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Welcome to the online home of the Atlanta chapter of the Pink Pistols. We are a shooting group that honors diversity
and is open to all shooters. We are not a radical "gay militia," but we
do focus on preserving everybody's right to bear arms, whether it is
for personal defense or sport. We try to provide a safe and fun social
environment for all our members. We work to build bridges between the
shooting community and other communities, such as those based on
alternative sexualities.
We aren't called the "Pink Pistols" because we are trying to identify specifically with women or "effeminate" gays. We chose to claim pink as "our color" because homosexuals in Nazi concentration camps were forced to wear pink triangle badges on their clothing. The pink triangle is a powerful symbol of a time when gays were specifically targeted for imprisonment and systematic slaughter. We've transformed it into a symbol of our committment to protecting ourselves from further violent persecution.
Do I need to be gay to join?
You don't have to be gay to join us any more than you have to be Black to support civil rights or be Jewish to support the JPFO (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership). We include members from the GLBT, polyamorous, and BDSM communities, but you don't need to be gay or have an alternative sexuality to join and shoot with us.
How do I join?
If you want to become a member, all you have to do is come to a meetup. It's really that easy! If you want more information before you make the decision to come shooting with us, you can get to know us better by sending us an email or, better yet, joining our forums.
Do I need to know how to shoot, or have my own equipment?
No! We are friendly to new shooters. We can give you basic instruction, and on all of our range trips you can either rent guns or borrow them from other club members.
Do I need a permit to participate?
It's your responsibility to make sure you comply with all federal, state, and local laws. Fortunately, the Atlanta chapter of the Pink Pistols operates in Georgia, where you can own and operate a firearm with some restrictions even if you do not have a Georgia Firearms License (GFL). Having a GFL removes some but not all of those restrictions.
How do I know what's going on with the Atlanta Pink Pistols?
It's simple! You can check out our calendar and join the forums!
Can I purchase a pistol or other firearm?
Sure you can. However, depending on where you live, there may be certain legal restrictions to consider. A good place to research the gun laws in Georgia is http://www.georgiapacking.org/.
What kind of gun is right for me?
Only you can say for sure, but anyone who has any clue about firearms will tell you to start by renting or borrowing guns before you buy one. Rent or borrow several firearms in different calibers. You may want to start with a light caliber. For a first time shooter, the muzzle flip and recoil of some firearms can be a bit of a surprise. There is no shame in building up to something you're sure you can tolerate. Besides, the primary concern here is safety. Biting off more than you can chew with a firearm can be very dangerous. If you need help in finding what's right for you there will be people there to help.
I've never touched a gun before. How will I know how to shoot it?
Just ask! We're happy to help answer any questions you might have about the firearm you've chosen and how it works. If you've never fired a weapon before, please let us know in advance. It's better to learn the right way to load, unload, and fire a weapon, than to learn the hard way.
Why is your group considered an activists association?
We want to be able to endorse candidates that will support the Second Amendment as well as the rights of consenting adults to love each other however they wish. We chose to go this route, rather than filing as a PAC because it means we are free of the legal paperwork that PACs are required to file.
Are you part of the NRA?
No, we are not. We are very much an independent organization from the NRA. The Pink Pistols have, however, worked with the NRA in the past. For example, in California the NRA-ILA contacted us and asked us to take a look at some legislation before the State Assembly and to submit written testimony with our take on the bills. On the other hand, some of our members disagree with certain positions that the NRA has taken.
Are you associated with a political party?
No, we are not. The Pink Pistols are strictly non-partisan on a national level, and although the Atlanta Chapter is free to endorse a particular party or candidate if it so chooses, we choose to remain non-partisan as well. If the responses to the Pink Pistols' national questionnaires look slanted, it is because only some people who receive the questionnaire respond. For example, each time when copies were emailed to everyone elected to the Massachusetts State House and Senate, only 1 politician responded.
© Atlanta Pink Pistols 2009News & Announcements
Update: 14 September 2009
Our September meet was small. Three people attended, but we had a great time! September's meetup is taking place on Thursday, 24 September. Check out the official forum thread for the September meet, and let us know if you plan to attend!
Update: 21 August 2009
We didn't have a July meetup because of busy schedules all around, but we are back for August! At least one new member plans to come, and we'd welcome a few more! If you'd like to come join us, visit the official forum thread for the 27 August 2009 meet, and let us know!
Update: 20 June 2009
It's been a while since my last update. May's meet was great! We had a moderate turnout, and one new member came! The official forum thread for the 26 June 2009 meet is up now. Lots more ammo is available, so you have no excuse not to come!
Update: 23 May 2009
We had another new member in attendance in April. We hope to see a few new faces at the upcoming May meetup. The official forum thread for the 28 May 2009 meet is up now. Ammunition is slowly returning to the shelves at a few stores, so we hope to see more shooters at the range this time!
Archived News & Announcements...
Frequently Asked Questions
Why "pink" instead of a more obvious choice like "rainbow" or something?Update: 14 September 2009
Our September meet was small. Three people attended, but we had a great time! September's meetup is taking place on Thursday, 24 September. Check out the official forum thread for the September meet, and let us know if you plan to attend!
Update: 21 August 2009
We didn't have a July meetup because of busy schedules all around, but we are back for August! At least one new member plans to come, and we'd welcome a few more! If you'd like to come join us, visit the official forum thread for the 27 August 2009 meet, and let us know!
Update: 20 June 2009
It's been a while since my last update. May's meet was great! We had a moderate turnout, and one new member came! The official forum thread for the 26 June 2009 meet is up now. Lots more ammo is available, so you have no excuse not to come!
Update: 23 May 2009
We had another new member in attendance in April. We hope to see a few new faces at the upcoming May meetup. The official forum thread for the 28 May 2009 meet is up now. Ammunition is slowly returning to the shelves at a few stores, so we hope to see more shooters at the range this time!
Archived News & Announcements...
The Evolution of Your Right to Carry
Frequently Asked Questions
We aren't called the "Pink Pistols" because we are trying to identify specifically with women or "effeminate" gays. We chose to claim pink as "our color" because homosexuals in Nazi concentration camps were forced to wear pink triangle badges on their clothing. The pink triangle is a powerful symbol of a time when gays were specifically targeted for imprisonment and systematic slaughter. We've transformed it into a symbol of our committment to protecting ourselves from further violent persecution.
Do I need to be gay to join?
You don't have to be gay to join us any more than you have to be Black to support civil rights or be Jewish to support the JPFO (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership). We include members from the GLBT, polyamorous, and BDSM communities, but you don't need to be gay or have an alternative sexuality to join and shoot with us.
How do I join?
If you want to become a member, all you have to do is come to a meetup. It's really that easy! If you want more information before you make the decision to come shooting with us, you can get to know us better by sending us an email or, better yet, joining our forums.
Do I need to know how to shoot, or have my own equipment?
No! We are friendly to new shooters. We can give you basic instruction, and on all of our range trips you can either rent guns or borrow them from other club members.
Do I need a permit to participate?
It's your responsibility to make sure you comply with all federal, state, and local laws. Fortunately, the Atlanta chapter of the Pink Pistols operates in Georgia, where you can own and operate a firearm with some restrictions even if you do not have a Georgia Firearms License (GFL). Having a GFL removes some but not all of those restrictions.
How do I know what's going on with the Atlanta Pink Pistols?
It's simple! You can check out our calendar and join the forums!
Can I purchase a pistol or other firearm?
Sure you can. However, depending on where you live, there may be certain legal restrictions to consider. A good place to research the gun laws in Georgia is http://www.georgiapacking.org/.
What kind of gun is right for me?
Only you can say for sure, but anyone who has any clue about firearms will tell you to start by renting or borrowing guns before you buy one. Rent or borrow several firearms in different calibers. You may want to start with a light caliber. For a first time shooter, the muzzle flip and recoil of some firearms can be a bit of a surprise. There is no shame in building up to something you're sure you can tolerate. Besides, the primary concern here is safety. Biting off more than you can chew with a firearm can be very dangerous. If you need help in finding what's right for you there will be people there to help.
I've never touched a gun before. How will I know how to shoot it?
Just ask! We're happy to help answer any questions you might have about the firearm you've chosen and how it works. If you've never fired a weapon before, please let us know in advance. It's better to learn the right way to load, unload, and fire a weapon, than to learn the hard way.
Why is your group considered an activists association?
We want to be able to endorse candidates that will support the Second Amendment as well as the rights of consenting adults to love each other however they wish. We chose to go this route, rather than filing as a PAC because it means we are free of the legal paperwork that PACs are required to file.
Are you part of the NRA?
No, we are not. We are very much an independent organization from the NRA. The Pink Pistols have, however, worked with the NRA in the past. For example, in California the NRA-ILA contacted us and asked us to take a look at some legislation before the State Assembly and to submit written testimony with our take on the bills. On the other hand, some of our members disagree with certain positions that the NRA has taken.
Are you associated with a political party?
No, we are not. The Pink Pistols are strictly non-partisan on a national level, and although the Atlanta Chapter is free to endorse a particular party or candidate if it so chooses, we choose to remain non-partisan as well. If the responses to the Pink Pistols' national questionnaires look slanted, it is because only some people who receive the questionnaire respond. For example, each time when copies were emailed to everyone elected to the Massachusetts State House and Senate, only 1 politician responded.
atlpinkpistols@gmail.com