The Liberal Gun Club Forum

As mentioned in this thread, I was interviewed for the local Advocate newpaper and Wicked Local web outlet.

Here's the article: SPECIAL REPORT: How many own guns in Arlington?

There are a bunch of related articles specific to other towns/regions in the area. This week's articles focus mostly on the current state of affairs (demographics, MA gun laws, explaining "may issue"). Next week is supposed to be about how local residents (like me) think about guns, gun laws, and the ongoing debate.

Here's are some of the other articles just released:

An of how "may issue" works on the ground in MA towns: SPECIAL REPORT: Police chiefs have discretion on issuing gun licenses

The purchase process: SPECIAL REPORT: GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY -- Boxborough dealer talks purchase process

Primer on gun terminology: SPECIAL REPORT GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY: Terms to know in Massachusetts gun laws

And finally, an editorial inviting civil discussion: SPECIAL REPORT GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY: Editorial - Let's have an informed debate

Awesome, the article was not a hit piece thankfully, it was more like a focus piece to see who are these gun owners of Arlington. Let me guess though... were you the first dude on the list? =)

pdoggeth wrote:Awesome, the article was not a hit piece thankfully, it was more like a focus piece to see who are these gun owners of Arlington. Let me guess though... were you the first dude on the list? =)

That's me.

I think next week's article, focused on the gun debate itself is the more important one. But this article does set the tone fairly for us... "Hey look. Normal humans who like guns. Living among us."

Good stuff. No LGC plug?

Inquisitor wrote:Good stuff. No LGC plug?

I mentioned LGC twice in our conversations. Maybe next week when the "debate" articles come out?

Thank you for posting the link! Seems like a good article, to me, and I'm not sensing any strong anti-gun aroma from it. Nicely done. I will be curious to hear what, if any, feedback you get from friends and colleagues about the article. I look forward to the next installment.

Bacchus wrote:Thank you for posting the link! Seems like a good article, to me, and I'm not sensing any strong anti-gun aroma from it. Nicely done. I will be curious to hear what, if any, feedback you get from friends and colleagues about the article. I look forward to the next installment.

Local press seems to be interested in actual reporting. This is the 3rd one I am aware of recently, and I know at least one more is coming.

That was a real nice piece. Normal people having guns. Yeah: actual reporting. It will be nice to see the whole series. Thanks for posting.

CDFingers

Inquisitor wrote:

Bacchus wrote:Thank you for posting the link! Seems like a good article, to me, and I'm not sensing any strong anti-gun aroma from it. Nicely done. I will be curious to hear what, if any, feedback you get from friends and colleagues about the article. I look forward to the next installment.

Local press seems to be interested in actual reporting. This is the 3rd one I am aware of recently, and I know at least one more is coming.

I think local articles like this are great for countering the headwind of anti-gun bits, showing normal people with guns. It allows other normal people who were curious but fearful to feel OK about exploring and possibly even coming into the fold.

Question: Have reporters somehow sought you out, or did you approach the newspaper? I may have missed it in Modernhamlet's original thread, but I didn't see how the newspaper contact first came to pass.

Bacchus wrote:

Inquisitor wrote:

Bacchus wrote:Thank you for posting the link! Seems like a good article, to me, and I'm not sensing any strong anti-gun aroma from it. Nicely done. I will be curious to hear what, if any, feedback you get from friends and colleagues about the article. I look forward to the next installment.

Local press seems to be interested in actual reporting. This is the 3rd one I am aware of recently, and I know at least one more is coming.

I think local articles like this are great for countering the headwind of anti-gun bits, showing normal people with guns. It allows other normal people who were curious but fearful to feel OK about exploring and possibly even coming into the fold.

Question: Have reporters somehow sought you out, or did you approach the newspaper? I may have missed it in Modernhamlet's original thread, but I didn't see how the newspaper contact first came to pass.

The editor posted something to an Arlington FB group she's on and she let me know. Probably wishing she hadn't at this point!

We were sought out because of the club.

Not sure offhand how they found MH

Inquisitor wrote:We were sought out because of the club.

Not sure offhand how they found MH

See my answer above. Basically I'm too stupid or stubborn to care about being outed as pro-gun, so I reached out to them...

I guess the owner of my kid's daycare mentioned the article to my wife last week. Should make for a fun conversation when I pick them up tomorrow. While I hope the fallout from this isn't strongly negative, I don't regret having done it.

We posted simultaneously.