Post by PPNational on Dec 29, 2004 11:46:31 GMT -5
Hello, everyone!
I'm Gwen, the International Media Spokesperson for the Pink Pistols, and I want to thank those who set up this board! It is clear testimony to the fact that our idea is spreading, that people feel we are *right* in what we are doing, and that intelligent, open discourse on this subject is not only needed, it is crucial.
A few FAQs about the Pink Pistols right out of the gate:
- We are open to ALL -- gay or straight -- who believe that sexual-minority persons deserve defense from harm with lawfully-owned and carried firearms. You don't have to be anything but amenable in order to be involved, and that includes starting and running a chapter.
- It costs NOTHING to join. There are NO forms to fill out, no one to inform, no dues to pay. You join by deciding you are a member. We prefer that you keep your money for training, practice, and equipment. And the only people we *ask* identify themselves are chapter founders, so we can reach them in an emergency.
- For every member you see at a shoot, there are 5 members online you never see in person. For every member online you see speaking, there are another 5 you never see at all. As our members become more comfortable being publicly identified as being Pink Pistols, more will choose to become visible, but most are not by choice.
- Many of our more visible members gather in chapters, that practice together approximately once a month at local ranges. They also may have social events just to sit and talk about guns, political issues, and other current events. Many such gatherings take place at local restaurants, although some chapters have managed to gain a foothold in local GLBT centers.
- The Pink Pistols is not an affiliate of any other firearms advocacy organization, including the NRA. We have, on occasion, assisted such organizations with specific issues of interest to all shooters.
The mission of the Pink Pistols is very simple -- to teach queers to shoot, and to teach the public that such queers are no longer safe targets for violence. The hope is that, since the armed fraction is invisible, those tempted to do violence will think twice because their targets are now potentially dangerous to attack. We believe the statistics bear out the underlying theiory by which we base our actions.
Speaking very generally, many in the mainstream GLBT leadership do not feel the use of firearms is "the way" to "solve the hate", and frequently say that "violence begets violence". We respond that our efforts are not intended to replace mainstream efforts to educate the public about GLBT issues, but are designed to protect our people while the education process takes place. We also reject the idea that self-defense is in itself "violence", but is instead the opposite of violence, that which is used to STOP violence. Self-defense is controlled force, used with discipline and measured purpose to counter violence in exact proportion -- violence is uncontrolled force, used with one purpose, to violate and destroy. What we do is not violence. It is anti-violence, by definition.
Once again, I thank those responsible for this board, and hope that it brings much useful discourse.
If anyone is interested in more information, please feel free to visit the Pink Pistols website at www.pinkpistols.org .
--- Gwen Patton
Pink Pistols
International Media Spokesperson
I'm Gwen, the International Media Spokesperson for the Pink Pistols, and I want to thank those who set up this board! It is clear testimony to the fact that our idea is spreading, that people feel we are *right* in what we are doing, and that intelligent, open discourse on this subject is not only needed, it is crucial.
A few FAQs about the Pink Pistols right out of the gate:
- We are open to ALL -- gay or straight -- who believe that sexual-minority persons deserve defense from harm with lawfully-owned and carried firearms. You don't have to be anything but amenable in order to be involved, and that includes starting and running a chapter.
- It costs NOTHING to join. There are NO forms to fill out, no one to inform, no dues to pay. You join by deciding you are a member. We prefer that you keep your money for training, practice, and equipment. And the only people we *ask* identify themselves are chapter founders, so we can reach them in an emergency.
- For every member you see at a shoot, there are 5 members online you never see in person. For every member online you see speaking, there are another 5 you never see at all. As our members become more comfortable being publicly identified as being Pink Pistols, more will choose to become visible, but most are not by choice.
- Many of our more visible members gather in chapters, that practice together approximately once a month at local ranges. They also may have social events just to sit and talk about guns, political issues, and other current events. Many such gatherings take place at local restaurants, although some chapters have managed to gain a foothold in local GLBT centers.
- The Pink Pistols is not an affiliate of any other firearms advocacy organization, including the NRA. We have, on occasion, assisted such organizations with specific issues of interest to all shooters.
The mission of the Pink Pistols is very simple -- to teach queers to shoot, and to teach the public that such queers are no longer safe targets for violence. The hope is that, since the armed fraction is invisible, those tempted to do violence will think twice because their targets are now potentially dangerous to attack. We believe the statistics bear out the underlying theiory by which we base our actions.
Speaking very generally, many in the mainstream GLBT leadership do not feel the use of firearms is "the way" to "solve the hate", and frequently say that "violence begets violence". We respond that our efforts are not intended to replace mainstream efforts to educate the public about GLBT issues, but are designed to protect our people while the education process takes place. We also reject the idea that self-defense is in itself "violence", but is instead the opposite of violence, that which is used to STOP violence. Self-defense is controlled force, used with discipline and measured purpose to counter violence in exact proportion -- violence is uncontrolled force, used with one purpose, to violate and destroy. What we do is not violence. It is anti-violence, by definition.
Once again, I thank those responsible for this board, and hope that it brings much useful discourse.
If anyone is interested in more information, please feel free to visit the Pink Pistols website at www.pinkpistols.org .
--- Gwen Patton
Pink Pistols
International Media Spokesperson
) but it's more of an respectful aspect then one that you can be yourself (and use terms) that deal mainly with the GLBT community. They also don't understand some of the issues that affect our community.