I have to say, when Tom Bauerle came to me several weeks ago and said he wanted to broadcast his show from the February 28th Albany Gun Rally, I thought it was a pretty good idea. It would bring Tom and his listeners closer to the workings of democracy and out state government. So I agreed.
But when he went on to propose we send a bus full of listeners to Albany for the protest, I scratched my head and thought, really? Would anyone seriously take a full weekday, spend ten hours on a bus, all for a two hour rally?
Well I'm not sure why I questioned it at first. Obviously the answer is a resounding YES!
Our Promotions Manager Krystyna Karstedt quickly jumped into action as we opened registration online and saw the numbers grow by the hour for the free trip. Carl Paladino jumped onboard and supported a bus with his businesses along with Firearms training of WNY and The Buffalo Gun Center. But we did wonder, will they show up for a 5:30am departure? Again, the answer is a resounding yes as our parking lot at the WBEN studios in Amherst started to fill and come to life by 4am.
It really doesn't matter to me or WBEN where you stand on this issue of the NY SAFE ACT. What matters to us is that people have the passion for their beliefs and that they'll fight within their Constitutional rights for what they think is right. .These people aboard both our buses, more than eighty strong, are working Western New Yorkers who are taking a day of their life to rally for what they believe in. That's what it's all about.
I've met every single person on the buses and all are friendly and excited, despite being a tad tired. There is a sense of excitement aboard the buses as a group of mainly strangers who came together on the radio make a day-long trip to have their voices heard.
What will happen when the rally is over and the people and buses leave? No one knows for sure. The hopes of those aboard the buses is that a repeal will be in the works. But when all is said and done and the last person leaves the rally and the buses arrive back home, one thing is for sure.
Democracy worked and allowed a group of people passionate about an issue and their rights to be heard.
Tim
So what comes next? Be sure to leave your comments on that at www.Facebook.com/WBEN930