northernbird wrote:So how did the townhall meeting go?
Oakdale City Hall Council Chambers
Saturday 26 January
1000-1115
I was there for all but the first few minutes.
Some local, and state politicians in attendance, but it was betty's show.
About 55-60 citizens - a full house for the council chambers.
80% 2A people (based on applause), 1 fudd (pretty quiet after he spoke, although there might have been some murmuring heard).
And a fair turn out from Oakdale Gun Club- at least 1/2 the crowd (including the fudd), judging by the comments, nods, and applause.
McCollum was about as dismissive of the turn out as she could be without going overboard: "... I realize how the power of social media can muster a big turn out at a short notice, and I want to have a dialog about the Second Amendment, but there are other topics to discuss..."
(actually there WASN'T much other discussion; there were only 2 or 3 people, of the more than dozen or so selected to speak, who didn't inquire rather pointedly, as their primary question, about her stance on the 2nd Amendment and her collaboration on the various gun laws being formulated.)
Some very reasoned and articulate speakers, and the one guy who was probably going to quit the NRA because they WE won't support a ban on >10 rd mags.
She said she has also " heard from the membership of the NRA, not just the leadership on TV," so she knows she's "...doing the right thing about supporting common sense legislation to prevent gun violence without threatening the Second Amendment..."
When she responded to questions concerning her stance on gun bans she opened her replies with: we need/ it's important/ I want- to have a dialog about the Second Amendment, and reducing gun violence... then promptly changed the subject to what ever other point or question was raised; the economy/ jobs/ drones/ Afghanistan...
She frequently tooted her own horn for having the in person meeting, as she pointed out many other politicians started doing teleconference town meetings in the aftermath of the Gabby Giffords shooting....but she was here, today because it's important to have a dialog and not just shut out the opposition...She did say she felt safer in the Oakdale City Hall than hosting a meeting at a shopping center. I asked why she felt that way, but she didn't answer...
Given that there were at least 2 video cameras recording- one on a tripod operated by someone who appeared to know what he was doing, and taking up prime isle space, as well as woman in the back of the room with a cell phone, I'd say there's the chance the event will show up perhaps on public access cable TV, or youtube...
