LA Democratic gun owners: This is a call for action!

[Peak_Oil]

Note: This is a duplicate of my post to the gun forum. Sorry if this is a violation of board rules. Let me know if it's a problem.

OK, this is my first attempt at any kind of organized political activity. I'm very interested in advancing the interests of gun owners in the LA area. To get the ball rolling, I started up a Yahoo group for Democratic gun owners. If you're a gun owner, this is in our collective best interest. Let's do something positive!

I propose a group to do a monthly shoot at the Angeles Range (my favorite) that has trap, silhouette, skeet, rifle, and long-range rifle ranges. Also, let's contact the city council, the Mayor, Boxer, and any other political figures we can think of to lobby our interests. I'll bring the envelopes and stamps, let's get busy!

I belong to another group that has an NRA certified instructor out at the range on a montly basis. He's a really friendly guy who will help the newbies learn how to be safe and how to shoot properly. Every time I go with him I learn something new. There's been a lot of debate on this site about how to put the Dems in the lead in the next election. This is one way to get 79,999,999 more votes in the Democratic party in the next four years.

This is worth doing! This could be the single issue that would pull a certain group of potential Democratic voters into our corner. I know, I know, CA is locked up for the Dems, but you never know. How would you like to see our PRK loosen up on gun control a little? I can't buy a Black Widow, which I'd love to have, because California isn't friendly to certain models of handguns. Why? Let's get together on this and take some action. When we do a good job on this, we could be a part of the vanguard of the Democratic party in reaching out to a new group of potential Democrats. I go shooting at least once a month anyway, why not do it in a group?

It's my hope that getting gun owners on the side of the Democratic party is the thing that will swing the next election to the good guys. There are certainly a hell of a lot of us.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LAdemgunowners

[jdots]

1. very good idea

not a gun owner myself but there are many democratic and even liberal people who do own guns,the whole gun thing would be better dealt with from inside than outside.

[slackmaster]

2. I'd make a couple of modest changes to CA gun laws

I believe anyone who wants to own an AR-15, semiauto AK clone, etc. should be able to buy one if they can pass the criminal background check. IOW I'd eliminate the restrictions on importing or selling new "assault weapons".

I'd keep registration of AWs in place to keep the gun controllers happy, but make them importable and transferrable. The fact that I can own one because I already had one when the law went into effect is unfair to younger people.

The AB-15 restrictions on handgun models (drop test, etc.) is ludicrous and ineffective. It's turned out to be a way of soaking gun manufacturers for money, with no apparent return in public safety. All it has accomplished is to reduce our choices and raise the price of guns, making it harder for poor people to buy them. That's classist and racist IMO.

I'd also lobby for statewide shall-issue CCW with the same strict background check and training requirements we already have for discretionary-issue permits. The fact that someone in Yolo County can get a permit and I can't is simply not fair.

[Peak_Oil]

3. LA gun owners-- shoot this Saturday!

I'm heading out to the Angeles Range around 10AM to bang away at the steel targets at the range. Drop by if you like! I'll be the one and only guy at the range with the Bush + Clown Nose t-shirt at the range. I'll have my NRA card in hand while wishing there was a liberal gun owner's group available.

If you're there tomorrow morning, I'll be shooting trap at the far left side of the range (pun intended, but serious nonetheless).

If you don't have a weapon, I'll let you shoot my shotgun, and give you shells for free!

Come by, it's a lot of fun! And you never know, maybe we'll talk a little politics!