by Rebecca Anderson
Treasurer-Elect NRAMCMB
becster@ix.netcom.com
My husband and I attended the MMM event at UCSC on Sunday 12/3/2000. I tried
to attend the group's "open" meeting in October and was turned away so
technically this was my second contact with the MMM. I think we were allowed in
this time because our group was so large and well mannered. However we were
certainly not welcomed with smiles or open arms. In fact one of my fellow MC
members told me that as one male MMM member walked past our group to go into the
meeting room, he said to his children
"These people are right-wingers who don't care about little children
like you getting killed."
It was said clearly and loudly. When he received a response from one of our
people, he was extremely antagonistic, and said something like we (NRA members)
don't care that more of our children die than in disarmed societies. After the
movie, he walked past us our group again and loudly said to his children
"Stay close to me because I don't want you around all of these gun
nuts."
While I don't think he represents the majority of MMM members, we must not
allow these comments to provoke us. Always take the high road. However, that
man's actions and rude, ignorant comments need to be a wake up call for us on
how to make your organization look bad. I certainly learned a lesson. Too bad
the press that was there didn't hear him.
During
the meeting we watched their video, America Up in Arms, which left me cold and
shocked. When the organizer spoke about how this grassroots group (MMM) was not
going to go away I kept saying to myself, "Neither are we." I'm sure
we made her more than a little nervous - speaking to the "enemy" and
all. But as Don Kilmer said when we met in the parking lot before the meeting
began, "We are here to put a face on law abiding gun owners." It's
easier to hate someone you've never met.
Surprisingly our group consisted of more women and children than the MMM
group including Rae Ellen, a delightful women in a motorized wheelchair who
brought her companion golden retriever. She was concerned that the MMM would
think she supported their views because she wasn't wearing any NRA clothing.
These are the people who really cannot afford to have the MMM succeed in their
mission.
Don't fool yourself with thinking this is a loosely held group, they are
highly organized, well funded and determined to disarm law abiding citizens.
Unfortunately they have incorporated children into their spin - tugging at the
heart strings by profiling people who have lost children in accidental
shootings. Like HCI they are using the medical profession to push the need for
more handgun regulations. According to their local organizer, nationally there
are 270 chapters in 46 states. They claim to have support from the NEA, ABA and
a Physicians association (didn't catch the name).
At the meeting they also mentioned an educational program they are planning
to introduce in select middle and high schools across the nation, I believe it's
called AskingSavesKids (ASK). It would be interesting to find out which schools
will have the ASK program and then approach those school boards to petition them
to include the Eddie Eagle program as well. Apparently ASK has a web site by the
same name. At the meeting we watched two ASK PSAs. While I support parents
discussing guns with children, these efforts don't seem to about instilling
responsible gun ownership but merely removing guns from the home. Both PSAs
showed examples of kids finding handguns in the home and using them to shoot
friends. One is found under the parents' bed and the other in a top dresser
drawer. BTW, two of our female MC members walked out of the meeting and left
because they were so disgusted by the MMM propaganda.
In short, each of us needs to continue to speak up about our cause and
continue to put a face on law abiding gun owners. As the mother of a 7 month old
son, I am in regular contact with other mothers and when appropriate I use the
opportunity to discuss the gun issue. I certainly don't shove my pro-gun, Second
Amendment beliefs down their throats; instead I find out where they stand on the
issue and then try to figure out why they feel as they do. One mom said she
disliked the NRA because her father did. But then there are the little victories
that give me hope like when one of my liberal mommy friends told me,
"Last night I was thinking about what you said and if they can mess
with the Second Amendment, they can mess with the First."
She finally "got it."
Keep up the good fight.
Rebecca Anderson
Treasurer-Elect NRAMCMB
