Seven Things to Know About Fighting Gun Banners

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 From;

https://guntalk.com/news/politics/seven-things-know-about-fighting-...

June 27, 2019

Seven Things to Know About Fighting Gun Banners

Yeah, yeah, I know. You don't want to hear about this, again. Too bad. It's here. It's real. And like cancer, if you ignore it, it will keep growing with catastrophic consequences.

1.  You are in the fight, whether you want to be or not.
You are helping one side or the other. There is no other option. If you are actively engaged in the gun rights fight, you are helping to preserve the Second Amendment. If you are not giving money, AND showing up, AND speaking out, you are "fighting" for the gun banners. As the old line goes, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

2.  You can tailor the fight to your situation.
This doesn't have to be a daily activity, although for many of us it is. We work to stay informed every day.  Maybe it takes 10 minutes to check ammoland.com, keepandbeararms.com, read the Gun Talk email newsletter, and check the web site and look for emails from your state gun rights group. Maybe you do that once a week, but you at least do it. And at least once a month, you contact *someone* about gun rights. I'd suggest that each week you send an email to one of your elected officials. Maybe it's to share a link to a successful self-defense story. Maybe it's to let them know about a youth shooting event. Maybe it's to electronically kick 'em in the groin for some dumb move they have made. (Supporting "red flag" laws or "universal background checks."). Don't let the fact that you can't do everything prevent you from doing something. 

3.  It's not for you.
You absolutely need to be on the mailing lists for the gun banners. Believe it when they say they want to confiscate your guns because they do. Now look at your children and grandchildren and understand that if we don't stop this now, your family will not have the option. Once gun rights are gone or even diminished, we almost never get them back. 

It's also about the country. The Republic. Gun rights are the line is the sand. Will you sit back and let them walk over it?

4.  It's always about time and money.
That's all there is of value. Time and money. Yes, you need to be sending money to fight for gun rights. I suggest the Second Amendment Foundation and your state groups. How much?  Whatever you can. I will say that $25 a year won't cut it. Anyone can find $10 a month, if only by skipping a Big Mac. Time? That's much more valuable. Writing emails, making calls, and showing up. Man, showing up is the trump card for politicians. Get with some buddies, get informed about where your federal and state politicians will be appearing or holding town hall meetings, and be there with questions. Don't be shy. Get in their faces. This is a FIGHT.

5. But, writing a check isn't enough.
This duplicates number 4, but it's that important. Speak up. Show up. Organize. Far too many hunters, shooters, and gun owners sit on their butts and wonder what the NRA has done for them. YOU are the gun lobby. If you don't fight, we all lose.

6.  Yes, They really are coming for your guns.
If you have been paying attention, you have seen a big change. Every one of the Democrat candidates for President is calling for gun confiscation. Every one. Even when they used to say "No one is coming for your guns" they really did want to send people for your guns. Now, however, they have decided that the political climate allows them to stop pretending they care about the Constitution and threaten to imprison anyone who doesn't turn in his or her guns.

Make no mistake. They want your guns, and they want them right now.

7.  Get engaged, or STFU!
Enough of "Well, I don't like politics." Grow the hell up. Politics is just the mechanism for getting things done. Sitting on your rear means you want to force someone else to do the work. That's selfish. We are better than that. Simply being an NRA member, or a member of any gun rights group isn't nearly enough. Each of us must do the work. I guarantee you this. If we can get even 10 percent of gun owners seriously engaged we will win practically every fight. But if you have not traveled to your state legislature to show your support, you are sitting in the wagon, forcing other gun owners to pull your weight.

What really gets me are gun owners who do little or nothing, but are quick to complain about the gun banners, or politicians, or the loss of gun rights.

Get engaged on a big level, or shut the F up. ~ Tom

Tom Gresham
Author, outdoorsman, gun rights activist, and firearms enthusiast for more than five decades, Tom Gresham hosts Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, the first nationally-syndicated radio show about guns and the shooting sports, and is also the producer and co-host of the Guns & Gear, GunVenture and First Person Defender television series.