Empowering Mothers and Advocating for Gun Rights: Rebecca Schmoe's Journey and the Growth of One Million Moms Against Gun Control

WEBVTT

00:00:05.948 --> 00:00:09.634
Hi, welcome to the Armed Guardian Podcast, season 2, episode 16.

00:00:09.634 --> 00:00:15.493
Today, crystal and I will be talking to Rebecca Schmoy from Women Moms Against Gun Control.

00:00:15.493 --> 00:00:24.309
We'll be talking about that organization and the efforts that they do to help influence Second Amendment and protect your rights.

00:00:24.309 --> 00:00:28.269
Stay tuned and listen and enjoy today's episode.

00:00:28.269 --> 00:00:34.533
Our sponsors for today's episode are Right to Bear Legal Protection Plan and Blackout Coffee.

00:00:34.533 --> 00:00:39.101
Links and information will be in the show notes and later on in the show.

00:00:39.101 --> 00:00:48.784
Hi, welcome to the Armed Guardian Podcast.

00:00:48.784 --> 00:00:59.609
I'm your host, brian, here with our other co-host, crystal Milan, and our guest today is Rebecca Schmoy from One Million Moms Against Gun Control.

00:00:59.609 --> 00:01:05.811
We're going to talk to her about that organization, what they do and how they got started and how you can get involved.

00:01:05.811 --> 00:01:09.972
So, without any further ado, hi, rebecca, how are you doing today?

00:01:10.692 --> 00:01:11.414
I am great.

00:01:11.414 --> 00:01:16.254
Thank you so much for having me on so that we can discuss how to get people more involved.

00:01:16.835 --> 00:01:19.617
Yeah, it was something that I've looked into.

00:01:19.617 --> 00:01:33.868
Because of so many women being gun owners new gun owners the last few years there's been a big uptick in the gun ownership by women and I'm finding more women wanting to get involved in.

00:01:33.868 --> 00:01:46.525
Hey, how do I protect my rights and what can I do to help spread the pro 2A instead of the anti 2A, how to debunk all that and everything.

00:01:46.525 --> 00:02:01.983
So this fits in well with what we're looking to do, both for the women, and then also fits in with our segment of getting in the know, with this being a major political season, as you know, and so we'll start off.

00:02:01.983 --> 00:02:10.013
If you give us a brief or an introduction to who Rebecca Schmoy is and her background, we would appreciate it.

00:02:10.841 --> 00:02:11.223
All right.

00:02:11.223 --> 00:02:13.049
Well, I was born and I grew up.

00:02:13.049 --> 00:02:21.854
Where it all started for me was Sandy Hook happened, and I was just a mom.

00:02:21.854 --> 00:02:38.996
I was a mom that had kids about the same age as the kids that were involved in Sandy Hook and I, like everybody else, I was watching from home and just horrified with what I was seeing playing out on our 24 hour news cycle that we have now.

00:02:38.996 --> 00:02:46.212
And while that was going on, there was a group of moms that started speaking out.

00:02:46.212 --> 00:03:09.801
Later we found out that they were paid to speak out, but we all know them now as the red shirt and activists, the demanding moms, but at the time they were one million moms for gun control, for gun control, and I knew that.

00:03:09.822 --> 00:03:15.911
I didn't identify with what it was that they were talking, what it was that they were saying.

00:03:15.911 --> 00:03:23.021
I knew that for me, I had the responsibility to protect my children and no one was going to protect my children.

00:03:23.021 --> 00:03:37.326
I lived out in the country and the sheriff's department took roughly 15 minutes to get to me, and that's if they chose to come to my address.

00:03:37.326 --> 00:03:49.312
When I called, knowing that I took great offense to a group of moms that were saying that all moms hate guns.

00:03:49.312 --> 00:03:51.112
All moms are scared of guns.

00:03:51.112 --> 00:04:04.698
All moms want to get rid of guns, and so I started looking around for other moms like myself who understood that it was my responsibility to be the first responder, not only for myself, but also for my children.

00:04:05.318 --> 00:04:05.538
Right.

00:04:07.661 --> 00:04:25.012
In doing that, I found a group that was called One Million Moms Against Gun Control and that was started by a woman named Heather Marchese, and I got active and involved and started asking questions and how could I help?

00:04:25.012 --> 00:04:47.427
And pretty soon they put me in charge of their Kansas outreach page and then, after a little while of writing articles and doing some information digging, then I was able to go ahead and be invited to sit on their national discussions and be able to sit on their national discussions and be able to post on the national page.

00:04:47.427 --> 00:04:58.232
And that's when I really started becoming involved with all of the other tech and the women that were feeling the same way I was.

00:04:58.232 --> 00:05:14.475
And then that snowballed and we met so many contacts, we found so many people and we turned that into being able to liaison with all kinds of other groups.

00:05:14.475 --> 00:05:21.552
One Million Moms Against Gun Control was the original counter to Moms Demand Action.

00:05:21.552 --> 00:05:26.401
We were the original voice against them, saying no, they don't speak for all moms.

00:05:26.401 --> 00:05:31.533
In doing so, we watched other women's groups pop up.

00:05:31.533 --> 00:05:48.420
We watched other women become involved and start doing similar things and instead of seeing that as competition, what we did was we saw that as an opportunity for us to work with them, because we all reach audiences that the other person can't reach.

00:05:48.420 --> 00:06:03.766
We all have people that we can't be the voice in their circle, but we need to make sure that we are all on the same page and moving in the same direction and complementing each other with what our strengths are.

00:06:03.766 --> 00:06:13.406
And so, in doing so, I also became involved with what was formerly known as the DC Project, women for Gun Rights, and now they've shortened that to just Women for Gun Rights.

00:06:13.406 --> 00:06:16.132
It's the Diana Muller runs that group.

00:06:16.132 --> 00:06:21.608
And so then I became the Kansas director for the DC Project.

00:06:22.490 --> 00:06:29.807
And then during that time, while I'm still working with Million Moms and I'm doing DC project, I decided to run for office.

00:06:29.807 --> 00:06:41.887
My representative in the Kansas house decided to retire and, being someone who's involved in watching the political scene, I started calling around going what are we doing?

00:06:41.887 --> 00:06:43.591
Who's the guy, how can I support?

00:06:43.591 --> 00:06:45.005
And they were like you, you're the guy.

00:06:45.005 --> 00:06:46.204
And I was like I want to be the guy.

00:06:46.646 --> 00:06:53.687
And so, after about three times of saying no, I finally went into my boss and work in banking in real life.

00:06:53.687 --> 00:06:59.504
And so I went into my boss and said this is the opportunity, this is what the prospect is.

00:06:59.504 --> 00:07:01.728
And he said man, I'm sure going to hate to lose you.

00:07:01.728 --> 00:07:11.495
And then I laughed a lot, because we make $88.66 a day during session when we're there to push the buttons and we're there.

00:07:11.495 --> 00:07:14.622
So obviously we're not in it for the money.

00:07:14.622 --> 00:07:25.357
We are truly in it because we want to make sure that we are doing the best we possibly can for the state of Kansas, and so I ran for office.

00:07:25.357 --> 00:07:29.607
I had a primary and I won that, and then I had a general and I won that.

00:07:30.348 --> 00:07:49.004
And so for the last two years, I've been the guy, I've been the person that's up there fighting for our rights and making sure that, yeah, kansas has great gun laws right now, but there's always room for improvement and we have been able to, while I've been there, improve some things.

00:07:49.065 --> 00:07:57.666
Like, I got to run the bill that is now Kansas law that removed the state fee from concealed carry.

00:07:57.666 --> 00:08:05.531
We still currently have to pay to get our fingerprint and picture done at the local sheriff's office.

00:08:05.531 --> 00:08:45.437
However, we don't have to pay the state any longer, and that was about $100, $120 that we would have to write a check for, and then anytime you renewed, it was, I think, another $35 that you had to write a check for, and so those fees are completely gone and should, since I'm running again, should I win this election and be able to go up there again we are actually running a complimentary bill to that in order to actually get rid of the amount that it costs to do the fingerprinting and photo, so that we can have our concealed carry license be at zero dollars.

00:08:45.979 --> 00:08:46.278
Oh, wow.

00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:55.554
So that's the long story of how I went from advocate to representative.

00:08:56.380 --> 00:08:57.505
Okay, that's great.

00:08:57.505 --> 00:09:03.048
It's fun to see people that get involved.

00:09:03.048 --> 00:09:13.312
Know, I won't say railroaded sometimes, but uh, you know they get out of interest and somebody says, hey, go for it, go for it.

00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:25.025
And then they they're I don't know if I want to and then they jump into it and they take off and usually flourish because they are so passionate about what they are believing.

00:09:25.025 --> 00:09:32.442
And you know, like with you, you know, if you wouldn't have stepped up, who's to say somebody wouldn't have come in.

00:09:32.442 --> 00:09:45.908
And there's always that possibility that somebody is lurking in the background wanting to circumvent and bring in the things, the ideas that we're not for and those things getting passed.

00:09:45.908 --> 00:10:07.764
And then we're getting limited in our rights and laws and stuff and making it so hard against the good guy wanting to do good, trying to protect the public from the criminal element that always wants to do bad, and uh, uh it's.

00:10:07.764 --> 00:10:15.325
I'm thankful for you stepping up and taking that initiative and in your area and hopefully others will.

00:10:17.087 --> 00:10:19.714
I believe most of them will follow up like that.

00:10:19.714 --> 00:10:21.464
But uh, you know there are some that are.

00:10:21.464 --> 00:10:26.948
We hear about the paid off politicians and stuff and they're, they're out there.

00:10:26.948 --> 00:10:34.453
But you know I always try to see the good in people and they wouldn't sell out to somebody.

00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:51.990
But you know that's always there we're in as far as actively working for gun rights and making sure that we are protecting our inherent rights and things like that.

00:10:51.990 --> 00:11:06.183
We usually most of us look at the big enemy right, so we see the antis as the big enemy and we're comfortable going after them because we absolutely think that they are wrong in their approach.

00:11:06.183 --> 00:11:11.130
We think that, you know, our rights supersede their feelings and all of those things.

00:11:11.130 --> 00:11:19.605
What we don't realize, most of us, is that you can have people who are not necessarily anti.

00:11:19.605 --> 00:11:25.190
Especially in state houses, you can have somebody that's not anti.

00:11:25.190 --> 00:11:50.135
They have guns, they believe in gun ownership, but what they don't want is to cause their constituents to feel a certain way about them, and so, instead of being aggressively for our inherent rights for our inherent rights they kind of try to squash any talk about running pro-gun bills.

00:11:50.135 --> 00:11:58.523
They try to become a roadblock on those very quietly behind the scenes.

00:11:58.543 --> 00:12:01.207
So it's really easy to see the people who come straight out and say we need to abolish guns.

00:12:01.207 --> 00:12:15.524
It's very difficult for everyday people, just everyday constituents, to know who's up there getting in the way of good progress, and so you have to be really involved.

00:12:15.524 --> 00:12:24.895
You have to understand that there are a lot of conversations are happening behind the scenes and I even ran into some of that this last year in session.

00:12:24.895 --> 00:12:35.509
We were running a bill that was going to change the wording and add some clarification to our state constitution as far as rights are concerned.

00:12:35.509 --> 00:13:04.587
As far as gun rights, we were going to include components, ammunition and accessories, and we were coming up on an election year and we were coming up on an election year and so there was a group of usually very pro-2A people that went oh, I don't want to be on record voting on a gun while I'm running for office, and so the amendment was caused.

00:13:04.628 --> 00:13:18.188
We had hearings on it, I promoted it, we talked about it, I talked about it on the national level and then it just very quietly sat on the shelf and died at the end of session, didn't go anywhere.

00:13:18.188 --> 00:13:29.102
We don't get to have our constituents have a voice on that, not because people are anti-gun, but because people who are pro-gun won't stand.

00:13:29.102 --> 00:13:30.565
So that's.

00:13:30.565 --> 00:13:55.664
It's a different kind of thing that we're up against, and we need to make sure that all of us are involved not only in combating what is being said that is absolutely wrong, but also calling out the people that are not actively asserting themselves, saying no, these are our rights and it's always the right time to do the right thing.

00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:04.080
All right, well, going jumping into our topic, what is one million moms against?

00:14:06.125 --> 00:14:14.509
one million moms against gun control has gone through all kinds of different variations and changes throughout the years.

00:14:14.509 --> 00:14:53.609
So we started the organization actually started in December of 2012, because that's when Sandy Hook happened and so when Heather Marchese, the founder, very first started the Facebook page, it was kind of a knee jerk reaction on a whim, and she was just so very upset with other moms trying to use her, her voice, and so she just started this page up and it started to boom and so in doing so, we eventually had an outreach, basically, and a page in every single state.

00:14:53.609 --> 00:15:05.410
Like, I was in charge of the Kansas Moms Against Gun Control and we had every single state covered, including Rhode Island and Hawaii, which is really hard to find somebody there.

00:15:05.410 --> 00:15:11.676
And then, as it progressed because it's a volunteer organization, none of us got paid.

00:15:11.676 --> 00:15:17.687
It was just because we believe so strongly that people have lives.

00:15:17.687 --> 00:15:20.697
We're a big group of moms.

00:15:20.697 --> 00:15:42.628
Our moms have activities, they have kids that are in things, they have things to do, we have to plan dinners every day and things like that, and so our volunteers were kind of hit and miss and it became more like herding cats and you don't want to do a whole lot of things partially well.

00:15:42.628 --> 00:15:58.988
You want to do one thing really, really well, and so we had to refocus and reorganize and make sure that we were doing the best to utilize what we had been given, which was an audience of people.

00:15:58.988 --> 00:16:08.285
Even though it's called 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control, usually our best participants are men.

00:16:08.285 --> 00:16:12.462
It's a gun world, and so we have.

00:16:12.462 --> 00:16:14.794
We have all of these very supportive men.

00:16:15.075 --> 00:16:29.743
Now, at the beginning, men were very not used to having women in this particular conversation and they thought that we were a page of gun bunnies and they would get very upset when it was just us moms.

00:16:29.743 --> 00:16:35.150
And you know, we were fully clothed and we didn't pose with the guns and things like that.

00:16:35.150 --> 00:16:46.841
So that was, that was a hurdle that we were not expecting, but we rode that out and we were able to have a voice in the conversation.

00:16:46.841 --> 00:17:15.960
And in having that voice in the conversation and in having that voice in the conversation, we began to network and we have met so many people through the last 12 years Well, yeah, about 12 years that we've been able to not only meet these people but take classes with them or follow them through the process of them growing their own organizations.

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:38.099
We've been able to meet politicians, whether they are at the state level, whether they are at the federal level, and we have been able to make sure that we can very quickly contact someone in any state and have all kinds of resources available.

00:17:38.821 --> 00:17:45.296
So, after all of these years and all of this flux of what is Million Moms, what do we want?

00:17:45.296 --> 00:17:46.018
Our outreach.

00:17:46.018 --> 00:17:50.404
Several years ago now, mary Callison in Illinois.

00:17:50.404 --> 00:17:58.470
She and I are the primary point people for Million Moms now, but what we are now is a liaison.

00:17:58.470 --> 00:18:16.346
So we have people that still contact us every day that they either want information on training in their area, they want information on how to help their kids learn gun safety, they want information on what their laws are or how to change them.

00:18:16.346 --> 00:18:21.287
Who their contact would be at the state house?

00:18:21.287 --> 00:18:34.626
Who they need to contact at the federal level, different organizations, lawyers if they need lawyers, things like that, questions that they want to know.

00:18:34.626 --> 00:18:38.982
This is where I am, this is what I need.

00:18:38.982 --> 00:18:40.326
Who do I contact?

00:18:41.135 --> 00:18:58.530
Well, over over a decade we've built this giant network so we are able to confidently get people those contact information very quickly of people that we not only have just heard of but have vetted.

00:18:59.255 --> 00:19:11.542
We have established relationships with these people or these organizations, and in doing so, we have so many contacts now that it is we can.

00:19:11.542 --> 00:19:18.968
Usually, depending on your area, we can usually get you about 50 miles from what it is that you're needing.

00:19:18.968 --> 00:19:34.877
So, wherever your point is, we can usually find you what you need in a 50 mile radius, and so it's been a lot of education we we are.

00:19:34.877 --> 00:20:14.886
Primary goal right now is just to make sure that people are getting the education that they're seeking, and education comes in all kinds of forms, as you guys know, and it's constant, constant, always a student, whether it's you're learning your laws, whether it's you're learning how to navigate the system that we're currently under, whether it is I just active armed response training, whether it's school training all kinds of different things.

00:20:14.886 --> 00:20:29.782
And so what Million Moms Against Gun Control is doing now is we are focusing on making sure that everyone who contacts us has the availability to get the education that they are requesting.

00:20:31.435 --> 00:20:54.676
Yeah, that's a big thing that I really push continued education just because and for me living in rural Georgia, there's a you know, everybody's grown up around guns, has guns, up around guns, has guns.

00:20:54.676 --> 00:20:55.901
I know how to work a gun, I know, I know what to do.

00:20:55.901 --> 00:21:04.046
But I tell people, if you don't practice or if you don't continue your training, it's just like riding a bicycle if you don't ride a bicycle for a while, you're gonna have problems when you start riding again.

00:21:04.046 --> 00:21:37.288
Um, and with the women getting in, uh, you know, you know, I saw the, the women being looked at differently, uh by the guys, and I can gladly say that a lot more especially in the men dominated gun area of Georgia, a lot of women are being respected now for being a gun owner, one taking training and as well as they are are doing, because a lot of women are moving into competition shooting now as well, and I I applaud that.

00:21:37.288 --> 00:21:47.763
But you know, there's the women that are doing that and and standing up and taking the, their training, their protection and advocating.

00:21:47.763 --> 00:22:02.962
So I think the one million moms is another one of the organizations that I I really love because that circle, that they on the training, the advocating, and you know just uh, being proactive.

00:22:02.962 --> 00:22:05.648
So I I really like that.

00:22:07.861 --> 00:22:10.267
What are some of the group focuses?

00:22:10.267 --> 00:22:13.142
I know you talked a little bit about training.

00:22:13.142 --> 00:22:15.326
Education right now is your main focus.

00:22:15.326 --> 00:22:23.819
How active is Women and Moms Against Gun Control in the legislative or in the?

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:41.692
Of course we know that you do in Kansas, but how, if someone was wanting to get some more information on how they can do something in their state, or if there is a organization or chapter in Georgia, who would I reach out?

00:22:41.692 --> 00:22:44.344
How would I reach out to find out more information on that?

00:22:45.284 --> 00:22:45.584
Okay.

00:22:45.584 --> 00:22:59.969
So when someone contacts us through, generally speaking, through the Facebook or the Instagram page, when someone contacts One Million Moms Against Gun Control and they say I live in Georgia, I want to know what my state laws are.

00:22:59.969 --> 00:23:01.588
I don't like this state law.

00:23:01.588 --> 00:23:03.128
How do I change this?

00:23:03.128 --> 00:23:06.590
Who's a good person for me to contact?

00:23:06.590 --> 00:23:15.873
Then we will go into our database that we have and we will pull that information and it's usually really really up to date.

00:23:16.653 --> 00:23:26.209
Every election cycle we just go in and make sure that we've got the correct people, because there is quite a bit of shuffle.

00:23:26.209 --> 00:23:31.907
That happens during elections, especially big elections like the one coming up in November.

00:23:31.907 --> 00:23:47.044
So what we are doing is we are making sure that we go in and get the right person in that area and saying, okay, this is your point person, this is who you contact.

00:23:47.044 --> 00:23:51.857
This is the state organization that is working on gun rights in your area.

00:23:51.857 --> 00:24:23.339
If you have a few of them working on gun rights, then we'll try to get you that, and then we also try to include someone from that area whether it's the entire state or whether it is someone that is really close to you and make sure that the issue hooked up with someone who kind of has their finger on the pulse outside of the political scene, whether it's a YouTube host, whether it's a podcast, whether it's somebody like.

00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:54.450
If I were someone in Georgia, I would be able to say and Brian's a great resource, he knows a lot of people, he's been able to make contacts and whenever it comes to Florida, I can say Crystal is a great contact to have down there because she knows a lot of people, she understands you know what's moving and what's not, and she's able to get you connected with some other people that are like minded so that you guys can stand together.

00:24:54.450 --> 00:24:58.365
Because that's one of the most important things, and I say it all the time.

00:24:58.365 --> 00:25:03.976
I mean I'm sure that my colleagues are tired of me saying it, but our rights are individual, our fight is collective.

00:25:04.497 --> 00:25:04.636
Right.

00:25:05.397 --> 00:25:08.721
And we need to not position.

00:25:08.721 --> 00:25:17.290
When you're trying to change law, you need to not only know what the law is and what you want to change it to, and who's actively doing that in your statehouse.

00:25:17.290 --> 00:25:21.866
You also need to know the state organizations that are helping push that.

00:25:22.734 --> 00:25:26.682
And you need to get a circle of very good friends.

00:25:26.682 --> 00:25:45.576
Go up to the state house with you so that you can show force as far as numbers because, let's be honest, all politicians are it's not all they're concerned about, but they are all concerned about making sure that they have votes for the next round.

00:25:45.576 --> 00:25:58.289
And so when you show up in good number, then you take notice and, especially when you go up to a hearing, if you are speaking pro or against.

00:25:58.289 --> 00:26:02.838
When you go and you submit testimony for a hearing at your state level.

00:26:02.838 --> 00:26:06.686
Any kind of testimony is great.

00:26:06.686 --> 00:26:08.230
Written is fantastic.

00:26:08.230 --> 00:26:10.201
I do my due diligence.

00:26:10.201 --> 00:26:11.681
I read all the written testimony.

00:26:11.681 --> 00:26:14.924
I can honestly tell you that not everybody does that.

00:26:16.536 --> 00:26:27.359
The Zoom, or what we call WebEx or Statehouse, that's great because it's like this and you're having a face-to-face conversation, and that's important.

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:31.757
Face-to-face conversation, and that's important.

00:26:31.757 --> 00:26:43.442
Right, the most important is showing up in person, because when a politician, when, when your representative has to look you in the eye and hear your words, that is huge, so much more impactful.

00:26:43.442 --> 00:26:56.178
And when you have one person saying these are my rights and I, I expect you to be protecting my rights, that's your job, that's great.

00:26:56.178 --> 00:27:01.385
When you have 10 all saying it, one after another, after another.

00:27:01.385 --> 00:27:06.118
It is so much more powerful, and so it's.

00:27:06.118 --> 00:27:12.220
It's not just important to know who your representatives are, they need to know who you are.

00:27:12.621 --> 00:27:27.605
Right, yeah, I tell people also on this focus that getting into advocating for yourself is a great thing to do, and I understand that not everybody is a people person.

00:27:27.605 --> 00:27:34.846
Some people communicate better in written form, some do over Zoom or over the telephone.

00:27:35.894 --> 00:27:41.025
If you have that personality and you're able to meeting face-to-face is Absolutely.

00:27:41.025 --> 00:27:51.404
It puts it like you said they have to look you straight in the eye and so much by.

00:27:51.404 --> 00:28:03.008
That's one of the things I really promote and I'm glad to see that you're on the same tracking page there.

00:28:03.008 --> 00:28:07.401
So how can people get?

00:28:07.461 --> 00:28:08.223
involved with.

00:28:08.625 --> 00:28:19.298
Boy, million moms against gun control, whether they're wanting information or hey, we don't have a uh contact or anybody in South Georgia.

00:28:19.298 --> 00:28:22.324
How would I, how do I help out with this movement?

00:28:23.351 --> 00:28:23.852
Okay.

00:28:23.852 --> 00:28:40.704
So, um, we have, the website is 1mmagcorg, and I have to close my eyes in order to remember cause there are so many websites in my head right now um, between my own and the organization, and then DC Project and all the things.

00:28:40.704 --> 00:28:52.163
So we've got 1mmagcorg, and then on Facebook it is actually spelled out 1 million moms against gun control.

00:28:52.163 --> 00:29:08.231
Instagram is 1mmagc, and I think we did not update when it rolled from Twitter to X, because that is just a terrible, awful place.

00:29:08.231 --> 00:29:18.015
Mary Callison and I are both on X, but everybody's so angry all the time and, let's be honest, we just don't have time for that.

00:29:18.015 --> 00:29:19.938
We're busy working.

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:39.922
However, not only can you contact 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control, but if you would contact Mary Callison, she's also on Facebook and Instagram or if you contact me, rebecca Schmoy, either one of us will get you involved as well.

00:29:39.922 --> 00:29:42.045
And so it really is.

00:29:42.045 --> 00:29:47.140
We don't do it because we need another thing to do.

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:49.346
This is not a hobby for us.

00:29:49.346 --> 00:29:59.861
We've been doing this for a decade because our voice matters in this conversation, and it's not our voice personally.

00:29:59.861 --> 00:30:20.278
It's a group of women and our men and making sure that we do everything we possibly can in order to get people educated, because if you are not educated on what your rights are and how to effectively use them, you will lose them.

00:30:20.738 --> 00:30:20.999
Right.

00:30:21.398 --> 00:30:25.804
So really any of the social medias or contact us on the webpage.

00:30:26.325 --> 00:30:35.071
Okay and no, you're.

00:30:35.071 --> 00:30:35.938
You're not a to be, be a part of the group.

00:30:35.938 --> 00:30:37.509
You're not a membership based, like you know, collecting fees or anything.

00:30:37.509 --> 00:30:39.377
It's all self-initiated.

00:30:39.377 --> 00:30:43.237
We want you and promote yourself and everything.

00:30:43.237 --> 00:30:44.613
I like that also.

00:30:44.613 --> 00:30:55.015
I like the aspect that you're open to everybody and understanding where it originated from, with the moms and all.

00:30:55.015 --> 00:31:21.907
I'm hoping that with this podcast we can get other people active and participating and supporting to help drive our awareness to our elected officials that, hey, this is our stance and this is what we believe and this is what we feel is right for our community nation, whatever you're looking to promote there.

00:31:21.907 --> 00:31:26.560
So, crystal, you got anything that you want to ask.

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:37.203
I know we didn't get a chance to get any questions generated before the podcast, so I don't know if you had any questions that you wanted to ask or anything with Rebecca.

00:31:38.731 --> 00:31:45.278
I just think that what you're doing is a great opportunity for us as instructors to help guide people.

00:31:45.278 --> 00:31:58.920
I get mothers that come to me sometimes and maybe they've had a past where they had a friend or family member that has tried to get them involved in firearms and maybe didn't go about it the right way so they're afraid, or maybe they had a bad experience.

00:31:58.920 --> 00:32:07.401
So I mean giving these people the opportunity to get training and also to, you know, figure out the whole political part of it is great.

00:32:07.401 --> 00:32:08.823
I really need this.

00:32:10.704 --> 00:32:14.880
All right, so we've got all the contact information.

00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:16.977
The final question for you, rebecca.

00:32:16.977 --> 00:32:20.861
I didn't tell you this before, but it's not a hard one.

00:32:22.711 --> 00:32:23.132
That's all right.

00:32:23.132 --> 00:32:25.196
I'm a politician, I'm used to the hard questions.

00:32:25.196 --> 00:32:27.021
This has been lovely.

00:32:28.190 --> 00:32:33.667
So what do you do to relax or de-stress from the daily demands of life?

00:32:33.667 --> 00:32:58.176
This is something that I picked up from Rob asking the question at the end of the podcast and uh, I this is this season's question and I I found it, because everybody has something different, that we all, we're all individuals, we're all different and I wanted to expound on that and give people no, I don't have to say I'm a gun owner, so going to the range is my de-stress.

00:32:58.176 --> 00:33:00.903
Not everybody does that.

00:33:00.903 --> 00:33:23.023
Uh, like I had beth alcazar uh on earlier and she was talking about uh, whenever I asked this question she busted out laughing and she talked about her friend, gave her a facial massage you know she has some migraines and had bluetooth and all this and she said that's funny that that question came up whenever I posed it to her.

00:33:23.023 --> 00:33:27.340
So what's your de-stressor or relaxation from life's demands?

00:33:28.849 --> 00:33:34.757
Well, I mean most evenings, If I'm able to be at home.

00:33:34.757 --> 00:33:37.001
If it's not during session, I'm able to be at home.

00:33:37.001 --> 00:33:46.530
Session I'm able to be at home Most evenings.

00:33:46.530 --> 00:33:50.037
It is I've got, we have a big blended family, and so between the Mr and I we have six kids.

00:33:50.037 --> 00:34:05.854
We also have six grandkids, and so anytime I can get all of our people, or even some of our people, in the same place at the same time, that is my de-stress.

00:34:05.854 --> 00:34:12.130
Now, I'm incredibly stressed right before they get there, cause you know you're trying to get your house in order and you're making sure all the food's done and all that stuff.

00:34:12.130 --> 00:34:21.001
But once everybody is here, I can just sit and watch and listen, and that is it.

00:34:21.001 --> 00:34:24.405
Not only de-stresses me, but it's my reason why.

00:34:26.130 --> 00:34:46.501
When I got into this a decade ago, it was because being able to protect my kids, my three boys I was a single mom living in the middle of nowhere being able to protect them was the most important thing to me, and so at that moment in time, being able to protect them effectively was my why.

00:34:46.501 --> 00:35:14.420
Now they're all grown I mean they're late teenagers and up into their 30s now, as far as the six kids are concerned, and so my why changed from being able to effectively protect them to making sure that they have the resources to be able to protect themselves, because they're all out living their own real lives.

00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:25.949
And when I protect their rights, it helps to protect their ability to continue to know how and be effective at their own safety.

00:35:25.949 --> 00:35:34.297
And so now, with the six grandkids as well, we're kind of seeing that move back into.

00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:42.907
I need to protect these parents' rights and their ability to exercise them so that they can protect their own.

00:35:42.907 --> 00:35:56.722
And so when it's the end of the day and I'm sitting at home and I've got all of my people all in the same place at the same time, it reestablishes how important this is.

00:35:56.722 --> 00:36:06.496
It's draining and it's exhausting what I do do, whether it's the advocacy side of it, whether it's the political side of it, it's.

00:36:06.496 --> 00:36:10.971
It's exhausting, and if you don't tap into that why then?

00:36:10.971 --> 00:36:20.021
You're not going to do it for very long, and the fact that my why calls me mom or they call me grandma is a very big deal.

00:36:20.362 --> 00:36:26.568
Yeah, yeah, there's nothing like uh, grandchildren, uh, love and everything.

00:36:26.568 --> 00:36:31.300
I've got a almost three-year-old grandson and he's got autism.

00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:35.277
But uh, he, so, he, uh.

00:36:35.277 --> 00:36:40.333
So whenever he sees me, especially if I'm taking going outside, he loves the outside.

00:36:40.333 --> 00:36:42.070
Uh, and then anytime he sees me, especially if I'm going outside, he loves the outside.

00:36:42.070 --> 00:36:50.880
Anytime he sees me going towards the door, even when I'm going to work or something, he'll come up, raise his arms wanting to be picked up, taken outside.

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:56.753
He doesn't have a care in the world, he just wants to be loved and loves the outdoors.

00:36:56.753 --> 00:36:59.978
That's one of my de-stressors is being around my grandchildren and my kids loved and loves the outdoors.

00:36:59.978 --> 00:37:05.344
So, uh, uh, yeah, that that's one of my distressors is uh, being around my grandchildren and my kids.

00:37:11.554 --> 00:37:14.509
Oh yeah, no, there's nothing like it and and everybody tells you that, but until you have them, they I, you.

00:37:14.509 --> 00:37:17.197
Cognitively, you know that that's a thing.

00:37:17.197 --> 00:37:25.818
Until you have them, the thought process is nothing compared to what it when it actually hits.

00:37:26.592 --> 00:37:31.960
I know Crystal has some grandchildren also so I know she does the gets the same feeling.

00:37:33.655 --> 00:37:35.099
I have six grandchildren.

00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:43.987
I have four that live with me, so the minute I walk in the door and sometimes after I get done teaching I'll go to the park and meet them there and they all run up nearly tackle me.

00:37:43.987 --> 00:37:48.278
So yeah, it's a great feeling yes, all right.

00:37:48.518 --> 00:37:51.405
Anything else, crystal, you want to ask or add?

00:37:51.425 --> 00:37:59.034
um no, I'm definitely going to reach out to you and um share my content information but, I'd also like to put more information on my website.

00:37:59.034 --> 00:38:00.197
Oh, perfect.

00:38:05.929 --> 00:38:07.273
All right On it and get more information.

00:38:07.273 --> 00:38:08.016
It's wonderful what you're doing.

00:38:08.016 --> 00:38:13.570
Oh, thank you so much and thank you for being an instructor and I'm not sure if you're women specific or if you're across the board.

00:38:13.570 --> 00:38:15.831
Okay, I do women and children.

00:38:15.851 --> 00:38:20.333
Those are my two areas that I that's fantastic, that's fantastic.

00:38:20.474 --> 00:38:31.539
Thank you so much for doing that, because right now, what we're seeing is that the women getting involved firearms training, then they get to use that in every aspect of their life.

00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.739
Absolutely, it's an amazing thing to watch.

00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:33.960
They feel so empowered.

00:38:54.469 --> 00:38:56.260
And I get women that come in shaking, like absolutely terrified by the time they leave.

00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:58.954
I do videos of them and they're like super excited and they're like I want to come back.

00:38:58.954 --> 00:39:03.380
I feel so great and it's a good feeling to be able to educate people the right way.

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:11.050
Yeah, I always tell them that's going to be our last resort, but if we ever get into a situation, I want you to be able to handle it Right.

00:39:11.050 --> 00:39:15.313
Your family, that's the ultimate goal.

00:39:15.452 --> 00:39:22.697
We ran some legislation a year ago in Kansas that we've been trying to get passed for a very long time.

00:39:22.697 --> 00:39:39.706
That establishes a standard for what firearm safety looks like in schools, and so instead of it being up to the teacher or the district what they talk about, then we want to set a standard and unfortunately we are.

00:39:39.706 --> 00:39:41.847
We've been trying to run this.

00:39:41.847 --> 00:39:47.590
I think we've run it, I don't know.

00:39:47.610 --> 00:39:58.237
It's been more than 10 times that we've tried to run this legislation and it keeps getting shot down and people don't understand that it's not just about showing somebody how to put a gun in their hand and use.

00:39:58.237 --> 00:40:10.400
It is also and I try to stress it every single time we run it but it's also about making sure that people know if someone else in the room has a firearm, are they being safe with it?

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:16.635
Because if they're not, you need to know that, you need to recognize the signs so that you can get to safety.

00:40:16.635 --> 00:40:18.139
And so it's.

00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:25.278
It's so much more than just well, we're going to teach this gal how to shoot, or we're going to teach this kid how to shoot it is.

00:40:25.278 --> 00:40:29.597
We're going to teach these individuals how to be safe in every situation.

00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:30.880
I agree with you.

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:37.554
I do a children's safety program and I get parents say well, I don't have to worry about it, we don't have a firearm at home, but it doesn't matter.

00:40:37.554 --> 00:40:42.726
Your children can be at school, they can find it in the bathroom, you can go to a restaurant, at a playground.

00:40:42.726 --> 00:40:45.432
So it doesn't matter whether or not you have a firearm at home.

00:40:45.432 --> 00:40:47.016
Every child should be educated.

00:40:47.016 --> 00:40:49.431
Every parent should be educated on what to do.

00:40:49.431 --> 00:40:51.297
Your kids go to someone's house.

00:40:51.297 --> 00:40:56.094
It's really important and then when they see that side of it, they're like you know, I never really thought about that.

00:40:56.094 --> 00:41:01.965
So I agree, we all need to be educated on firearm safety education, not just how to use it.

00:41:01.965 --> 00:41:07.402
I have a spot of dangers that may be working around the corner that they're not even aware of.

00:41:08.851 --> 00:41:15.010
Yeah, I have a few friends and I encounter people occasionally that, no, I'm not an advocate for firearms.

00:41:15.010 --> 00:41:19.382
No, I don't have any or no, maybe I just hunt and that's all I have.

00:41:19.382 --> 00:41:21.253
I don't have any or no, maybe I just hunt and that's all I have.

00:41:21.253 --> 00:41:22.193
I keep it put up and stuff.

00:41:22.193 --> 00:41:28.324
But I bring that light highlight to people that your children go to friends hot houses, don't they?

00:41:28.324 --> 00:41:31.315
Well, yeah, do you know if they have any firearms either?

00:41:31.315 --> 00:41:33.280
Most of the time, well, I don't know.

00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:37.398
Well, no, if they do have some, do you know that?

00:41:37.398 --> 00:41:45.717
If your kid finds it Because our kids are inquisitive, especially the they're going to, ooh, look at this and pick it up.

00:41:45.717 --> 00:41:54.822
And if they don't know how, to you know, either stay away from it or they know the safety rules that, uh, okay, put that, leave that there.

00:41:54.822 --> 00:42:01.001
Or you know, if I pick it up, uh, or somebody hands it to me, you know, another kid hands it to them.

00:42:01.001 --> 00:42:06.498
Well, do I pick it up and just put it down or no, just different things like that.

00:42:06.739 --> 00:42:25.820
And uh, like crystal said a lot of people, once they see that other side of it, they, ah, okay, I can see why it's important yeah, and we need to educate children a little bit further instead of just telling them not to touch it, because I find that a lot of parents say, yeah, yeah, don't touch it, and they expect their children to follow what you just said.

00:42:25.820 --> 00:42:29.661
However, when you get them in a real-world situation, they don't necessarily do that.

00:42:29.661 --> 00:42:32.077
So when I do my training, it's hands-on.

00:42:32.077 --> 00:42:40.454
We put them through scenarios, we go over and over, and then we actually observe them at a later date in in real life situation where they don't know they're being observed.

00:42:40.795 --> 00:42:40.974
Right.

00:42:41.355 --> 00:42:44.518
And that way we can really test whether or not they're comprehended.

00:42:44.518 --> 00:42:47.619
Yeah, what we've mentioned and showed them.

00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:51.623
So we got to go beyond just telling them not to touch something.

00:42:51.643 --> 00:42:55.985
Yeah, and we also know not going broke or going against.

00:42:55.985 --> 00:42:58.927
No, the media.

00:42:58.927 --> 00:43:02.677
You know the gaming world, the games.

00:43:02.677 --> 00:43:10.043
Today's games that people play give a false view of guns, even some of the movies out there.

00:43:10.043 --> 00:43:17.016
I've had a few student kids in my class and do they really make this gun that they've seen in a video game?

00:43:17.016 --> 00:43:21.519
That's an illusion, it's just for that game.

00:43:21.559 --> 00:43:21.981
Not yet.

00:43:21.981 --> 00:43:24.255
Nobody's 3D printed that yet.

00:43:26.010 --> 00:43:31.898
I don't even allow my grandkids, when they have the little Nerf guns or water guns, I don't even allow them to point them at each other.

00:43:31.898 --> 00:43:35.815
I really instill listen, this is safety and this might be a fake one.

00:43:35.815 --> 00:43:37.894
You don't know the difference between a real one and a fake one.

00:43:37.894 --> 00:43:39.197
So we're not going to do that.

00:43:39.197 --> 00:43:40.942
Let's do the same safety rules.

00:43:40.942 --> 00:43:50.018
I watch my kids, my grandkids, with these little toy Nerf guns or the water ones, and they always follow the rules.

00:43:50.059 --> 00:43:54.193
I'm like yes, yeah, that trigger discipline at an early age.

00:43:54.193 --> 00:43:58.317
That's important, yeah, and not just outside the guard, but up, exactly.

00:44:03.989 --> 00:44:04.170
All right.

00:44:04.170 --> 00:44:05.695
Well, yeah, not just outside the guard, but up, exactly all right.

00:44:05.695 --> 00:44:06.577
Well, I appreciate your time today.

00:44:06.577 --> 00:44:07.500
Rebecca and crystal, thank you for popping in.

00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:26.884
Uh, I know you've been been a busy person here lately, so oh my goodness, yes, but I said I gotta make it today I got all set up and I apologize for the background at starbucks, so coffee, good coffee, okay, well, I appreciate everybody and thank you for coming and we'll see you next time.

00:44:26.884 --> 00:44:33.195
All right, brian, thank you.

00:44:36.898 --> 00:44:40.822
The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only.

00:44:40.822 --> 00:44:47.411
The content is not a substitute for professional self-defense training, legal advice or consultation with relevant authorities.

00:44:47.411 --> 00:44:54.795
Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified self-defense instructors and legal professionals to ensure that their actions align with local laws and regulations.

00:44:54.795 --> 00:45:03.202
The podcast hosts and creators disclaim any liability for personal injury, property damage or legal consequences resulting from the use or misuse of the information presented.

00:45:03.202 --> 00:45:07.601
Stay informed, stay safe and consult with experts for personalized advice.