Posted on 02/07/2002 1:31:28 AM PST by Mercuria
In a modern world where people can be educated of events at a moment's notice, those committed to the cause of preserving our Constitutional rights have good reason to be concerned. Even with the convenience of instantaneous information and a wealth of resources available at the click of a button to those who wish to educate and be educated as to the truth, such wonders of today can be exploited by those who have a great and driven passion to persuade, and in some cases bully, the citizens of our nation to deprive themselves of their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
Despite the fact that history presents our Founding Fathers as firmly behind the concept of an armed populace to keep society polite and government honest, there are in existence organizations and government officials who have waited for such a disaster such as occurred on September 11, 2001 in our nation to put forth blatantly skewed information about our Constitutional right of gun ownership in order to instill in American citizens the fear of freedom, with the help of a media that overwhelming supports gun control and who have no shame about using their access to millions to propagandize against our God-given right of self-protection.
Because of the overwhelming push to move our country towards civilian disarmament, it is necessary for those who support the Second Amendment to become more visible and active than ever before. To this end, the Free Republic Second Amendment Task Force was created.
Our mission:
1. Coordinate a team of activists to provide information and updates as to the strength - or weakness - of our Second Amendment freedoms throughout the nation.
2. Research statistics from both sides of the Second Amendment debate for analysis and comparison.
3. Provide education as to the unique power the Second Amendment gives the citizens of America versus government control.
4. Take action to display to the public and our government officials our knowledge of our Constitutional right of self preservation and our willingness to defend this right (via communication campaigns, rallying, public debate, etc.).
Our long-term objectives:
1. Influence those in our government to reject gun control laws, and to restore those Second Amendment rights that have been un-Constitutionally and therefore illegitimately taken away from us.
2. Persuade Americans as to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers' recognition of our rights of self-preservation through the Second Amendment.
3. Expose the bias and lies of anti-Second Amendment organizations and other organizations that support them.
We at Free Republic Second Amendment Task Force hope to encourage many citizens who hold our right to keep and bear arms dear to join us in our mission, with a focus on teamwork and the preservation and restoration of our Second Amendment rights.
The importance of local involvement when it comes to Second Amendment rights cannot be too strongly stressed, yet it seems to have been abandoned since so much activity is involved in The Big Picture.
As to forming a PAC...the idea behind the Task Force, primarily, is to encourage exchange of 2A information with the goal of becoming more active in the 2A movement, both as individuals and as a network.
There are lobbyists, lobbyist organizations and activist organizations that desire to become lobbyist organizations, and while that's all very well and good and necessary, it is also important to keep those of us on the homefront aware and active. Putting our mouths where our money is, if you will.
Money is honey, but it can only do so much if we are not willing to work first on actually doing something ourselves to preserve and restore our rights, like educating ourselves, learning as much as we can, and taking it upon ourselves as individuals and groups to make the safeguarding of our liberty our own personal responsibility.
Lack of lobbyists and money don't seem to be major problems at this time in the 2A movement. An apathetic grassroots is. I'm hoping that, as grassroots activists, we can educate people on all sides and inspire more people on our side to not just give money, but as much of themselves as their work-a-day lives will allow.
We need to nail down that strength in numbers on this issue cannot be measured merely in dollars. That's what I think the present concentration of Free Republic Second Amendment Task Force will focus upon.
As to the law library...marktwain mentioned that as well. That would be an awesome resource, but looks like it would take a LOT of manpower. That's something we could coordinate within FRSATF. Let's see what can be done.
This is a lifesaver. LOL!!
I posted this when I got home from work at 2:00 a.m. Been so long since I joined freeper.net that it just clean flew from my mind.
Thank you VERY much. That seems to be the least path of resistance to joining the Network!
Biggie Hug!
THUNDER
Let me know what ya need from me Mercuria.....Stay Safe !
Keep and Bare Arms!
;-)
| Yet another 2nd Amendment group? I really don't see the benefit of dividing efforts when we have the TRT.
I was in a meeting one time where one of the sales managers from a large computer company was complaining to the president of the company that another division was bidding on the same deal he was. The president's answer was, "I hope one of you wins." I think that's the attitude we should have here. Let's hope that one of the groups wins. "Consolidating efforts" and "putting it all under one leadership" makes sure that if the leadership makes a mistake, it's a big mistake and there's no one else to cover it. |
Lack of lobbyists and money don't seem to be major problems at this time in the 2A movement
LOL. I shouldn't laugh, but that's the not the case here in my state. I'm the treasurer of MCRGO-PAC, and we do not have a lot of money there right now. We have a great lobbyist, but money is tight, especially compared to the ASD(Anti Self-Defense) lobby which has the deep pockets of Andrew McKelvey, the media, these Foundations, etc.
Now back to the apathetic grassroots. How did MCRGO make it from it's foundation of 8 people? What can Free Republic Network offer that MCRGO, the NRA, SAF, SAS, or the Liberty Belles can't offer? What can FRN do better? Several will state that "I'm already a member of _________"
My first answer to that is NEWS. When an ASD report or a pro-2a report comes out, it gets posted on FR real quick usually. Not much gets passed most of us. This will be quicker than from the newsletters you get from the other groups. Also, what comes out in Michigan won't reach the other areas as much. With FR, a Michigan, or California report is important with this task force, since ideas can come from them, both for helping, and for what to defend in your state.
The 2nd answer is networking. How many posters and lurkers go on FR? That coincides with the first one.
I also think, and this goes similar to PACS. We need a good system of grades for reps. From the president, to the senate, to the house, to governors, state senators, state reps, county boards, county commish, mayors, judges(Can't forget them at all), all the way down to school board and dogcatcher.
I like the NRA, and I'm a member of it and will be for life. I think the NRA is the best org out there. But WTF is the NRA doing giving ASD'er Fred Upton a C? Or unreliable Spence Abraham an A? Or Bill McCollum an A? I don't like GOA's system either after the way they screwed us over in Michigan. Neither one is good enough. Let's make our grading system the best. That will take a lot of work, but I think we can do that. All we need for that is time and a computer. No money is needed. It is also a quick reference election time to decide if the incumbent is ASD or pro-2a. Strict votes and statements, and in the case of judges, decisions, can be the best guides on this.
BTTT
I'm not much of an, "organizational man" Merc; truth be known.
If that weren't already clear (to you)?
It sure would be soon enough.
Nonetheless; if there's something you need, just lemme know.
If I can; I will. Fair enough?
Be advised: a person like me could actually hurt this effort, more than they could ever help it.
The people you're seeking must have some sense of diplomacy.
I'm not much more than Conan the Barbarian.
...last thing (I'd think) you'd need, is someone with a very short fuse, around all those combustibles.
glc is right about this two-pronged strategy; I fall into category #1, unfortunately. But I learned from it, which is precisely why I am so very pro-2A!
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My theory is that the world is going to end in a giant battle between the people who seek to avoid duplication of effort, and the people who are trying to get something done.