I agree Dan but getting gun rights groups in Michigan to band together is quite difficult if not impossible. It's sad to say that a group as prestigious as MCRGO was more then happy to throw open carry under the bus to pass a bill supporting their interests. Group like MOC which was created to further interests of open carry and core principal of desensitising the public by with regard to open carry actually support a bill that would have criminalized open carry for the first time ever. At this time I wouldn't support any of these groups. This doesn't mean things can't change though and that's what I'm hoping for.
As for this thread which has mostly bickering as the topic states. Something I'd suggest we do is to gather in a place that would make the biggest impact. Specifically in a PFZ, universities in particular for many reasons. Some of those reasons being: campus carry limitation issue, the largest group of people mostly of age to either open carry or get a CPL, and it would be a great way to take on the anti-gun establishment by way of opening discourse with many different people who would qeuestion why firearms and why open carry. I can't think of a better way to get in front of a large number of people in which to engage in dialog. Most things I see MOC and others doing is only catering to like minded gun owners, with moc interested in open carrying specifically. I'd like to see some people get some real balls and start dialog with people who are not just the same old hot dog burning open carry crowd but people who you'd really have to have real discussions about firearms, self defense, open carry, etc ..all the relevent issues. Some say they won't do it because they won't allow carry on campus for us to do it. I believe this is a cop out based on fear. Why must you carry a firearm to talk about gun rights? It's pretty ignorant and selfish to think that you have to have a firearm in view in order to prove points. I for one would be the first to volunteer to join a group of others interested in doing this. I'm not scared to go all out and would hope we could get a large group together to join me. As the topic states ENOUGH BICKERING LET'S DO SOMETHING.
For those of you who are new and don't know me I was a very active member of MOC in the past until I and many others felt they completely lost focus and went off a cliff. I've volenteered at several open carry seminars. Last one being the largest ever after the state wide media attention on MOC and open carry. Gander mtn was standing room only. I've also probably had the largest open carry picnic ever in Warren which I felt had to be done after Hamaneggs was assaulted by Warren PD. The picnic was just under 200 people and we had many Warren public officials attend which included the now chief of Warren PD, and several other officers, the director of parks and rec, several people running for office (2 for gov and 1 for district). Many of whom are CPL holders might I add. Needless to say it was a lot of fun and had a large impact on the Warren PD who used to have many problems with open carry. Now a few years after not a single negative open carry experience and I know hammoneggs still OCs down the same stretch of Warren
DanM and others please let me know your thoughts.