[Sebastian]

My legislators know how to best serve my interests, I tell them so. For those that don’t speak up, I guess in theory that brings the need for people and groups to represent us, but I do speak up, so make no mistake, none of those groups speak for me.


They do? They are aware of your concerns about every piece of legislation that comes up? Most people don't have enough time, energy, or insider knowledge to really be effective as individuals on this issue.

Wondering how effective you could be if every gun owner cared about the issue and became a single issue voter is a moot point because it will never happen. I don't think the presence of pro-gun groups make it harder to motivate gun owners. Apathy is what makes it hard to motivate gun owners, and the existence of pro-gun groups has little to do with that.

The alleged need for access to those legislators might be an effect of the lack of politically educated or active gun owners, but certain RKBA groups won't work towards changing that because that's not in their model of operations. Again, something many of us, including Andy Barniskis, has said time and time again. And when we say it, we get shit on for it.

Without access to legislators, how the hell do you expect to influence the legislative process to work toward your interests as someone who cares about gun rights? The type of political situation you guys want isn't and never will be reality, so we're stuck working within the realities we have now, and given that, it makes little sense to sit on the sideline and bitch that the world isn't ideal. It makes even less sense to actively fling pooh at legislators who are actively trying to help us (Metcalfe)

That doesn't mean we all have to trust the people you trust; no one died and made you or anyone else the decider. The problem comes when cheerleaders for one group or set of groups (of either side really) starts to take a difference in opinion personally.

I'm not saying you have to. I am saying flinging pooh at organizations and legislators that are trying to help is counterproductive. It's one thing to offer constructive criticism, but the kind of things Greg is accusing Andy of here would appear to be outright sabotage of pro-gun efforts. It's one thing to disagree. Disagreement is inevitable. It's another to completely forget we're all on the same side.