Some days, you just want to throw in the towel. Other days, you do, and realize there is absolutely no shame in doing so. Nothing I could write today would even compare, however remotely, to this outstanding piece of parody by Robb (of which the below blockquote is just a very small sample):
Salesperson: “Good afternoon Ma’am. How can I help you today?”
Customer: “Hi, yes, I was hoping to look at banning a gun today”
Salesperson: “Absolutely, you’ve come to the right place. We’re one of the top stores in the south-east for banning weaponry. I think you’ll find what you’re looking for as we have a wide selection of firearms for you to demand be banned. What exactly are you looking for?”
… or this news interview Robb gave… yes, a broadcast news interview, given to WFTS, the ABC affiliate for the Tampa Bay region of Florida.
First up, Robb has significantly larger gonads than I could ever hope to – what with his stepping in front of a camera with millions of people behind it – and is a hell of a lot more articulate to boot. I stumble over what I am saying when I am just typing; good on him for keeping it together on-camera, and presenting a reasonable, every-man face for the open carry movement.
Second, that is how you encourage people to at least consider your position, folks… You do not go around flinging logical fallacies like monkeys fling poo, you do not be an asshole just because you can, and you do not subject folks to unsafe behavior just to make a point. You make your point in a reasonable, polite, calm manner, and let people make up their own minds. Not everyone is going to agree with you – and that is ok – but the point is to not scare people off with your presentation.
Third, I love that Florida was singled out for being one of seven states where open carry is illegal… Granted, that is only half the story, in that some states (*cough*Massachusetts*cough*) you could end up losing your carry (or even ownership) license for openly carrying just because your local police department does not agree with it, but it was still nice for the generally anti-rights media to touch on that point, however briefly.
Fourth, that Brady Bunch weenie was a whiner, was she not?
So, really, go read Robb’s post and watch his interview… We just keep on winning, slowly but surely, and that is aided significantly by efforts such as these.
I live in WI where open carry is the only legal way, currently. I took a half day from work today to drive to Milwaukee and meet up with fellow OC’ers from Wisconsin Carry. We were there to greet the Second Amendment Foundation and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms pro gun truck sign, that has been following Bloomberg’s anti gun truck around the nation. They didn’t show, but we did, although maybe a small number, do to the middle of the work week. I think CC does little to educate folks as opposed to open carry which gets people’s attention and provides an opportunity to educate.
Good for you, both for showing up to greet the truck, and for openly carrying! I completely agree with you as to the utility of open carry in twigging the average citizens to the truth that open carriers are just other average citizens themselves… “Normalization” only works if the activity in question is in the public eye, and concealed carry is intentionally not.