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Big Calhoun wrote:IMO, it's all about how you represent yourself. I think most people have a preconcieved notion of what a gun owner should be like. Everything from physical experience to attitude. I'd rather educate by demonstrating my maturity and responsibility concerning firearms and breaking all the classic 'molds'. I won't try to change someones mind, but will at least try to provide accurate information and sources where they can do their own research.

This is huge right here. It was someone like this, also, with patience to explain how the stereotypes were incorrect, and how safety was important, etc.

This was one of the primary things that changed my mind about gunowners, and then guns themselves.

jimlongley wrote:
I agree, it's counterproductive to split the troops, welcome them all, gun carrying tree hugger or card carrying pink pistol, we need every boot on the ground on our side.

AND, you're much more likely to be able to have civil debate about something if you have something major in common like RKBA ;)

a former Anti chiming in:

to add to what "Shootthesheet" said, pro-2a groups I think need to concentrate on 2a issues, and stay out of other hot-button issues.

When I hear NRANews.com, for instance talk about how people that are not for the "Troop Surge" in Iraq are wrong, I can appreciate that, but I feel it's counterproductive. What does that have to do with RKBA? I think it only serves to isolate some gunowners that might disagree with the war in iraq, but be totally for RKBA.

When I read e-mails from NRA-ILA talking about how bad Al Gore's movie is, I feel it's also counterproductive.

I *GASP* LIKED Al Gore's movie!

When the NRA does things like this, it shoots itself in the foot. Believe it or not, there are plenty of liberal/democratic 2a supporters. Picking fights over things that have nothng to do with RKBA is counterproductive. I think the NRA should welcome people who like Al Gore's movie into the fold. I think it'd be better for the NRA's credibility.

It seems to me that the NRA assumes that all of it's members are republicans, and most of them tow the republican party line. I think that assumption hurts its credibility terribly.

Having said all that, I'm a member. I've been a member for about 10 years, and I will continue to be. They are still the best game in town.

They can be so much better, though.