Well, I think that if we are all speaking roughly with one voice, in a loose federation, we have to ability to be more effective. I understand what you are saying, but your enemies are going to come after you anyway, and the more powerful/effective you become, the more they will come after you.
From my perspective, HK's goal is to get everyone out from behind their keyboards(where we are all just violently agreeing with each other) and actually trying to do some real work advocating our positions. I mean, and I am not looking for a pat on the head, but this thread and others have finally gotten me to put aside the tinfoil hat and start sending money and letters where they need to go. If this can get lots of other people to do the same, it may not change Ed Markey's vote, but it's going to let a lot of people and businesses know that we are here, and give good funding to groups who work for us whether we pay them or not.
Here is my suggestion to bring this to the next level. Start writing letters to non-firearms companies who are anti- or espouse anti policies, and tell them that you are no longer doing business with them, and that you are telling all your friends not to do business with them.
The second step, for me, looks like this:
Dear xxxxx,
I am writing to you with sincere apologies. As you know, I have long been a supporter of (Greater Boston Food Bank/Care/Red Cross/Etc). In addition to my passion for helping those who are hungry, homeless, victims of disaster, or simply in need of help, I am an active sportsman, competitive shooter, and liberty-minded American. I am writing you now to let you know that while I still support your organization, I must focus my charitable donation funds to such organizations as Comm2A, SAF, and other groups who are trying to protect our freedoms from what I see as an opportunistic Government.
I, like any reasonable person, was deeply affected by the tragedy at Sandy Hook, but cannot stand by and watch the Government take freedoms away from law-abiding citizens. I don't presume to know your political views, but I hope you'll stand with me in the belief that our freedoms must be protected, and want you to know that your supporters value liberty as much as they value charity.
I hope that you understand, and I hope that in the not too distant future, I will be able to support your fine organization again.
Thank you,
Rider
Or something like that. That is a rough draft. The goal, obviously, is to let as many people as possible understand the impact that this has, and the consequences of standing on the sidelines. I don't know what the presumably ultra-liberal charities I support will think of a letter like this, but knowing I'm sending money to the NRA instead of them can't be something they want to hear.
