Someone infiltrated a CeaseFire PA invitation-only fundraiser (by above board means)Â and is reporting back. It’s funny, when I was growing up in Delaware County, Radnor Township was about as Republican as Republican could get, and as this poster mentions “I have seen Radnor Twp transition from a fairly conservative community to a full fledged Liberal Haven.” Yes, and it’s been sad to watch. It is now pretty obviously a hot bed of anti-gun activism, and more evidence that the new front lines for gun rights in Pennsylvania will be in the Southeast as the continuing success of the Democratic Party in the suburbs swings the state’s political center decisively leftward and more southeastern.
One thing to note is that CeaseFire is getting very disciplined on their messaging. It should be noted that the ED (Max Nacheman. The post notes that Dan Muroff is ED, but I think he’s President, though it’s possible Nacheman is out, and we didn’t hear about it) used to work for Bloomberg, so if there’s extensive coordination between Bloomberg’s group and CFPA, it wouldn’t surprise me. They are avoiding all the loony tunes nonsense the Bradys and CSGV are descending into, and setting very short term goals and trying to build public support for a real movement. In short, I think these people mean to be serious, which makes CeaseFire PA a group to keep a close eye on.
State level anti groups are essentially just fronts for politicians and professional activists. You can see the coordination in their talking points, where they get their funding from, etc. If you have the time, you should run the names of anyone associated with CFPa against city/state/federal campaign donor lists as well as pork project lists coming out of the statehouse and Philadelphia (assuming PA makes this info public like NY does.)
I agree with Jacob.
I will never encourage dismissing the influence of any enemy, but with local municipal elections coming next year, a lot of these things will be attended by relatively significant politicos strictly as campaign appearances — it doesn’t mean they place any particular importance in those organizations, or think they are up-and-comers. (Most of the people attending don’t appreciate that, themselves, and will be blown away by the appearance of importance of what they are involved in.)
It is not unusual for a particularly bold pol to play both sides of the street. They may attend the CeaseFirePA parlor meeting, and if that is sufficiently below the radar, show up at the Rod & Gun Club meeting a month or two.
The most worrisome comment in Sebastian’s post is “they are avoiding the loony tunes nonsense.” I’m not sure our team has learned to sit on its loony tunes yet, and if not, we’ll be at a disadvantage.
Have you seen the idiots and their OC walks where they dress up like cowboys and misfits while parading around a mostly empty downtown Philly with their serpa holstered and cocked 1911s? We have more than enough looney tunes characters running around claiming they speak for all gun owners.
Admittedly a little off topic here but, per the notes taken by our friend in PA, I’m having a hard time figuring out why an organization like Ceasefire would pursue a “Where Did The Gun Come From” program. I am not seeing enough moves ahead on that or are they promoting a program that will show most people that guns used to commit crime are, almost always, gotten through illegal means: stolen, serial strawpurchasers or crooked FFLs. How is there a win for them in that?
They want strict liability for gun dealers and buyers. That’s why they need to trace the gun.
As mentioned earlier, it is interesting to see how they have a very well rehersed and organized message/presentation. They seem to know where to hit people up for money in Radnor, Mainline, wealthy/liberal Philly suburbs as well as starting to set-up shop/fundraising in upper-middle class Pittsburgh suburbs.
But its funny that they don’t take their message and set-up meetings in the heart of the problem – inner city neighborhoods of Philly, Pittsburgh, Chester, Norristown, Reading, etc. where the problem truly is. Speaking or trying to enlighten the parents, community leaders, neighbors of these Philly, Chester, Norristown, Reading felons with guns would probably be more beneficial, correct?.
But then of course, they probably would not raise as much money as they do in places such as Radnor and the like…:-)
Great job by the PAFOA member to listen and gather “intelligence” on the meeting. It was interesting to read his brief notes about the mtg.
So based on reading this expanded format by CeasefirePA, I decided to peruse their website. As has been documented here and on other websites as well, here are all the municipalities in PA that have “Lost & Stolen” legislation in spite of the PA Constitution, etc.
http://www.ceasefirepa.org/issues/lostorstolen
Its a shame that PA HB 1523 or similar legislation did not get passed in the 2011/122 legislative session. I think we only have about 2 more years to get this type of legislation passed (in order to stop this Lost/Stolen or other baloney legislation from these types of towns) because all indications are that Gov. Corbett is in real trouble with his slow-pokeyness getting things done and public polls have him under 40% approval rating (I think).
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1523
Also, the next 2012/13 legislative make of the PA Senate will be different too so it should be interesting if this kind of legislation will get any type of traction. But then again, PA Sen. Greenleaf still maybe Chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee which is not that great for PA gunowners.
It’s a shame that PAFOA is really nothing more than a forum for misguided armed wannabe OC activists and there is little coordinated activity coming from that group. Without some coordination, planning, and leadership the PA gun rights grassroots effort looks like an unkempt yard full of overgrown weeds.
I have mixed emotions about that. I have said (and I’m sure I’ll say again) that I long for a genuine hard-line, no-compromise RKBA group in PA, but I also have doubts about the lifespan of any organization before it becomes corrupted in some way — either gets too many “friends” in the legislature, or in one political party, or becomes a de facto or intentional front for “other” issues or factions, or begins to value current issues more for their fund-raising value than for their long-term tactical or strategic value.
On the other hand, I was rather dismissive of PAFOA when it first came along, but to the extent that it does now and then seem to generate some relatively spontaneous and “leaderless” action that isn’t dancing on the strings of the phonies in the legislature, I believe it may have its place. And I have to admit that OC has made far more mainstream progress in the past decade or so than it had for decades previously.
The best chance they had at making real progress was the Mark Fiorino/PPD OC case. It’s too bad it was the right case and right circumstances with the wrong plaintiff. Mark was all to fast to take a little $25k carrot that PPD dangled in front of him. Mark got ghetto rich, PPD admits no wrong doing, PPD will not make any changes to it’s policies, and gun owners will keep being harassed in Philly.
Score a victory for the PPD in this case.
Hello,
I was surprised to see that my post on PAFOA was reviewed on your blog. Yes I was the INVITED guest of a CFPa gathering in Radnor.
The more that time goes by the creepier I feel about the whole thing. I know for certain that several of my neighbors who attended had absolutely no idea what CFPa stands for. And the creepiest part was when the CFPa folks spoke and the audience applauded, so did my neighbors. I can guarantee you that they had no clue what they were applauding, just that everyone else was so they politely joined in.
My take is that they have these large gatherings, invite guests (friends, family, neighbors) with deep pockets, say things that you couldn’t possibly disagree with (and that statement is IMPORTANT), show them that the current members are passionate about saving lives, and then RIGHT there in front of the guests announce that a passionate current member of CFPa has donated a LARGE sum of cash to the organization! WOW how cool, these compassionate, caring, loving, put your money where your mouth is folks are serious, so maybe I should also write a check.
In my opinion their goals at these large gatherings are: 1. Raise money. 2. See how Sheeple they can bring into their fold. 3. Look for additional ACTIVE members. Active being the same as current CFPa activists.
SAY THINGS THAT YOU COULDN’T POSSIBLY DISAGREE WITH- This is the important statement. When the CFPa leadership and guests spoke they all had the same pitch, which was they were against Illegal Hand Guns. The unaware guest couldn’t possibly disagree with that. This is how they hook them. Although CFPa members obviously had a set pitch I did pick up that they left the stated platform by bashing the NRA and questioning why anyone needs more than one gun a month. Now that I think of it they may have been trying to entice/bait the guests, and see which guest would bite. Their logic is give folks a simple compelling agreeable story, engage in a conversation, move into additional anti gun territory and see if the person is susceptible to the CFPa anti gun propaganda. By George I Think I’ve Got It!
Well that’s enough hot air for now. And to my neighbors that invited me to their home for the CFPa gathering : Thank you for including me. Although I do not agree with your program I respect your right to free speech and your right to assemble. I just wish that you would respect my right to bear arms.