Posted on 08/01/2002 11:39:33 AM PDT by Ancesthntr
I admit it, I am a one issue voter. Everything is judged on how it is going to affect my gun rights. As I write this, it is still unclear who the next president will be. A lot of patriots, libertarians, and individualists seem to be of the rather cynical opinion that it really does not matter. We have all heard what is at stake, but many argue that even if the Republicans end up with shaky control of both houses of Congress and the presidency, that they will do little if anything on gun rights.
It will not be easy, but I believe that a weak Bush administration coupled with thin Republican majorities in Congress create an opportunity for freedom lovers. I think the time is right to push the gun rights issue hard, and I think we can win.
The secret is a preemptive strike. There is no question that the hoplophobes are going to push for more restrictions. So why wait to see what they do and fight each proposal in detail? It is time to gin up the gun rights groups, and from day one demand rollbacks.
The late Senator Everett Dirksen was fond of saying "When I feel the heat, I see the light." We know that when the letters and calls and emails start pouring in ("heat") Republican politicians come around ("light"). It is time to get unreasonable and make them scramble to keep us happy. Any gun rights group that wrings its hands and refuses to get on board should be treated to a dose of the same medicine.
Many caution that even conservative Republicans cannot be trusted. Let us lay all the cards on the table. If they backstab us, so what? The distinct minority of obedient gun owners will meekly turn in their guns, thereby becoming pitifully irrelevant. A few hotheads will try to shoot it out and become a rather graphic example to stiffen the resolve of those remaining. The rest of you will simply ignore the new restrictions without taking further action, in effect silently daring "Go ahead, make my day".
That puts the ball firmly in their court. It is not a particularly playable hand. Think of that grim situation - many of their most productive and law abiding citizens, armed to the teeth, far out numbering their security forces and simmering on the edge of open defiance. Millions of them are capable of hitting an eighteen inch circle at a few hundred yards. An eighteen inch circle that quite handily covers the head and torso of a hypothetical human target. Not a comforting thought for the politicians who pushed through such legislation. Especially when the people responsible for his protection explain that if he insists on appearing in public, his safety can no longer be guaranteed.
But we need not ever get to the stage of pointing out these facts. It is, so far, a very theoretical threat. The possibility of armed resistance just does not feel real to any save a few paranoids deep down scared of everything in the world. In truth it is NOT very real -- yet. So far most gunnies seem to believe they can weather the storm, and have enough faith in the system to fight within it rather than literally.
A well founded belief, if you look at what has been achieved politically against overwhelming odds the past few years. Especially when you remember some of the spectacular results of economic boycotts, or even the THREAT of such actions.
In this environment, the threat of POLITICAL harm, as opposed to physical assault, is very real to politicians. Bush in particular has gotten contact from gun rights advocates explicitly saying "our support has a price, and we intend to collect". I am absolutely sure that sort of thing has been said, because *I* said it. I also know I am not the only one. Nor is the Bush campaign the only ones we have been leaning on. Keep up (or better yet increase) the pressure and you might see some amazing results.
Even with the uncertainties of the presidential outcome, we can begin pressuring them now. Offer support now in their hour of need, explicitly saying that this is their reward for their support of gun rights. Then remind them of it for four years while simultaneously building up a major threat to them from the free side. (Right and left not really applying here.) With Nader and the greens threatening the Democrats from the other direction, it could get real interesting by 2004.
We need not count on gratitude to ensure our support is rewarded. For years now L. Neil Smith has been advocating a devastating strategy that he calls "the five per cent solution". http://www.webleyweb.com/tle/le970601-01.html His original version was not limited to just gun rights, but narrowing the focus does not lower the impact.
He suggests we simply analyze the election returns. Identify any Republicans who are both weak on guns and won their last election by five per cent or less. Either they agree to play ball, or we switch our support to their opponent. Preferably one with a better record on guns, but if he is bad in the first place you lose nothing. Since the Republicans cannot afford to lose a single seat, the situation we find ourselves in is tailor-made for his strategy to have maximum impact.
Politicians whose last race was that close are weak. Gun owners can easily swing enough votes to deny them office. All we need do is pick off anti-gun Republicans and replace them with pro-gun conservative Democrats (or third party candidates). Do that two or three times and you can swing one house of Congress away from the Republicans as punishment. With careful choices in a few key races the Republicans can be made to fear us as much or more as they fear the Democrats and the press. There is not even much risk, assuming Bush becomes president. Just make sure the Democrats do not gain enough votes to override a veto. The fact that gun rights are one issue on which Democrats do not vote in lockstep just makes it easier.
Using this tactic, we hammer the Republicans in Congress for the next two years, saying "we got you this far, and we are going to abandon you unless you start delivering". Put them between a rock and a hard place. By the time another two years pass and we reach another presidential race, the Republicans will be falling over themselves to support us. The NRA has been doing some of this already, so getting them aboard is by no means a far-fetched notion.
You can multiply the effectiveness of your calls by starting with the gun-friendly politicians identified by NRA or GOA, and grouse to them about their weak-kneed colleagues. Playing carrot and stick with these guys is real easy. Utilize the gun-friendly to help you put pressure on the not-so-friendly.
Save the nasty letters for those you identify as weak both on guns and their chances of re-election. Make those contacts AFTER you have talked to the ones solidly in our corner. It never hurts to suggest that the wavering contact a gun-friendly colleague for further information. Put the pro-gun politicians to work. If you do not trust them, substitute one of the gun rights groups.
Hammer away relentlessly at each and every politician you can identify that meets these simple criteria. Best case he might see the light. Worst case, you give him a chance to get reacquainted with the private sector in the next election cycle.
I hope that isn't your excuse not to join the GOA, SAS or any of the other organizations. There are always more excuses to do nothing than there is to do something.
Do ya'll get a magazine at least?
Maybe you should find out. You are the seventh GOA member that I will ask this question and have yet to get an anwswer: What gun law has the GOA stopped?
Everything that I know about GOA is posted on their website at http://www.gunowners.org/ but I don't try to track the plethora of specific bills that GOA and other organizations try to fight off in Congress -- I subscribe in the hope they will represent my interests, kind of like Congressmen are supposed to do (now there's a can of worms). I prefer that GOA posts news to a website rather than spend money on a slick magazine -- it is more timely, efficient and economical.
That's true, but remember, not everyone has a computer.
BTW the NRA-ILA sends a site update daily with news. You can sign up, by calling 1-800-392-8683 to receive these emails.
Anyways, it's good that you belong to a gun rights organziation. Take care.
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