Americans and Tennesseans need to stand up
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:44 am
This past legislative session has been a historic one for Tennessee's gun owners. We have made progress, history, the news and new friends. TFA members and those who will in time join us have proven that grassroots activism can be effective.
I want to ask this question of you and ask you to ask it of each of your friends who are conservatives, or hunters, or firearms owners, or tea party supporters, or who are simply unhappy with the way things are now relative to federal, state and/or local government. You don't have to answer the question publicly but I want you to seriously reflect on it and answer it at least privately.
If it was a crime to be involved as a citizen in the political process, if it was a crime to be categorized as a "grassroots" activist, if it was a crime to be called a constitutional conservative, if it was a crime to stand up for your rights and those of your family, would there be enough evidence to convict you "beyond a reasonable doubt"?
I have worked with gun owners and legislators for more than 15 years now. I have worked public events, gun shows, seminars, radio shows, etc., regarding these issues. I have written, spoken and authored works in this area. I have encouraged others. I have heard Tennessee's gun owners congratulate me or TFA for the work that "you" do. I appreciate the sincerity in the statement whenever I hear those congratulatory words, but at the same time it makes me pause.
What has been done for gun owners in Tennessee over the last one, five, or even 20 years has not been about what TFA did or even what I did. It has not been about what this or that legislator did. It has been about what mostly publicly unnamed people have done in contacting their elected officials and in electing out of office those who fail the constitutional litmus test. It has been the grassroots involvement of citizens. This success is "our" collective success. It must be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxDwBYjL3Fc
I want to ask this question of you and ask you to ask it of each of your friends who are conservatives, or hunters, or firearms owners, or tea party supporters, or who are simply unhappy with the way things are now relative to federal, state and/or local government. You don't have to answer the question publicly but I want you to seriously reflect on it and answer it at least privately.
If it was a crime to be involved as a citizen in the political process, if it was a crime to be categorized as a "grassroots" activist, if it was a crime to be called a constitutional conservative, if it was a crime to stand up for your rights and those of your family, would there be enough evidence to convict you "beyond a reasonable doubt"?
I have worked with gun owners and legislators for more than 15 years now. I have worked public events, gun shows, seminars, radio shows, etc., regarding these issues. I have written, spoken and authored works in this area. I have encouraged others. I have heard Tennessee's gun owners congratulate me or TFA for the work that "you" do. I appreciate the sincerity in the statement whenever I hear those congratulatory words, but at the same time it makes me pause.
What has been done for gun owners in Tennessee over the last one, five, or even 20 years has not been about what TFA did or even what I did. It has not been about what this or that legislator did. It has been about what mostly publicly unnamed people have done in contacting their elected officials and in electing out of office those who fail the constitutional litmus test. It has been the grassroots involvement of citizens. This success is "our" collective success. It must be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxDwBYjL3Fc