http://shared.nrapvf.org/2020/1/30/attend-nra-town-hall-in-honolulu/?altTemplate=PlainArticleEmailTemplate&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ila_alert

Feb 13th at Ke'ehi Lagoon Memorial 6-8PM, Weinberg Memorial Hall

And thanks for the hard work HiFiCo and HRA does

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Are they coming to help or merely suck all the oxygen out of the room now that our smaller local groups are getting some traction? They have not exactly been super supportive in the past when it comes to doing more than throwing their name around and looking for handouts

Are they coming to help or merely suck all the oxygen out of the room now that our smaller local groups are getting some traction? They have not exactly been super supportive in the past when it comes to doing more than throwing their name around and looking for handouts

the NRA western regional legislative rep comes I believe twice a year, once at the beginning of the session, and once at the end
I would bet that we are one of the smaller states on his roster, and I know it isn't cheap to send people to Hawaii for multiple visits over multiple days
when I first started going to the legislature 5 or 6 years ago, many times it would be the NRA rep, one or two people from HRA, myself and 1-2 other people
I know over the past 3-4 years, devin/bushido arms has been going to almost every committee meeting along with HRA/NRA
and of course, HiFiCo has made great strides over the last couple years, but even then, sometimes there are only HRA/NRA, bushido and 1-3 HiFiCo people at the committee hearings
I think the biggest hearing I went to was a couple of years ago when there were 4-5 people from HDF, along with the NRA/HRA people, bushido, and a few HiFiCO people
so yes, NRA is here throwing their name around, but as we have seen, the NRA name doesn't go far here, it's the grassroots efforts of the combined firearms groups that will have to try and make the difference
and they do look for money, because I am thinking they don't get a ton of financial support on the PAC side from Hawaii

there needs to be not only written testimony, but also in-person testimony
moms demand action bring 10-15 people in their red shirts to the committee meetings, and sit there watching us pro-gun people like hawks, and are reassuring the legislators that they support them
they often take pictures with the committee chairs after the meeting

so this is what we are up against, folks
it's not up to the NRA to save the day
it's up to ALL of us

Are they coming to help or merely suck all the oxygen out of the room now that our smaller local groups are getting some traction? They have not exactly been super supportive in the past when it comes to doing more than throwing their name around and looking for handouts

Probably a little of both. I think with Virginia becoming the new epicenter of gun control, they have to be more proactive on the small fronts (us). They've also seen their numbers decline with all of the crap with LaPierre and the National board going on. The members are discouraged with how they have been rolling over for the "bigger picture". The GOA and FPC have been beating hard for us over the last 5 years and the NRA members are leaving for them.

Here's hoping they will be more active out here in Hawaii.

I can't make the meeting because of the youth program I run but am interested to hear what they say.

Easier for MDA to show face if they're retired or not working.

Can we get the older folk who are at the range on a Thursday afternoon to commit to coming to submit testimony?  You know, other retiree's.

it's not up to the NRA to save the day
it's up to ALL of us

Working with a small animal rescue organization made it really obvious how the "Household Name" Society takes in huge amounts of cash yet does very little. The offices are multimillion dollar facilities sitting on prime real estate and the executives have six and seven figure salaries but the dumpsters out back are full of perfectly adoptable animals and the staff are treated like slaves. In the same way the NRA has literally taken millions of dollars from Hawaii members, yet what do we have to show for it in return? Can you imagine the turnout if HIFICO could hire a PR agency to promote the capitol rally and make sure the news media could not ignore us? It would make all the difference in the world.

The other topic you brought up is the necessity of active participation. Giving money to these national groups makes people feel like they did their part, and in a way this sort of Donation Slacktivism is also responsible for the lack of boots on the ground. 

so this is what we are up against, folks
it's not up to the NRA to save the day
it's up to ALL of us

This is very true.  We live here and these laws affect us.  It's our responsibility to do something about it

Same can be said for HIFICO.  I just provide resources, guidance, and do what I can.  It's all of you that make things happen.

That's the attitude change we need here.  Change the "I pay my membership fees" and "someone else will take care of it" to "I'll do it."

Dan Reid, the NRA western region lobbyist, flew in from California to testify and doing his magic at the legislature last Thursday (guy on the right).  He'll be here again for the Townhall.