First, thanks for coming and thanks for your comments.XDSC9G30 wrote:... Jeff, you were a very busy man and tried your best to introduce yourself to everyone, my girlfriend and I stayed back because I like to observe so you missed us. ...
Just to clarify - I was not only introducing myself to people, but also thanking them for coming, asking how they'd heard about the Walk, talking to some about HB48, asking them to indicate "Going" if they hadn't done so previously, asking them to "friend" me for notifications for future Walks, and if they had a longarm, reiterating empty chamber, safety on, and muzzle control. If they were a student, I asked other questions. Appreciation + requests + dialogue = a more informed and better organizer, IMHO.
Now I'm really curious! If you don't want to identify yourself publicly, how about sending me a PM on Facebook?XDSC9G30 wrote:... We are visible in some shots of this walk and visibly distant from the crowds. ...
Being timely is one of my goals, but getting airtime for our endeavor has to override that at times. It really irked me when the one station showed up at (I think) a bit past one, but... <sigh> In personal terms, I know we lost a few people because they had scheduled activities they had to get to, but I simply can't ignore the bigger picture and insist on strict adherence to the clock. In the future, however, I will make it a point to address participants who may have to leave early. Also, you may note that I've made the request that people show up for MU Walk at NOON, an hour before the scheduled Walk time.XDSC9G30 wrote:...Please start on time. This walk started nearly 30 minutes late, people on a schedule may schedule only so much time for a walk that is expected to start at the specified time. I understand media showed up late and others did as well. Maybe I just see punctuality as too major of an event. ...
The bottom line is that coverage = exposure = more participants and more informed members of the public, which possibly equals more pressure when either I or the existing "gun rights" groups make a determined push in the legislature for campus carry.
I can't speak to the specifics of the gentlemen's interaction with the protester (and don't know who he is), and wouldn't have wanted to make an announcement like "Don't hassle the protesters", because then the media would say something like "Jeffry Smith felt compelled to tell participants..." - BUT thanks for pointing out your observation. It appears you handled things quietly and effectively, though. Thank you.XDSC9G30 wrote:...The other item I had issues with was one of the gentleman in the photos that kept antagonizing the protesters he did this for at least 20 minutes that I observed. I am all for reasonable conversation but when the other participants do not want to strike up conversations then please let them be, especially during walks like this. I actually had to step in and let this gentleman know that he was making the rest of us look bad by his constant badgering of the protester carrying the "Remember Trayvon" sign. Thankfully it was a very quiet conversation and he abruptly stopped after I informed him he was making everyone else at the walk look bad. ...
If you have more thoughts, observations, etc. please post them, and thanks again for coming to the Walk.