why we need to develop a better grass roots movement

[pajamatime]

Big win! Federal gov't and @TurnbullMalcolm will legalise medicinal cannabis!

Think of what we "The Shooting community" could accomplish if we could stop being so apathetic and selfish & really donate our positive energies to getting our grass roots super powerful. we could conquer planets! lol

https://www.change.org/p/malcolm-turnbull-decriminalise-the-use-of-medicinal-cannabis-for-people-with-terminal-cancer-like-my-son/u/13815032?tk=o4oyxt7MAnejCZUoP-3FVWE2gRqG0Ij0wB4daQqna0U&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email

[<<Genesis93>>]

What, the legalisation of growing our own firearms??

which are our 'positive energies' is it like our aura?? that glow around us seen by the very few??

come to think of it.... what are our 'grass roots'??

This crap about the supposed legalisation of dope;

"Ms Ley said it would allow cultivation similar to the way Tasmania has grown opium poppies for the world's morphine market."

so in other words YOU CANT GROW IT UNLESS YOU'RE A PROPERLY LICENSED, PROBABLY MULTINATIONAL PHARMA, EXPECTING MEGA $$ FROM SELLING CANNABIS EXTRACT LIKE OIL, not smokeable grass!!

No, you wont be permitted to grow a couple of plants on the back veranda....

[Heckler303]

Oh yes, weed gets a sh!ton of attention and support and people understand that crims will get it anyway regardless of laws.


Yet we have to have super-strict control of guns because criminals already illegally acquire theirs?


#Sheeple logic.

[pajamatime]

What, the legalisation of growing our own firearms??

which are our 'positive energies' is it like our aura?? that glow around us seen by the very few??

come to think of it.... what are our 'grass roots'??

This crap about the supposed legalisation of dope;

"Ms Ley said it would allow cultivation similar to the way Tasmania has grown opium poppies for the world's morphine market."

so in other words YOU CANT GROW IT UNLESS YOU'RE A PROPERLY LICENSED, PROBABLY MULTINATIONAL PHARMA, EXPECTING MEGA $$ FROM SELLING CANNABIS EXTRACT LIKE OIL, not smokeable grass!!

No, you wont be permitted to grow a couple of plants on the back veranda....

exactly! Genesis u do realize its a example of how a grass roots can make a difference...its about weed I know but its example only I promise lol


edit: anyway I will probably post back here soon. I'm going to go poking around looking for Genesis secret cannabis farm...its around here somewhere.

[Vati]

250,000 sigs on the petition at this stage.

Zero chance of us shooters hitting that at this point, I know what you mean

[Supporter]

The force is strong with the hippies when it's about packing their bongs.

[Gwion]

I think it's less about WHY we need a grass roots movement, rather HOW it should be developed and WHAT it should be trying to achieve.

[Baronvonrort]

We do have movements, unfortunately they are fragmented with many doing their own thing.

In the thread about Canada gun registry the Canadian politican said we need better unity, it's easier for politicians to dismiss many smaller groups yet hard to ignore a 850,000+ voting block.

[<<Genesis93>>]

on the matter of grass....... there is a guy in the US, who, WHO KNOWS how he did it, maybe he just kept calling them until they gave in..... but has been allowed, for 33yrs, to smoke joints for his medical condition....


But that not the best part; not only has he had permission, but the Federal government grows it for him.... prepares it and even rolls the joints for him AND sends it to him! 10 joint a day allocation, in a pack of 300joints every month

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_yj_ykkPjs

[Title_II]

I think it's less about WHY we need a grass roots movement, rather HOW it should be developed and WHAT it should be trying to achieve.

It's very simple.

Less talk, more action. You don't need a plan, you need to start doing it as an individual. Start calling and visiting staffers for your regional and national politicians. Post what they say and do here. Follow up with them. You have to make them work for you, even if they don't agree with you. "He's a jerk and wants to ban guns and told me to pound sand" or "he sent me a boilerplate letter and doesn't care" are not valid excuses to say your job is done. It's not.

This sort of thing can be done with about 5 or 10 minutes a week, plus maybe an hour a month, and about four one-day road trips per year. It's kind of like the Pot Smoking Hippie Army Reserves

Now that you have a relationship (good or bad) with these people you start getting others to follow your example. Bring some along with you. Always include breakfast or lunch and a trip to a destination such as a gun shop on the way back Then start talking to the pros. Get info from them, agree to do a little work for them on pushing or blocking legislation.

[Gwion]

You see, i don't call that a "grassroots" movement. I call that political activism.

To me, a grass roots movement builds acceptance and support at the grass roots level, ie: with in your own community.

Doing things such as:

- Being open about your interest in shooting
- Talking calmly and rationally about issues affecting shooters
- Listening to peoples views; even and especially if they don't meet up with yours; so that you can address them in a calm and rational manner
- Do your research so that you can use credible sources to quote facts about historical firearms use and crime in Australia.
- Take the time to correct mistaken ideas in a friendly, rational manner.
- (apologies in advance to US members) Don't be seen as pushing for an Americanised gun culture... we have our own history of free firearms use, focus on that. Most Australian don't want our country further colonised by an American style society.
- Be vocal about condemning people who do the wrong thing with firearms: both personally and as a group, such as a public campaign.
- Encourage people to get their licence if they show interest in shooting
- Organise a "try shooting" day at your local range
- Conduct firearms safety and awareness days within your community
- Foster support and don't build division and opposition

To make a difference at a political level, you need the support of the community at large. This isn't about "us v them", it's about pulling Australia together.

If more people understood that LAFO were; on the whole; normal, responsible people and that we are against the misuse of firearms; if they understood that the freedom to use and own a firearm responsibly reflected freedoms for responsible community members as a whole; if they understood that further restricting firearms ownership represented the eroding of freedoms (not "freedom") within Australian society in general; then they may actually give a s**t and show support when the big issues are brought to ahead and publicly debated. They may choose not to vote for or otherwise support those who openly push for harsher and harsher restrictions on firearms owners; because they will realise it is indicative of harsher and harsher restrictions on themselves.

That's my idea of a grass roots movement.

[<<Genesis93>>]

All, and I'm quite happy you say all, the movements of recent years that have cause waves of supports around the globe, whether climate change, diversity, gay marriage, refugees, democracy movements....

Were all portrayed as grass roots movements, but where ultimately exercises, and massive scales 'group think', "the people want it, dont you know!" psychological conditioning and of ASTROTURFING (Yes, you blokes in the US even invented a word for it!!) a grass roots movement that is actually created and/or funded and /or supported by undisclosed interests and donors...

because there are ALWAYS ulterior motives

A good example is the gun control movement... they receive(d) significant funding particularly from oversea....they create a presence in the media orders of magnitude over representing their true voice. But why? they claim it is to save our society from the scourge of gun deaths.... but be have comparatively few gun death??? in fact statistically INsignificant such that you can NOT predict it, some years 20, some years 30....and you can't model it. So why do they seek the removal of all guns from Not only Australia, but the USA, and the globe while theyre at it?? [rhetorical question, we know the answer]

Example
Ukraine - on the surface it was presented to us as a democratic movement, the people did it.... Right, of course they did, thats why the US put 5Billion into the exercise, provided the means, the arms, the training, and even gave the EU a big FU, literally and in the end stole the National gold bullion stock too... but dont mention the convoy of blacked out SUVs to the airport in Kiev loading into a private jet....not part of the narrative you see

[Title_II]

You see, i don't call that a "grassroots" movement. I call that political activism.

To me, a grass roots movement builds acceptance and support at the grass roots level, ie: with in your own community.

Doing things such as:

- Being open about your interest in shooting
- Talking calmly and rationally about issues affecting shooters
- Listening to peoples views; even and especially if they don't meet up with yours; so that you can address them in a calm and rational manner
- Do your research so that you can use credible sources to quote facts about historical firearms use and crime in Australia.
- Take the time to correct mistaken ideas in a friendly, rational manner.
- (apologies in advance to US members) Don't be seen as pushing for an Americanised gun culture... we have our own history of free firearms use, focus on that. Most Australian don't want our country further colonised by an American style society.
- Be vocal about condemning people who do the wrong thing with firearms: both personally and as a group, such as a public campaign.
- Encourage people to get their licence if they show interest in shooting
- Organise a "try shooting" day at your local range
- Conduct firearms safety and awareness days within your community
- Foster support and don't build division and opposition

To make a difference at a political level, you need the support of the community at large. This isn't about "us v them", it's about pulling Australia together.

If more people understood that LAFO were; on the whole; normal, responsible people and that we are against the misuse of firearms; if they understood that the freedom to use and own a firearm responsibly reflected freedoms for responsible community members as a whole; if they understood that further restricting firearms ownership represented the eroding of freedoms (not "freedom") within Australian society in general; then they may actually give a s**t and show support when the big issues are brought to ahead and publicly debated. They may choose not to vote for or otherwise support those who openly push for harsher and harsher restrictions on firearms owners; because they will realise it is indicative of harsher and harsher restrictions on themselves.

That's my idea of a grass roots movement.

Great! You have it figured out. Get started.

[Title_II]

All, and I'm quite happy you say all, the movements of recent years that have cause waves of supports around the globe, whether climate change, diversity, gay marriage, refugees, democracy movements....

Were all portrayed as grass roots movements, but where ultimately exercises, and massive scales 'group think', "the people want it, dont you know!" psychological conditioning and of ASTROTURFING (Yes, you blokes in the US even invented a word for it!!) a grass roots movement that is actually created and/or funded and /or supported by undisclosed interests and donors...

because there are ALWAYS ulterior motives

A good example is the gun control movement... they receive(d) significant funding particularly from oversea....they create a presence in the media orders of magnitude over representing their true voice. But why? they claim it is to save our society from the scourge of gun deaths.... but be have comparatively few gun death??? in fact statistically INsignificant such that you can NOT predict it, some years 20, some years 30....and you can't model it. So why do they seek the removal of all guns from Not only Australia, but the USA, and the globe while theyre at it?? [rhetorical question, we know the answer]

Example
Ukraine - on the surface it was presented to us as a democratic movement, the people did it.... Right, of course they did, thats why the US put 5Billion into the exercise, provided the means, the arms, the training, and even gave the EU a big FU, literally and in the end stole the National gold bullion stock too... but dont mention the convoy of blacked out SUVs to the airport in Kiev loading into a private jet....not part of the narrative you see

If you are saying people have no power and there is money behind everything that happens you are wrong. We have passed very important laws in The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in recent years with no money spent on lobbying and little or nothing spent on organization. Just getting the word out and people acting as individuals and individuals acting together voluntarily. Heck, we changed the training of the police in our entire Commonwealth so they know they can't ask for ID from somebody carrying a gun or detain them, and there was no non-profit group involved and not a single dollar of political or organizational money spent.

If you are saying we tend to get jacked up by big money groups masquerading as "ordinary people," well, that's been happening since the US exported real deal socialism and communism in the earl 20th Century.

[<<Genesis93>>]

As I said the movements that reverberate around the globe, the PC and democratic revolutions, the various 'springs'...


I think you're the first American to actually admitting to creating communism.... most people could not fathom that statement, counter intuitive, impossible, it was the Russians I tell you!

Even the Chinese communist revolution...who would believe the MAO was a bonesman!!!

[Gwion]

[
Great! You have it figured out. Get started.

I have started. You may be surprised to know that many others have started as well.

[on_one_wheel]

Imagine if we were proper organised and convicted all firearms dealerships to add $1 to each sale and had the money donated to SFP or an Australian version of the NRA

[pajamatime]

I think it's less about WHY we need a grass roots movement, rather HOW it should be developed and WHAT it should be trying to achieve.

technically we already "have" one its just in a state of disharmony and rather dysfunctional (allot of great people out their trying but with no central hub to work with). To many people pulling in too many directions...we need to harmonize. What you say is very useful Gwion without a doubt but its convincing enough people its a good idea to begin with that appears to be the problem (then theirs the bunch that try and convince us away from such direction).

Look at all these groups and organizations out their throwing their own brand of s**t at the problem and no central authority to assist with direction.
a good example of how well it can really work is the firearms council of Victoria (its a young example but its currently all we got, unless you have another?).

edit: SSAA could have been that bridge but so many people distrust the SSAA that I think its a low quality bridge to be expecting everyone to cross to begin with.

[pajamatime]

I'll be handing out how to vote cards forth country party Australia this Saturday in my town for the Victorian polwarth district bi-election, I'm not a member but since SFP and LDP aren't running candidates these guys are the best vote, only truly shooting friendly party running, I told them straight out that I wasn't going to join their party but that I would help, the enemy of my enemy and all that.
I've also been bombarding Facebook with memes, not my GCA stuff but serious ones, if you've shared a meme off of almost any aussie shooting page it's a good chance I made it.
I also talk to lots of people every day through my work and other interests and invite non shooters out and do my best to educate the uninformed.
I've got an anti on Facebook who called me a moron that I've been messaging back and forth with in an effort to get him to change his views or at least respect our view and realise that we are not the problem, I'll copy the conversation and post it for you guys to read. I hope that I may even be able to get him to come for shoot some time. Hearts and minds! Even if we have to do it one hoplophobe at a time.
I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet I'm just sharing my "grass roots" efforts in the hope it might encourage or give others ideas.

see what I mean! so many great (don't let "great" go to your head Bentaz lol) people out their doing it like a boss. Some people may disagree with me but I think we should really throw our selves behind the firearms council of Victoria and grow that like wildfire? They have fighting funds, direction, knowledge know how and they are doing a amazing job at bringing all the Vic shooter organizations together under one umbrella. (I'm perfectly ok with you or anyone else voicing your opinions or even grudges if they exist)

[sarki]

Yup I support the firearms council as well, although they sent out an email saying don't follow the country partys how to vote card as it has greens higher than the liberal or nats.

Country party dropped the ball there

[huccl]

Clever tactic.

Bit of a gamble though too, you'd hate to have it backfire and boost the Greens.

[Sender]

I wouldn't hold your breath I don't think.