Replies

1. Our fund raising model is based on AMWAY, not a Ponzi scheme. We make no apologies for that and we have openly stated that from the beginning. In fact that is the attraction of our dues system.

So what we have here is, Mr. Birch admits his is a .40 caliber version of Amway. Quaint, but not a draw for me. I avoid Amway for a reason, and unfortunately it appears I may be avoiding ConcealCarry.org for the same reason.

2. The newsletter may give way to righteous rant from time to time. The alternative is to get your gun news from the I$RA Illinois Shooter. Of course you will wait months and months between issues, but you won't have to read my rants. To subscribe to CC NEWS send email to john@concealcarry.org Subject: subscribe

I am new to the state. The few ISRA newspapers I saw that were acrimonious and divisive turned me off, and the Birch diatribe against ISRA also turned me off. I am a former officeholder in New York State's SCOPE (Shooters Committee on Political Education) and -- although we had our infighting -- we were very careful to keep it below the radar, and present a united front to the public and to our membership, and careful not to publicly criticize other like-minded pro-gun groups. I advise Mr. Birch and ISRA to follow this model, because the average person sees this and says "These people are a mess" and walks away.
I nearly did myself, and I am a pro-gun activist.

3. I do wonder why in the years before we had dues and I paid for everything out of my own pocket no one seemed to care about money? Now that we have a TOTALLY voluntary dues system in place suddenly money is an issue? I don't get it. Well, I guess that charge for $400 on my credit card to be a life member of the I$RA was just a bad dream? If dues are bad then let the I$RA set the example and elminate dues as we have. Yes, CC, INC. dues are VOLUNTARY - see paragraph 6 below. Dues paying members do get free gun transfers and guns at COST via our FFL, other than that there is no real difference between a dues paying member and someone who just wants to lend support.

Mr. Birch is clearly very miffed he put out a lot of money for his cause. While I am sorry he feels this way, he should understand that a lot of us weren't even in the state when he did so, and we also have put a lot of money into the cause as well. My fiance has donated literally thousands of hours to the Second Amendment Sisters, and charged off (not asked for reimbursement) for many thousands of dollars of expenses.
And he is mistaken: I actually am looking for a CCW-group to donate to and become a member of. I am looking for the opportunity to advance the ball down the CCW field, and I am perfectly aware this will require dues-paying members of an organized group to do so.

4. Our web site may be lame, but it does contain a lot of info on Illinois Gun Law. Readers should look at www.concealcarry.org and the Champaign County Rifle Association web site at http://www.gunssavelife.com/ and then compare to the I$RA at www.isra.org. Lme or not, I'll put our web site up against the I$RA any day.

This is actually a complaint I do not have. It is a normal and relatively informative website.

5. Yes, we consider selling AMSOIL to be a good way to raise money. If you are looking for some excellent lubricants for car, motorcycle, guns etc. please check out www.concealcarry.org/amsoil.htm

Note to Mr. Birch -- it is just this sort of thing that smacks of tackiness and opportunism. People do not come to your web site looking for motor oil. People come to your web site looking to establish a CCW system in Illinois. At least, that is why I came.

6. Non-dues payers still get CC NEWS free and if they get arrested on some technical gun charge they have a choice. They can call the I$RA at (815) 635-3198 or Concealed Carry, Inc at (630) 660-3935. Takes your pick at your own peril.

Mr. Birch implies that ConcealCarry will legally protect you, should you be arrested for concealed carry in Chicago. Is this something that is in a legally-binding written document, or is this just a floated 'promise'?
Furthermore, while -- if there is some guarantee of legal protection -- this might justify a larger dues, I am not looking for that. I am looking for a group dedicated to lobbying, advertising, and educating the public on the establishment of an Illinois CCW. It does not appear this is the focus of ConcealCarry.org.
I do not offer any of these thoughts in an effort to be a jerk or to tear down or any of that. I am hopeful Messr. Birch will look at these thoughts and criticisms with an open mind, and that maybe there might be a way he might incorporate some of these ideas into his vision. My only goal is a CCW in Illinois, and I hope that is Mr. Birch's only goal as well.

I do not offer any of these thoughts in an effort to be a jerk or to tear down or any of that. I am hopeful Messr. Birch will look at these thoughts and criticisms with an open mind, and that maybe there might be a way he might incorporate some of these ideas into his vision. My only goal is a CCW in Illinois, and I hope that is Mr. Birch's only goal as well. You post was well thought out and hits the issues that are important. I too was put off by Johns direct approach to the issue. Then I found out how weak ISRA was and other issues with ISRA. We offered free faxing of IL senators & representatives etc and was turned down cold. They have a hidden agenda and have little love for the CCW crowd.

The final staw says they represent 1.5 million firearm owners in IL. Their membership has dropped sigificantly ove the last 24 months due to fund ceasures against the president of IRSA.

I personally know of 10-12 solid guys that can internet effectively. We should find common ground, bit our lip and proceed.

Chicagofarmer