INGO and Politics

[curraheeguns]

Mike-

As a former US Senate staffer I can tell you that any group with 6000+ members is a group that will be heard by politicians.

As important elections near and INGO grows stronger and stronger with more and more members do you feel you should have a small group of members act as a "board" with you as the head to take suggestions from members as to possible "INGO endorsed" candidates?

Ideas??

 

[Bigum1969]

I think we might have some trouble coming to a consensus on candidates.

Just my first thought.

We'd also need to see if that is something Fenway would be interested in doing.

 

[VN Vet]

I think we should stay as we are. Once we turn into a political group, it will be difficult to turn back.

 

[1032JBT]

I think we should stay as we are. Once we turn into a political group, it will be difficult to turn back.

I understand what you are saying and do agree with you. However with that being said, a lot of people on here talk and talk and talk about how stupid some (most) of the laws are. Ths would be one way to work on changing them the right way instead of armchair quarterbacking incidents or just random b******g about things on the internet but never doing anything about it.

Just a thought......

 

[Pami]

I think we should stay as we are. Once we turn into a political group, it will be difficult to turn back.

I won't speak for Fenway, but I will say that we have had similar discussions in the past and the answer has always been "We are a gun forum, not a political forum." We try to stay politically neutral and welcome people from all political demographics.

We have members who are politically active in all three major Indiana parties (Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian). They consistently encourage everyone to write their politicians, and many of our members respond to that. It would surprise me (VERY much) if Fenway opts to turn this forum into any sort of political support group.

 

[shooter521]

"We are a gun forum, not a political forum." We try to stay politically neutral and welcome people from all political demographics.

It would surprise me (VERY much) if Fenway opts to turn this forum into any sort of political support group.

and amen.

 

[curraheeguns]

How about instead of endorsing, offering an invitation in the form of a letter for candidates with authority over firearms laws or regulations to personally write a short statement of belief regarding gun ownership, current gun laws and opinions on future gun laws which would be posted on the site.

 

[slackerisme]

What is stopping them from doing so now?

 

[IndyBeerman]

I think we should stay as we are. Once we turn into a political group, it will be difficult to turn back.

We try to stay politically neutral and welcome people from all political demographics.

How about instead of endorsing, offering an invitation in the form of a letter for candidates with authority over firearms laws or regulations to personally write a short statement of belief regarding gun ownership, current gun laws and opinions on future gun laws which would be posted on the site.

Could be misconstrued and twisted into us being becoming a political anti gun grabbing group just by having the INGO name thrown in. The media can twist us a lot of ways, especially if they decide to come in and lurk around looking at some the posts in the Survival & Disaster Preparedness. They'd try and paint us as a bunch of kooks with guns.

 

[Jeremiah]

What is stopping them from doing so now?

Nothing, and I thing that is your point, that maybe these state Poloticians don't care about us at INGO? at least not yet.

 

[Arm America]

I would like to thank curraheeguns for the suggestion.

While I agree to keeping the forum non political, with the numbers
that this forum represents, the site does have a resounding voice.

While I'm sure that FENWAY is up to his ears with the site growing as it has,
I would hope that he would consider the above invitation as an opportunity
for the voices of Indiana residents to be heard by those that were
elected, regardless of party affiliation.

Just my thoughts.

 

[alfahornet]

Personally I feel INGO should remain a gun oriented site and not develop into a political one or political organization. There will never be consensus. Now in regards to may be writing letters to politicians in the future in the name of INGO in regards to firearm laws YES why not if Fenway wants to take it that route. But it should remain limited to firearm laws and related. Polls could be taken on the issues to get a better understanding on how members feel on different issues. My

 

[IndyGunworks]

Personally I feel INGO should remain a gun oriented site and not develop into a political one or political organization.

this would be my stance if i had a say so in it.

 

[husker]

with the numbers that this forum represents

Ah, but there's the problem. How many members signed up so that INGO could represent them? I certainly didn't.

 

[PatMcGroyne]

PolitSpeak

Some other well-known sites won't even broach the subject of the 2A as being a Political statement. Comments referring to it as such are purged. But I perceive a great validity in 'suggesting' to politicians that the entire (but NOT uniform) membership of INGO )'of which I am a member' is watching their motions. We should contact them individually -- but will INGO let us use our identification with the organization in our correspondence in this way - and exactly HOW? I don't want anyone to -- and I will NOT, myself -- speaki for 'all the rest of us' at INGO. We are NOT a political organization any more than the Constitution is a 'Political' document. (I know -- I just said we ARE a political organization.) See that as you will. No-one had better try to tell any of us HOW to vote!! I am a definite HARD-LINER on the 2A! I will not tolerate anyone on the site speaking in a way that endorses, or offers any invitation to any candidate, except in the form of a letter for that candidate to personally write (addressed NOT representing INGO) a statement EXPRESSLY addressing the Constitutional basis of our 2A rights, which would then be posted on the site. [[Repeat: write to your legislators, and then POST their reply on the site!]] Also, I offer an 'In Your Face Challenge' to any who would gripe on this site, yet not take any action to defend US! ENOUGH! already with Bit¢hing and DOING nothing! Anyone agree? Pat