In
the wake of the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in
Newtown CT, the NRA has been very much in the spotlight. Quite
predictably, the NRA and its members have been characterized by the
media as a bunch of uneducated, blood-thirsty savages with no sense
and no compassion.
However,
the people who make these characterizations don't know the difference
between a clip and a magazine, or the difference between a semi-auto
carbine and an assault rifle – they don't know that 100-round
magazines are extremely rare and typically unreliable – they don't
know that an AR15 is not a “high-power” rifle, or that there is
no such thing as “the gun show loophole” – they also seem to be
ignorant of violent crime statistics and lack any historical
perspective on the rights of citizens of a “free country” to own
guns.
Some
people might think that because those in the media have an almost
complete lack of knowledge in these areas, this might have an impact
on the validity of their characterizations... but maybe that's just
me.
Anyway,
I thought this might be a good time to share my thoughts on the
NRA...
It
might come as a surprise to some who know me that I have not been a
fan of the NRA for very long. One main reason I didn't like the NRA
for so long is they had a fairly weak record on some important
issues. Specifically, I remember them supporting the “Firearm Owners Protection Act” which, apart from a few important
provisions, effectively banned automatic weapons from civilians.
Automatic weapons registered before May 19, 1986 can still be
“transferred” to civilians, but the restricted supply of these
weapons has caused their price to skyrocket to absurd heights. A
weapon rationally worth $1,000 might cost $30,000 now because of
this. (So, if you want a real “assault weapon” and live in a
state that doesn't have its own ban, it's possible for you to get one
– it'll just take $20k - $30k and a year-long wait for the
paperwork, all to get a gun that's at least 26 years old.)
I
am all for restricting the access to real assault weapons from
mentally ill or criminally dangerous people, but supporting an
effective ban on them for almost all Americans was a treasonous act
that many people, including myself, couldn't overlook.
Another
major reason I was never a fan of the NRA was that their ranks were
filled with a large number of “Fudds”. The term Fudd is a
reference to the Warner Brothers cartoon character Elmer Fudd, and is
used to describe a person who owns guns, but thinks that only guns
with a “sporting purpose” are acceptable. These are the people
who like to hunt deer, but don't see any reason why anyone should own
an AR15. They also seem to have some bizarre notion that the Second
Amendment has something to do with their duck-hunting shotgun. It's
ironic that one of the media's characterizations of NRA members is
partly accurate, but not in the way they think. Those “responsible
gun owners” the media sometimes likes to mention who support
banning certain guns and limiting magazine capacity - these are the
ignorant Fudds.
Thus
for a long time I considered the NRA to be a lukewarm, weak
organization that didn't really support the principle of the Second
Amendment.
Over the past several years though, the NRA has done a lot of good. They were instrumental in several high profile court cases, including DC vs. Heller and McDonald vs. Chicago. They have also been steadfast in their support for concealed-carry laws. I also gained a lot of respect for the NRA when they spoke out so strongly against the grotesque and treasonous firearm confiscation that occurred in the wake of hurricane Katrina.
In short, the NRA has earned my respect. I joined only about six years ago, and since then I have become an NRA certified instructor in Basic Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, and Personal Protection in the Home. I am also an NRA certified Range Safety Officer. I understand that being an NRA instructor doesn't make me “high-speed/low-drag” (I do other things for that), but it's a way for me to support an organization that is doing some good in fighting the decay this country is experiencing.
With 80+ million gun owners in the US, it is shameful that the NRA only has an estimated 4 million members. If you own a gun, if you care anything for Liberty, if you care anything about the fundamental rights of individuals and appreciate the concept of a “free people”, then one of the simplest and easiest things you can do to support these ideas is to join the NRA. As someone who had very strong doubts about them in the past, I encourage everyone who reads this to join the NRA immediately. Those of you who see this issue as I do may want to buy gift memberships for people you care about. I would like to see the NRA with 20 million members. That way politicians might believe that the price for betraying their oath to the Constitution would be very high.
Note
- I just watched the NRA press conference that was held a week after
the Sandy Hook school shooting. I was very happy to see that they
are holding firm against the hysteria that is so prevalent today.
The solution to the problem of mass shootings, especially school
shootings, is already well understood - and it doesn't involve
further disarming good people. Gun-free zones are great killing
zones for psychopaths. While I had strong reservations about the NRA
for a long time, and I will continue to watch to make sure they don't
weaken their stance, for now I can say that I am a proud member of
the NRA.
Over the past several years though, the NRA has done a lot of good. They were instrumental in several high profile court cases, including DC vs. Heller and McDonald vs. Chicago. They have also been steadfast in their support for concealed-carry laws. I also gained a lot of respect for the NRA when they spoke out so strongly against the grotesque and treasonous firearm confiscation that occurred in the wake of hurricane Katrina.
In short, the NRA has earned my respect. I joined only about six years ago, and since then I have become an NRA certified instructor in Basic Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, and Personal Protection in the Home. I am also an NRA certified Range Safety Officer. I understand that being an NRA instructor doesn't make me “high-speed/low-drag” (I do other things for that), but it's a way for me to support an organization that is doing some good in fighting the decay this country is experiencing.
With 80+ million gun owners in the US, it is shameful that the NRA only has an estimated 4 million members. If you own a gun, if you care anything for Liberty, if you care anything about the fundamental rights of individuals and appreciate the concept of a “free people”, then one of the simplest and easiest things you can do to support these ideas is to join the NRA. As someone who had very strong doubts about them in the past, I encourage everyone who reads this to join the NRA immediately. Those of you who see this issue as I do may want to buy gift memberships for people you care about. I would like to see the NRA with 20 million members. That way politicians might believe that the price for betraying their oath to the Constitution would be very high.
I googled "NRA members in favor of restricting magazines" and this article came up. Call me a Fudd if you want, but in the words of Bill Ruger,"An honest man doesn't need more than a 10 round magazine." I share some of your righteous disdain for how the NRA sent the Class 3 folks down the river. Even more maddening was the NRA oppposing restrictions on weapons ownership for those who the "disabled" by mental conditions (and getting paid SSI and SSDI). Too crazy to work a job, but not too crazy to buy an AR15.
ReplyDeleteThe USA needs to ban all high capacity magazines, enforce safe storage standards, license gun owners (like we register voters!), and re-allow Class III machine guns again, (for those that can pass the right hurdles). Is there anyone in the NRA who'd join in such sensible efforts?
Would you give up the right of some crazy SSI recipient to otain an AR with Beta magzines, in exchange for there to be a functioning Classs III system once again?
@Anonymous - Thanks for the feedback, though I think the best I can do is agree to disagree.
DeleteI am familiar with Bill Ruger's statements, and quite honestly I found them stupid and offensive (as do most of the gun-guys I know). I am "an honest man" and I reject the idea that he, or anyone else, has a right to determine what I do or don't need, at least within the context of small arms that are available to police.
In the rest of your comment you seem to mix two very different issues - restricting access to certain weapons from people who have certain mental disabilities, and banning certain items for everyone. Will I give up the rights of certain people who are mentally disabled to have an AR with a Beta mag?? I never supported such a thing in the first place! I would support weakening the HIPAA laws and allowing the NCIS system to flag people with certain mental conditions. Would I agree to ban magazines of a certain capacity for everyone (not everyone of course, just us lowly civilians)? Absolutely not.
Restrict the rights of those who are legitimately known to pose a threat (violent offenders and mentally ill)? Sure. Absolutely. Where do I sign?
Restrict the rights of honest, moral people who supposedly live in a free country? Not without very significant justification. (I'll just have to assume you understand what a tiny, tiny fraction of violent crime involves the use of "high capacity" magazines.)
Also - who comes up what constitutes "high-capacity"? The "normal capacity" of my Glock magazines is 17. I would consider the 33 round mags to legitimately be "high-capacity". The "normal capacity" of my AR and AK mags is 30, and I would consider a 100 round drum to be "high capacity". It sounds to me a lot like those people who started calling AR15s "assault rifles" are the same people trying to define "high capacity". Maybe next year 5 rounds will be "high capacity"?
And lastly - would I give up something to get a working Class III system again? Why must I, or any honest and moral person give up a right to regain a right that was illegitimately taken from us?
Again, I do appreciate the feedback, but our positions are quite far apart. At some point I hope to write more in depth on some of these topics. For example I would support a licensing program run by a private organization to approve people to have unfettered access to any small arm that the police or infantry have (i.e. a real militia). However, given the record of governments murdering ~262 million of their own people in the 20th century (Google "STATISTICS OF DEMOCIDE"), I would not support the government taking this role.