I don't want this post to be political. I'm just brainstorming here, so bear with me.
Whether it's right or wrong, accurate or false... THE NRA HAS AN IMAGE PROBLEM. I'm not bashing the NRA, I'm just saying that it's PR is terrible. The NRA itself does tons of wonderful things for all of us, members or not. Likewise, the NSSF has no PR whatsoever... most non gunners have never heard of it.
So, in this political climate, with the way the media covers guns, and the UNDENIABLE violent atrocities that make us all shake our heads in disbelief, and shortly after wonder if this will be the last straw... Will Washington come down hard on all of us? There's too many wolves at the door, and not enough being done on our part, as a community, not as individuals, to change the way non gunners perceive us.
I've seen it on here a number of times... What can we do? What should we be doing? How do we make them understand? How do we separate ourselves from the monsters?
I was brainstorming, and thought of an idea for a new nonprofit organization for us, to show the world that we are not heartless monsters who feel nothing when children or police are gunned down. I'm talking about an APOLITICAL charity whose main goals would be safety, training, community involvement, and most of all, showing the human, warm and friendly side of all of us. The NRA ILA is fighting our fight on the Hill, we need to fight it everywhere else. Let's have scholarship funds in memory of and specifically for the victims of gun violence. Let's PROUDLY show our faces in the community doing good things. Let's show the media that we will not be bullied or misrepresented. Let's show those that believe Wayne LaPierre is the sole voice of 2nd Amendment Rights that we are EVERYWHERE, and we are no different than them.
Let's show the criminal element, the deranged shooters, that they ARE NOT US. Let's earn the public trust to the point that open carrying is no longer probable cause. We need to collectively rise up and say that gun owners are AGAINST senseless violence.
What say you? Does this sort of an organization have merit and traction? Would you support it with your time and money? Would you attend events and purchase swag, make donations or buy memberships?
I truly believe this is the sort of thing we need, because in the court of public perception we are losing. Religion is a protected right in this country, and religions are extremely charitable even though they don't have to be. Bearing arms is our protected right, and maybe being more charitable is just what we need to end the debate.
I'm currently job-hunting having just graduated from college, but if this is a solid idea, based on your input, and will get backing amongst most gun owners, I'm completely ready and willing to go all in on it.
So please, leave your thoughts and opinions, but don't hijack the thread and shift the conversation to political or news issues. We all know what's going on.
Whether it's right or wrong, accurate or false... THE NRA HAS AN IMAGE PROBLEM. I'm not bashing the NRA, I'm just saying that it's PR is terrible. The NRA itself does tons of wonderful things for all of us, members or not. Likewise, the NSSF has no PR whatsoever... most non gunners have never heard of it.
So, in this political climate, with the way the media covers guns, and the UNDENIABLE violent atrocities that make us all shake our heads in disbelief, and shortly after wonder if this will be the last straw... Will Washington come down hard on all of us? There's too many wolves at the door, and not enough being done on our part, as a community, not as individuals, to change the way non gunners perceive us.
I've seen it on here a number of times... What can we do? What should we be doing? How do we make them understand? How do we separate ourselves from the monsters?
I was brainstorming, and thought of an idea for a new nonprofit organization for us, to show the world that we are not heartless monsters who feel nothing when children or police are gunned down. I'm talking about an APOLITICAL charity whose main goals would be safety, training, community involvement, and most of all, showing the human, warm and friendly side of all of us. The NRA ILA is fighting our fight on the Hill, we need to fight it everywhere else. Let's have scholarship funds in memory of and specifically for the victims of gun violence. Let's PROUDLY show our faces in the community doing good things. Let's show the media that we will not be bullied or misrepresented. Let's show those that believe Wayne LaPierre is the sole voice of 2nd Amendment Rights that we are EVERYWHERE, and we are no different than them.
Let's show the criminal element, the deranged shooters, that they ARE NOT US. Let's earn the public trust to the point that open carrying is no longer probable cause. We need to collectively rise up and say that gun owners are AGAINST senseless violence.
What say you? Does this sort of an organization have merit and traction? Would you support it with your time and money? Would you attend events and purchase swag, make donations or buy memberships?
I truly believe this is the sort of thing we need, because in the court of public perception we are losing. Religion is a protected right in this country, and religions are extremely charitable even though they don't have to be. Bearing arms is our protected right, and maybe being more charitable is just what we need to end the debate.
I'm currently job-hunting having just graduated from college, but if this is a solid idea, based on your input, and will get backing amongst most gun owners, I'm completely ready and willing to go all in on it.
So please, leave your thoughts and opinions, but don't hijack the thread and shift the conversation to political or news issues. We all know what's going on.