Posted on 08/22/2009 4:58:54 AM PDT by marktwain
I am the Founder of the Second Amendment March, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planning and organizing Second Amendment Marches in every state capitol as well as smaller cities all across the country between now and April 19th, 2010. On that day, Second Amendment supporters from all across the country will meet on the National Mall in Washington DC to celebrate the mainstream freedom we have in the right to keep and bear arms. (Ironically, none of us will be armed.)
Part of my job as Founder is to extend invitations for people to speak at these events. Recently, I invited a famous Second Amendment activist. I asked him to spend five minutes on stage. He said he would be very happy and honored to attend the Second Amendment March ... but only if we paid him $40,000.
Color me stunned.
I have known this man for years and it just never occurred to me that he charged money to exhibit patriotism. I didn't know anyone was able to make money on the Second Amendment. It's always been a big loss for me. But then, I'm not in it for the money. I'm in it for my freedom.
Color me naive.
He also insisted on two "first class", round trip tickets to and from the event. Hmmm, makes sense I suppose. (You certainly can't expect a patriot to fly coach. Personally, I've never flown first class, though I'd like to try it once before I die.)
Color me foolish.
But wait! There's more! He also wanted room and board at a luxury hotel and to be driven to and from the event. (I've never been inside a limousine, though I've seen them drive by and often wondered what they were like. I think I'd like to look inside one of those too, before I die of course.)
Color me silly.
I always thought that all Second Amendment advocates were like me; they worked hard, tirelesly, fighting for their freedom, shoulder to shoulder beside their fellow Americans. Apparently I was wrong. There are two classes of patriots in America: the rich ones and the poor ones. I would be ... the latter.
But that's okay by me and I'll tell you why. It's because I'm in good company. I'm organizing a march on Washington DC to celebrate my Second Amendment freedom, and it's the common people like you and I who are making it work. We don't have big sponsors - not a single one. All those rich ammo and firearms manufacturers who are making record profits? They haven't donated a penny to the Second Amendment March. They're getting rich off the backs of the commoners struggling to keep their freedom, but they refuse to ante up, even while thousands of little people like you and I donate our measly 10 or 20 dollars to the cause. But it's those little donations that are adding up and keeping us alive; it's five dollars from a house wife in Nebraska, a dollar from a pig farmer in Iowa, a ten spot from a New Jersey cab driver, and an occasional 50-dollar bill from a doctor or a lawyer. During an economic depression, it's always the little people that end up doing most of the living and giving and fighting in this country. It has always been that way. My experience has been that if you aren't generous when you're poor, then you'll still be selfish when you're rich.
To me, the best soldiers are the ones who fight based on their convictions, not on their financial bottom line. In the first American revolution, the British hired mercenaries to fight for them and they were beaten in the end by farmers and shopkeepers and blacksmiths who shot at them from behind rocks and trees. Many American soldiers were ill-equipped, ill-fed, and poorly trained. But they had something that mercenaries do not. Heart!
And that's why the Second Amendment March will prevail. We are a grassroots effort composed of men and women with conviction, courage and indomitable character. Yeah, sure, it would be easier if the rich people helped us fight for freedom, but, with or without them, it's going to happen. Come April 19th all us little people will be on the National Mall fighting for our right to keep and bear arms.
Color me proud.
And you know what? Now that I've had a chance to think about it, that rich and famous Second Amendment mercenary, the one who wants $40,000 to attend? He's no longer invited. I'd rather be with "real" people like you and I.
76 million gunowner doing nothing but watch their Rights erode.
The goa sitting by while the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation file lawsuits.
Gun owners refusing to join the fight because they might get on a list.
Gun owners quitting the NRA because of one too many letters while patriots get out their checkbooks.
Free Republic members refusing to join the NRA because of what happened forty years ago before the NRA was a lobbying group.
Gun owners refusing to join the NRA because they bought a new headquarters building which incidently paid for itself by renting out the extra office space.
Gun owners lining up to enter gunshow but absent at the Republican Headquarters during the election.
Gun owners spending ridiculous amount of money for overpriced ammunition but not contributing to the fight for their Rights.
Gun owners bragging about Civil War Two but too lazy to go to the polls on election day.
That's quite an honorarium for five minutes.
I wonder who this was?
That's a good question. I have been making mental lists of just who this might be, and so far, my lists have been very short.
I haven’t met many people who refuse to join the NRA because of what they did 40 years ago, although the NFA is a big sticking point for some. I have, however, met many individuals who won’t join because of what they have done in the last 15 years.
For starters, they supported the NICS improvement act. For that matter, they have completely stopped trying to get the Brady act repealed to do away with the NICS system all together, or the NFA.
The NRA makes a habit of rejecting nearly all cases that get pitched to their legal defense fund unless that case is relevent on a national scale.
The NRA supports CCW licensing laws and opposes unlicensed CCW.
Some people just don’t like the idea of an organization that is willing to negotiate on fundamental human rights.
It’s ridiculous to be on a political website and find some people have no clue how politics work.
The NRA supports the Second Amendent but they also don’t spend my money in chasing ridiculous losing battles.
The NRA supports CCW laws but do you honestly think we can get an unlicensed law in places like New York? Are there enough votes in the Congress and Senate to get the Brady law repealed and have obama sign it? Are you that naive?
And exactly how is sitting on the sidelines going to help your gun rights?
Maybe I can get your help on this one. Do nothings like this guy just make me pissed off.
I support the 2nd on the state level and by supporting GOA.
Unlicensed CCW is possible in many states, there just isn’t the pollitical will to get it accomplished. NJ is a straw-man argument as they are not representative of most of the country.
How can you support an organization that seeks to strengthen an unconstitutional system that serves only to infringe on the rights of people who wish to exercise a right? (NICS)
The NRA fought tooth and nail to prevent the Heller case from ever getting to the supreme court. The NRA also didn’t contest or sue to repeal the ban on manufacturing new MG’s after 5/1986. How is that supporting the 2nd?
The NRA did not fight against Heller. It fought against Parker which we would have lost at the time since Roberts and Alito were not on the Court at the time. Levy stated he didn’t even own a gun at the time.
Robert Levy is even against the employees having guns in their cars in a company parking lot.
The goa was against a broad view of Heller AND THE ONLY GUN GROUP TO DO SO. How is that supporting the Second Amendment?
I can always tell a goa member for his ignorance of the NRA. When has the goa ever done a single thing on their own? Any lawsuits because of Heller? Nope. goa = AWOL.
Did the goa help the Katrina victims? goa = AWOL
Did they have any lawsuits against Chicago? AWOL again.
Morton Grove? AWOL
Winnetka or any of the other cities the SAF or the NRA sued. goa = AWOL
The goa is a tshirt company. They have never lifted a finger without the NRA or the SAF.
Prove to me you aren’t wasting your money by sending it to a tshirt company.
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