Now we got to stop McInsane
from shutting them down.
Posted on 12/02/2001 1:43:09 PM PST by BillyRayR
Patriotism flourishes at gun showThis year's event is free of usual protests against government By GLENN PUIT
In years past, a trip to the state's largest gun show was guaranteed to turn up a handful of people preaching the evils of the federal government. Waco and Ruby Ridge were their touchstones as they issued dire warnings of men in jackboots and black helicopters plotting to seize power and banish liberty. These people were nowhere to be found this weekend as gun enthusiasts gathered at the Cashman Center for the Las Vegas Gun Show. Asked to explain, visitors and exhibitors said patriotism is ruling the roost. "What a shame," gun collector Bob Zoot said with evident sarcasm as he acknowledged the absence of the government critics. "They all probably went back to Waco, or wherever else they crawled out of." Military veteran and gun show enthusiast Bill Stojack said he has noticed the change, too. Given the horrors of Sept. 11, anti-government rhetoric is just not that hip these days, he said. "Wrong time, wrong place," Stojack said. "I don't necessarily love and approve of everything our government does, but this is still the best country in the world." Other attendees appeared to agree, snatching up United We Stand T-shirts and 2001 dollar bills bearing the visage of President Bush. "We've had several printings," said Betty Ross, a Mesquite resident whose husband, Al, designed the bills. Show organizer Claude Hall said the increased patriotism has been good for the country and good for business. On Saturday morning, hundreds waited in line to get into the show. Hall, who this week banned an author whose book tells people how to make biological weapons, said he normally gets about 10,000 attendees for the two-day show. This year, he expects 13,000 to 14,000 because of the events of Sept. 11 and the upcoming Christmas holiday. "Patriotism is up," he said. "My line out front is long." Those who endured the line could browse through plenty of products referring to terrorism and the war in Afghanistan. At one booth was a photo of Osama bin Laden with the words, "This photo proves Hitler had sex with a camel." Flags were also on heavy display. Stojack and colleague Butch Millard stood below the biggest one -- a 48-star banner that was 25 feet by 50 feet. Millard said the massive flag was flown in Philadelphia to welcome home soldiers from World War II. The flag is now being sold by the Fearless Fready's business to raise money for the Lowden Veterans Center and Museum in Las Vegas. The minimum bid is $5,000. "I hope when people see it, they realize the sacrifices veterans have made," Millard said. Millard -- who has worked extensively in the Las Vegas Valley over the years on behalf of causes for veterans -- said patriotism is everywhere these days, a result of what he termed the "yuppie patriot" movement. "Patriotism is not a convenience," Millard said. "It doesn't last just a couple of days or a few weeks." One gun show customer, George Crawford, said the lack of anti-government rhetoric at the show might be the result of gun owners feeling less fearful of the federal government. "The (government) has realized it's time to quit picking on the average citizen -- that it's time to go after the people that they really need to," Crawford said. |
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This story is located at: http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Dec-02-Sun-2001/news/17575354.html |
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Patriotism has always flourished at gun shows"
The (government) has realized it's time to quit picking on the average citizen -- that it's time to go after the people that they really need to," Crawford said.
That has been the problem for the past 8 years...
The last time our government felt threatened by a peculiar religious group, they dealt with them much more harshly. They didn't send them money. Our children didn't write them letters. There was NO sympathy for innocent women and children. Video images of them were prohibited from TV news broadcast by the FBI, for fear of the public "gaining sympathy" toward them. These people suffered through cruel psychological torture for extended periods. Audio tapes of rabbits being slaughtered were blasted at them by loudspeakers all night long. FBI and BATF agents stood outside their home and "mooned" (exposed their private parts) them on a regular basis. After 51 days, the tanks were sent in to poison them with CS gas, and more than 80 eventually died in a blazing inferno. They were only after ONE MAN, and they never got him - alive. Too bad they were our own fellow citizens. Our leaders need to get their priorities straight...
Those who protest the government are sometimes those who love our nation the most. I learned that during the last eight years.
As for the government backing off gun owners, who the heck came up with that gem? From California to the East Coast gun rights have been and remain under constant attack.
Senator John McLame no where in sight!
The evidence is everywhere. Million Moms, and Sara Bradey's organization have all seen a huge decline in revenue.
There's nothing new THERE. Anyone who's familiar with the gun community knows that most of them are quiet yet staunch patriots. Always have been. But support for the government isn't the same as patriotism, especially when the government isn't living up to its obligations to its citizens. Then patriotism takes a different form, and resistance becomes the watchword.
Stay Safe !
Now we got to stop McInsane from shutting them down.
No, so far the vile Senator Scott has only had the courage to violate the constitution by requiring a watered-down form of licensing for handguns, using the existing Cal DOJ definition of "handgun". This is, however, an example of creeping incrementalism, and you can bet that after next November's elections, new restrictions will be introduced into the legislature.
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