Every time a story like this appears in the media, calling for a renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban, we should be ready to hit them with Letters to the Editor. If we’re going to work to sabotage the Brady Campaign’s efforts to create a positive media environment for renewal, this is what we’re going to have to do. Good guidelines are 200 words or less for an LTE. You need to get your follow up in quick, while the editorial is still fresh. Be clear and concise. Pick one line of argument and stick to it, rather than jumping all over the place.
I think every black rifle owner out there should go to at least one NRA high-power, CMP, or practical match this spring, and get yourself classified as a competitive shooter. Some letters should focus on the widespread use of AR-15s and various other military patterned rifles in shooting competition. Identify yourself a competitive shooter who uses one in matches. Talk about the qualities that make them beneficial for sport shooting. All letters should stress we’re not speaking of machine guns, which is the most common misconception. Other letters should focus on their use in self-defense. Talk about the AR/AK benefits for that purpose: their smaller size, the fact that they fire an intermediate powered cartridge, the fact that you can easily mount a flashlight to the rifle. The availability of ammunition because of their widespread use in law enforcement.
The only way we’re going to come out of these next four nightmarish years unscathed is if we all pitch in, and help defeat this bill in the realm of public opinion before it even has a chance to go anywhere in Congress.
[…we should be ready to hit them with Letters to the Editor…Pick one line of argument and stick to it, rather than jumping all over the place.]
Agreed, but I guess you’re still not a fan of the “concise” argument: “If you try to take our firearms we will kill you.”
In all seriousness though, pay attention to the newspaper’s format. Recently, my local paper changed the rules around letters to the editor by implementing a type of rotation based on a number of things. What it results in, however, is a week between each format, so if you don’t get your letter in quickly, it could be weeks before its published – if ever.
[I think every black rifle owner out there should go to at least one NRA high-power, CMP, or practical match this spring, and get yourself classified as a competitive shooter. ]
USPSA membership and competition 3 gun is another option.
Skullz
Agreed, but I guess you’re still not a fan of the “concise†argument: “If you try to take our firearms we will kill you.â€
Yes, because when you say that to a person not inoculated in the gun culture, it makes them think you’re dangerous and increases their desire to vote for politicians who will pass bills to have other men with guns come to disarm/kill you.
USPSA membership and competition 3 gun is another option.
Both are good. The American public pretty overwhelmingly supports people keeping arms for self-defense and sport. The problem with the AW issue is most people who are not familiar with firearms, or might keep a pistol in the dresser drawer for self-defense, don’t see a need for them for either purpose. The majority of American homes are protected with handguns and shotguns, so there’s not a lot of general familiarity with firearms beyond that.
That’s changed a lot in the last 15 years though, which should help a good bit.
“[I think every black rifle owner out there should go to at least one NRA high-power, CMP, or practical match this spring, and get yourself classified as a competitive shooter. ]
USPSA membership and competition 3 gun is another option.”
True,
I really have to hand to these fine organizations who have done quite a bit for gun owners and newer shooters who are looking for something different and fun to do with their pistols or rifles. Over the last 6 months I have seen attendance at matches increase drastically (Even in bad weather!). These organizations have done quite a bit in making shooting more approachable to the general public. This I believe does more to help shooting than anything else.