One great thing about the AWB...

[mojo84]

It has also prompted me to purchase John Lott's third edition of More Guns Less Crime. Once I finish it, I should be in a better position to state the data based justification for civilians rights and need to keep and bear arms.

[rwg3]

[quote=""Jill Fieldstein (CBS producer, Street Stories: Women and Guns"]"As a card-carrying member of the liberal media, producing this piece was an eye opening experience. I have to admit that I saw guns as inherently evil, violence begets violence, and so on. I have learned, however, that in trained hands, just the presence of a gun can be a real "man stopper." I am sorry that women have had to resort to this, but wishing it wasn't so won't make it any safer out there."[/quote]

I have pulled out the quote that I think most closely gets to the heart of my post. It speaks clearly to the perception of many of those who dont know anyhitng about firearms, have been taught to fear them and view them tools of crime and violence. In this case unfortunately it is woven around male on female violence but it shows that the key to changing the perceptions of many, lies not in the facts, the constitution, or legislature, but in changing how firearms and those who have them are not the fearsome creatures often portrayed. Think about how culture portrays gunmen. In the old westerns, the story line was often the bad guys used guns at every opportunity while the good guy would not use a gun until the very end to triumph, but only after others are terrorized or killed. This story repeats in images all too often. No wonder people who never are exposed to safe gun practices and shown how a good time can be had while using firearms, can live their whole life in fear of guns and those who use them. There are a lot more of these people than one would think. It is in many ways a reflection of the population shifts into large metropolitan area where the access to non violent gun use is difficult to obtain.

People vote their for interests and against their fears. When we are represented by people who look different, and cannot connect at an emotional level with those who fear us then we will continue to slog uphill. In the 21st century, looks and style often triumph over substance.

[chasfm11]

I have to say - you guys really inspire me and keep my own enthusiasm on fire. Thank you

Likewise, Andy. I very much appreciate how you have put yourself "out there" by commenting on the Huffington Post and helping to temper the wild anti-gun rhetoric there. Apparently, others were also inspired to do the same, based on your report about comments you saw. That has a national level influence.

It seems like we, on this forum, are building a more unified voice. In addition, I think that our representatives, State and Federal, are feeling the heat from that unified voice. We need to be able to do a better job of articulating our arguments than the Ted Nugents of the world and by continuing to share information as we are, I think we can. I have a much more cogent approach to the antis than I did two weeks ago, thanks to all of the posts here. I'm committing myself to step calmly into conversations that I might not have before, challenging rather than ignoring the deceptions and outright lies.

We all need to remain "on fire". This is far from over.

[SF18C]

I Am a Peaceful AR-15 Assault Rifle Owner

by Marc J. Victor


http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/victor7.1.1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well worth the read!