*****Harrisburg Rally, 5/6/19*****

[Justin///M]

I don't think that you are taking the right approach. There are guys who remain out front carrying long guns and your presence with them would be great. The Rotunda was full to the brim last year and some were purportedly turned away because of it. The responses I heard were all about how great it was that our attendance was so high, not that people were sour because they could not get inside. If you believe in the cause come out and join the group.

gotta be tactfully blunt about this...heard stories about previous Harrisburg rallies that were held outside and had more NRA involvement which had more appeal & made lasting impacts on several friends who continuously urge me to get & stay active; these are folks who have done mega rallies in DC and say that FAOC moving the event indoors alienates many gunowners who do not have time to check in and cram inside the rotunda; you preach year after year that more folks are needed for active 2A support and then move the event inside a secured building which eliminates public awareness and limits involvement! with as much tactful response as I can muster...move the friggin event outside which allows more involvement by the gun owners of PA!!!

with that said...if you keep it inside then I will not attend! I will not have enough time before work to go through the capitol building rat maze...working in healthcare does not allow leniency for taking time off; rant done...

The point of having it inside is to have everyone visit their elected politicians after the speeches and presentations to show support for 2A related bills, and to question those who are fighting against the 2A.

It's not just about showing up and making some noise (though that's also very important), it's about keeping your representatives accountable.

ok...folks wanna talk to legislators; as in years before moving event inside these folks did so after the outdoor rally; more folks can hear speakers outdoors & allows folks on tighter schedules more time to arrive, hear speakers, be counted amongst the numbers, and move out as needed; FAOC is limiting involvement...sorry this is how I see it!

I use POPVOX, NRA-ILA, facebook based petitions, and other online sources to contact my legislators about 2A related concerns and will remain active that way...

We can have our cake and eat it too. Both things are important. Being inside and outside. I am planning on carrying a long gun this year and staying outside. I know others that are as well. I hope you consider joining us. I also see and support the idea of people going to speak to the representatives. There are plenty of people to do both things.

[marinville]

Let's not forget the organizers from last year who told folks to stay home if they were planning to stay outside and OC. I can think of one here by name, and I'm sure the thread is still around, if anyone cares to look.

A lot of good it did for folks to pack the rotunda last year (and I was there.) Remind me of all the 2a wins on the state level last year, I'll wait.

[gnbrotz]

We can have our cake and eat it too. Both things are important. Being inside and outside. I am planning on carrying a long gun this year and staying outside. I know others that are as well. I hope you consider joining us. I also see and support the idea of people going to speak to the representatives. There are plenty of people to do both things.

Agree. Also, it's very common that many of the elected officials who are clearly opposed, or 'on the fence' about supporting our position are "not in" or "not available" on rally day. It's almost like they know we're coming.

From a face-to-face standpoint, IMO, it's better to do the small group thing on random days with little to no announced notice, so you have a better chance of actually seeing the faces you need to see to potentially make a difference.

[gnbrotz]

Let's not forget the organizers from last year who told folks to stay home if they were planning to stay outside and OC. I can think of one here by name, and I'm sure the thread is still around, if anyone cares to look.

A lot of good it did for folks to pack the rotunda last year (and I was there.) Remind me of all the 2a wins on the state level last year, I'll wait.

Yep. Those days are over. Don't want us around? Too bad. We'll do our own thing on our own terms, without your blessing, and despite your "credible threats" of false flag violence.

We're also going to show up at "your" events, and may just embarass you when those you don't "endorse" outnumber those who are welcome in your little homophobic white-bread organization.

[Hodgie]

ok...folks wanna talk to legislators; as in years before moving event inside these folks did so after the outdoor rally; more folks can hear speakers outdoors & allows folks on tighter schedules more time to arrive, hear speakers, be counted amongst the numbers, and move out as needed; FAOC is limiting involvement...sorry this is how I see it!

I use POPVOX, NRA-ILA, facebook based petitions, and other online sources to contact my legislators about 2A related concerns and will remain active that way...

I hate to break it to you but those NRA-ILA/GOA form letters we all diligently and easily fill out do little due to the way they are electronically sorted and it's been spoken about many times. Making a phone call followed by a personally written E-mail which doesn't have to be a short novel goes much further since each one has to be accounted for unlike the NRA form letter spamming. I am not saying to stop doing it, but I am saying it's not enough, so put your efforts into something that does. As far as your other methods listed I do not use them or know what they are except for FB.

Here's a firearms attorney who is also a fellow PA resident and PAFOA member giving guidance on this with inside help from a congressional aid.

[Hodgie]

Yep. Those days are over. Don't want us around? Too bad. We'll do our own thing on our own terms, without your blessing, and despite your "credible threats" of false flag violence.

We're also going to show up at "your" events, and may just embarass you when those you don't "endorse" outnumber those who are welcome in your little homophobic white-bread organization.

Agreed! While I am not sold on me personally slinging a rifle over my shoulder I am highly opposed to some other supposed freedom loving gun rights activist telling me that I cannot, should not, because I am making us look bad as a whole.

Maybe I will get a new flag made up for myself or start the ESAD! movement which I can apply to so many topics other then politics and gun control.

[pennlineman]

I just listened in on a meeting, those false things are still being spoken. One person even claimed that the police were following people to vehicles to check for concealed weapons.

I don't expect both sides of this issue are ever going to agree on this, unfortunately. At least not while falsehoods are spoken openly like that.

It is unfortunate. Remember I told you before the rally that I would still be there even if I hated everyone involved? I meant it. The truth is we need them. I may not join thier organizations but I will contribute to them financially for cause that I agree with. As an individual I will support them in anyway I can despite themselves. My membership with the NRA will be left to expire. I might donate to the ILA if they ever decide to get back in the fight. This will include attending and promoting their events. Organizing with others if possible reaching out to people who are not kept up to date to make sure this is accomplished efficiently if possible.

gotta be tactfully blunt about this...heard stories about previous Harrisburg rallies that were held outside and had more NRA involvement which had more appeal & made lasting impacts on several friends who continuously urge me to get & stay active; these are folks who have done mega rallies in DC and say that FAOC moving the event indoors alienates many gunowners who do not have time to check in and cram inside the rotunda; you preach year after year that more folks are needed for active 2A support and then move the event inside a secured building which eliminates public awareness and limits involvement! with as much tactful response as I can muster...move the friggin event outside which allows more involvement by the gun owners of PA!!!

with that said...if you keep it inside then I will not attend! I will not have enough time before work to go through the capitol building rat maze...working in healthcare does not allow leniency for taking time off; rant done...

We need numbers, just show up. I'll stand outside with you. I don't like being cramped up inside anyways. I don't feel the need to see the reps, I don't think telling them to go fuck themselves is the message we want delivered. This would be best left to cooler heads than mine.

[LBaker]

gotta be tactfully blunt about this...heard stories about previous Harrisburg rallies that were held outside and had more NRA involvement which had more appeal & made lasting impacts on several friends who continuously urge me to get & stay active; these are folks who have done mega rallies in DC and say that FAOC moving the event indoors alienates many gunowners who do not have time to check in and cram inside the rotunda; you preach year after year that more folks are needed for active 2A support and then move the event inside a secured building which eliminates public awareness and limits involvement! with as much tactful response as I can muster...move the friggin event outside which allows more involvement by the gun owners of PA!!!

with that said...if you keep it inside then I will not attend! I will not have enough time before work to go through the capitol building rat maze...working in healthcare does not allow leniency for taking time off; rant done...

Needs to get some actual facts in here. The rally when started was held indoors. It was moved outside when it was anticipated that there would be larger crowds. That never happened and it became apparent that the struggle to get inside was hampering the process and mission. The focus of the rally has always been interaction with legislators and staff. That was and is the intent. Getting people more active in the legislative process. Talking to staff is a key up there. Making relationships with the people behind the scenes has a lot of value!

[Hodgie]

It is unfortunate. Remember I told you before the rally that I would still be there even if I hated everyone involved? I meant it. The truth is we need them. I may not join there organizations but I will contribute to them financially for cause that I agree with. As an individual I will support them in anyway I can despite themselves. My membership with the NRA will be left to expire. I might donate to the ILA if they ever decide to get back in the fight. This will include attending and promoting their events. Organizing with other if possible reaching out to people who are not kept up to date to make sure this is accomplished efficiently if possible.



We need numbers, just show up. I'll stand outside with you. I don't like being cramped up inside anyways. I don't feel the need to see the reps, I don't think telling them to go fuck themselves is the message we want delivered. This would be best left to cooler heads than mine.

I will be outside as well to show open 2A support for everyone else on the street to enjoy. I hope we can at least get at least 50 other heads to be out there with us so we do not look like a Mom's demand free shit from Bloomberg in order to protest rally but as long as I m still walking and breathing I will do everything I can to be there.

[Hodgie]

Needs to get some actual facts in here. The rally when started was held indoors. It was moved outside when it was anticipated that there would be larger crowds. That never happened and it became apparent that the struggle to get inside was hampering the process and mission. The focus of the rally has always been interaction with legislators and staff. That was and is the intent. Getting people more active in the legislative process. Talking to staff is a key up there. Making relationships with the people behind the scenes has a lot of value!

This is the way I always understood it, which is a good thing.