Tom Gresham gets it

I had a few minutes yesterday to go back and listen to the Guntalk podcast yesterday. I listen to it periodically – usually when I’m doing yard work – and for the most part I enjoy it. On this previous weekend’s show, Tom Gresham, the host of the show, spent about the first 20 minutes of the show talking about the about all of the anti-gun marches that took place over the weekend. He made 2 statements that made me replay them (Please excuse me if the quotations are not exact):

1. “I don’t think the NRA is up to this fight” – THIS.IS.SPOT.ON.

Unfortunately, I agree that the current NRA puts more focus on financial gain (*cough* CarryGuard *cough*) instead of truly protecting the 2nd Amendment. I’m an Endowment member of the NRA, and have sent them several emails over the past 2 years about this very topic. But for me the last straw was when they so willingly suggested that maybe bump stocks *should* be banned after all. To suggest that a piece of plastic – whose function can be duplicated by a rubber band, a belt loop, or even a few pieces of wood – should be equivalent to a Class III weapon is absurd. Gun owners have heard for years about those in our community that are referred to as ‘Elmer Fudds’ – they only care about their hunting rifles and shotguns, and how they should stand up for the whole community, and not just their favorite past time.

By that logic, if you’re on board with the bump stock ban, guess what: You are a Fudd.

FYI, I took the money that I had contemplated using for a donation to the NRA, and upgraded my GOA membership to Life. I would encourage you to do the same.

2. “After this weekend, it’s a whole new ball game”

I think many gun rights supporters have been content to let someone else fight the fight. Those that *do* join the NRA just sit back and let them fight their battles for them. No more. If you are a gun owner, you have to be active in this fight. You have to write and call your representatives. Write editorials. Leave comments on websites. Be civil. Get away from cliche’ arguments. Talk with people about gun facts and culture. Take others shooting. Volunteer your time to educate others. Train. Don’t be a douchebag. If there’s a march or rally, go.

I’m challenging myself to that commitment. I’m using this blog as a way to stay accountable to myself, and the 1 other person that reads it.

The fight is here. What are *you* going to do about it?