Some Concepts are Demographic Non-Starters
Because of my association with clean energy, it appears my email has found its way onto distribution lists associated with progress causes. I received a note recently on ending gun violence in my home town, Santa Ynez, California, which culminated in this: “We can’t wait any longer! Can you host a meeting in Santa Ynez next Thursday?”
I wrote back:
Oh sure! You apparently have never been to the quaint, cowboy, “God and country” town of Santa Ynez. We have more guns here than we have dogs, cats, and children put together. I have a friend (and I swear I’m not making this up) who, when he heard someone breaking in a few years ago, whispered to his wife before climbing out of bed, “Do you want me to get him with the .357 or the Uzi?”
I could get Ralph Nader elected mayor faster than I could get rid of guns here.
I am glad to see that you are taking a reasoned approach to promoting the cause of green energy.
Sticking to the message is the number one effective tool for any protagonist.
The introduction of alcohol prohibition was successful because the WCTU and other anti alcohol groups subjugated their own extraneous ideology to the grand theme of prohibition. It has been said that a mayor who was a town drunk could be reelected if he took the pledge to support prohibition. No matter how logical it may have been to link causes, each link detracted from the goal.
The green folks will have to do the same if they want to see the USA become energy independent with environmentally friendly fuels.
You’re exactly right.
When an organization takes on an additional issue, it reduces its effectiveness on the issue for which it was founded. I happen to be in favor of gun control, as least to a considerable degree, but understand that some environmentalists might oppose gun control and even favor unlimited possession of mortars, Sherman tanks, hand grenades, cannons, etc., which seems to be the position of the NRA.
Frank, your comment is indicating a general lack of accurate of the intentions of the NRA. We are representative of legal gun ownership as provided by the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States. We believe citizens are legally encouraged to own firearms and to use them for lawful purposes, hunting (And remember it was the hunters who instigated management of wildlife preservation and hunting licenses, and scheduled hunting times so the wildlife would neither die out nor over populate and disrupt the maintenance of stable populations in the wilderness areas.) Target Shooting and firearms Safety training, Consider the majority of firearms safety training instructors were trained by the NRA. We are in favor of measures to limit the proliferation of machine guns,mortars, Sherman tanks, hand grenades, cannons, etc.,and as firearms experts we recognize exactly which firearms are and should be limited to Military use.On the other hand with the typical response of police forces being 25 minutes to over an hour even in the center of cities and much longer in rural areas; We DEMAND our right to be able to defend ourselves against the criminals who would steal from us and especially against the criminals who would injure or kill our family members, neighbors, on ourselves. The NRA provides suitable safety and appropriate use of deadly force training so we know when to shoot and when not to. How to store our weapons in safe locations so they won’t be used against us or others, and our children are trained, to -don’t touch, leave the area, and tell an adult- if they find a gun just lying around (Perhaps lying on the ground in a park?) And when they are of the proper age we use NRA materials to train them proper and safe gun handling. “Safety is no Accident.” I was trained in safety as a youth, and in the military during Viet-Nam my firearm skills were greatly expanded. My Wife went hunting with her Father and grandfather when she was in high school and is very safe around guns, and My son now 26 is an excellent shot and goes to the licensed firing range when he finds the time. Take my guns away and I would be helpless against the illegal guns of criminals. Take all the guns off the criminals FIRST ! That is the right way. If you don’t take all the criminals guns then I am certainly against any attempt to take mine away.
Dennis,
There has been resistance to the banning of AK47s and clips which hold an inordinate number of rounds. I really don’t believe that AK47s and huge magazines are necessary for target shooting, hunting, and self-defense.