhelming majority of gun owners are, at best, spectators. They may occasionally attend a service, they may even put a couple dollars in the plate when it’s passed, but to actually put forth time, effort and financial support on a continued basis, to do real work and make real sacrifices, is something they typically find reasons for not doing.
If only this assumption was true. We would be invincible!So it takes a special person for me to acknowledge as being a choir member.
The choir is comprised of the volunteers up there doing the work, singing. These are the people who learn the music and the words and the programs. They take significant time out from their demanding professional and personal lives to practice, to learn and to perform. And they’ll do it again next week, and the next.
The overwhelming majority of gun owners are, at best, spectators. They may occasionally attend a service, they may even put a couple dollars in the plate when it’s passed, but to actually put forth time, effort and financial support on a continued basis, to do real work and make real sacrifices, is something they typically find reasons for not doing.
The choir is comprised of people up there performing. They put themselves on the line. To get ready for that, they practice. And study. And work. And get to the venue. And put other things on hold to fulfill their commitments to people depending on them. And they’ll do it again next week. And the week after that. [More]My latest JPFO Alert notes just because someone hears the music doesn't mean they help carry the tune.
Are you in the choir?I talk about my newest Guns Magazine article in today's Gun Rights Examiner column.
Apathy is every bit the enemy active hostility is. [More]
Now it’s time for a little shameless exploitation of my new hosts. I'd like to extend an invitation to Cleveland area gun rights activists: we have a unique and unprecedented opportunity here, courtesy of Examiner.com, to employ their resources and reach to get our message heard outside "the choir." Let's use it. If you know of a story that can help promote the cause, send me the link as a tip. If you're part of a gun rights group that is fighting a particular battle, supporting or opposing a particular candidate or measure this area is affected by, or if you have an event coming up, let me know about it. If you're an area gun blogger, by all means keep me apprised of work you're doing that Northeast Ohioans would be interested in. Just email me, dcodrea@hotmail.com and put EXAMINER in the subject.Examiner.com has invited me to be their Cleveland "Gun Rights Examiner"--a category they didn't have until I pitched it.
Let's not make this MY Examiner page--let's make this OUR Examiner page. That also means if we post something here that will be of interest to your gun-owning friends and club members that you help spread the word through your email contacts, on gun boards, etc. And by all means leave comments. If the folks running this show see this topic generates interest, they'll be more likely to encourage more of it throughout their considerable media network. And before I forget, I also need to extend an invitation to a very important segment of Examiner readers--those horrified and angered by all of this, and who think the problem is not enough gun control.
Anonymous said...You make some points I can empathize with, Anon, but saying "I'm sorry" is not the same thing as saying "Forgive me." I've not heard that from JZ, who spoke as much from arrogance as he did from ignorance. I also have not seen any kind of plan from him on what exactly he intends to do to repair the damage--hunting with the Nuge doesn't cut it. In fact, the Fudd Gun Syndicate is circling the wagons as their own past sins are coming to light--and their response of last resort is to compare the justifiably furious to mental cases, which kind of adds fuel to the "terrorist" crack, wouldn't you agree?
[We all?] agree with the outrage over Zumbo's comments and believe the response of his sponsors is appropriate. However, I think we should take Jim at his word, that he spoke out of ignorance and will do his best to make up for it.
The results of this event include some ammunition for the Brady Bunch, but it also includes a gifted writer who has finally seen the light. Jim can be a valid champion for 2nd amendment moving forward. He understands the blind spot many hunters have and could be very effective in preaching to that particular section of the choir.
We need to congratulate the industries that responded to our outrage, but we then need to move on. Jim Zumbo, if he really understands, could be a tremendous help in educating the "sporting purposes" crowd.
Yes, we are living in a society where every responsible citizen has the right to a choice on whether or not they will carry a gun, openly or concealed--or we should be.
Two students attending Eagan and Apple Valley high schools were expelled last week after buying souvenir swords during a spring break choir trip in the United Kingdom.So--do you think the outraged parents will organize and oust the board members? Good luck--most are controlled by the teachers' unions, and most parents don't care enough to get involved.
Assume nothing you read is true ... Why is this being published at all? ... The all too perfect choir ... The inconsistencies ... You’re not allowed to dissent ... The wording ain’t Right! ... People acting at variance with what is being reported ... [More]
And not just from the DSM. I get tips all the time from "our side" that are impossible to verify and in many cases are easily shown to be false with just a minute's worth of checking. Passing stuff along without question has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time.
And yeah, even with precautions, I still get snookered good once in a while.
[Via Michael G]
California governor bans singing in church [More]Is he prepared to send armed enforcers into the First AME Church, especially if they're doing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”?
I also wanted to mention my surprise concerning peoples reaction when observing I am located in NJ. I live in this state, where else should my ideas come from? As much as I dislike the anti-gun attitudes here, it is not a foreign country. The anti-gun states are the front line in the battlefield for defending the Second Amendment. It would preaching to the choir if I lived in Texas. It is much more important, like George Patton, to bring the fight to your enemies.
How often have we been told this though, by police officials, by politicians, by anti-gun groups, by the media? Our laws have been geared to exempt police from carry restrictions in "No Guns" zones, assigning to the uniform and the badge an automatic and unquestioned trust that police are better trained, and just generally more cheerful, thrifty, brave clean and reverent than we mere mortal citizens. They are, we are told, the only ones who can handle the awesome trust of being armed in public.My latest Examiner.com post is up, and it covers a subject very familiar to WarOnGuns regulars.
Investigators say a man armed with a shotgun robbed a choir group at a church in Goose Creek Wednesday night. [More]If people are going to act like geese, why be surprised when a predator shows up?
The most violent country in Europe: Britain is also worse than South Africa and U.S. [More]This was the catalyst for my newest Guns Magazine column, just submitted a minute ago. The article practically wrote itself.
A growing body of serious research, led by eminent professors, historians, lawyers and Constitutional scholars, is providing overwhelming evidence that “the people” of the Second Amendment refers to you and me.That introduction is from the March 2007 issue of GUNS Magazine, where I review attorney and author David T. Hardy's new documentary, "In Search of the Second Amendment."
David Hardy has given us an important tool to use in educating ourselves and others.Here's a brief summary about Mr. Hardy and his film:
David T. Hardy served as producer and director of In Search of the Second Amendment. He is an attorney and Second Amendment author, whose 1974 law review article, “Of Arms and the Law” played a key role in beginning the academic rediscovery of the Second Amendment.And now on to the interview...
Hardy is author of five books, including “Origins and Development of the Second Amendment” and the N.Y. Times bestseller “Michael Moore Is A Big Fat Stupid White Man,” which rebutted Moore’s slander of the NRA, Charlton Heston, and gun owners. He is also author of twelve law review articles, including one on firearms laws that has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and eleven of the thirteen U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.
“I spent thirty years researching the right to arms, and four years of my life creating this film. My purpose was to produce something not only educational, but compelling. There’s been enough preaching to the choir. I wanted to produce something that would win hearts and minds, that would convert anyone with an halfway open mind into someone who appreciates and values the American right to arms.”
For most people, making a mistake on the job is tough enough. But imagine the whole world finding out about it and then judging you on the Internet.We've visited this issue before, so I'll not make the same points again. What I will do is point out the comments at the NBC10.com site maintaining this is something bad.
That's happening to many police officers across the country.
Gun rights documentary maker Max Lemus informs me his "Not without a fight" video has been completed and its official release date is today. [More]Find out how you can purchase your copy in today's second Gun Rights Examiner column.
