THIS is where the war must be fought.



Watch the whole interview and discuss.

The first part that stuck with me was the "politics is downstream from culture" comment (5:18).  That was a “light bulb” moment for me…  As a gun rights "community," we spend a lot of time and energy at the tactical level (defeat this magazine ban, pass that shall-issue CCW bill, win this lawsuit, etc.), but how much do we devote to the "operational" and "strategic" levels?  What's our vision?  (I put the term “community” in quotes because I think gun owners tend to be the rugged individualist type, and don't really “commune” naturally.)

It seems to me there’a an analogy here to electoral politics.  In any partisan race there’s going to be a relatively small group of people who will vote for anybody with “(R)” after their name, and another relatively small group who will vote for anybody with a “(D)” after their name.  You’re never going to change their minds…  and those people don’t decide elections.  Elections are won in the “mushy middle,” where you find the people you have to persuade… persuade that your point of view is better than the other side’s.

The “gun issue” is similar.  There’s a relatively small group of firearms enthusiasts who are hard core, dyed-in-the-wool gun rights supporters, and another relatively small group who are no-kidding, no-compromise gun-grabbers.  The problem is, we’re losing the culture war for the hearts and minds of the folks in the middle.

I think the anti-gun side has waged a very effective propaganda and misinformation campaign against gun rights.  I think, because of the success of that campaign, the average man or woman on the street will reflexively feel more closely aligned with the gun-grabbers than with the “gun-huggers” (as my wife refers to me).  They out-strategized us on this front, and in doing so, they've put us on the defensive.  That’s what we’ve got to fix.

We need to fight and win the tactical fights, for sure…  but we also need an operational-level approach to educating and informing Mr. and Mrs. America…  that big chunk of people who think that AR-15s are fully automatic and that magazine capacity makes a difference in mass shootings and that carrying a gun makes you less safe, not more.  As tough as it may be to swallow, we have to realize that they look at us and think we’re crazy, and that they look at Katie Couric and think “wow, she makes some good points there.  Why does anyone need an AR-15 to hunt deer?”  We have to go out of our way to prove to them that we’re not crazy, and we’re not dangerous, and that, even though my neighbor may never end up loving shooting as much as I do, the fact that I own guns is no threat to him.  "Politics is downstream from culture..." If we fix the culture, the politics will follow.

The hard part…  How do we reach them, when mass media are in the tank for the anti-gun side?

The hard part…  How do we reach them, when mass media are in the tank for the anti-gun side?

Simple answer...take them to the range.  If each person here takes a different person to the range each month then it'll start to change society.  That person's mind might be changed enough.  Then they'll get involved with firearms, or at least talk to other people about their experience.

It's a cultural change by taking small baby steps towards a long-term goal.  One thing I'm trying is getting women more involved.

Another thing is firearms owners need to get involved too.  I see a lot of talk but no action.

Pretty much the same conclusion that I draw.  The big thing about Hawaii is that since from it's inception the culture here is as a type of some sort of caste system, the leadership rules on high and is never to be questioned.   They provide you with safety and ideas on the correct way of thinking. (plantation mentality)    You don't question their authority, no matter what they are right, you are wrong.  You don't dare question that authority.

This is deeply ingrained in Hawaii culture.  They have ruled that you are not responsible enough to be armed, and that those that choose to be independent in that manner is a crazy person.   It is funny that many people in this state hold very strong, what many would call, "conservative" morals and principals, yet because of this caste mentality they do not, by any effective means, attempt to make meaningful change.  Sure you will hear moans and groans, but when it becomes time for action, such as at the polls, ....  crickets. 

The "gun" culture here needs to be reversed, if any attempt is made to change leadership is to be made, so that we may effect change to regain our rights, the first most important step is to change that culture. Most importantly, we must learn to SEPARATE other "political" issues away from the "gun culture" so that we may coalesce into a effective group.  We may disagree on various levels on other issues, However, we should all agree on this issue.  This needs to bind us all together, no matter what agreement or disagreement on any other issue is.

In my eyes, that is the only way we will ever see our laws changed.

When i watched that video, it reminded me a lot of the points that i tried raising in another thread.

i think a huge take away from this is that pro-gun advocates should try to change the perception of how gun-owners are viewed.  rather than appearing more stand-off-ish and less welcoming, we should portray ourselves as being open, friendly, and welcoming.

the sad part about it is that there are a lot of highly-visible gun advocates that, when publicized, further the notion that gun owners are backwards-thinking, violent rednecks.

Simple answer...take them to the range.  If each person here takes a different person to the range each month then it'll start to change society.  That person's mind might be changed enough.  Then they'll get involved with firearms, or at least talk to other people about their experience.

It's a cultural change by taking small baby steps towards a long-term goal.  One thing I'm trying is getting women more involved.

Another thing is firearms owners need to get involved too.  I see a lot of talk but no action.

I can agree with this. I've recently taken 3 people to the range. None of them had any experience shooting. One was admittedly anti-gun too, but he went along anyway.  At the end, they each had fun (even the anti-gun guy).  Ignorant (and I mean that as people with no knowledge about firearms) people just need to get educated and get some hands-on training. As the saying goes; Try the food before you say you don't like it.

Of those three I took to the range: Now one person want to get her own gun.  The other is no longer as scared of guns.  And the anti gun guy is still anti-gun, but now with a little different perspective and respect.

I generalize here, because it is not always the case, but many folk's have their first encounter with the "gun culture" when they visit a gun shop.
They want to look around, see what's up and are maybe on the fence about buying a firearm, or  their feelings about guns.
They are the "lookie loo's, but Potential supporters of the cause.
This is sometimes not a positive experience.
Aloha

Found this on ar15.com on the identity of the CCW person that stopped the recent Minnesota stabbings.  Fortunately he didn't obey the "gun free zone" rules at the shopping center.

USPSA Shooter, 3-Gunner, and NRA-certified firearms instructor Jason Falconer has been identified as the man who shot and killed a 22-year-old Somali immigrant who went on a stabbing rampage inside a St. Cloud, (MN) Mall on Saturday.

The apparent terrorist—who apparently asked victims if they were Muslims before stabbing them—was engaged by Falconer inside the mall.

Falconer is the president and owner of Tactical Advantage LLC, a shooting range and tactical training facility with a strong focus on arming concealed carriers. He’s also a former chief of the Albany (MN) police department, and he remains a part-time officer.

But Falconer has consistently been identified in the mainstream media only as as a “former police chief” and “off-duty police officer.”

A knife-wielding suspect who was dressed in a private security uniform and made references to Allah while attacking at least nine people during a mass stabbing incident at the Crossroads Center shopping mall was shot dead by an off-duty police officer from Avon, authorities said.

Jason Falconer, former police chief of Albany, Minn., was shopping when he confronted the suspect.

At a press conference at the police department just after noon on Sunday, St. Cloud Mayor David Kleis said he believes Falconer prevented additional injuries and loss of life.

“Clearly he is a hero. Officer Falconer was there at the right time and the right place.”

Kleis said the end of the attack and the final confrontation could be seen on video from the Macy’s store. Describing the video, which did not have audio, Kleis said the suspect clearly had a knife in hand, and lunged at Falconer, who fired at him. The suspect fell, then got back up three times before the fatal shot.

“None of us ever want to have to do that,” said St. Cloud Police Chief Wm. Blair Anderson, “but that’s what we’re here for, and Officer Falconer’s actions were swift and direct, and in my opinion appropriate.”

Eight people were treated at St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the attack first reported about 8:15 p.m. Saturday at the mall. Three people were admitted, according to Chris Nelson, spokesperson for St. Cloud Hospital. By early Sunday evening, all three had been released. A ninth victim went to the Long Prairie Hospital.

Read more at: BearingArms.com

Is there a glimmer of hope for CCW in Honolulu? This guy fought for 3yrs. In West Covina CA. Success.


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