I hope you will take this in the spirit it is written.
If you accept the language of the enemy then you have already lost the war. The things you need to learn from history is that the winners write history. When I read some of these posts about how makers market their knives and how we need to be more PC, I sense the hesitation to go all out.
Don't look to the NRA for leadership in how to run a rights organization. They have brought a lot of things to light, but by their actions they have shown that they have no stomach for the fight.
To make a simple comparison, if you follow the NRA's example you will be able to buy any knife that you can use for hunting or recreational use, but you won't be able to sharpen it until it's needed, and after you're done you'll have to dull it again and put it in a safe place, like a locked box under your sink.
I know that it is simple enough to get hurt with anything that you misuse or that anything can be used for good or bad purposes, and that is the only basis I will accept for a "rights" association. If you want to keep the devil from your door afford him NO comforts. We are all in the current predicament we're in by just giving a little on the idea that an object should have some restrictions added to it for "that" reason. You know, that the object is inherently bad.
God did not give us claws, great strength, or sharp teeth. He gave us instead a greater intelligence to make tools with which we can improve our lives. He instilled within all of us a sense of responsibility to do the right thing instead of acting like common beasts and destroying all that he gave us. The founders of the United States recognized this when they wrote our most important documents which is why they only gave the federal government specific powers and left the rest to the States or to the people.
You may be thinking, well, that's not the way it works, and you are right. As with those you call ANTIs the problems in our government started with those who just wanted to do good. As you know we are the benefactors of those who knew better how to apply the freedoms of the people. So I say to you all, unless you are willing to reassert your power and demand your full rights you might as well settle for what we can get.
If you feel as though I'm being harsh, think about the fact that the 2nd Article of the Bill of Rights (Also known as the second amendment to the Constitution) spells out that, "The right of the people... to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." (Emphasis added) Now, ask yourself where it mentions knives.
Many of you will be thinking, well, I'm a collector, my knives will not be a danger to anyone, and someone else will be thinking I just have pocket knives for daily use and the hunting knife for the fall season, while a third group thinks about their swords and "combat" knives and keeps saying to themselves, they'll never get my knives. This is the formula that NRA has never fully dealt with.
You all have to support the others, and when someone talks about their switch blades, or their Krukris, or their authentic Hitler Youth dagger you must stand up together and say NO KNIFE will taken from the hands of any person who wants to possess any knife for their own amusement or use. Never let yourself be tricked into thinking that knives can't or wont be used to kill another human being whether in commission of a crime or for self defense. Defend those who use a knife to spare life and fully condemn those who would use a knife to kill for pleasure or personal gain. A knife used to kill in self defense is only the tool of opportunity. Above all, no matter what tool you're talking about the blame is with the human being not the object that is used.
I warn anyone who believes that the threat to all people, even those who own and use sharp kitchen knives, isn't real, they should think again. Now, are you ready to reach them? How will you reach them? What if they don't believe you, what will you do then?
I think you have a good idea, but you have a lot of work to do to determine your strategy and what kind of organization you really want to have. Don't forget that the NRA has a legislative arm called the ILA which has special tax status to be able to lobby Congress. There are also local NRA clubs that do the leg work in each State to get the word out and do the "good works" of the organization, and yes there is a lot of money involved in all the things that the NRA does.
You have my support, but does that count?
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