The Liberal Gun Club Forum

So I'm going to talk with a local journo tomorrow about gun ownership in my town.

Here's his pitch:

The project is broken down into four segments:
- How are weapon registrations kept in Massachusetts and what are the laws surrounding that?
- What are the criteria for gun licenses and how do police chiefs use the discretion granted to them under the state law?
- What does gun ownership look like in our community? We're trying to talk as many people as we can to help put a face and a story behind people who own guns in town, to humanize an often unheard perspective.
- Gun control and gun control debate in the community: we want to talk to advocates on both sides of the debate, and average people with a stake in the debate. What do they think of the tenor of the debate and the level of civility? Is it a productive debate?

We're principally interested in talking to gun owners for the last two.

Any advice from those of you that have dealt with media before?

I spoke to a reporter then met a photographer for an article a few years ago. It took me a while to realize both people were coming from their belief that guns and shooting guns were naturally an expression of anger and frustration. It wasn't so clear to me at the moment I was interacting with them. If I had recognized this immediately I would have given my definition. I like the historical aspects. I like to tinker with the guns and reloading. I like doing things with my hands. Shooting is an expression of mastery of the other things.

Try to present a baseline of your view early or you might end spend your energy trying to counter the interviewer's assumed beliefs.

modernhamlet wrote:So I'm going to talk with a local journo tomorrow about gun ownership in my town.

Here's his pitch:

The project is broken down into four segments:
- How are weapon registrations kept in Massachusetts and what are the laws surrounding that?
- What are the criteria for gun licenses and how do police chiefs use the discretion granted to them under the state law?
- What does gun ownership look like in our community? We're trying to talk as many people as we can to help put a face and a story behind people who own guns in town, to humanize an often unheard perspective.
- Gun control and gun control debate in the community: we want to talk to advocates on both sides of the debate, and average people with a stake in the debate. What do they think of the tenor of the debate and the level of civility? Is it a productive debate?

We're principally interested in talking to gun owners for the last two.

Any advice from those of you that have dealt with media before?

Seems as if this might be worth floating on NES.

Have no experience, but as a listener/reader I'd like to see a lot about gun ownership in the community, especially fun stuff and youth programs.

CDFingers

My advice is to research the journos and the media outlet.

Also be prepared for questions outside this outline and be ready to steer the conversation back to either 1) what was agreed to or 2) what you want to say.

If you want to post your ideas, I'm happy to review them. I have over a decade experience in talking with reporters.

I have some experience talking to reporters (on local issues unrelated to guns).

Do your homework. Read up on what the reporter has previously written about the issue (pretty easy now with Google). See if they have a bias, factual knowledge, or even just a particular interest related to your topic. Reporters have a natural tendency to "tell a story", usually preconceived, and will ask questions leading in the direction of that story. Try to anticipate that, and/or try to present an interesting narrative of your own.

And prepare pithy quotes. Few reporters can resist pithy, punchy quotes with lively verbs. If you think the reporter is going to type-cast you in a certain way, e.g., the angry gun nut, your best defense might be irresistible, pithy quotes that run counter to the stereotype.

Elmo wrote:I have some experience talking to reporters (on local issues unrelated to guns).

Do your homework. Read up on what the reporter has previously written about the issue (pretty easy now with Google). See if they have a bias, factual knowledge, or even just a particular interest related to your topic. Reporters have a natural tendency to "tell a story", usually preconceived, and will ask questions leading in the direction of that story. Try to anticipate that, and/or try to present an interesting narrative of your own.

And prepare pithy quotes. Few reporters can resist pithy, punchy quotes with lively verbs. If you think the reporter is going to type-cast you in a certain way, e.g., the angry gun nut, your best defense might be irresistible, pithy quotes that run counter to the stereotype.

This is excellent advice.

I have heard that its a good idea to get their permission and make a recording of the interview. It helps clear up any misquotes.

Thanks, everyone. Appreciate the advice.

The 2 general narratives that I'll try to focus on are:

1. Guns are here in Arlington (and we're all still alive...):
I strongly support my local police department and think they do a fantastic job managing town safety, including firearms licencing. My town is a bit of an exception in an area where many towns restrict carry licences. Yet we are a very safe community. While people may not notice it, we're a safe community with thousands of responsible gun owners.

2. I'm a pro-2A liberal (and others should be too):
I've only recently moved to the pro-gun side of the debate. I arrived here after realizing the anti-gun position is pretty much the liberal version of the anti-abortion movement, particularly in the tactics they use (death by 1000 cuts) and the way they mistreat data and language to support a deceptive narrative. They're so sure they're right that facts don't matter. "Common sense" gun laws are anything but. They primarily burden the law abiding, while getting ignored by the law breaking. The problem of societal violence is complex, as are the solutions. Defending gun rights is a liberal position.

this is always a good factoid...

http://lgoa.org/Guns_vs_Crime.html

senorgrand wrote:this is always a good factoid...

http://lgoa.org/Guns_vs_Crime.html

Definitely a good one. "Gun murders have fallen by almost half since their peak in the 90s, while in that same time the number of guns has increased by ~100 million."

How'd it go?

sikacz wrote:How'd it go?

Pretty well. No notes, no recorders. Just an hour of conversation about (mostly) guns.

There will be a follow-up conversation, probably late next week, for clarification, attribution and possibly a picture.

This is part of a region-wide series of articles, btw. So there should be several coming out in the Boston area in March. Locals should keep a look out in their town paper and online.

modernhamlet wrote:

sikacz wrote:How'd it go?

Pretty well. No notes, no recorders. Just an hour of conversation about (mostly) guns.

There will be a follow-up conversation, probably late next week, for clarification, attribution and possibly a picture.

This is part of a region-wide series of articles, btw. So there should be several coming out in the Boston area in March. Locals should keep a look out in their town paper and online.

Please post a link when the article comes out.

Been booked solid. Totally missed this. Would have happily given my nickel. We have a press primer we send to reporters with collected links to other stories.

Local tab? They syndicated a story in the fall that ran around all the "wicked local" outlets.

Remind him the club Is legally HQd in MA message me and I will send it to you.

Sounds like it went well! Will be interesting to see if they try to put you into any boxes of "typical X".

My general feeling is that press will love novelty of argumentation, particularly with those pithy, snappy quotes that were suggested. if you can frame pro-gun arguments within liberal values and verbiage, it might be the best way to get the right attention.

tincankilla wrote:Sounds like it went well! Will be interesting to see if they try to put you into any boxes of "typical X".

My general feeling is that press will love novelty of argumentation, particularly with those pithy, snappy quotes that were suggested. if you can frame pro-gun arguments within liberal values and verbiage, it might be the best way to get the right attention.

That's pretty much what I'm going for. People expect the same old right wing pro-gun stuff. They need to see that there are millions of us out there for whom gun rights are a liberal position.

Update:

I just did the follow-up, for attribution interview. Photographer will be in contact for a pic, hopefully including my kids, in the next couple of days.

The first article will be in next week's Advocate, with a second article the week after.

Will update again when it goes live online...

Cool -- good work!

modernhamlet wrote:Photographer will be in contact for a pic, hopefully including my kids,...

Are you sure that's how you want it to go down?

DispositionMatrix wrote:

modernhamlet wrote:Photographer will be in contact for a pic, hopefully including my kids,...

Are you sure that's how you want it to go down?

I'm a normal guy. I've got a wife, kids, a job, a house, and a couple of hobbies. I think it's important that people realize that gun owners aren't crazy, scary, or abnormal. A shot of me playing with my kids at the playground is about as normal and natural a slice of my life as it gets.

Respecting your opinion, I'd be genuinely interested to understand what your concern is though.

My wife already opted-out for herself. She serves local families and children and fears that being seen in this article would be bad for her business. Which sucks and makes me sad, but is completely understandable.

modernhamlet wrote:

DispositionMatrix wrote:

modernhamlet wrote:Photographer will be in contact for a pic, hopefully including my kids,...

Are you sure that's how you want it to go down?

I'm a normal guy. I've got a wife, kids, a job, a house, and a couple of hobbies. I think it's important that people realize that gun owners aren't crazy, scary, or abnormal. A shot of me playing with my kids at the playground is about as normal and natural a slice of my life as it gets.

Respecting your opinion, I'd be genuinely interested to understand what your concern is though.

My wife already opted-out for herself. She serves local families and children and fears that being seen in this article would be bad for her business. Which sucks and makes me sad, but is completely understandable.

Far from a "concern," but In a state in which gun ownership is as reviled as it is in Massachusetts, no measurable good for you and your family can come of outing yourself in the press. Bad could come of it. "I think it's important that people..." is a good indicator of what I see as the misplaced priority. Family trumps those "people" or any consideration of what they might think. I'd like "people" to "realize" all kinds of things, but the kids would not have been props in achieving any of those realizations. Your life, your kids. Good luck.

modernhamlet wrote:

DispositionMatrix wrote:

modernhamlet wrote:Photographer will be in contact for a pic, hopefully including my kids,...

Are you sure that's how you want it to go down?

I'm a normal guy. I've got a wife, kids, a job, a house, and a couple of hobbies. I think it's important that people realize that gun owners aren't crazy, scary, or abnormal. A shot of me playing with my kids at the playground is about as normal and natural a slice of my life as it gets.

Respecting your opinion, I'd be genuinely interested to understand what your concern is though.

My wife already opted-out for herself. She serves local families and children and fears that being seen in this article would be bad for her business. Which sucks and makes me sad, but is completely understandable.

I think your position is idealistic and brave. It seems you have put some thought and consideration into this, which is wise as you have others than yourself to think of and care for. While I would agree that your family should come first, and that there is always a risk of downside (as with any action we take daily) I would dispute the idea that no good can come of it. I expect that you will earn the respect of many, even if you earn the ire of some.

For me, I would want to see the story that was to be printed before putting my picture to it, however. This reader will look forward to seeing the article when it comes out.

DispositionMatrix wrote:

modernhamlet wrote:

DispositionMatrix wrote:

modernhamlet wrote:Photographer will be in contact for a pic, hopefully including my kids,...

Are you sure that's how you want it to go down?

I'm a normal guy. I've got a wife, kids, a job, a house, and a couple of hobbies. I think it's important that people realize that gun owners aren't crazy, scary, or abnormal. A shot of me playing with my kids at the playground is about as normal and natural a slice of my life as it gets.

Respecting your opinion, I'd be genuinely interested to understand what your concern is though.

My wife already opted-out for herself. She serves local families and children and fears that being seen in this article would be bad for her business. Which sucks and makes me sad, but is completely understandable.

Far from a "concern," but In a state in which gun ownership is as reviled as it is in Massachusetts, no measurable good for you and your family can come of outing yourself in the press. Bad could come of it. "I think it's important that people..." is a good indicator of what I see as the misplaced priority. Family trumps those "people" or any consideration of what they might think. I'd like "people" to "realize" all kinds of things, but the kids would not have been props in achieving any of those realizations. Your life, your kids. Good luck.

When I was on TV, I got nothing but positive messages via text, LinkedIn and Facebook from even my most "liberal" friends. Fewer people saw the wickedlocal print piece, but the reaction was similar. I was not suddenly a pariah, at least in circles where people knew me. Even a couple clients saw the piece. It, as it was intended, sparked a couple discussions, and I even managed a couple people to come to the range.

Your perception of the average joe in MA is wrong. Or perhaps I am simply surrounded by superior human beings.

Inquisitor wrote:Your perception of the average joe in MA is wrong. Or perhaps I am simply surrounded by superior human beings.

My perception of the "average joe in MA" is based on people with whom I have been acquainted in over two decades of working in the state and years of living there telling me they hate guns and gun owners. Admittedly, guns are not a subject I bring up in my professional life, but some of my co-workers past and present have on occasion made their disdain for gun owners known. Others are absolutely petrified at the mere mention of the word "gun" to the extent they become visibly shaken. To be fair, they're tech workers, not toughs from Southie.

It's worth noting anyone who comes across as a fudd or pro-restriction/"reasonable"/"commonsense" gun owner gets a break from the local press. That's why Mike Weisser and John Rosenthal are the darlings of the gun prohibition media here and elsewhere.