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Mrs. Peel

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Posts posted by Mrs. Peel

  1. Posted

    I particularly like the part in Wikipedia where it said citizens voted against a gun ban, but "The gun ban proposal received broad support in the press, while celebrities were generally in favor of it..." Yep, that just as easily describe the U.S. Lots of parallels.

  3. Posted

    This was published a few weeks back... but it's still timely, and it's entirely possible some of you are not familiar with this writer, Heather MacDonald. She tends to write most frequently on crime (with a focus on NYC crime specifically). 

     

    You can agree or disagree... love her or hate her... and I don't myself always agree with 100% of what she writes (though who agrees 100% with anyone?)  But, I do think her articles pretty compelling and from my novice eyes anyway seem to be rooted in a good understanding of crime, policing and the delicate balance between the two. If nothing else, it's a very interesting read: http://www.city-journal.org/html/back-bedlam-14403.html

     

    Now, back to my gardening I go... I hope everyone's enjoying their weekend!

     

     

  5. Posted

    What can I say? It's too hot to do my gardening today... so I'm on the net finding wierd stuff instead.

     

    Honestly, I don't know whether this article will make you laugh or cry... I choose to laugh (and to scratch my head in wonder that they think there's 10,000 of these freaks in Britain alone). WOW. Just wow. Read it and see for yourself.

     

    http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/offbeat/meet-britains-hidden-community-of-human-puppies/ar-BBtqfJY

     

    Ya think this will make it to Netflix? One can only hope.

  7. Posted

    Bingo, Kevin 125! Editors are only human. They are influenced by their own political bent.

     

    I'm just bothered by the relative lack of sophistication of the NRA's marketing program. A dramatic video re-creation and interview of a real-life DGU case - posted to YouTube and going viral would do more for the pro 2A cause than ANY amount of American Rifleman articles. (I remember some case down in Georgia - a mom was at home with her kids, some nutcase was hacking through the front door with an axe, then hacking through the bedroom door... etc. Just INCREDIBLY dramatic. And I thought to myself: we will NEVER see this on Dateline. They should be profiling folks like that).

     

    And I'm not making this next point because I'm a woman either - but from a marketing perspective, these folks should be ALL OVER the women's self-defense angle. Not only is it a fast-growing demographic, but on the other side of the spectrum, woman are also the primary drivers behind the anti-gun movement - sheesh, if it was me, I would target the HELL out of that audience. There are more and more single women today than ever before - buying their own homes, sometime acting as head of household for their kids - and women are by nature (by necessity, I would argue) WAY MORE security conscious than men are.  Sooo easy to target (pun intended) that market - I just don't get why I don't see it unfolding as I think it should. But, it's always easy to have all the answers from one's sofa, I guess. LOL.

    • Like 1

  8. Posted

    OK, I'll leave the "would you kick her out of bed" discussion to you boys... back to the issue at hand... my primary interest in this topic was because it's just one small example of how the media is winning the battle (IMO) for "hearts and minds". I read a lot of different news sources across the political spectrum, and the consistent editorial choices are astounding: 

    • Gang slaying? Rarely will you see it reported on major media outlets.
    • Defensive gun use? Unless it's unusually dramatic, again, that isn't deemed "newsworthy" either.
    • But if a legal gun owner shoots himself or herself in the foot - or god forbid, their kid gets shot -  it will be reported until your ears bleed for 3 weeks straight on every major news outlet.

     

    I mean, the movie theater/popcorn incident in Florida - remember that? How could you not? In the days that story was covered, there were probably dozens of DGU's and dozens of gangbangers shooting each other that NO ONE heard about - even though in REALITY those events paint a much more accurate  portrait of what's happening in this country with guns (not to mention, of course, the 10's of millions of guns that sat safely at home or were used recreationally). That steady drumbeat of misinformation (or at least grossly disproportionate info) will be catastrophic... it's a cost/benefit analysis that only lists the costs. How can that be helpful?

     

    Because people are lazy... they won't research things. They will just believe what they see and hear. It doesn't help that I see "everytown for gun safety" now being REGULARLY cited as a legitimate source across major media (and I'm not talking about HuffPo - I'm saying CNN, NBC, etc.) always with a link pushing readers back to their website. That increases both that group's perceived legitimacy AND their website traffic. This is the real, long-term problem in my assessment. The Bloomberg money to back candidates did not always work, but this steady drip-drip-drip of negative publicity throughout the media is (in the long-term) far more damaging.

     

    And I do think that sometimes the NRA is a bit tone-deaf. No offense, but a Charlie Daniel's ad appeals only to one slice of the population - not a broad swath. Why is there a documentary like this one in question being made... and not a documentary profiling DGU cases? Some of those DGU cases are inherently dramatic - but you know 60 minutes will never cover them. So, why isn't the NRA sponsoring some aspiring filmmakers to come up with something? Or sponsoring a contest for best videos of people recounting their DGU stories? I just don't see the same kind of committed, strategic broad-based marketing approach in 2A groups as in gun control groups... and  I just think that's a big concern. And, hey I joined the NRA - so I put my money where my mouth is so-to-speak, therefore it's legitimate for me to question how it's being spent.  Just my 2 cents.

     

    Oh... and to end on more of an up note... have a nice holiday weekend everyone!

     

    Mrs. Peel

    • Like 2

  11. Posted

    I quickly scanned the forums and didn't see that anyone else shared this yet (my apologies if it's a duplicate posting - if so, an administrator should feel free to delete). 

     

    Synopsis: a high-level military officer who works at Picatinny Arsenal was denied a permit to carry by Oceanport police department. The author (Charles Cooke) is suggesting that the denial of 2nd amendment rights in NJ is so onerous as to require Federal intervention. It's the lead article, prominently displayed on their cover page too. Not sure if a local NJ 2A group prompted this...?

     

    http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435564/gun-rights-concealed-carry-second-amendment-new-jersey-us-congress  

     

    (Hmmm, I can't seem to create the hypertext link on the article... not sure why. I guess you'll have to copy/paste into your browser).

     

    Happy reading...

    Mrs. Peel

     

     

  12. Posted

    You are VERY welcome, EWC88. And ditto what another commenter said in terms of jobs coming from the strangest places. Despite the proliferation of LinkedIn, online job boards, etc. - personal referrals still account for the lion's share of job placements. So, knowing that... where should you spend your time? Yeah, TALKING to people! Continue to let people know what you're doing now and where you're looking to go - all stated in very positive, optimistic terms - and that is more likely to lead to a job than anything else.

     

    Good luck! Keep me apprised.

    • Like 1

  13. Posted

    One of the major reasons for police not giving "breaks" is something the public (gun people and anti-gun people alike) has asked for. That is police use of audio and video recordings to verify what was said and done.

     

    Shaneen Allen was pulled over for an unsafe lane change. How unsafe? Only her and the trooper know. Without knowing the details do you still think it fair to call the trooper a "ticket writing robot"?

     

    Say the trooper did what you suggested and let her go. If the audio or video recording was later reviewed he would at least be subject to disciplinary action. If he were a probationary trooper he most likely would have been fired.

     

    Everyone got all those recordings by police of encounters with the public. No breaks is the result.

     

    Hmmm.. are you a former/current cop? Granted, my dashed off reply had a rude tone to it. And for that...I do apologize. For the most part, I think police work is a thankless job with a lot of armchair generals (myself included, I guess!) weighing in... and I'm sure that gets "old" real quick. LOL.

     

    That said, regarding Shaneen Allen specifically, I always assumed (fairly or not) that in a state with a media so hostile to gun owners, that if there was some damning evidence about Shaneen's actions that night, it would have leaked out LONG ago. As far as I know, she was pulled over for a traffic infraction, had a valid PA carry permit, was unaware there were no reciprocity, and voluntarily TOLD the officer she had a gun. If all that is indeed true, I still maintain her ending up in jail was waaaay over the top... and better judgement should have been exercised long before it reached that point. We can only judge on the published/known facts, true?  

     

    Every part of the criminal justice system wields great power - cops, prosecutors, governor's office - if you're saying that at times there's NO ROOM. for the exercise of judgement by cops, who are the first link in that chain... well then, the problem is even bigger than I thought... and we can expect many many more cases like that one. Regardless, I didn't fully appreciate the issue of video cams as a double-edged sword though. Good insight - and food for thought. Now... kindly unruffle your feathers! Debate is a good thing.  :girlsmile: 

    • Like 1

  14. Posted

    I'm very new to all this, but from the little I've seen so far, Mipafox, your cynicism seems spot-on. A sad state of affairs. Laws should not be so gray (nor so onerous) that law-abiding people with legally-purchased property (and without an ounce of criminal intent) are left feeling LEERY, for instance, about a simple traffic stop. Never in my LIFE have I ever felt worried about dealing with a cop. EVER. For god's sake, I don't even take the "free" pens from the bank, lol. And I have cops in my own family! And yet, I would be one unhappy camper if I got pulled over with a gun in the car in this state.

     

    Because frankly, it's not just the laws that are onerous... in some of these more publicized cases (like that young mom from Philly who got picked up in Atlantic City)  the COP involved set things in motion by a failure to exercise some common sense judgement/discretion. That's my sense anyway. Why on EARTH would you arrest someone who clearly had NO criminal intent? I mean, it was a traffic stop... and she freely offered up the fact that she had the gun in the car! He should have checked for a warrant, and finding none, looked at her carry permit, explained the law, impressed upon her what a close call it was (make her stow it in the trunk even)... and then he should have sent the nice lady on her way with a warning! Instead, he was a ticket-writing robot (or worse yet, a bully?) and as a result, her life was turned upside down, she was thrown in jail, had to hire a lawyer, etc. What a miscarriage of justice. And as bad as the prosecutor was in that case, I think it was the cop that actually set the dominos in motion (and that's usually what happens). I believe most cops are decent people in an increasingly thankless job... but cases like that one do NOT help their reputation overall.

     

    In fact, I'd love to hear their "take" on some of these more egregious cases...her, the security guard/college student, the older guy who had the antique gun, Carol Bowne... I don't remember all of their names off-hand, but some of you are no doubt more familiar with them. Of course, I doubt they'd comment on the actions of another cop though... thin blue line and all that?

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    Related to the comment above by Smokin .50...  I've been curious, on the issue transporting firearms to and from a range, does anyone here know the specific legal definition of "land owned or possessed"?...and is that a static definition (or something that gets re-interpreted/shaped as case law evolves?)  

     

    Here's why... I'm wondering if it's technically legal to:

    • transport a firearm from my own house (point A)...
    • head east to my relative's house (point B)...[fyi, his house is in a family trust of which I'm the trustee]. I would be there several hours (because I regularly work from his place several times a week)... 
    • then, at the end of business hours, I would put the firearm back in my car and go further east to a range (point C), shoot a couple of hours and then...
    • drive directly from the range back to my house (point A).

    FYI, doing the trip that way would save me a ridiculous amount of miles not to mention some hellish rush hour traffic (headed in the wrong direction). So, does my legal status as trustee legally count as "owning or possessing" my relative's property (the Point B deviation)? If you think so... and have a specific online source, kindly point me to it so I can read it for myself. Thx so much!

    ...

  17. Posted

    EWC:  any nibbles yet? I just saw your post. FYI, I was a recruiter (agency, corp and then as a contract recruiter) for more years than I care to admit. I also served as an outplacement consultant, a career mgmt consultant at a "big pharma" onsite career center, a freelance writer doing employee comms for Fortune 500s, and now, I work as an executive resume writer. 

     

    I'd be happy to critique your resume, LI profile and job search approach - and give you some free guidance over the phone - and, let me be clear, I'm NOT soliciting your biz. My clientele is about 75% mgr to exec-lvl in pharma/biotech/food & bev, so you're not even my target client. But I also feel that on occasion it's nice to be a "good egg" --- and in this case, why not help another shooter? We are a "community" after all, yes?! :girlsmile:

     

    In general terms: Ditto what others said about networking. Despite the avalanche of job boards (careerbuilder, monster, etc.) and job board aggregators (like indeed) in recent years, NONE of that has really shifted the statistics much at all. Overwhelmingly, jobs are still being filled through networking! That's why LinkedIn is so powerful. It really just automates/speeds up the old-fashioned networking process. It's like networking on steroids. It is also (as someone else mentioned) heavily used by recruiters. There's a tool, LI Recruiter, and companies/recruiting agencies purchase subscriptions to it so they can search LI for candidates. Of course, it's important to have the right key words in there so you come up on their searches. AND... you want to make sure that you're not just sitting there either (passively) hoping a recruiter will find your profile ... assertiveness is definitely called for in a tough market such as this. 

     

    If you're still stuck and want another perspective, feel free to PM me your email. I'll reply with my contact info and we'll set up a call. Nothing ventured, nothing gained... right? In the meantime, I'm sending abundant "good karma" in your direction! 

  18. Posted

    Oops... can't figure out how to copy/reply to an individual posting...sorry!

     

    Anyway, in reply to Gleninjersey: yes, I have browsed through Leg Alerts - as stated, my schedule has been whacked AND I wasn't really fully engaged in the hobby yet. That said, even as a "guest", when I saw an egregious situation outlined on your site (like Shaneen Allen getting railroaded)... it prompted me to go out, do my own investigation (sorry, I never take any single source as gospel)... and I ended up drafting an email to Gov Christie. I mean, I don't care how busy you are... how hard is it to draft an email in the comfort of your own home? I've done that a few times in similar gun issue cases over the last year or two.

     

    So, I don't know what anyone else is doing, but I can say that even as a "guest" I found that particular section informative and it prompted some action on my part. And frankly, writing a letter may seem "meh" to some of the more feisty/activist members on your site, but I think even letter writing serves a purpose. Politicians in NJ might think twice if they got a thousand ticked off letters from their gun-owning constituents. Never rule out the power of the pen (keyboard).

     

    Work beckons... gotta run! Have a pleasant day.

  19. Posted

    I'm new, but chiming in with several questions/comments bc this topic interests me. (Fully aware I don't know what's happening "behind the scenes", so take no offense at anything I say...)

     

    My comments are focused on engaging people around NJGF specifically - bc it seems your website serves as a key driver to the various NJ 2A and gun owner groups in your forums. That said, I question how formal or robust your sponsor/membership recruiting plan is... it may in fact be nonexistent due to lack of time/$. I often see NJGF members squabbling over how to focus the members (like vultures fighting over bones, lol)... might it make more sense to focus instead on GROWING your own membership substantially (e.g., more MINIONS for all to share)? People are busy, most don't like to volunteer, your members are also spread all over NJ - those are serious hurdles. So, it seems to me you should target 20,000 members as your 2016 goal - 6000+ is simply not enough critical mass IMO to do what you need to do. Thoughts:

     

    1) Leverage current sponsors >>> I reviewed several sponsor websites - why don't they have a "Proud Sponsor of NJ Gun Forums" link? Do you have/provide a sponsor membership package with marketing materials? (e.g., NJGF posters for their training rooms with room for their instructor's real names & NJGF screen names, NJGF PP slide to add to training courses, flyers for behind the sales counter, biz cards to go with purchases and to be placed in event "swag bags", etc. You need to get your sponsors really driving membership. They already see the value of being on the Forums, so how hard a sell can that be? Directing customers to NJGF is a nice courtesy that they can offer to engage their customers. Everyone wins. What about that radio show from Gun for Hire - I haven't tuned in yet, so I don't know - but has he plugged "his friends at NJ Gun Forums" on those broadcasts? Hopefully so! If not, did you ask?

     

    2) Convert guests to members >>> do you need another new website, or do you just need to improve the one you have? I don't know. But your site could be more intuitive... like a separate tab up top - "FREE Membership!" Why are you making visitors "guess"? And when they join, can the system automatically direct them to "introductions"? The site could also benefit from a jazzy tagline and a much more visually appealing look and feel throughout, but esp'ly on the homepage. Just my blunt opinion - it's bland, might be time for a re-haul!

     

    3) Leverage current members >>> the biz cards are great (pls tell me "Troy" was not the first person to do this?) Nonetheless, it's a great idea. But, what else have you tried? Contests? How about: "Find a Noob, Bring a Noob" - 14 day contest - person who brings the most first time shooters to the range (and posts pictures to prove it) wins a sponsor's gift certificate and gets a special designator on their profile "Gun Community Advocate" (or whatever). Don't laugh - basic human nature: people like contests because they want to win, they like prizes bc it's free stuff, and the titles feed their egos. It's all good! :girlwink:   Follow that with an NJGF membership drive. Who can convert their new gun enthusiasts to NJGF members? If it works, repeat quarterly. If not, try something else!

     

    4) Recruit more sponsors >>> do you regularly go back to folks who declined to be sponsors... ask why, and take another crack at them? If they don't see the value, develop better talking points. If they think it's too costly, maybe you need more affordable tiers. Again, just curious. I do like the idea of regional hubs - very smart - enables a "high touch" sales approach.

     

    OK, sorry for the verbose download! Sometimes I get on a roll as the bewitching hour approaches, lol. FYI, depending on what direction you move in, I might be willing to provide some modest, local support in Hunterdon/Warren, adjoining Pennsy towns, and possibly Somerset. One caveat: my schedule is BONKERS right now - so on volunteer stuff, I set my own rules, work at my own pace, and I'm immune to guilt trips. For instance, that means 1-2 hours a months (probably hitting 1-2 ranges/FFLs each month)... and that's in a good month. By all means, if you find someone with more bandwidth, grab 'em - I won't be offended! Either way, good luck with your planning session!

  20. Posted

    Just joined this evening. I actually just stumbled about your site through a Google search.

     

    Lurked literally 2-3 years, logging on every few months to poke around (just busy and hadn't really dove into the hobby, so I didn't bother joining).

     

    Now that I'm shooting more regularly and looking to purchase, it made sense to join. I also did a TON of my own due diligence into the "gun issue". I found it eye-opening frankly. Large, credible crime studies show COMPELLING evidence that legal gun owners are NOT the problem. And I feel a bit flummoxed by the misinformation being promoted by Bloomberg, NY TImes, et al - so, as the anti-gun rhetoric rises to ridiculous levels, somehow it seems an appropriate time to perhaps get more involved for that reason as well. I have sent several pointed letters to representatives re: Shaneen Allen, Loretta Weinberg's smart gun buttinsky-ness, etc. I may not be terribly political, but I can always lob out one ZINGER of a letter!

  21. Posted

    Hi! Brand new shooter here. I've been on NJGF many times over the last few years (yes, I actually lurked for YEARS) as a Guest... what can I say? It's been a VERY slow start to get into this hobby (sometimes life's practical demands just get in the way of fun). Anyway, I've had my FID for a year or two now, but only just "launched" this hobby a few months ago through membership in a local women's shooting group. Having a blast so far... and starting to narrow down my firearms choice for the all-important first purchase! 

     

    I have a zillion questions... so I'm sure you'll see me poking around and posting them across several of the forums as appropriate. As I'm typing this, we're coming up to the President's final state of the union address... so I'm curious (as I'm sure many of you are) to see how gun ownership might be "shamed" again tonight. Sheesh. This highlights the need for the shooting community to band together.

     

    Anyway, be well... shoot straight.. and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2016!

     

     

     

     

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