Where is the NRA?

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MLeake,

While I, and others are worried about future legislation coming through in the near future as a result of Biden's Commission. I am not sure, and infact have always been skeptical of the protections afforded by the FOPA.

From my understanding, FOPA is just a another law that was enacted, but should be able to be easily repealed as well if there were a congress and white house that were willing.
 
Yes, yes, you're on to the plot. It was actually a gun dealer who killed those 26 people in Connecticut. And, I have it on the BEST authority that no one actually died -- those kids and adults were spirited away and are being held in the same super secret facility where all of the people from the supposedly hijacked 9-11 jets are being held.

Don't be obtuse. You know, or should have known what I'm getting at. The point is that under the threat of a gun ban, weapons manufacturers and dealers are making money like the treasury is printing it up for them in the back room. Either it is likely that guns will be banned, or it is unlikely guns will be banned. If it is likely that guns will be banned, the NRA has been doing a lousy public relations campaign up to this point, which many here agree with. For all the money they receive, they should have a professional face to the organization who can connect with the general public. Firearms manufacturers have a perverse incentive for their client base to think that popular guns are going to be banned; it leads to hand over fist fire sales at gun dealers. Given this incentive, it's not unreasonable to believe that gun manufacturers want to milk this quasi-(even, artificial?)crisis for everything it's worth. In any event, it's highly unlikely that we're going to lose our individual right to keep and bear arms. Regardless of what President Obama says, the Heller line of cases are settled law and the individual right to keep and bear arms is entrenched to our body of Common Law. In addition, the Republican Congress is going to continue to oppose everything that President Obama proposes. As a consequence, it is clear that we're not going to lose our rights for the foreseeable future.

Now, if our rights were being threatened, I wouldn't feel comfortable with Wayne and the boys on our side given the lousy public relations campaign they've put up so far. On the other hand, if they're just milking the donations for everything their worth and taking advantage of perverse incentives then they aren't worth giving money to in the first place.

Personally, I believe that the best defense of gun rights comes though cultural conditioning; the promotion of healthy, fun and good natured shooting sports like trap, skeet, rifle and pistol shoots. The 2nd Amendment isn't about sports, but the more people get involved with shooting sports, the more entrenched gun rights become. People have to be comfortable with being around guns before they feel comfortable supporting gun rights. The NRA used to get lots of kids involved in shooting sports; they should be doing more of that throughout the country and look to develop new markets for shooting sports. An organization that primarily serves older, white people is going to die out when they do.
 
The point is that under the threat of a gun ban, weapons manufacturers and dealers are making money like the treasury is printing it up for them in the back room.
So, the fact that some folks benefit from a situation proves that they're responsible for the situation? I have trouble buying that.

Let's remember that the public face of the NRA reflects its membership, just as its actions follow the wishes of the membership. If the membership are apathetic on an issue, the NRA isn't likely to push it too much.

Frankly, I'm surprised at the aggressiveness they've shown, since many members I know admit they wouldn't really mind background checks for all transactions and maybe a ban on the AR-15 (as long as theirs is grandfathered).

Then there are the chest-beating "my cold dead Wolverines" types who never even join or contribute. I have to listen to those fools all day long lately. They're going to resist the confiscation orders with the force of arms and run into the hills to drink deer blood and snuggle up with Charlie Sheen by the campfire in a totally not homoerotic way.

Yet, most haven't taken any action. They can't name any of their elected officials, and most don't even vote. Most are resigned to the idea that a ban is imminent, and they can't be convinced that there are still civilized, legal ways to prevent it.

In the fractious and squabbling gun culture, the NRA has to find some sort of balance. They can't be everything to everyone. Of course, actually belonging to the organization gives members something of a voice in its actions.
 
So, the fact that some folks benefit from a situation proves that they're responsible for the situation? I have trouble buying that.

The NRA really laid down on the job here, and given the fact that the biggest (financial) beneficiaries of the gun lobby - the firearms manufacturers - are making enormous amounts of money off of this moral panic against guns, it's clear from a simple game theory perspective that this hysteria is exactly what they want. If this organization is there for the $$$, fine. But they aren't going to get a dime out of me because they're not looking out for my, or your rights. They're there to make money.
 
But they aren't going to get a dime out of me because they're not looking out for my, or your rights. They're there to make money.
I'd like to see some proof of that assertion, but even if it were true, we stand to benefit from their actions.

By your logic, we should claim some moral purity while watching our rights get trampled.
 
But they aren't going to get a dime out of me because they're not looking out for my, or your rights. They're there to make money.

Based on your posts I would say you write for or closely follow the pro gun control media. You certainly seem to believe and repeat many of their lines, lies and stories.
 
the promotion of healthy, fun and good natured shooting sports like trap, skeet, rifle and pistol shoots. The 2nd Amendment isn't about sports, but the more people get involved with shooting sports, the more entrenched gun rights become.

This logic doesn't really fly. "Sporting use" has already been used to diminish our rights, and the other side is able to parade tons of hunter/trap/skeet types out in the media who are ok with more restrictions because they don't affect the firearms they use. Remember "sporting" is so restrictive that things like 3-gun/IPSC/USPSA/IDPA are not recognized as "sporting". While I agree its good to get more people involved in shooting, doing so with such limited scope does not guarantee that their overall mindset or understanding of the 2A will change. I mean who uses an AR to shoot skeet? Or aside from specialized shotguns how many hold more than 10 rounds? So why would these new shooters whose experience is limited to "sporting use" which is largely unaffected by any of the proposed limits see them as harmful?

Firearms manufacturers have a perverse incentive for their client base to think that popular guns are going to be banned; it leads to hand over fist fire sales at gun dealers. Given this incentive, it's not unreasonable to believe that gun manufacturers want to milk this quasi-(even, artificial?)crisis for everything it's worth.

Some manufacturers were already running behind demand before the post-Sandy Hook buying frenzy. It's not like they can just suddenly add more machines to the line and boost production to meet this huge increase in demand that they know is temporary.
 
Join the NRA or other firearms group of your choice,rather then argue here write/call your Representatives,and yes IMO purchasing ammo, parts, firearms provides money for companies to remain in business and hire lawyers if needed. Simply put money talks DC loves money and really that is all they care about.
 
Maxb49, you like to sling accusations, but unless I missed it you haven't actually offered up any viable, winning strategies. Do you have anything to offer, or are you just trying to be divisive?
 
Am I the only person who thinks that the NRA hasn't done enough proactively in the past few weeks to protect our Constitutional freedom? Judging by who's sitting on that board, I think something more nefarious is going on here, like weapons dealers using the run on guns to drive up an artificial premium on firearms and ammunition, knowing that true bans and confiscation will never pass the Supreme Court. Your thoughts?
But they aren't going to get a dime out of me because they're not looking out for my, or your rights.
Why do you care about what the NRA is, or isn't, doing given that you've made it clear that you don't believe gun rights are in danger?

"As a consequence, it is clear that we're not going to lose our rights for the foreseeable future."

"I'm aware of his gun control positions but I just don't think he would have the power to ban guns even if he made an attempt."

"I seriously doubt that they will ever enact a national registry of long guns. Registering every bolt action rifle and shotgun in the country is a logistic impossibility..."

"Show me where Barack Obama is going to take away your shotgun or your handgun? Show me how he's going to accomplish that. I'm a gun owner and I don't feel threatened by Barack Obama."​

So you refuse to support the NRA because you claim they are not doing enough to combat a threat you believe to be non-existant.

Exactly how much effort would they need to put into fighting non-existant threats before you would be willing to support them?
 
I do think that GOA and the NAGR sometimes keep you informed better on breaking legislative news and making it easy to contact Congress, but the NRA still does a great job lobbying and carrying the 2nd Amendment banner. All these organizations need our support more now than ever!
 
Maxb49, unless you can substantiate your "theory," this is just another conspiracy thread.

TFL is not Conspiracy Central.
 
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