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(This column was mistakenly left out of the last issue of the newsletter. The article printed in its place was actually written by M. Carol Bambery, the Chairman of the MCRGO Foundation. We apologize for the confusion).
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With the fall hunting seasons upon us, many MCRGO members, activists, and officers have been away enjoying Michigan's outdoor sports. A lot of us have also been trying to find the time to get away from the day-to-day routine and do some shooting at our favorite ranges. In between all of this, we are trying to see where we are going and what is going to happen next to our firearms rights here in Michigan and in the USA as a whole.
It seems as though we are under attack from every possible angle, and I think it is fair to say that this is true. The anti-gun forces are more ruthless, organized, and creative than ever, and they are thinking up new ways to attack us at every turn. In addition to the old standbys of trying to get laws passed against this or that firearm, or trying to create additional restrictions on who can purchase what, where, when, and how often, they are attacking the commercial distribution system directly. Their lawsuits against firearm manufacturers have begun to have an
effect, as the more weak-willed and less committed manufacturers begin to abandon the civilian market in favor of government contracts, and the shippers such as UPS, RPS, and Airborne Express stop or severely restrict shipments of certain firearms.
So what can we do about all of this? Most of us spend a fair amount of time making calls and writing letters to government officials, legislators, and others asking them to pass or not pass certain laws. We write letters to the editors of newspapers defending our rights when they are attacked or pointing out the flaws in proposed anti-gun legislation. But this is all defensive in nature. Frankly, I am sick and tired of always being on the defensive. In addition to this kind of rearguard activity to defend our rights against further infringements (which I am
convinced will probably be necessary for the rest of our lives), I believe we need to look for opportunities to attack. We need to take actions which will assert our rights in a positive manner, and put the other side on the defensive.
At the state level, we are working on pro-gun legislative initiatives which we hope to see passed before the current legislative session ends next year. These include the firearms liability lawsuit prevention bill, the antique firearms reform bill already passed by the House, and several other initiatives which are currently being drafted and prepared for introduction in the legislature. We are meeting with pro-gun legislators in both the House and the Senate to map out strategies by which we can get these bills moved and passed.
What can individuals do to help us turn from the defense to the offense?
Many MCRGO members have already been proactive by speaking out in their communities, offering firearms education classes, working guns shows, etc. I could take up this whole column just by singing the praises of MCRGO members who are out there "walking the walk". We need to continue these activities, and look for additional opportunities. Here are just a few ideas:
1. Get involved in supporting our pro-gun initiatives. Write, call, and meet with your state legislators and let them know we are tired of being attacked all the time, and that we expect them to do something positive to remove the restrictions and inconveniences in current laws, and to protect our rights from being attacked. You should specifically mention firearms liability lawsuit legislation and antique firearms reform as examples of the kind of reforms that need to be passed into law. We will inform you of specific bills as they are introduced. And don't forget to remind them
that we want to see CCW reform passed into law once the election is no longer an issue!
2. Copy Governor Engler on every letter you write to your state legislators, as well as on every "letter to the editor" or article you write . This will take a few extra minutes, but has the potential to pay off in the long run. We have been told by several sources that without his support, little gets done in Lansing. He has not really heard our voice on this issue, as we have all been concentrating on the legislature. He needs to hear from gun owners, loud and clear, that we are an important constituency and that our rights need to be protected.
3. Take someone shooting. Every one of us should make it a point to take a non-shooter to a range and introduce him to our sport at least once or twice a year. Many people are reluctant to try shooting because they don't know where to start and may be intimidated by the specialized knowledge and equipment needed. A helpful range session with a knowledgeable person may be all they need to "break the ice" and get interested in shooting. If nothing else, they will come away with a more educated opinion on gun owners and shooting, and may not be as susceptible to
anti-gun propaganda in the future.
(Continued on page 5)
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