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Gun Shows shun Ron Paul supporters; Thomson has "monopoly"

Submitted by BugMan on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 22:38

Daily Paul Liberty Forum

Dedicated RP supporters here in Tallahassee, FL recently attempted to set up a table for Ron Paul at a recent gun show at the local fairgrounds, but were not permitted. One member simply walked in with a Ron Paul T shirt and was made to leave! Is it just me or does that cry for some sort of organized boycott of the many large shows yet to happen in Florida?

Here's an article about Thompson's "access":

Thompson gets access to Fla. gun shows
Posted on Fri, Sep. 14, 2007
By MARC CAPUTO
mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com
CELEBRATION --
Fred Thompson's presidential campaign has hit a conservative bull's eye: The exclusive rights to advertise at some of Florida's largest gun shows.
Pasco County Republican chairman Bill Bunting said he has engineered the deal for the former Tennessee senator and Law & Order star because he's the best person to trust when it comes to the right to buy, sell and own guns.
In a state with 435,000 concealed-weapons permit holders, the arrangement all but guarantees that thousands of voters who care deeply about the issue could identify Thompson as their man heading into the Jan. 29 primary, in which the other Republican candidates' gun-toting credentials are viewed as suspect by many.
''The other candidates just aren' t as clear in their support of the Second Amendment,'' Bunting said. ....There are good Democrats who own guns, but that party doesn't put the right to bear arms in their political platform. The Republican Party does.''
Bunting plans to make his announcement this evening at his county GOP's Reagan Day Dinner, where a Colt .45 will be raffled off.
GOP campaign guru David ''DJ'' Johnson, who's not connected to the Thompson campaign, said the deal is ''huge.'' He should know. Bunting made the same arrangement for Charlie Crist's successful governor's race last year, flummoxing Johnson's candidate, Tom Gallagher. Gallagher even tried to get some gun-show promoters to allow him to pass out fliers, but he was rejected.
''There are people who vote guns and only guns, and they're Republicans,'' Johnson said. ....These are the people you see at the polls.''
The state's biggest gun-show promoter, Victor Bean, of the Florida and the Southern Gun and Knife shows, said he has 11 shows left until the primaries and estimates that 11,000 people will see Thompson's signs.
In addition, he said he has an e-mail list of 70,000 politically active gun owners he plans to contact on Thompson's behalf.
''Going into this campaign, I was concerned,'' Bean said. ....We feel Fred is our best hope.''

Here's what happened in Florida when Fred arrived at gun show !

Submitted by America Loves R... on Sun, 12/16/2007 - 00:02. Permalink

I live in Lakeland Florida. Our meetup group greeted Fred Thompson upon his arrival to our local gun show several months ago.

Check out the video.

It looks as though Fred mistakenly arrived at a Ron Paul rally:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid464021271?bc...

And here's the news article where the political editor had sour-grapes about us practicing our First Amendment right to free speech:

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916...

And here's the sour-grapes blog he wrote about our getting involved in the political process. How DARE we !!!!

"What Happened to "Never Speak Ill of Another Republican?''

http://blogs.theledger.com/default.asp?item=676821

But of course I'm sure he didn't have a problem when Giuliani was chuckling into the mic while Ron Paul was trying to speak during a FAUX debate.

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I was kind of surprised when

Submitted by sistagirl86 on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 23:41. Permalink

I was kind of surprised when I worked my first RP booth at a gun show....SO many of the vendors there were already RP supporters. I couldn't believe it! It's the only place I'd been at that time where I did not have to explain to everyone about Dr. Paul's voting record, etc. Several even asked us for signs to put in their booths as well as stickers for their cars. These vendors travel from show to show all over the region so we were thrilled to have them spreading the word at various shows for us. It was great!

Many of those at gun shows (vendors and attendees) do NOT trust the gov't to protect their gun rights and won't trust Fred either.....They know Fred's just another one of the good 'ol boys walking the party line.

Last thought: I was also pleasantly surprised to see several people attending that showed up wearing RP shirts.

Also Place fliers in the

Submitted by hawkiye on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 23:35. Permalink

Also Place fliers in the bathrooms on the concession tables etc.

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This is plain wrong..

Submitted by Jane Aitken on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 23:32. Permalink

In NH the gun shows do not allow us to buy a table, but that applies to everyone. However, supporters set up outside and hand out literature and hold signs. The owner of this gun show I suppose can do what he wants but it's terrible given Ron's stellar record and A+ rating with GONH.

Thompson has

Submitted by freedom-fighters on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 23:34. Permalink

that "good ole boy" voice and candor that rednecks eat up!

I went to a gun show

Submitted by donut-JGalt on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 23:31. Permalink

in Louisville, and somebody had left some RP printouts on a table there. I didn't see any meetup members, but security was tight and my guess is that they would've thrown out obvious campaigners.

But I did bring back one of the papers. And a rather nice US Model 1917.

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Don't worry

Submitted by NoFreedom on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 23:27. Permalink

The gun show owner is obviously a neo-con CFR lover. I've personally done gun shows just standing in the entrance of the show and alot of the gunowners already knew about Ron Paul and everyone, even security was awesome! Florida has its issues about certain candidates but remember, there are alot of Ron Paul meetup groups and supporters that are getting the word out in Florida.

Set up outside the Gun show

Submitted by hawkiye on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 22:59. Permalink

Set up outside the Gun show as has been said, just make sure your on public property.

Also take in fliers in and don't ask just quietly hand them out or ask merchants if they will place them on their table. I doubt most of the merchants know Fred Thompson has rights and if a bunch of them get asked to stop doing it they may cause a protest.

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End The Fat
70 pounds lost and counting! Get in shape for the revolution!

Get Prepared!