As an activist you should always take the approach that is most likely to result in a favorable outcome. Why? because actions have consequences. How you present yourself matters.
Case in point, folks OC in library, so Michigan State Rep. introduces legislation to ban Open Carry in libraries
The actions of the Black Panthers resulted in the passing of gun laws that are still on the books today, most notably the Mulford Act passed June 28, 1967 in California, banning the open carry of loaded firearms in the state.
H/T to Breda
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6 comments:
Okay...so now we are going to blame the advocates for the reaction of the antis?
I'm sorry but I don't agree here.
The law hasn't passed (and isn't likely to) and already we are throwing people under the bus.
Possible outcomes.
1. Nothing
2. People talk about it and nothing is done but a few people decide they don't like it.
3. People talk about it, nothing is done, some people decide they like the idea of OC and some don't.
4. People talk about it, get upset and propose a law -- people talk about and find out "Hey, this is legal." Law doesn't pass.
5. People talk about it, get upset, propose a new law, law passes and OC in Libraries becomes illegal.
Now, how would you rate those five general (and if you can think of any more let me know) outcomes as favorable or unfavorable?
I can only see 2 as unfavorable (2 & 5) -- so isn't that 3 favorable outcomes to 2 unfavorable?
There are more factors involved in gun control than just the gun.
I'm aware of the arguments on both sides - but that America was built on marketing! Sales, it's one of our greatest strengths, how can the OC Fail-Corps miss that?!
Handgun: small discrete, on the waist, under the jacket - not In-Your-Face. Cops have 'em and most people have someone a cousin who's a cop or seen a Cop on TV.
Shotgun: big shoulder-thing that goes up, club-like, makes a noise that goes Clacky-Clack! A SPECIAL noise that makes burglars swoon and drop a pant-load - it's In-Yo'-Face-Mo'Fo.
Besides, that kind of In-Your-Face "re-education" - "whether you like it or not" - is the hallmark of domineering Marxists.
California: active OC'ing in fairly affluent and non-dangerous, non-threatened, soccer-mom non-confrontational suburban communities (like not East Palo Alto) here in CA has resulted in proposed laws with further restrictions that our Marxist AG would happily enforce. Eagerly in fact.
6. People get upset, talk about it, propose a new law, law passes in state run by GERRYMANDER, and OC EVERYWHERE becomes illegal.
And we can do little about since WE ARE GERRYMANDERED - it's a One-Party state.
Active OC'ing in aforementioned, dangerous, out-of-control and drug-ridden East Palo Alto (or Bayfront, or Richmond, or Hunter's Point, or East LA) will get you shot dead by a Cop. Oops! No spirited defense there. No talk-about-it.
But the activist OC'ers don't go into those bad areas, so who's afraid of reality - or what? Who's going to find a "teachable moment" that works. What's left? The coffee-shop. I like the gentle, frequent, coffee-shop approach that gradually acclimates people to seeing that not-just-Cops can carry. IMO it works better than a sudden shock to the system - that will happen anyhow when there's a big earthquake and Society breaks-down when the Safeawy gets looted...
The antis move immediately in response to the inanimate object that causes them palpitations - and they make the laws in a One-Party state. Suddenly it is no longer an inanimate object but an item subject to restriction and jail-time. Indeed there are more factors involved in gun control than just the gun.
America was built on marketing -- guess that "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" thing was just the pitch for selling 'don't tread on me flags'.
Hmm....Gun on your waist -- very few people have them -- cause hysteria in some people who are in visual range of them.
Gun on your shoulder -- very few people have them -- cause hysteria in some people who are in visual range of them.
Both are firearms, both are deadly.
Is the argument we should only carry something that is non-threatening?
Because if so, that is an argument that is doomed to fail.
Every Anti sees Every Firearm as threatening. How many times have we been told that carrying a firearm makes a person more threatening?
No talk-about-it.
But the activist OC'ers don't go into those bad areas, so who's afraid of reality - or what?
Perhaps they are trying to avoid an image of "ARMED VIGILANTES PATROL CRIME RIDDEN STREETS"?
Reality is that I agree with most of the tactics used by Open Carry Advocates -- including keeping the perception it is just people going about their business.
What business would the advocates have in the high crime areas?
Who's going to find a "teachable moment" that works.
I say we find it in all the arguments, in all the Open Carry events -- the nice quiet ones and the ones that attract mass attention.
The teachable moment is simple
People carried firearms into the public library.
And then?
Nothing happened.
They broke no laws.
Isn't it silly that the state laws prevents a 19 year old from having a pistol for his defense?
I'm sure he would have preferred to carry a pistol but until we change the law-- he couldn't.
Teachable moment about the silly nature of the law done.
The antis move immediately in response to the inanimate object that causes them palpitations -
The antis move regardless if we 'give them an excuse' or not.
They don't and haven't waited for any Open Carry event...they introduce legislation every session.
Why blame the advocates for the actions of the antis?
Wait, now OC in a library at all is a bad thing? How are you supposed to normalize OC, how are you supposed to just go about your business, if you don't just go about your business normally? I can see your point on open carrying a longarm, really I can, but overall restricting yourself from OC just because some people would rather you not...Well, that's the case for anywhere, isn't it?
"Every Anti sees Every Firearm as threatening."
Those arent the folks I'm worried about. the large majority of people are not strictly "pro-gun / anti-gun." Those are the people I want to reach.
Like it or not, your average non-gunnie is not going to see someone carrying a slinged AR-15 around suburban delaware the same as someone with a non-descript Sig 229 that looks just like what the cops carry.
The long gun is going to be perceived in a more negative light by anti's, fencesitters, pro-gunners and cops alike.
As for "teachable moments" those moments are lost if you scare the shit out of people and act like a jerk.
Sabra - I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying consider your audience and your goals if you're going to carry specifically for political activism. In addition be courteous, approachable, act with manners.
Some folks are going to be against my carrying no matter how I present myself. That said, there's no reason we shouldn't be presenting ourselves in the most favorable light possible when OC'ing. Not for the anti's, but for everyone else.
Mike W.
So you are saying that we have to judge our actions by what the majority of the people find threatening or not?
Given that standard, should we even concealed carry? Open Carry?
Buy those evil black rifles?
I'm not saying it was the best decision to carry a long gun in the library but...
Look at what you are doing.
You aren't spending time carrying the fight to the antis.
You aren't spending time carrying the message to the people not worried that much about it one way or another.
Nope, you are castigating the Open Carry Advocate for scaring people.
Why?
Because it might or might not have caused a back lash?
Ok, show me where it has changed public opinion.
I can show you dozens of conversations it has started.
I can point to people saying "Hey, he wanted to protect himself but can't get a license -- can't even PURCHASE a handgun -- what choice did he have?"
That is what we need to be doing.
It happened. Deal with it and defend his rights.
. That said, there's no reason we shouldn't be presenting ourselves in the most favorable light possible when OC'ing.
Who gets to decide what is the 'most favorable light'?
Have you Open Carried in less that a Tuxedo ?
Have you Open Carried and not done community service?
Have you Open Carried and gone where there may be children?
What exactly are the 'most favorable' light or conditions?
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