AAR: RTC/Georgia Carry Rally, Georgia State Capitol - April 23, 2011
All well.
No problems whatsoever.
We took back the ground we were illegally ordered from back in February.
Around 50 in attendance, split about 50/50 between handguns only and longarms.
Good speakers.
And to summarize, here's a first-timer's comment:
My reply to the comments on the post about chamber flags and empty mags.
Sorry to side track the rah rah but Those of you bitching about chamber flags and empty mag wells I have to speak up about.
I have not been very supportive of the RTC rally in the past. I did not feel that it was worth the effort. I did not feel that I was getting a very good ROI. I began to change my mind. I still do not think that the political impact is very significant. I don't think that there will be a single rally that leads to our restoration.
I decided however that it was worth me going to the rally in order to connect with like minded men and women. It was worth attending to stand sholder to sholder. When the time comes to muster on the green I want those who have been to the rallies to remember my face to know that I have stood with them before and to trust that I will stand with them again. I went to the RTC rally on Saturday at the Capital in Atlanta. I stood with like minded men and women. I heard the speaches and watched the looks on the faces of those who drove past. At no time did I feel that I was at a disadvantage because I had a chamber flag or did not have a mag in the well. I carried a 5 round mag in my pocket and in my bag I had three 30rd mags for the AK. Had an air of danger presented itself I could have had the 5 rd mag in the gun in seconds and when I racked the bolt that chamber flag would have hit the ground.
Stop using this as an excuse to not attend. Walk the walk as you talk the talk. You go to the rally showing your good faith to the politicians. Think of it as a flag of truce. I will attend every rally I can going forward for the reasons I stated above and I expect to see more of you there in the future.
Grenadier1 (the man in the flecktarn hat)
Thanks to all attendees, speakers, and promoters, as well as to the Georgia Capitol police and the Georgia State Patrol, who, in the words of one officer, "got their act together."
posted by Concerned American | 6:44 PM
24 Comments:
Fine, good, go ahead and go. Please make a report afterward and tell us what was accomplished. As in measurable. You know, results. Respectfully Yours, Sean. III. PS: Something tangible, or visible, perhaps? Feelings not included. I have been walking around armed, for a very long time now. And I have done it with large groups more times than I can remember.
People who had not appeared in public armed did so for the first time.
People who had not appeared in public armed with rifles did so for the first time.
People who had not appeared in public at a BOR rally did so for the first time.
It ain't pro racing.
But there's a long way from in the cul-de-sac with training wheels on one's first bicycle to pulling a Steve McQueen, knocking a motorcycle-borne Kraut off his bike with a strand of piano wire, grabbing his ride, and trying to make it to the border.
Or - Rome wasn't burned in a day.
;-)
Did Lt. Mitchell show?
Sean,
Yep I carry everyday as well. I even carry places I am not supposed to carry. I know where you are coming from. Like I said I dont expect to accomplish anything external to the movement. This is going through the motions as far as the results with the pol's is concerned. The results are with the fellow patriots. This is about forging or cementing the bonds between TeamFreedom. If we do not get patriots off the couch in their spider holes and on to the street we lose. Plain and simple. I will steal a line from Churchill and ask if we will not stand when the only cost to us is time, why should we believe that anyone will stand when the cost is measured in blood, treasure and lives?
I will throw it back on you Sean and ask what the results should be? What would you expect to accomplish? What would the price be to get you to simply do what you do every day (walk around armed)? I respect your opinion and I really want to know.
Grenadier1
I did not see Lt. Mitchell on Saturday.
I did see the Capitol Police CO, Captain Rhodes, who was the source of the order to disburse out of eyesight and earshot of both the Capitol and the SEIU demonstrators back in February.
What wisdom did the illustrious Captain have to dispense this time?
Again, I'm with Sean on this one. What exactly did you accomplish? Did even 25 people change their minds about the legality of open carry? I have carried for years, legal or not. To me it's always been legal.
For you city dwellers, this must seem important and I understand what you're trying to do, but you now look like a circus act to the media and the masses. Bubba goes to town, with a gun, OH MY! They don't fukin care what you represent, as long as you get arrested and taken off the street. You are a threat to every peace loving amerikan and what ever the cops do to you, you had it coming. They hate you and your silly guns!!!
Let this shit heap collapse and they can find out the hard way how important carrying a gun is. Until then, you're just pissing in the wind.
From Wyoming,
Semper Fi, 0321
We caused the popo to reverse their prior course and tolerate what they deemed intolerable previously.
That's enough.
For those who came.
Here in Georgia.
For now.
Your mileage can will vary.
:-)
Mark:
Captain Rhodes seemed a bit subdued.
He also said that he will be working to change the law back to the way he wants it.
:-)
You can use a bullhorn at your rally, so long as it has no batteries in it.
Delude yourselves of whatever you like.
Sean,
In response to your question about results:
1-We verified the extent to which Second Amendment rights could be exercised where we are, in Atlanta, GA, demonstrating this to however many people we were able to make aware of the thing PLUS those who become aware of it in the future. That is, anyone looking to do another armed rally near the capitol will have an easier time of it. Remember, we tried to do something like this a few months ago but could not. We did make progress.
2- Training value. Training is accomplished with these things. The difficulty of doing it in the city adds to the training value. I dont have time to break it down, but it should be obvious: getting together a group of armed, like minded individuals at a location KNOWN TO BE HOSTILE TO OPEN CARRY aint easy and requires skills that have practical value far, far, beyond the one particular day.
I've had little time to be online lately but it is good to see that ONE thing has not changed:
there are still plenty of arseholes who serve no purpose in life except to tell everyone ELSE what they do wrong, or why their efforts don't mean anything, of why the writers of the negative are so superior / all knowing / Obama-esque or whatever.
So I say to those who can only gripe about others, and criticize those who are at least TRYING to do something:
Whether you are actually one person with multiple accounts, like those hirelings for the DOJ mentioned recently; whether you are directly in the White House Ministry of Propaganda, and get your monthly check from the welfare office; or whether you are just a spoiled kid who hasn't the balls to do anything himself but tries to demoralize others, for the cause of Obama - whatever your malfunction and intent, it ain't working. The patriots who gather at RTC rallies are doing something. You aren't... just bitching about them.
Go back to your TV now - I think Oprah is coming on soon.
The results should be nothing. You don't actually do anything except stand around, speeches, and so on. Much the same as at the Repub.Natl.Convention, except no guns. I would expect to accomplish nothing, because, in effect, I did nothing. Changing geographical locations with my property, temporarily,will produce a change of scenery. When I take a vacation, I enjoy the change of scenery too. The price difference, with transport, hotel, meals, is greater than if I walk around armed here. Let me clearly stake out my position. I don't care if anyone wants to go to an RTC Rally, anywhere, if it is what you want. I am spending my valuable, hard earned money on preparing for the coming shit storm. I am not going to spend a lot of money to go somewhere and do something that is going to produce nothing. It is all about worth,value,results, the bottom line, to me. Cementing bonds between the members of team freedom? No one is going to "get off the couch" until they HAVE to, or WANT to.Not as many men as you might think are glued to a couch, although many are. I'd quit worrying about them, and concentrate on the band of brother types, who are known to be active, and are SELF MOTIVATED. And don't be swayed by how many you see at the RTCs'. When TSHTF, count heads that are with you. Those are the ones that matter. I know, I know, if they won't even show up at a rally, yadda, yadda, yadda. A lot of them think just like I do. Window dressings and speeches, and fingers pointing in the air count for nothing. If you got it, it will show, when it counts. I can't count the number of times when whoever I was aligned or associated with, were just bursting at the seams for the organization to have a big pep type rally, and pump up the faithful, and show what spirit we all had. It was as mind numbing as having to watch 30 Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney movies continuously, and no bathroom breaks. Know why so few show up at the rallies? By having a rally at all, you chase away your best, and most. Don't you get it yet? Serious men and women do come, but most of them will not, because they realize the absolute futility of such demonstrations. The leftards have demonstrations all time. Why? To have the media, that are in their pocket, show film to all America and the thousands who agree with their leftard ideas. IT'S PROPAGANDA. I'll bet very few people in this country are even aware of RTCs', or that they've even been held. You think RTCs' are even going to get unbiased coverage? Leading stories? It's as if were are trying to use one of their tools, which is a good idea, except: Virtually no one will know we did, and it will have no effect if they do. The leftists are laughing at us, as rank amateurs, and we're playing into their hands, using the limited and often meager resources we have. Do I have a better idea? No. Do I know how to make the best use of the time I have? Yes.
I was going to let the nonsense in some of the comments slide, but I can't.
To you guys sitting in your bastions, sneering at the patriots who DARED to go out and educate the public, confront the police peacefully, and network with other patriots, and GOD FORBID, have a good time...
I suppose it's all well and good to hope for the demise of Western Civilization. I suppose it's all good and well to hope that the Great Die-off comes sooner rather than later so that those pesky people who didn't bother to become informed or prepared get out of your way. To paraphrase the Brits in South Africa, I suppose America would be nice if it weren't for all the Americans.
I don't know where you live, or who you know. But I know I am trying to buy as much time as humanly possible before Shit Goes Down because I don't want to have to make hard choices about who to help and who not to when that day comes (and like you, I don't doubt that it is coming). And to that effect, if I can stave off the hunting wolves of economic collapse and Tyranny--they hunt in a pack, you know--than I shall. And the RTC/open carry rallies are a damned good way of doing it. It's not the ONLY thing, of course. But it is drastic. It is public. And it annoys the hell out of elected officials. And most important--if it buys us time, it is INFINTELY preferable to making Hard Choices.
Respectfully, but with passion
Drew, in SC
Say what you want about a rally like this. They are good. It cause people to talk, maybe change their beliefs, support you, buy a gun, or maybe they get scared and beg the cops to put a bullet in you so they will be safe. Either way its something and it affects way more people than who went to the rally. Now for my little story. As little as 8 short years ago I was a happy liberal with one little pistol and couldn't care less about your guns. Now I have several evil black rifles and consider myself a threeper. I don't plan on backing up any more. What changed my views? A few guys wanted to carry concealed and woke me up. I have probably woke up a few dozen people. Those people probably woke up a few more. So if you think little rallys don't count...I tend to disagree with you.
Folks:
Let's be careful here.
Tactics are not dogma.
RTC is a tactic.
If it works for you, great.
If it doesn't, wish those who choose to protest well and resist in your manner.
"Resist" is the strategy (the "what").
Tactics (the "how") is everything - by any means necessary - needed to fulfill the strategy.
Flexibility, open minds, and a tolerance for situational ambiguity are going to be central to success.
Besides, the stupid SOB I just flamed on the internets may be the guy next month who has to decide whether or not to risk fire to pull my shot ass out of a jam.
Wouldn't that just suck?
:-)
The folks who protest that an Open Carry/RTC Rally isn't important are perhaps forgetting what they means for those of us who live where rallies like this are encumbered by law, by LEO policy, or by geography. There are places where concealed carry of sidearms is legal but open carry is not. Further, open carry of long arms is encumbered by "brandishing" laws. Carry is permitted to and from the range, the skeet shoot, or while hunting, but randomly carrying or staging an RTC is likely to bring down some heat.
To be clear, I live in Texas, not Massachusetts. I monitored the Second Amendment March last year but did not attend. Austin PD made it clear that open carry of long guns could lead to arrest for public disturbance. Such a gathering is made even more difficult by the sheer size of the Lone Star State, by our long history of carry bans (open carry banned for over a century and concealed permitted only after 1995), and by the oft-misunderstood militia law. As gun friendly a State as we are, the deck is still stacked against RTC or similar efforts. Watching it happen elsewhere is both an inspiration and a challenge, at least to me.
Also, I have family in Atlanta. Knowing that there are Atlantans (?) who are willing to step out like this gives me hope that if I'm visiting family in their AO when the Schumer Hits The Fan, I will might be able to find help.
@@ CA -
"Besides, the stupid SOB I just flamed on the internets may be the guy next month who has to decide whether or not to risk fire to pull my shot ass out of a jam."
_Nah - never happen. The bitchers on the list would just find a blog to write about how everyone who DID help you, did it wrong. They never change, and I've seen a lot of them since back in the 60s - all talk and no action.
When they say they have something better to do with their time, like one commenter did, it probably involves a tube of KY and a rubber glove.
Sorry - that was nasty. But if you want your six covered, I can pretty much tell you which guys will be the ones to make the move. Meantime, if you don't like RTC rallies, don't go, but just shut up about criticizing those who do. It ain't your business.
Yeah, and some of you are the same ones crowing to the world because you just got your CWP. Whoopdieshit!!!
If I lived in a shithole like that, I'd be happy too, just because TPTB let me own a gun. Obviously, your job is more important than your freedom or manhood.
Sorry C.A., my mouth runneth over.
From Wyoming
Semper Fi, 0321
These are the money quotes, and not just for this post/comments.
AP sez:
"Resist" is the strategy (the "what").
Tactics (the "how") is everything - by any means necessary - needed to fulfill the strategy.
Flexibility, open minds, and a tolerance for situational ambiguity are going to be central to success.
Better get these axioms firmly understood up front, and yer act squared away accordingly.
Unintended consequencies are the result of unexpected events in their unanticipated sequences as met with inflexible and dogmatic responses. Failure is the usual result.
That's another way of stating AP's Third Axiom above as exactly as is possible.
When resistance goes kinetic, these insights go quantum.
Jon III
Consider the value of Patriots who show up at an RTC upon those who would be the Enforcers for Masters.
When LEO is told to gear up and fill the buses, don't think for a moment they will not worry about what is on the other side of the door, precisely because they have seen the RTC's.
As a general principle, any action that advances Liberty, in any manner, is worthwhile. While X or Y may not be how you choose to advance Liberty, support your fellow Patriots.
All we have is ourselves, and one another.
Kerodin
III
I am very glad that Law Enforcement actually honored the law this time. I am still confident, though, that you would not really want me at one of these rallies if "Law Enforcement" chose to not do so.
Congratulations on your success! Thanks for helping to restore our Constitutional rights!
Dear Fred: Your brilliance is underwhelming, as is you logic. By the way, if I have to shut up, doesn't that make you a lot like the leftists you supposedly are against? They seem to want silence from those with differing points. In addition, you seem to want to ascribe to them tendencies that they actually don't have. And it wasn't me that brought up KY and rubber gloves. A little transference, mein Herr?
@April 27, 2011 5:33 AM:
Oops. I was quoting CA, our esteemed host,not AP, our equally esteemed brother from the far North.
Jon III
wv: coment
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