Is this true or just tin-foilery?

[John Marshall]

We are, perhaps, indulging in a bit of group tunnel vision. As with all large groups headed by "executive directors", some things will be done that the general membership does not agree with. Yes, these things do need to be addressed and corrected where possible. We are, however, looking at the top of the group from the bottom, ignoring the goings on outside the group.

In the halls of government where liberal, gun grabbing bottom feeders dwell, the NRA and its membership of "beer swilling, stained t-shirt, knuckle-dragging rednecks" (that's us) are EVIL INCARNATE. That perception is a Good Thing; they are afraid of us. As long as we continue to act like the Ladies and Gentlemen that we truely are, their hysteria makes them look all the more foolish.

JM2CW

 

[Quartus]

Well, like I said, I'm willing to be convinced. I am NOT convinced by the "well, it's a big organization - mistakes happen" line of argument. I know that happens, but the NRA has backed too many bad bills and bad candidates, and used their muscle to kill too many good bills for that to fly. They've shown too much of "WE are the NRA. This is OUR issue! You clowns aren't permitted to get anything passed. WE will do what needs to be done!"


And the excuse is always the same. "Oh, your bill never had a chance - we had to come riding in and save you from yourselves."

Yeah, right.


Tell me what changed - give me a history of who got fired. Tell me that mistakes have been ADMITTED - and I'm willing to listen. So they canned one guy - great! Are you telling me he was the only bad apple? The source of the problem? I can buy that in theory, so give me something to support it.

 

[Mike Irwin]

What, it's important to you for the organization to indulge in some orgy of self flagelation on your doorstep for your benefit?

That all institutional changes in direction have to be announced to you in advance so that you can personally vet them for their purity of purpose, and so you can coordinate the mea culpa script of your choosing?

Guess what?

Your view of what NRA was, is, or should be, isn't going to match your next door neighbor's view of what NRA was, is, or should be, and the two of you put together, your collective view of what NRA was, is, or should be, isn't going to match the collective view of yadda yadda yadda...

Every organization changes in accordance to the people who hold power at any particular time -- from the Vatican/Catholic Church all the way down to your local PTA chapter.

If you wish to fixate on a single point in the past, and claim that it's the ever was, ever shall be, amen definition of the organization, while completely ignoring the efforts that NRA has made since then, that's your particular problem.

 

[Fred Hansen]

What Mike said.

 

[MicroBalrog]

Every organization changes in accordance to the people who hold power at any particular time -- from the Vatican/Catholic Church all the way down to your local PTA chapter.

Interestingly, the Vatican/Catholic Church officially renounced many of the various deeds done in its name over the years (say, the Inquisition). If the Vatican, say, hasn't renounced the Inquisition, it would be treated vastly differentlly by non-Catholics than it actually is.

When a nation has a change of government, the new government usually acknowledges all debts of its predecessor. To the same degree, Wayne LaPierre stilll carries the weight of responsibilty for Karl T. Frederick's actions in 1934, and will, until he renounces them.

 

[TheeBadOne]

The NRA is our best chance and our biggest hammer.

 

[Quartus]

What, it's important to you for the organization to indulge in some orgy of self flagelation on your doorstep for your benefit?

It's importat to me that the NRA has changed its ways. Until I see some EVIDENCE that it has, I will not support it.

If you wish to fixate on a single point in the past

I'm looking at a PATTERN of supporting bad candidates against good candidates, bad bills against good bills. A PATTERN of undermining efforts by local gun rights advocates who don't toe the NRA line.

while completely ignoring the efforts that NRA has made since then,

What efforts? Tell me. Supporting the AWB? Supporting Bill Ruger?

that's your particular problem.

No, it's the NRA's problem and it's ALL of our problem. THey dont' have my money, they don't have my support, and they don't have the money or the support of a lot of gun owners because they have a track record of compromising away our rights. To use TBO's analogy, they certainly are a big hammer. The problem is, they've been hammering on US.

If you can't show some facts to show that they have changed that history - that PATTERN, just say so. I'm ready to listen if you can do that, and I won't even be hard to convince because I want to believe it. But if all you can do is throw a temper tantrum - save it.