Here's a chance to try and get OUR SIDE HEARD !!

[son of the revolution]

OK everyone , after the putrid garbage we just saw on ABC tonite , and our desire to get equal coverage , here's a chance . Not saying anything will come of it , but we at least need to submit the stories .


They're soliciting stories dealing with guns, with an eye toward an HBO documentary -- self defense, crime, how a person got interested. Just starting out, and the balance is tipping toward antis. I'd suggest routing any people with self-defense stories their way.

http://www.gunstories.org/gunstories/home

[normanvin]

I would like to agree with you on this idea. But you really need to be careful on dealing with the media. They have a habit of slanting the story to fit their personal or companies agenda.

[mauser]

If they could honestly guarantee that what you say would be used unedited, or edited only with your approval you might have half a chance of presenting a positive piece.
They can be pretty crafty with their editing tools. When things are taken out of context and presented with a different slant they can look and sound totally different from what was originally intended. You can go out of your way to clarify anything you say and if the editors cut that clarification and put part of your statement right before or right after a different statement of their choice you could come off as meaning something completely different than you originally intended. It's too easy to use part of a statement to make someone look like a fool, if you doubt that just look at anything that any current or recent President said that the media didn't like.

Anything you say can and will be used against you.

[tdyoung58]

Anything you say can and will be used against you.

at their earliest convenience

[son of the revolution]

All valid concerns to be sure , but if everytime an opportunity to present our side comes around , we are paralyzed due to fear of what might happen , the bottom line is we will always be fighting with one hand tied behind our back . There are certainly plenty of ways to minimize any hinky business . And just like a point by point counter to that ABC garbage , another one could be made showing/proving an intentional twisting of the truth , even under the guise of "editing " . Like it or not , this IS a media war , and as long as they keep dominating the story that gets out , they'll keep picking off more and more citizens to their point of view . With the thousands of Pro 2A Groups, Forums , etc , there's sure to be any number of people submitting stories , that might make us look even worse . Like the moron on You Tube that asked on live TV during a Presidential Debate about gun control while literally fondling his M4 . You think that imagery went over well to a National Audience ?? We cant allow the fear of what might occur to prevent us from being involved in trying to shape the debate when the chance presents itself !!!

[normanvin]

All valid concerns to be sure , but if everytime an opportunity to present our side comes around , we are paralyzed due to fear of what might happen , the bottom line is we will always be fighting with one hand tied behind our back . There are certainly plenty of ways to minimize any hinky business . And just like a point by point counter to that ABC garbage , another one could be made showing/proving an intentional twisting of the truth , even under the guise of "editing " . Like it or not , this IS a media war , and as long as they keep dominating the story that gets out , they'll keep picking off more and more citizens to their point of view . With the thousands of Pro 2A Groups, Forums , etc , there's sure to be any number of people submitting stories , that might make us look even worse . Like the moron on You Tube that asked on live TV during a Presidential Debate about gun control while literally fondling his M4 . You think that imagery went over well to a National Audience ?? We cant allow the fear of what might occur to prevent us from being involved in trying to shape the debate when the chance presents itself !!!

Paralyzed with fear is not exactly what I eluded to. The writer of the story can twist the story.

A tactical retreat is a withdrawal for a chance to regroup to plan a new tactic. But others would say that a tactical retreat is nothing but a coward running away.

[son of the revolution]

Paralyzed with fear is not exactly what I eluded to. The writer of the story can twist the story.

A tactical retreat is a withdrawal for a chance to regroup to plan a new tactic. But others would say that a tactical retreat is nothing but a coward running away.

I wasnt trying to imply that you were alluding to being " paralyzed with fear " , more then general "tone " when this stuff comes about is more often then not lots of pissed off ranting , and lots of lamenting about how unfairly we are betrayed , then a bunch of reasoning about "why bother trying to get our side out to the MSM , cause their all hopelessly arrayed against us " and " the only network that would show our side fairly is Fox ."

Im saying that we cant keep fighting the fight that way and expecting to make any significant progress . Yes the MSM needs to be treated with the care of a rabid rattlesnake , poised to strike at any moment , and we do treat them that way . But even a rattlesnake , as dangerous as it may be , has benefits , ( anti venom) .

It sounds like your worried about the shows writers taking false liberties to slant the stories that are submitted . Based on the description on the web site , it sounds more to me like their asking for people to submit their personal stories , in their own words , in order to select which ones will be aired . Do you really want to risk the chance that all they get is a bunch of tear jerkers from anti gun victims ???

[mauser]

Let me state that I do not advocate a "sit back and do nothing because we don't have a chance" approach. My view is that if anyone tries to make a statement through the venue that they have offered is that they have already proven their position as anti-freedom, anti-rights, anti-self defense, etc...and they will do what they feel is necessary to to make their point any way they can.
If they have a chance to take a statement from anyone on either side they will do their best to twist it to fit their agenda.
A better approach would be to find a "pro-our side", or at least a "neutral" outlet rather than be subjected to the editing of those who have proven that they are diametrically opposed to what we believe in.
In other words, their offer is probably less than desirable, there are better ways to get our words out to the public with less chance of having them turned against us.

[WA3UFN]

Interesting, right after I saw that segment on ABC I fired of an email, for what it was worth, Basically stating "stop sensationalizing" as well as include stories that have a positive aspect to firearms.

[son of the revolution]

Let me state that I do not advocate a "sit back and do nothing because we don't have a chance" approach. My view is that if anyone tries to make a statement through the venue that they have offered is that they have already proven their position as anti-freedom, anti-rights, anti-self defense, etc...and they will do what they feel is necessary to to make their point any way they can.
If they have a chance to take a statement from anyone on either side they will do their best to twist it to fit their agenda.
A better approach would be to find a "pro-our side", or at least a "neutral" outlet rather than be subjected to the editing of those who have proven that they are diametrically opposed to what we believe in.
In other words, their offer is probably less than desirable, there are better ways to get our words out to the public with less chance of having them turned against us.

Uh mauser , Im not talking about ABC here !! This is a NEW venue , for a possible documentary or something similar on HBO

Ok ........ and other then Fox , what venue exactly would that be ????? Keeping in mind one thats going to be likely to reach the same number of people as HBO . If people can come up with one Im all ears . Did everyone forget HBO / Showtime had that Penn/Teller Show Bullshit ?? They did a half hour on how ridiculous gun laws were. Now a 1/2 hour may be something , but its certainly not an hour long in depth examination . What if people didnt watch , just because their not P & T Fans ???

Like I said before , is there some level of risk of things being twisted ?? Of course there is , that being said , the 60 Min Show tonite was MUCH more balanced then the 20/20 one on Fri , and I was convinced 60 Min would be just as bad , but Leslie Stahl actually stressed and showed people at the gun show DOING back round checks ! Its not like steps cant be taken to prove the producers fabricated /spun things if they tried to .

Listen if people dont like the idea thats fine , dont take advantage of the chance to exploit it . But dont turn around later , griping about how unfair all the media exposure is . The Anti's DOMINATE the MSM , you want to give them that type of strategic advantage lock , stock and barrel , go ahead . In the end we will lose by preaching to the choir , since the ONLY media that are readily receptive to our arguments , are only paid any attention to by people that are already on our side . Im reminded of the SAS Motto " Who Dares Wins "