SanJoseScott
US Veteran
As a nearly life-long member of the NRA remembering distinctly carrying our 22 rifles to school in the 4th grade to attend NRA gun safety class after school, I feel the need to write this open letter to you. By the way I would love if the NRA could find my first membership card from the late 60’s….but I digress.
As with all members and fellow Americans our hearts have been pierced by the events in Connecticut. Equally our hearts go out to the hundreds if not thousands of tragedies that did not make the media’s news cycle nor fit the “narrative”. Senseless violence regardless of the tool of choice is just that senseless.
While the question of grieving is without question and the solidarity of compassion is without limits the sad state of our society means we must consider politics and constitutional issues before the final funeral has been held. With the reluctance of experienced combat veterans who understand the real meaning of war we too must not rush into this battle nor wage it upon the battlefield chosen by others. Emotions are too high right now and opportunistic groups smell blood in the water.
Timing sir is everything. The message of responsible gun ownership must stand quietly to the side while the other side whirls around in a panic, fills the airwaves with nonsense, and lines up their supporters in a nice neat row. We should, in my humble opinion, hold our powder. Debate amongst ourselves, check our facts, and hone our skills in preparation for the inevitable battles to come.
The facts are on our side and the mechanics of creating new legislation with the resulting legal challenges are a long term proposition. We will undoubtedly hear; what is an assault weapon, what models du jour might be on the “list”, what changes to ammunition regulations might be considered, and we can all add to that list. But in the end a simple modification to our weapons to re-identify them, re-classifying components, perhaps even changing the color of some things will in fact render whatever comes our way mute. We are much smarter than those who seek to disarm and to control us. The difference is we use our intellect with purpose and not ideology.
I also believe that while we slowly let emotions cool, give time to grieve, and with deliberate calm we might consider starting some form of national high profile “lock your guns up” program. Within the framework of existing laws/regulations we could approach and address the acquisition of firearms by unauthorized people by using our vast membership and resources to get us all to ensure our firearms are locked up while we are not in attendance. This “lock them up” program, if done right, would be a good PR thing and generate a talking point to occupy the media for a while with a talking point of our own; illegal acquisition of unsecured guns by deranged individuals or, simplified for the left because we know they have trouble with big words, “If we lock them up, the crazies can’t get them”.
Ignore for a minute the realities of what I just said and remember in the media the truth doesn’t matter. Gun safes are not foolproof, locks have keys, and a big *** hammer will open most of the locks. However, we are looking to be calmly proactive by defining the debate in quiet competence. .
We should not relax but perhaps take some quiet time to get ready. We can’t win any public debate right now so we shouldn’t try. Our time will come…..
As with all members and fellow Americans our hearts have been pierced by the events in Connecticut. Equally our hearts go out to the hundreds if not thousands of tragedies that did not make the media’s news cycle nor fit the “narrative”. Senseless violence regardless of the tool of choice is just that senseless.
While the question of grieving is without question and the solidarity of compassion is without limits the sad state of our society means we must consider politics and constitutional issues before the final funeral has been held. With the reluctance of experienced combat veterans who understand the real meaning of war we too must not rush into this battle nor wage it upon the battlefield chosen by others. Emotions are too high right now and opportunistic groups smell blood in the water.
Timing sir is everything. The message of responsible gun ownership must stand quietly to the side while the other side whirls around in a panic, fills the airwaves with nonsense, and lines up their supporters in a nice neat row. We should, in my humble opinion, hold our powder. Debate amongst ourselves, check our facts, and hone our skills in preparation for the inevitable battles to come.
The facts are on our side and the mechanics of creating new legislation with the resulting legal challenges are a long term proposition. We will undoubtedly hear; what is an assault weapon, what models du jour might be on the “list”, what changes to ammunition regulations might be considered, and we can all add to that list. But in the end a simple modification to our weapons to re-identify them, re-classifying components, perhaps even changing the color of some things will in fact render whatever comes our way mute. We are much smarter than those who seek to disarm and to control us. The difference is we use our intellect with purpose and not ideology.
I also believe that while we slowly let emotions cool, give time to grieve, and with deliberate calm we might consider starting some form of national high profile “lock your guns up” program. Within the framework of existing laws/regulations we could approach and address the acquisition of firearms by unauthorized people by using our vast membership and resources to get us all to ensure our firearms are locked up while we are not in attendance. This “lock them up” program, if done right, would be a good PR thing and generate a talking point to occupy the media for a while with a talking point of our own; illegal acquisition of unsecured guns by deranged individuals or, simplified for the left because we know they have trouble with big words, “If we lock them up, the crazies can’t get them”.
Ignore for a minute the realities of what I just said and remember in the media the truth doesn’t matter. Gun safes are not foolproof, locks have keys, and a big *** hammer will open most of the locks. However, we are looking to be calmly proactive by defining the debate in quiet competence. .
We should not relax but perhaps take some quiet time to get ready. We can’t win any public debate right now so we shouldn’t try. Our time will come…..
