Posted on 09/24/2001 11:38:15 AM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Yesterday I got back from GRPC 2001. It was an excellent and informative event. I met several freepers there as well. Since I'll forget one or two handles there, I'll just say that you know who you are. I also met some of the national SAS leadership there. The organization is making a big difference, especially in my state and has helped us immensely with CCW.
I was representing MCRGO there at the conference. Unfortunately, I ran into a monkey wrench on the way there. Our exec director didn't have the MCRGO official banner there (and I couldn't get a hold of the Livingston County chair either), and I forget our famous trifolds. I brought some information down there. Some of it, like the 2nd page of the NRA 1st freedom article on our CCW passage went quick. Some of it, like the article of Mitch Albom losing a sponsor, surprisingly didn't. Another member was down at the conference as well. He printed out trifold information and took care of that. Maybe we gain a few members. He also brought some copies of Massad Ayoob's training class in Michigan. That was the most popular packet there.
Unfortunately, we had the worst 'banner there'. Since I couldn't get the MCRGO banner there, we had to use a poster board, and then I wrote MCRGO - Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners on there. It wasn't the first time we had to improvise. As long as people remember us as the organization, which obtained CCW in Michigan, we're happy. I know some jokes were made about our sign, but we did what we had to do.
The food was great, especially for the price (Sponsors paid for it).
I took notes from most of the speeches there. One thing that many of us unfortunately need to listen to as much as we hate it is that we have to "reach out to the middle." Those were the words of Alan Gottlieb, and he is exactly right. Without the middle, we lose elections in many areas and control of the Senate and swing house seats. If your house district is like Dan Burton's, there is no need to worry. If the district was "The bloody 8th" in Michigan, then there is a big worry. Much of that though isn’t WHAT we say, but HOW we say it. On the same note, when I make my case and deliver my side, I don’t wear my turkey hunting clothes. I’m SELLING my point to someone that is undecided. If I wear a Ted Nugent T-shirt, hunting clothes, cammo, etc, I won’t be able to sell my point as well as if I wear a shirt and tie. (and I HATE TIES)
One point made several times was that to watch the anti-Terror bills. There is no doubt that someone will try and stick anti-2nd amendment bills in there. John Conyors, the jerk from Detroit City is trying to do so as we speak. We must make sure that neither anti-2nd amendment bill, nor any NATIONAL ID CARD is passed.
Lt. Gen. James Chambers (USAF (ret.),) is the vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation He was one of the earlier speakers. He said that the most important thing to watch is our backyard. I happen to agree with him. We need to watch Lansing, Columbus, Albany, and Sacramento. Right now, the as I call them, the Anti Self-Defense (ASD) lobby, can not win too easily on the federal level.(Although the Terrorist attacks may affect that).
Another thing we need to watch is the .50 caliber. John Burtt, a former police officer, is the chairman of the Fifty Caliber Shooters Policy Institute. Why should we defend someone owning the .50 caliber? Because it’s just the next step. Burtt mentioned that the ASD’s are redefining them into a MILITARY SNIPER RIFLE. These same people are calling the small handguns the pocket rockets, and invented the term assault weapon. Soon, the deer rifle will also be a ‘military sniper rifle’. One good thing I see is that people are waking up to these terms. On FR, MCRGO’s boards, CNN’s boards, and TFL, I don’t see us use those terms (or assault rifle) anymore. Luckily, since Rod Blagojevich’s ‘pocket rocket’ bill went nowhere, I haven’t heard that term used since.
State Senator Sam Slom was there. I wish there were more Sam Sloms in Hawaii (or Michigan for that matter). He echoed many of the comments of General Chambers. We must win the state battles. CCRKBA’s Jeff Breedlove mentioned the state of affairs in the People’s Republic of California. Just recently, a Children’s Hospital bill nearly passed. Not a big deal, right? WRONG! It was a snake in the grass. That bill I believe (can’t read my notes) would REQUIRE DOCTORS to ask if guns were in your home if you had kids (more on docs later). He also mentioned AB35 which is the gun license bill that passed California. If you live there, call Red Davis now before he signs it. Jim Ramm is the head of Ohio’s “People’s Rights Organization”. Despite the word “people’s” in it, it is a pro-2nd amendment group fighting for Ohio’s conceal carry. They want the Tom Brinkman bill to pass (Vermont). I’d love to see that as well. Charles Riggs is the president of KC3. They impressed me. That is Kentucky’s Conceal Carry Coalition. It wouldn’t surprise me if MCRGO learned from them. I think they passed CCW in 1996. “Create positive media events”. Craig Palmer of the Kentucky Firearms Foundation also echoed the earlier comments about states. He then also said that many times, the ASD’s try and go around the laws as well. That’s not surprising. In Michigan, we have a preemption law from 1990. Many areas are looking to avoid it by creating more gun-free zones. MCRGO is watching that like a hawk. Palmer also said another thing, which I think, is the most important. INCREMENTALIZE. The ASD’s chipped away at our rights little by little. We have to do the same thing. I believe Kentucky’s pro-rights groups did that as well.(A KY resident can clarify). I know they got the state to define what ‘school property’ was. Some schools own a lot of rural property.
Wayne LaPierre made it to the conference. The NRA’s number one priority – STOP MCCAIN’S CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL, which is still not dead yet. This bill shuts up free speech 60 days before the general election, and 30 days before the primary. The bad guys says that it doesn’t do that, but there is a little definition of coordination there. They don’t need to prove that the NRA coordinated with John Dingell in the 2002 primary against Lynn Rivers. Worst of all, ABC, CBS, NBC, and the rest of the media is exempted, and anyone that they sublicense are exempted. The NRA will take this to court, and Wayne LaPierre said that if they have to, the NRA will dock ship in international waters and broadcast there. This is the number one threat we have in my opinion. It affects every pro-rights grassroots group out there. He’s also very concerned about anti the ASD’s attempts with anti anti-terror bill, and specifically mentioned GUN and GUN OWNER REGISTRATION. The NRA will be watching these bills so keep alert. I know Conyors will try something. LaPierre also said that unfortunately, the UN will have another conference on small arms. Britain is funneling 30 million bucks for it. I just hope that John Bolton is there. LaPierre also blasted K-Mart for pulling their gun sales on September 11. I talked to LaPierre before and after his speech. He’s supports MCRGO and thanks us for our work, and I thanked him for his help in Michigan’s CCW. The NRA does a lot of work on the state level quietly behind the scenes.
After Lunch (Prime Rib!), Dave LaCourse introduced Tim Smith and Bill Gustavson, lawyers fighting the Affirmative Defense law which is the current state of Ohio CCW carry. That means literally, guilty till proven innocent. LaCourse also mentioned SAF’s lawsuit against the mayors for suing the gun industry. Unfortunately I had bad notes here, and forget part of this. I have written down “Ashcroft – Leave Cincy Cops alone”. I forget why. I know the feds are doing something there that I don’t like. Could one of the other people there mention more in depth this part?
This part here was the most interesting. Tom Brinkman (Vermont) and Bill Seitz (Similar to Michigan CCW) were debating and speaking on the CCW law. As you can expect, Seitz had a tough crowd there, and I think unfairly did. Brinkman’s bill is simple and is the better one. Here’s the problem though. Can it pass? If there is a chance of it passing in the state assembly and also override Bob Taft’s veto, then I say full out blitz for Brinkman’s bill. Seitz’s bill is similar (slightly better though) to Michigan’s. Michigan’s bill sucks (John Engler is EXCLUSIVELY to blame). I’ll be the first one to say that. However, it’s much better than discretionary issue which is what we had, and a TON better than affirmative defense. I think Taft is doing a John Engler. Taft campaigned that he would sign it. So did Engler. Taft is hedging. Engler hedge, and he only signed it after kicking and screaming, and then only after he added gun free zones and vetoed the transportation bill (GRRRRRR).
I talked to both Seitz and Brinkman outside afterward in depth. I got the impression that Seitz really was on our side, but had to get something that will get by Taft. I personally do not see Brinkman’s bill going anywhere. That doesn’t mean we should stop trying. However, if Brinkman’s bill doesn’t win, IMO, we settle for Seitz’s bill since we can GAIN FREEDOM that way. Vermont of nothing means nothing, and fails in 49 states. However, nothing is saything that we can’t go from Nothing to Michigan, to Penn, to Texas, to Florida, to Kentucky, to Vermont. I know Florida CCW is in reach SOON for Michigan as soon as Engler is gone and we have a better replacement on the gun issue (Damnit – at least 2006 unless we have a veto-proof majority, and that IS possible). Like Kentucky’s people said – Little at a time, just like the ASDers.
David Kopel of the Independence Institute was speaking about Terrorism and the threat to the BOR. Guess what. SECRET SEARCHES is ONCE AGAIN A THREAT. His latest column. He said this is mostly retread stuff that the last Congress wanted. It’s time to call our congresscritters and sinators NOW. NO SECRET SEARCHES. Anyone that supports that should be horsewhipped. I highly recommend that all read Kopel’s latest.
Sunday’s speeches were some of the best. The first part was strategies. Glen Voorhees of SAF started that out. Knock on doors, be factual, stay away from name-calling, and think of what he called “Cocktail stoppers”. One liners using FBI facts. He also said to get on the other side’s websites. SAS’s Maria Heil then spoke of thinking “outside the box.” The smallest box – “Let the NRA do it”. Neil Knox said that we should “go on offense”.
One of the best speeches came from Dr. Tim Wheeler and Dr. Andrew Johnstone. Doctor Wheeler is from “Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership” of the Claremont Institute, a sea of sensibility in the People’s Republic of California. Dr Johnstone is from Doctors for Sensible Gun laws. Those two groups are VERY important at this time with the assault of some doctors on our 2nd amendment rights. Dr. Wheeler attacked the propaganda of some people in organized medicine. A group called “Dr’s against Handgun Injury” was formed. DAHJ. One thing though that was important. One of the American Psychiatrist groups dropped out. Why? The reason was confidentiality. It is sacred to them, and should be to all doctors. As we all know on FR, the AMA has a new anti-2a president. Corbin wants to get funding for the CDC to do more junk science studies on guns. It’s just to study though….They really aren’t anti-gun….even though they attack….the gun lobby. DRGO(Wheeler’s group) has been actively getting opeds in the papers, was interviewed in NRA 1st Freedom, the AARP’s paper, and even Fox News. Dr Johnstone also spoke and attacked those saying guns are a ‘public health’ issue, and mentioned that guns are VACCINES, not a disease. He cites Don Kates’s article in the Tennessee Law Review. I think those two groups will be very important in the next few months. They also mentioned how to deal with doctors that ask about guns in the home and writing complaints. Unfortunatly, I forgot all the details here since I was in line waiting to ask a question. Can someone who was there please post in details . I know the last resort is writing the state medical board. Another is formal complaints, but I forgot the depth of it.
Dennis Walker of Ohio’s People’s Rights Organization is very well regarded there and he won Activist of the Year. He spoke and gave these tips and I’ll post them since I think they are valuable.
1. Put on Gun Shows.
2. Let women in gun shows free.
3. Have Hunter Education at the gun shows.
4. BB gun shots for the kids. $1, kids shoot as long as they like.
5. Become friends of politicians and their aides.
6. Branch out outside the box.
7. Firearms Safety, Eddie Eagle,
8. Reach out to Unions, Pink Pistols(2nd amendment is single issue), Log Cabin Republicans.
9. Change tactics to different groups.
Dave Workman is an NRA board member and he spoke of the assault on HUNTING. The 2nd amendment is NOT about deer hunting. However, it is a subliminal target. Many people are told to ashamed of hunting. Since the rural areas are shrinking, we have to be more vigilant with the increasing urban and suburban battlegrounds. If hunting goes, we’re in trouble. Many say. No Sporting purposes, no guns. To add to this, we have some troubles in MCRGO. Many hunters are saying “It’s the CCW’ers ruining everything”. The handgunners – “It’s the assault rifle people ruining everything”. No. It’s the ASD’ers ruining all. If we don’t hang together, we hang separately. That’s why MCRGO takes positions on hunting bills and counts them the same with the gun bills. BTW- We also have to take back our conservation groups from the greenie weenies and put them back in the hands of hunters and sportsmen, the REAL environmentalists that aren’t control freaks and communists(My words).
Aletta Donigan , National Coordinator of SAS spoke about how we all need to bring children up with respect. They are the next generation of voters. She also spoke of the Right of Self Defense, our most basic right, and that we all can make a difference.
Ken Blanchard (website – http://www.blackmanwithagun.net) wrote the book “Black man with a gun”. He’s an former Marine (I know, once a Marine always a Marine). He spoke of the Urban Battleground. We have 5 possible allies in the urban battleground, both white and black. He also said that on Sundays from 2-5 are the most likely times that blacks will be at a gun show because of church. Another thing he said was not to waste time on folks that can’t be reached.
1. Academics in College. People that went to college will debate.
2. Law Enforcement.
3. Prior Military
4. Single Moms of Teenage Boys. Why? Ken Blanchard said that they don’t want their sons to be the next statistic. They will be more apt to listen. I think SAS can be a big help there for them, and NRA members can help with firearm safety for their kids.
5. Victims (sometimes). Blanchard says that victims will either run for the rest for their lives or will stand and fight.
One thing I will mention. On a single issue level here, we don’t need to convince them to be republicans (although that would be nice). If we can get even more pro-2a democrats, it would be great.
Joe Waldron was up. He’s the CCRKBA executive director. He said what we are up against in 2002. First off, look at the Bush/Gore county map. We were killed along the I-5 and I-95 Corridor. That’s the dem base. We also lost the big midwestern cities. That is where we have to reach out. We have to convince the union members that they won’t lose their job under a republican, but will lose their guns under a dem. This is how Gore won Michigan. The union leaders said that Gore wouldn’t take those guns. He had Tommy Lee Jones say that he was a good ole boy. I can add on. Michigan went to Gore because of one ad. An auto worker said that if we don’t get an environmental engine developed, the JAPANESE will. That brought out bad memories among those workers of the early 90’s.
The dems are reaching out as well. They are going back South. They are going to SAY that they learned their lesson on gun control…until after the 2002 elections are over if they get the house. And yes, while THOSE dems may possible be pro-2a, as a whole, the leopard can’t change it’s spots. The DEM BASE will have the leadership, and JOHN CONYORS will be the judiciary chair.
Also, Joe Waldron said to watch the Terrorism Bill. He also echoed what David Kopel said on wiretaps and searches. Look for .50 caliber, gun shows, national ID, and registration. And, with NATIONAL ID CARDS, he said that GUN OWNERS will probably be identified under them. These are the same ole dems, not new dems.
State Rep Ann Womer-Benjamin spoke as well. She is the chair of the Criminal Justice Committee. She said that shall issue will be out of committee. I personally was not impressed with her speech and sensed a lot of vagueness. I personally think she is from the Bob Taft or John Engler school on guns.
Alan Gottlieb spoke about the elections as well. He said that the gun issue can mobilize a close election 2-4% He said that LOCATION is the biggest indicator as well. The dems base, and anti-2a message sells in LA, Chicago, and Brooklyn. He also said to not pay that much attention to even wafflings speak, since politicians may be quietly with us. Check the VOTING RECORDS. His biggest concern is with keeping a republican house and the Senate races and committees. His analysis so far
Arkansas – Mark Pryor vs Tim Hutchinson. Leans dem.
New Hampshire – Bob Smith or John Sununu vs Jeanne Shaheen – Leans dem.
Maine- Susan Collins – Soft support, but need her for committee. Tough race – Leans GOP
NC – Dole is anti-gun, but may do what the president wants. – Leans GOP
Oregon – Gordon Smith is not 100% on votes, but is personally pro-gun and the best we can get in Oregon. He’s in trouble. – Leans dem.
SC – Lindsay Graham probaby wins, but isn’t an easy race – probably GOP
TX – GOP leans, but tough race.
As for the house, it will be close. It depends on redistricting, but we have to elect GOP’ers that are 80% with us because of committee assignments. I personally say this. Do you want John Conyors as chair of the judiciary? I sure don’t. Someone asked Gottlieb if it would be better for a bad dem to win over a soft GOPer to send a message. Gottlieb said once we lose rights though, we don’t get them back so it isn’t worth it. I happen to agree with Gottlieb more and more as I learn more about politics and the system. The chairmanships are THE BIGGEST FACTOR. All SCOTUS justices go through Charles SCUMER. Joe Biden is Foreign Relations chair, not Jesse Helms.
Lastly, General Chambers mentioned one thing. We CAN NOT BE COMPLACENT. The ASD’ers are waiting for us to be complacent. When we are, we lose.
Lastly, thank you to all that bought raffle tickets there. All the money goes to help us keep CCW in Michigan. We are not out of the woods yet. We don't have the Joyce Foundation, Tides Foundation, or Andrew McKelvey's deep pockets, nor the media on our side. It takes dedicated freedom fighters like all of you and all of the MCRGO members in my state to stop the Anti Self-Protection(ASP) lobby.
And in case SAF's leadership lurks on this website, a big thank you to Joe Tartaro, Alan Gottlieb, Dave LaCourse, Wendy Smith, and all those that put in their time and effort to put on an excellent event, and I hope that the Emerson Case is decided soon and in our favor. That would be an apt reward.
This is an outstanding report!
To arms, to arms, the terrorists are coming! 
America's Militia wants YOU!
Nine out of ten Americans will fight to keep George W. Bush in the white house, and Osama bin Laden out!
Congress has provided (Article I - Section. 8, U.S. Constitution) the Militia with a means to arm itself: CMP (Civilian Markmenship Program).
Bible quotes in favor of annihilating jihadists
Poll: bin Laden's skull can be best used as an ....
Molon Labe !
(It's no time for understatement.)
"4. BB gun shots for the kids."
Would that be some kind of innoculation, like tetanus shots? :-)
To deal with a doctor asking intrusive questions about firearms:
1) Tell him that you think his questions about firearms constitute a "boundary violation." This is a term of art used to describe violations of the doctor-patient relationship, like having sex with patients.
2) Ask him to put in writing his personal experience with firearms, any firearm handling or firearm safety courses he may have taken, his recommendations regarding safe storage of firearms, his estimate of the effectiveness of these safe storage recommendations in preventing unauthorized users to access the firearm, and his estimate of how long it should take the authorized user to access the firearm under the stress of a personal attack.
3) If you are not satisfied with his expertise, and if you want to be a hard ass, tell him that you will report him to the state medical licensing board and his specialty society, and that you plan to make a complaint to your insurance plan.
He'll probably get the message.
Again- Good job.
Thank you for flying Liberty Airlines
Have a safe flight.
Actually, that California bill about doctors, it would have required school doctors examining children at schools to ask the children questions like:
"Are there guns in your house?"
"Do your parents argue?"
"Do your parents watch any violent TV?"
These and other such questions, basically turning young children (K-4 or 5 I believe) into informants on their families.
I campaigned on this issue last year, railing against it to the voters, my opponent had co-sponsored this bill. Sadly, the voters weren't listening.
The type of people that scare me the most are the 'publik helth' fascists. That isn't doctors, but those that want to regulate every aspect of society as a public health issue. I really don't know any simple way to say it.
And the Tides Foundation is one of the centers of the problem. So is the Joyce Foundation. McArthur Foundation. George Soros. That is the problem.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going
to teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery,
and shooting.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the
rifle range.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous
activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle
discipline before they even touch a firearm.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL REINWALD: Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're
not one, are you?
The radio went silent and the interview ended. All over America, people
were thinking: Semper Fi, Marine!!
I didn't realize I could get a free meal out of the deal too! It was a pleasure to meet and bump into 10 FReepers and SAS FReeper women in the brief three hours I attended.
I had a great time and it was good to see you again too. Glad you had a safe trip home.
Sincerely, LP.
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