as written in the KeepAndBearArms.com Guestbook

I also was at the meeting in Phoenix. I'm sure you saw me sitting with another gentleman on the bench across the lobby area. We were the first there and had approached the lady at the FIRST MONDAY table about gaining entrance. The lady was very polite, as were we, and pointed out that they were obligated to seat those who had registered first. I agreed with her and said that if there were any empty seats we would very much like to be allowed to sit in. She said that we should check back later, which we did. However, when we noticed the others who were there from the Pro-gun side we decided not to seek seating in the meeting but rather to allow others who could better express our concerns to have access. I am not sorry that we did so.

What did bother me though was the appearance of those who were demonstrating outside. Although I feel the same as they regarding my Rights, I would have preferred to see a better appearing group. I don't think that they did much to promote our side of the issue. We do not need to come across as a bunch of "red necks" which is what they looked like. Appearance is everything to the opposition. If you look like a RED NECK you are one to them. If you look like a person of dignity and social grace, you will be treated as such. We need to polish our appearance.

Those who gained entrance, for the most part, were well dressed and had the LOOK. We do ourselves an injustice to attend such gatherings looking like a bunch of red necks. If we intend to make ourselves heard we must first gain the respect of the opposition. We, as a group, need to remember that. I thank you for your hard work and for presenting our side in a professional manner.

Tom Kampert
Surprise, Ariz.

Tom,

Thanks for saying what needs to be said in as tactful a way as possible. The liberty advocacy community needs to hear your above concerns from as many people as possible until it sinks in. Leroy Pyle's Cammies in Public, posted today as well, makes the same point in elaborative detail.

Let's all learn from what is being shared here, and present ourselves like the decent, peaceable, respectable citizens we are.

KeepAndBearArms.com