Arms Expo 2015
I am no longer involved in Arms Expo. Some people want to know why.
Arms Expo is an idea I had as the follow up to the I Will Not Comply Rally I organized in Olympia with the help of a great team. After that rally, the team told me they did not want me in charge of Arms Expo and wanted an equal partnership. I decided it was best to give them the Expo this year and I told them I would help out as long as I could do so on principle. That quickly fell apart due to other members wanting to promote ideas I was not comfortable with. More on that below.
As rumors of my actions and words are always twisted, I wanted to archive this. — There is a dangerous and growing idea that it’s acceptable to press others to accept or promote sin in the name of liberty. I will never comply with such a thing. Someone may have the liberty to sin. That does not make their sin liberty.
Liberty is a pure and just standard and our Constitution upholds that. I will stand with all who’s liberty being trampled, such as Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Arlene’s Flowers, Elane Photography and others. I will ALSO stand for the liberty of those I disagree with. Though I will never pretend that their sin is not sin and I will not promote sin itself as liberty. By God’s grace I will always stand with my Savior. If God be for us, who can stand against us.
For the archives and transparency I am placing my original letter withdrawing from Arms Expo below. I wish everyone the best and thank them for working with me in past events. — Gav
Original post from 01/21/15
Summer EXPO Update:
Folks as it turns out I will no longer be running Arms Expo this Summer. Anthony, Maria and Kit, who were part of our amazing team for the I Will Not Comply Rally have taken point and I will no longer be involved in planning at this time.
While I know this brings some confusion, they want to take it their own way. I had offered them this event to manage and it became their call.
I know you will ask why. So here’s the short honest version. I stand with anyone for liberty, even when I disagree with them on some issues. I don’t care who they are and I have proven this. Of course when at public events they get to choose what they promote. Their speech is their right and I support that.
Arms Expo is a PRIVATE event however. As such what is showcased there reflects the endorsement of those running it. While I welcome all to come and stand for liberty, the group and I differed in that they want an “official booth” at the Expo that will promote a homosexual message.
That’s not what this is about for me and as a Christian I was not comfortable with it. I stand with those folks for their rights. I simply don’t want to promote their sexuality. God’s word is pure. Jesus tells us to sin no more; supporting it would not be loving. I took time in the word, in prayer and sought counsel from elders and friends. I have great peace with my position.
My principle always comes first, which is why my message is always the same. I always support everyone’s liberty equally and while I will die next to a homosexual defending their liberty. I will not do so carrying their rainbow banner. The message for me needs to stay focused on the prize. LIBERTY does not mean I promote an off topic message that conflicts with my values. I cannot, for compromise on principle will never make us stronger.
Since I am no longer the organizer of this years Expo, I have to cancel this event, because Facebook offers us no way to transfer it. The others have already made their own event page for the Expo. Understand this is not due to animosity between us. We disagree on this issue but it does not mean we won’t be working on the same team for liberty in the future. The new organizers will running with this now. There’s lots of time to plan and I’m sure they will make a splash.
We will keep standing, keep nullifying and keep taking back liberty. When we disagree, we must do what we feel is right, but we will be standing together for liberty at crunch time. I don’t hold ill will towards friends and patriots that disagree with me. We continue standing for the restoration of America.
This is their new event: https://www.facebook.com/
Stand bold, stand on principle, take back liberty. — Gav