It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength
lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the
world. ~
Common Sense, Thomas Paine ~
The Army of the Gun Grabbers has yet to peak in their efforts to attack the Second Amendment. We can expect additional assaults by the media, many in Congress, gun control groups and numerous state and Federal agencies, so the question a lot of folks ask is, “What can and are we really going to do about it?”
There are multiple actions we can take ranging from individual letter writing to mass civil disobedience, but my particular concern stems from a past when I was focused on command and control of a military force. Actions taken by focus groups can be successful, but that action must be properly coordinated in combination with other supplementary organizations in order to be effective or the separate groups will oft times end up as road kill. Individual or stand-alone efforts are easily ignored and disposed of, but a focused, combined force, properly coordinated is very different. The question is how to effectively coordinate that force and focus it on a common objective.
There is no dispute that combined and coordinated efforts are much superior and infinitely more formidable than disjointed, uncoordinated and sometimes even conflicting efforts. Unfortunately for America however, the anti-gun, or I as refer to them, the anti-constitution crowd, have learned to effectively employ this strategy better than our pro-constitution side. They can, it seems, at a moment’s notice, generate numerous marchers and focus on a single event, speaking with what seems to be, one voice in support of their cause…that “Million Mom March,” anti-gun law suits, the Confederate flag…you name it, they are there in focused numbers.
We have the NRA, GOA, COA, JPFO, SASS, SAF, LAS ad infinitum…and upwards of 80 million gun owners on our side that seem to be prosecuting this cultural war somewhat reminiscent of a herd of cats—good hearted creatures, but too often, not really interested in what other cats might be doing. While I applaud their dedication and intentions, I have to ask, why can’t these groups close ranks and mount a coordinated, strong and effective counter-attack?
I get frustrated at times with our side’s inability to mount an effectively coordinated effort in support of Second Amendment issues that draws on the strength and capabilities of like-minded groups and focuses all that pent up strength and energy on a specific action or goal.
I have in the past, offered some thoughts on a plan that
calls for such a combined effort…80 million, 20 million, 5 million…even 2
million speaking with one voice, demanding respect for, and obedience to, the
established constitution could not be ignored by even the most thick-headed
politicians! Do I think we
can get there over night? No.
But we do have the technical means today to establish a combined, highly
coordinated and focused campaign very quickly. I have one simple suggestion that
we might run up the flagpole to see who salutes it.
These pro-constitution groups should join forces and make
full use of a web based forum to establish and facilitate a coordinated and
combined force effort to fight this cultural war. Let’s establish a command central via a common web site
that could be used by the leadership of these various groups to discuss, decide
upon, plan and then coordinate and focus whatever actions are necessary.
If it’s letter writing, word has to get out so that the mail is a
coordinated avalanche focused at the right time and at the right people.
If it’s demonstrations, we need to generate numbers in massive
proportions and provide guidance and instructions on when, where and what will
be happening. If it ever comes to
civil disobedience, we definitely need to ensure all are on the same set of
orders and participating in a combined and coordinated way so that we not only
achieve the intended goal but that we also leave no one hanging out to dry alone
and spinning in the gun grabber’s wind.
There are some embryonic examples of this today in the
Second Amendment world whose initiatives I enthusiastically salute and which
clearly demonstrate the interest that exists across America in preserving the
founders original dream.
Our own Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)
is a real leader in this regard. SASS
has a Territorial Governor’s (TG) forum on their SASS Wire for example, that
serves to unite the local SASS leadership from all around the world to discuss
topics of shared interest and concern. The
TGs use this forum to distribute information, discuss SASS-related issues and
generally coordinate and unite the team. This
is a very efficient, inexpensive method of focusing a large group, passing out
information, discussing process/procedures, up-coming events and generally
organizing, informing and focusing a large and geographically-dispersed group of
people. It is brilliant in
effectiveness, cost and simplicity.
SASS has also been an extremely active leader in supporting
gun rights the world over. As
recently reported by the First Lady of SASS, Justice Lily Kate, SASS #1000:
“SASS employees a full time Lobbyist and has been able to over-turn a
couple of gun laws in California…[and] has brought in and turned-around quite
a few anti-gunners.
SASS sent the General and Wildshot about 15 months ago to the United
Nations in New York and Wildshot went to Australia about a year ago. The whole
mess came about because of the young Japanese boy who was shot in Louisiana on
Halloween a couple of years ago. Japan put a resolution in front of the UN that
Americans should not be able to own firearms. President Bush's administration
was also there, as well as the NRA. When that resolution was defeated, Japan
tried to “back-door” a similar resolution through Australia (because of
their anti-gun stance and disarming their citizens).
That's when SASS sent Wildshot to Australia to fight the resolution
again. Japan’s attempt to pass
the resolution was in the news quite prominently and Texas State Rifle
Association also sent out a blurb about it. Specifically because of this
incident, I joined Second Amendment Sisters (they sponsored the march to
counteract the Million Mom March), The Second Amendment Foundation, and several
other groups to help fight the "second" Japanese attack on America.
Since then, the Judge and I have been actively working with these groups to
counteract the anti-gunners.
EVERYONE needs to stick together to protect our Constitution first, which, in
turn, protects our Second Amendment rights. We have strength in numbers!”
As Kate points out, it can be done but we need to stick
together—Kate echoes Thomas Paine himself with her sage advice.
We have the technology and I suggest that the HQ of all
these like-minded, gun-rights organizations from the NRA to SASS open
discussions centered on joining forces, establishing and then making effective
use of a national network in a focused way.
It’s time to unite those 80 million, currently disjointed,
pro-constitutionalists and make it a real force to be reckoned with by the left.
Think of it – a united and centralized web based forum
that could be the foundation of an effective combined force in support of
pro-constitution issues and actions--focused and speaking with one voice at the
right time and place! The
leadership of the NRA, JPFO, GOA, SAS, SASS etc all joined on a single, jointly
funded, secure and password protected web site so as to guard against potential
invasion by anti-gunners, discussing, planning and coordinating a force of
millions--tremendous potential and unlimited possibilities exist that we have
only dreamed of thus far.
What can you do? This
will require a movement on the part of the membership to urge the formation of
such a centralized site. Let's try
something easy here and see what response we get.
If you are a member of one or more of those organizations such as the
NRA, GOA, SASS, JPFO, SAS etc. and think this is a worthy idea, contact the
headquarters of that organization and suggest it. Even easier, copy this column,
paste it into a letter or an email message to them and see what happens.
Might be interesting—might even be the rebirth of that unified strength
Thomas Paine wrote about more than 230 years ago.
Just the view from my saddle…