My Feelings On Those Who Don’t Support Others Shooting Disciplines.
I recently got in a debate on AusVarmint Forums with someone who thinks we have no need for semi-auto firearms. I have very strong opinions on this subject. I thought I’d post this as its exactly how I feel about shooters or hunters who are prepared to sell the rights of others to try and maintain their own freedom (which seldom works) So here it is:
Some of us care about our freedoms (or lack thereof) others, within our own community would sell off those rights as long as their own interests are left alone.
But I tell you, those who don’t fight for other’s freedom to keep a certain type of firearm is lobbying to lose their own and worse than an anti-gunner (not only are they anti but they are a hypocrite).
It makes me sick to think that anyone in any shooting discipline would be so eager to sell someone else’s discipline out in some sort of screwed up line of thinking that they think their own discipline would be saved. It’s WRONG and I don’t respect anyone who sells out another shooter’s discipline.
You will see me fighting for clay target shooters, long range target shooters and hunters, handgun shooters and any other type of legitimate shooter or hunter no matter of their chosen discipline as long as its safe, legal and humane. I am just a hunter but I will fight for all of our rights, not just the ones of my own interest. It sickens me to think that other shooters don’t feel the same way.
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Category: Keith Drain's Column
Spot on mate, I completely agree. If its humane and legal, who is to say its in anyway a less valid past time than what you or I consider enjoyable?
well said , completely agree with you
Absolutely agree. There are too many in the shooting community who are supporters in name only and are, as Kieth says, hypocrites who do us great harm. In SA the policeare moving to ban certain rirearms because they do not like them. They would be far better off chasing criminals rather than dreaming up ways to harass law-abiding shooters.
Criminals will always get guns, and they will bother to get a permit to acquire or register them. A poster on an English forum said some time ago that soon one would be able to download a script, off the internet, and load it into a CNC machine then wait for the machine to complete a servicable firearm — and he was not talking about rifles or shotguns.
CORRECTION: “they will NOT bother to get a permit to acquireor registar them.”
Some shooters are thick as bricks on this subject.
“Why does anyone need…..”
Never compromise with a tyrant – you only get more tyranny.
Hit the mark exactly. For example: I don’t duck shoot and I don’t really agree with it personally, HOWEVER I will stand with those hunters trying to defend their rights to shoot and hunt ducks. United we stand, divided we fall.
I’ll back duck hunters all the way even though it’s not my cup of tea because it could quite easily be my pursuit on the chopping block and no doubt once one group is removed the cross hairs will fall on a new group.
So I agree totally Keith, I will back other shooters rights for the same reasons as you put it “safe, legal and humane”. Just because it may not be you interest at risk it does not give you the right to pass judgement on others.
Yes I agree. Likewise I don’t shoot a shotgun but the guys that do are pursuing a perfectly good hobby. I can add to this. People might have noticed the Japanese research into Whales. It looks a lot like fishing for whales. The fact is they do not care at all about the Whaling and would give it up tomorrow. What they do care about is fishing. The world is up in arms about Whales and that suits the Japanese entirely because they are not fighting over the fish that they do care about.
Spot on mate. IPSC really got hung out to dry over the last 15 years by the government. SSAA should have done more for all disciplines and so should have the whole shooting fraternity. Boo to those stinking hypocrites
After some recent posts in the comments section of certain articles, I was concerned that a lot of shooters were divided on this topic. It’s refreshing to see on the above comments that the majority are in agreement with Keiths points.
Very well said Keith and I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Disarm, Divide and Conquer. The path of a dictator.
I will not allow my fellow LAFO’s to have their perfectly legitament disciplines taken away from them.
It`s really simple, “United we Stand, Divided, we Fall” !!
I think the last post says it all, “Divided we fall.” That was certainly the case in the UK following the Hungerford and Dunblane spree killings. Instead of showing a united front, such as the NRA of America provides. Support for Semi Automatic Rifles, Pistols, Pump Shotguns was sacrificed whilst individual support groups bunkered down and gave up support for their fellow shooters, so long as their particular discipline wasn’t affected. Groups such as the British NRA suddenly became very territorial in their support for long range rifle shooting only and whilst token efforts were made by these groups there was never any real cohesive fighting front. Consequently in the 1997 ban the UK lost all cartridge firing pistols. Since then token gestures have been made in the return of some .22lr target pistols but only under very extreme conditions.
I was a target pistol shooter before the ban. I was never interested in shooting rifles, hunting with firearms or black powder but I do strongly support their right to exist. If you are to resist any further changes to legislation you need to stop the fragmentation. Create a unifying umbrella organisation supporting all aspect of shooting and fight back from a position of strength rather than weakness. Good luck!
Great Comments everyone! It is good to see that this line of thinking seems to be gaining more momentum.
If it has a barrel and a trigger and is legal we should fight for it.
Keith has answered a blog by an anti-gunner Tory Thompson I think was the name. It was a very positive rebuttal. It showed that shooters are basically good, honest, hardworking people. Shooters have to engage the general voting public with good sound demonstration that we can be trusted and that we are in the best interest of the general public. But what have the rest of us done? Those of you who make all of these motherhood statements about not giving in: Where is your plan of action?
There are two plans of attack. The first is the “softly, softly approach”. Keith’s rebuttal is a good example of this. The SSAA Australian Shooter magazine has shown this in recent times with their promotion of family values. I made a contribution with a “Pop! Why do you hunt deer?” story in the ‘Junior Shooter’ section of that magazine. The SSAA have made many efforts over the years not all of them wise in my opinion. They decided to employ a public relations firm to improve their image. One of the results was the second sentence in this paragraph. Another was the less than useful TV add on “I am a Sporting Shooter” by a famous Trap shooter. It cost us ½ Million dollars and did nothing but annoy a large section of the membership. There is a lot that can be done in this gentle Teary eyed sentiments field.
The second plan of attack is based on just that; “attack is the best form of defence.” I am not thinking on the lines of the “Peta” trilogy on this web site. What I am thinking of is a completely different approach. It is not my original idea it is copied directly from a group of people who were during half my lifetime, regarded as the worst, most despicable pariahs on the planet; the homosexual community. How did they change the world so much?
We could be as successful.
Who are the kingmakers out there? Who moulds opinion? It is not the politicians it is The Media and the Advertising Industry. Who pays for the advertising? Harvey Norman? MacDonalds? Yes and many others like them. By a coordinated approach we could influence the advertisers. We buy their products but we won’t continue if they continue to support the program that it telling lies about our sport. Yes that is what I am talking about; individual letters to the people who worry about their bottom line. One letter from Jack Boswell won’t worry anyone one but hundreds of letters from different people or emails whatever. This will make a difference! How do I know? I know because that is exactly what was done by the community that I mentioned before. No I am not one of them. On many occasions I have tried to get this ball rolling. Most club secretaries are concerned about divulging members’ details because of the privacy laws.
This website could sidestep that problem by using the comments section on any post to offer suggestions and assistance as to who and whom to write to and HOW. The biggest put off most people have is they do not feel competent in writing the letter. Use the resources of this website and do something positive.
I got out of a sick bed to write this. Now you do your bit.
Andy, thanks for pointing out the UK as an example! It’s a classic scenario that we should all be trying to avoid. We should be concerned about saving all forms of shooting whether we have an interest in it or not. Its about educating the public and showing that we stand together which is what the Shooters Party is all about. Simply by being licensed shooters we are giving the anti’s a number of which they have to deal with, If we all then follow up by voting for the Shooters Party then we are doing that little bit extra. Every step we take after that to promote our sport is again, another step forward.
I am very passionate about saving our sport in ALL it’s forms, which is why I will never back down from an argument when someone tries to single out a group of law abiding shooters in order to try and save their own interests.
I have given my last bit of advice and encouragement to this website. Thanks to those who read and appreciated some of it. I hope that this website continues to grow and influence the shooting movement in a positive way. I have learned quite a bit about communication pitfalls. This is my last contribution.
I still am a modern shooter. Using 19th century style firearms just drives me to buy anything that resembles MODERN firearms.
Pistol grips, adjustable stocks, synthetics, and larger magazines are not military.
Whether you shoot rabbits, quail or elephants i will support your sport !