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The Patches,Flags, t-shirts thread has opened up an issue, that i think needs to be addressed.
We are now large enough, that Public Relations issue should be addressed, and there are a multitude of this we can do from proactive PR, to just not givine a rat's ass, and telling every one that disagrees with us to go to hell.
What does everyone think?
[usa]
I think that is a good idea. One of the problems we shooters have is public perception. Just think of all the negatives that the public sees. Trashed ranges, criminal misuse of guns, idiots on TV or in the movies, misinformed or lying media and the list goes on. We have a lot to fight against. And having bad PR doesn't help.
I've seen it first hand how a grumpy old fool can run off new shooters or taint unknowing people from the shooting sports. We have an old fool up here that has run off experienced shooters. We always have to put on a good face for the public.
Like it or not, thats just the way it is.
This is an important issue, and our interests are better served if we don't ignore it.
There are several categories of people we impact by our image:
1)Many people are simply frightened by the thought or sight of a person with a gun. This kind of reaction will never be soothed by PR and any energy we spend in that direction is wasted. The only thing we can do with respect to this type of person is be as invisible as possible.
2)People in the middle don't care about us much as long as we don't make trouble. PR can help us a little with these types, we might get their support at key times if they perceive us as responsible.
3)People who can have a direct influence on our rights to own guns and shoot them. Lawmakers, public officials, forest managers etc. PR can make a big difference to us with these. Appearing reasonable, responsible, approachable, visibly taking part in cleaning up and trying to run safe shoots.
I'm sure there's more to this, it's just a first cut. I'd say most of our PR energy should be directed at group 3, with at least a mind toward showing group 2 our best side.
2C
Extremely important to any club. I was affiliated with a car club and it had PR problems with the public’s impressions of street racing. If you have a well organized PR committee, they can draw in good PR for the club and bring in new members.
I have a Dragon Arms shirt that I wear all the time. It has an m16 on one side and a browning 50 cal on the other. I wear this all the time in public and have not encountered any adverse PR incidents. I have made a few friends.
I agree with you Greg we need to project a positive image. I think this is something that will have more effect based on our actions and not the shirt we have on. If we made a shirt with a pic of an ar and uderneath it said kill em all then yes I would say that would not be a good thing.
As far as the other thread I personally did not see any problem with what meateater proposed. I can assure you that the type of left wing nuts that would be offended by our club shirt are not going to even notice what style of ar is on it. All they are going to see is an evil black rifle and the words ar15 shooters. There is nothing we can ever do to change people like that they hate guns and that is all there is to it.
How we conduct our selves as a group is going to make the biggest impression in my opinion. I would also have to say all the shoots I have been to everybody has always been great. Nobody ever gave a bad impression that I have seen.
I agree with HunterCO, how we conduct ourselves as a group is of most importance. Notify the group of any activities that may be of interest like range cleanups etc. Members in attendance can wear the "new" shirts take photos and send a short news release to the local papers.
:idea: