The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State …
By now it’s an old formula, pro-gun people find an anti-gun blog, pro-gun people engage anti-gun blog, anti-gun blog heavily moderates comments in an attempt to shift debate away from topics they’d rather not address. Common Gunsense has not completely shut down comments, but she’s also pretty clearly not interested in debate, only parroting the talking … Continue reading “Reasoned DiscorseTM Part MDCCCXLVII”
Thirdpower reports that it looks like he’s stopped blogging, presumably because the money has dried up. That’s the problem with astroturfing campaigns — it takes money to keep them going.
The Arizona Rifleman is getting some first hand experience with on-the-ground activism with the campus carry movement. You can see his first hand account here, and here. Get involved enough, and eventually you’ll get this feeling too: At several points, I wanted to say to the pro-gun people, “Stop it. You’re not helping.†— we’re … Continue reading “Arizona Grassroots Experience With Campus Carry”
It’s a small world in gun control advocacy. So small, the groups even write each other’s press releases. Or is Virginians for Public Safety an astroturfing operation on the part of Coalition to Stop Gun Violence? Maybe. Bob Ricker, formerly of AHSA, used to head up VPS. Amazing what a small incestuous world the gun control issue is.
Last year in St. Louis, AHSA paid people to stand in front of the NRA exhibit hall and protest. This year they took out a full page ad in a local Louisville paper, and are drumming up some local media coverage: What you didn’t hear is that many gun enthusiasts balk at the NRA’s devotion … Continue reading “AHSA in Lousiville”
It’s probably hard for a cadre of paid activists to believe that folks like myself and W. Scott Lewis do what we do because we value our rights, and not because we’re paid shills for the “gun lobby” Or perhaps it’s not so hard for them to believe, but in order to paint the big … Continue reading “We’re All Shills to Them”
SayUncle points to another potential false flag operation. A quick look at the TRCP, and I don’t think that this is another AHSA, meaning, I don’t think this is a group that intended to push gun control, and founded by anti-gunners. It would appear this group is funded largely by the unions, probably in order … Continue reading “False Flag Operation?”
My last “I’m not a gun owner… but” post got me thinking that it’s probably not astroturfing by anti-gun groups.  There are a lot of gun owners in this country, and most of them aren’t activists, nor are they informed. Most people are rather selfishly unconcerned with other people’s liberty. If they were, you wouldn’t … Continue reading “Selfish Unconcern”
A letter to the editor, in response to a letter to the editor. I could swear I’ve linked to this paper before for the same thing. As a longtime gun owner, world traveler and, I like to think, common-sense advocate, I need to make the following notes regarding his “fear” of losing his “rights.” … … Continue reading “More “Long time gun owner… but””
I think it’s quite possible that, rather than an astroturfing campaign, we’re seeing the fact that newspapers just love this “I’m a gun owner, but I support gun control” articles. I should be clear that if it is astroturfing, I don’t think the Brady’s are behind it. My guess would be the AHSA, but this … Continue reading “More From the Tinfoil Hat”