You didn’t hear it here first folks! If you’re reading News2A or any of the other fine publications that spotlight the drama of living in the Garden State as a gun owner, you’ve probably heard the recounting of some Jersey gun owner saying, “I don’t have time to listen to Gun For Hire Radio.” Why? Well, because if you’re reading this, I am assuming you’re an engaged gun owner in the Land of 1000 Diners, and you already tune into high quality programming like Gun For Hire Radio with Anthony Colandro and Sandy Berardi, and Gun Lawyer Podcast with attorney Evan Nappen.
In a previous post, I discussed the importance of being engaged if you’re a gun owner. It really gets in my craw that there are people that want to lean on the resources of these groups and yet not contribute to them. In the instance I’m referencing, a colleague and friend from Florida was reaching out about an individual who wanted some advice and guidance. I asked my buddy if their contact was a member of any of the three N.J. gun rights groups, to which he replied, “No.” I gave my answer, but it came with a stipulation, next time they better show me a donation or membership card to either the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, New Jersey Second Amendment Society, or the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners.
I can only imagine what it’s like to be the host of one of the most popular gun podcasts in New Jersey. Gun for Hire Radio ranks in the top 1% of all podcasts according to listen notes. That’s not just gun shows, that’s all shows. New Jersey activists and advocates are fortunate that Berardi and Colandro give up the many – many – hours of time each week to put out a fifty minute to hour long show.
What’s this content get you? Pretty much a top down run down on whatever is happening in the Garden State concerning guns, as well as many national topics. This is not just a show for our fist pumping Jersey people, it’s suitable for anyone who follows “gun stuff.”
Colandro and Berardi have been doing the show for over a decade. They’ve been pivotal in getting important information to the masses. In the last year, the duo has kept everyone up to date on the so-called “carry-killer” legislation turned law, as well as each stage of the litigation process challenging the unconstitutional law.
Essentially, if you listen to Gun for HIre Radio on a weekly basis, you should have very little to no questions about many of the processes that we must go through in N.J. When there’s a law change, they report it. When there’s a hearing coming up, they report it. When a Pumpkin-headed Senator sneezes and his wife accidently runs a pedestrian over with their car, they report it.
Colandro and Berardi don’t do this on their own. They also take in content from listeners turned activists, who do a ton of research. They lean on subject matter experts like attorneys Dan Schmutter and Evan Nappen. Historian turned activist, Jay Factor, has been on a number of shows to discuss the historical significance of N.J.’s laws and their inception. The amount of work the pair puts into the show is immeasurable, even including when they collaborate with experts – as if that takes no time to set up and do pre-production meetings.
What’s this goldmine of information cost people to subscribe to? It’s free. 100% no cost to listeners. All one needs to do is invest in 50 or so minutes a week. That’s a bargain considering you’re getting information from people who invest days of their lives – all of their lives really – to get the content out there.
When Anthony Colandro asks someone if they listen to Gun for Hire Radio when they ask a question he’s covered on the show and they say, “I don’t have time to listen,” I get the frustration. There are always going to be people that surf on the backs of others, that want it the easy way – have things handed to them. It really is not a high bar to reach for to invest some time to get educated about the most fundamental civil right we have in the U.S., and how it pertains to New Jersey. You literally have to sit back and do nothing to get this content.
Behind every article, podcast, radio show, interview, 2A news website, etc., there’s a person or people who dedicate a good portion of their lives so that the masses can be educated on the topic.
When there’s a dullard who can’t sit back and listen to the information literally get fed to them complaining about not getting immediate answers, they can go pound sand.
What I think every N.J. gun owner should do:
- Tune in weekly to Gun for Hire Radio.
- Tune in weekly to Gun Lawyer Podcast.
- Get a copy of Evan Nappen’s gun law book (each time a new edition comes out).
- Be a member of at a minimum of one of the three N.J. 2A advocacy groups.
- Subscribe to at least one 2A news source, may I recommend News2A to start.
- Be engaged in and find at least one online social media group that supports N.J topics.
Much like Colandro, I’ve seen questions up the wa-zoo online, and hear from people all the time. Many of their questions would be answered if they just listened to two podcasts a week. If you don’t have time to do any of the things on that list, I don’t have time to talk to you…but the most unfortunate – depending on how you look at it – thing, it’s in our DNA. We want an informed populace, and they keep pulling us back in no matter how ingrateful they may be.
All I can ask of people is just try to be engaged. There’s no need to expose how non-committed to this you are when asking a question. Find the time.
Notice that Anthony Colandro has not mentioned the taking of tens of millions of dollars of members money by Wayne LaPierre of the NRA. Colandro also never mentions that the NRA is a nonprofit association. I am done with the NRA where only 10% of our dues is spent on legal defense.