Skills that are not regularly exercised will fade with time, and rights are no different. As much as we would like to be able to depend on static documents like the Constitution to protect our rights, the fact is that the only true way to maintain freedom is to exercise it. That’s why we have such a strong legal recognition of the First Amendment – because both individuals and the organized press and religions are constantly using it and pushing at its boundaries. If we want to maintain and expand our rights as recognized by the Second Amendment, we need to do the same thing.
I mentioned a while back that I think there are two truly effective things that we as individuals can do to have an impact on legislative policy. The quick and easy one is actual direct (polite and intelligent) communication with political representatives (no matter how loathsome they may be). The second thing has far more potential impact, takes much more time and attention, and is far more rewarding. That is to introduce people to the excitement, camaraderie, and fulfillment of the shooting sports and gun collecting. Writing a senator is a single statement; getting a person interested and engaged in our interests not only brings a neutral mind onto our side, but it also creates a new voice that will spread our message to a whole new circle of people.
Ultimately, we live in a political society, and it will always be very difficult for Washington to enact laws that a majority of people actively disapprove of. If those laws do get passed, having a majority of conscious public opinion on our side makes them much easier to reverse. I’ve never spoken to this young lady, but I’m pretty confident that just by sharing her daily life with her friends she will do more to hold back gun control than a hundred angry letters to DC:
She’s 13, and running 3-gun matches like a pro – I wish I could run a shotgun that smoothly (H/T to Joel for the video)
It’s easy for us to do, too! Shooting sports sell themselves – how many people actually decide that a day of plinking at tin cans is just not any fun? There are tons of neutral folks out there today, uninformed and curious about shooting, and all we have to do is give them an opportunity to try it out. Whether they decide to just stick to plinking with a .22, or get self-defense training and a CCW, or collect interesting historical guns, or take up any one of the competitive styles, it doesn’t matter. Give them a stake in our gun rights and they will help us defend those rights. This isn’t a game of Chess at the national level, it’s a game of Go at a very local level.
So take a day and invite that friend, neighbor, or coworker out to the range with you. Start them out with something simple and fun and easy*, like an airgun or .22 or 9mm carbine, and bring a new shooter into the fold. You might be surprised how easy it is…we have plenty of “liberal” friends who have dived head-first into recreational and competitive shooting. We can make gun rights a fundamental principle supported by people across the political spectrum – and we can get started today.
* If you’re one of those idiots on YouTube who brought his newbie girlfriend to the range and told her to hold a 12ga out in front of her shoulder and then laughed like a hyena when it knocked her over, I truly hope she dumped your ass and found someone who wasn’t a complete waste of oxygen.
Bravo to that young lady and her parents for training her to be so skilled.
Perhaps, I can convert my 12 yr old daughter from Katness Everdeen, to a
Katelyn Francis?!?!
Both of my children have been taught to shoot .22 suppressed pistols, since they were both
4 yrs old.
A very well-written and well-reasoned article incorporating a calm, level-headed and sensible approach to a prevailing issue. Just because someone is otherwise “liberal” does not automatically make that person anti-firearms. I happen to know several people who fit that description who are also unabashed firearms enthusiasts, and I also know some other people who are distinctly conservative yet don’t like firearms.
As for the YouTube posting, there are a number of that sort on-line. One wonders if the individuals involved ever considered that serious injury could result from such antics, eg., the buttstock on that 12-gauge shotgun in the example Ian mentioned could have struck her very hard in the face if she had flinched at the wrong moment.
Excellent article. While you’re at it, you can offer to buy a one-year membership to the NRA for any gun owners you know who are not already members. Only like 5% of gun owners are in the NRA. It’s only $35. I’ve already signed up 7 or 8.
Also, last year NRA offered a life membership at a very steep discount ($300 vs. $1000) if you were sponsored by a life member).
They have renewed the deal, but my understanding is, without the sponsorship requirement.
Simply call 1-888-678-7894. The promotion is running now and ends 31 March.
The NRA is not perfect but what creation of humans is? it is the organization we have, and we must make the best of it.
How much ammo does $300 buy? If you spend it on ammo and not on this, it might be your last opportunity (especially those of you in some of the more moonbat-rich environments). Because of the attack on your rights, you can’t get half the stuff you normally would spend that money on, anyway. so put it into preserving your rights.
“introduce people to the excitement, camaraderie, and fulfillment of the shooting sports and gun collecting”
This is one of the reasons why I make youtube videos with a video gaming focus. While there may be 60, 70, 80 million gun owners in the US, I’d guess only 20 million shoot regularly, with maybe 75% of that being fair weather hunters. There are likely only 5 million people in the US who participate in the “new” shooting sports such as IDPA, 3-gun, or IPSC, or alternatively are passionate gun collectors.
While many in the gun community have scoffed at the idea of people becoming gun owners purely from their interaction with entertainment media, it’s a demographic that shouldn’t be underestimated. First person shooter games sold in the US over the last 2 years total around 25 million copies and they keep on growing. There is an emerging demographic of gamers who are gradually becoming adults with disposable income who did not grow up in a hunting or gun collecting family, nor live in an area with a traditional gun culture. Ensuring rights for the next generation of gun hobbyists means also making that generation larger. The gaming community is one area to expand upon.
A good idea, as long as these one-time gamers are properly instructed, schooled and trained in the practical reality of firearms hardware, and the restraint, safety, ethics and responsibility that attend firearms ownership.
You are very lucky!
The second amendment to the Constitution to protect the rights of citizens，
but many other countries ,this is an extravagant hope and dreams.
Dasko, I just checked out some of your gun videos – very good work. You obviously have a positive effect on the people who comment on your videos.
That was great, I was taught how to shoot at 6 , by my Grangmother and has helped me through life.
Reminds me of how my Dad and his hunting / fishing friends did the same for me at about the same age.
Just an f.y.i. I am a liberal gun owner. I have several friends who are the same way. Its not just a left vs right thing. (also when are you going to do a story on the “Gyro-jet” rocket gun?)
“…idiots on YouTube who brought his newbie girlfriend to the range and told her to hold a 12ga out in front of her shoulder…”
Never understood that kind of stupidity. But then, when I’m teaching a woman new to firearms, it’s usually because she already has cause to fear for her life and wants to protect herself. Teaching her instead to fear her defensive tools would be… counter-productive. I’m not that kind of crazy.
I think this is pretty much the only way to go forward, general public seeing guns and shooting more as hobby and sport, not something else.. and hopefully more people getting involved.
I dont think theres anything to be had if the conversation starter or defense for gun rights is that “I need the guns to start a civil war”.. because that has been thrown around quite a lot in one form or another.
I have to admit, I’m not comfortable with the idea of mixing children and firearms.
That’s what airguns are for.