To hear a couple of long-time civilian disarmament advocates tell it, the post-Parkland anti-gun uprising took even them by surprise. That may even be true, at least for some of them. They no doubt thought that if they weren’t able to significantly roll back gun rights in the aftermath of the horror that was Sandy Hook in which 20 young children were murdered, virtually nothing would move the anti-gun ball forward, at least at the national level.
But Jon Cowan and Jim Kessler have taken to the Daily Beast to announce that . . .
In the immediate aftermath of the Parkland shooting, we drew on our combined 50 years of experience battling the National Rifle Association to predict that nothing would change on guns.
Those same 50 years of experience now tell us we were wrong. Why? Because we have never seen the NRA more vulnerable.
Unlike most analysts, they get one thing right.
The NRA derives its power on one thing and one thing only: their ability to determine outcomes at the ballot box.
Most typically uninformed media mavens and political observers attribute the NRA’s power to the amount of cash they spread around, supporting various candidates at both federal and state levels. While their contributions aren’t insignificant, NRA cash is a drop in the bucket compared to other industries such as financial services, healthcare and real estate.
The NRA’s real power lies in its five million (now closer to six million, by some reports) members who are politically aware, fiercely protective of their gun rights and can be relied upon to vote.
In 1993, it knocked off Democratic Governor Jim Florio after he banned assault weapons in gun control-friendly New Jersey—a warning shot to blue state Democrats that even they could be beaten. In 1994, the group beat boll weevil House Democrats like Jack Brooks for supporting a crime bill that included gun restrictions, sending the message that even 30 years of pro-NRA votes didn’t mean jack if you crossed the gun lobby. Heck, even Bernie Sanders owes his first election for Congress to the NRA who called him the “more honorable choice for Vermont” when Republican incumbent Pete Smith bucked them. A Socialist is better than a Republican who messes with us, the group said.
But Cowan and Kessler think the NRA’s tactics are antiquated and they may have met their match in those plucky little Parkland kiddie gun control warriors.
On technology, here’s one of the NRA’s many dirty little secrets. Among the five million members they claim to have, only an estimated 650,000 are politically active. That’s the number of dues-paying NRA members who subscribe to their activist magazine America’s First Freedom, and—not coincidentally—their number of Twitter followers. The NRA’s trick is to make those activists feel like five million when they flood officeholders with calls and threats.
The NRA probably thought 650,000 followers was a good army to amass over nine years on Twitter. Then Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez took seven weeks to attract her 1.5 million followers. Each of her followers—as well as fellow survivor David Hogg’s 700,000—are putting pressure on officeholders every bit as effectively as the NRA did in the past.
As for America’s First Freedom subscribers, that’s an option for members. I’m an NRA member and have never received the magazine. My recycle bin’s plenty full as it is with the other crap that mass marketers still send on dead tree. America’s First Freedom subscribers is a poor way to measure NRA membership engagement.
As for the Parkland tykes’ Twitter follower totals, please. If they think that more than 10% of their followers are doing anything more than swiping past Gonzalez’s and Hogg’s latest electronic primal screams, they’re kidding themselves.
But they also argue that demographic shifts and the NRA’s antiquated tactics have reduced their political power.
Even before Parkland, cracks were starting to show in the NRA fortress. Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey won re-election to the Senate in 2016 because of, not in spite of, his authorship of a universal background check bill. NRA-backed Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte stuck with the NRA and lost to Democrat Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire with guns a major issue. And in the wake of Parkland, Florida Governor Rick Scott’s support of modest gun restrictions will more likely help, not hurt him in his anticipated Senate run against Democrat Bill Nelson as rural areas shrink.
OK then. None of those elections occurred in a vacuum and gun rights played a relatively small roll in the 2016 election results. And if they’re right, why did nothing happen after Sutherland Springs or Las Vegas?
When Republican officeholders in places like Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio and Indiana come to realize that an A-rating from the NRA is a liability, not an asset, the NRA’s Maginot line will break. The NRA has faced difficult times before, but from our vantage point this is the most vulnerable they’ve been in our professional lifetimes. That’s why they are flipping out.
As a wise man once said, that’s just, like, their opinion. From our perspective, we don’t see much evidence of “flipping out” on the NRA’s part, not that they haven’t suffered some setbacks, both of their own making and due to the post-Parkland need to be seen as doing something. But rumors of the NRA’s decline and fall have circulated before. And they’ve almost always been greatly exaggerated.
They have the NRA on the run?! Hell, the NRA led the way!
First Post NAILS It ! —- Gun Owners Of America is much better , they understand , unlike Wayne La Paycheck and crew …. what NO COMPROMISE means.
NRA will tell you – ” let US handle it ‘ … we did … and we kept LOSING ground.
NRA will tell you about …” Tactical RETREAT ” as it has abandoned several states instead of spending OUR MONEY where it was needed most to stop Bad Precedent that is Always used in other States later.
NRA will tell you they need a massive building and execs. with six & seven figure salaries ……….all while being SLOW to respond or worse selling us out !
NRA will tell you to — ‘ vote for the lesser of two evils ‘ …. that keeps them and the swamp in business … no more.
I , for one , will no longer ‘ settle ‘ for the NRA …… but me and my 100 Million friends , will still VOTE !
Not to single you out, Helms – but I’m a little tired of reading the constant tirade about the salaries of the NRA executives. What capable manager does any of us know that would represent and manage a company with 5 million employees without a substantial salary? Shannon Wattts claims no compensation from the Misguided Mom’s, but I’d be relatively certain that Bloomberg keeps her well supplied with cash, even if it is well-laundered.
I’d wager that all of the pro-gun group leader’s are well-compensated for their efforts. SAF generates plenty of money with their sensational tactics, and while Alan Gottlieb may not be a multibillionaire, he seems to not want for salary. Same goes for the rest of them.
And I don’t begrudge them a dime of what they earn. Putting up with the vitriol and hatred they deal with on a daily basis – if they were liberal sociopaths, they’d have gone postal long ago.
While I don’t have a problem with the salaries (if the board approves it) I have a problem with their leadership. They have compromised too much over the last few years, and seem to have forgotten that ‘shall not be infringed’ is part of the 2nd amendment. If they can change their ways, and actually stood their ground, maybe I’ll give them a chance again. Until then…..nope.
“They have compromised too much . . .’ Some compromise. The “bump stock ban” is a presidential order which can be relatively easily rescinded and not a federal law which is almost impossible to change. That’s realpolitik, a game that the NRA is very, very good at playing.
So the FIRST thing I am doing “Pro-Gun” this year is giving both of my offspring NRA memberships! Early b-daze means they can investigate the information and activities associated with responsible gun ownership and use—both recreational and hunting.
If they are MORE INFORMED they are likely to make better choices.
Until such time as we (as gun-supportive individuals) take the time and are willing to endure the monetary sacrifice to educate upcoming generations, those inheritors of our current liberties will have no reason not to relinquish those rights and liberties.
The fact that there is even ANY discussion of amending or eliminating the Second Amendment to the Constitution should frighten ANYONE who espouses their freedoms in this Republic!
What level of inactivity even allowed for this lack of education about the very working hypothesis of our Government?
EACH OF US is responsible for “passing on” those principles and moral standings that have been the bulwark and life-blood of this Nation
Gun Owners of America is irrelevant and they have had zero accomplishments.
No one attacks them because of their irrelevant status.
While the NRA is full of FUDDs who are more than happy to give our gun rights away a little bit at a time….nice.
List all of the great accomplishments over the years that GOA has instituted. Come on, now, be quick. Oh, yeah- nothing.
I’ve put this challenge out here before and still no takers.
Wish I have $1 for every time NRA has been finished off over the years. I’m betting we hit the 6 million member mark before the Nov elections. NRA is it’s members and their ability and stamina to energize and act. The rest are just yapping little mutts.
Once again… the NRA supports gun control. It supports government privileges in the place of the exercise of unalienable individual rights.
And your proof?
It’s been posted to death, Tory. Carry your own water.
My bet is the ACTUAL membership is over 10million. What idiot would tell the anti and an true #. Might as well give the chicom the blueprints (see Clinton/Obumer). And we ALL vote.
Screw twitter/fakebook/etc. Anyone that think that BS counts is dumber than the florida kiddies. But let the progtards stay with their theories. Algore thought the same a few years ago.
That’s about as easy a bail as anyone ever posted on this site, John in IN. Truth is, you’re like the idiot Hillary supporters last cycle when asked to put forth ONE major accomplishment she’d been responsible for. (Other than try to take down her hubbies concubines. Which is exactly what you’re trying to do here, too.) They couldn’t do it, either. Perhaps John in Denial?
Anyone reading this exchange can clearly see what was written and see your posts for what they are. The facts are on my side. I need not write more, Tory.
And yet once again you refuse to answer with even one “victory” by NAGR, GOA, or yourself, for that matter. And again, just like Hillary’s supporters not being able to come up with ONE major accomplishment in her entire career.
Now THAT’s getting the last word.
I didn’t write anything about GOA. So, piss up a rope.
Why would I just copy and paste what is posted all over the comments whenever the NRA is discussed? Nobody is as dense as you appear. You’re trolling. Carry your own water, Tory.
Well, were either going to return to a constitutional republic where proper checks and balances exist…And Where our US Constitutional–Bill of Rights is upheld….Or were going to go straight to a 2nd American Civil War, which will be fought to restore those proper ✔ and balances…And the restoration of a our civil liberties…And restrictions and regulations placed upon the government ,its agents, and agencies….
yes those checks and balances on govt are important. of all the amendments the second is the most important and the 13th needs to be put back to rights as a few years after it was put in place it had a word added to it that allows slavery by stealth and legalese. that word is INVOLUNTARY. it no longer as a result protects against all forms of slavery. i would also suggest that many other recommendations of the anti federalists for amendments are also put in place to help prevent federal govt overreach which has been an issue from day one. reduce their power down to virtually nothing
“Well, were either going to return to a constitutional republic where proper checks and balances exist…” That, pal, will be up to the voters. Instead of sitting around here begrudging everything that “may” happen, get out and organize for your agenda. And try to include some normal, work-a-day folks who may not be big on firearms yet but could be swayed to the cause if some of our freaks didn’t go around trying to act tough and scaring the hell out of them. Who wouldn’t run to the government/cops/whatever if they thought some crazy with a gun was threatening them. Well, then again, some of us are also armed…
…Or will all be retreating to Mr. Fargo’s “Pro2@ Apocalypse Fallout Shelter !” Lol!
Only if he remembered to stock the whiskey reserves…
🤠
The NRA lost its bearings when it suggested that “bump stocks” be banned or “controlled”.
Let’s look at the other situations where the NRA was ineffective:
1934 National Firearms Act which “taxed” machine guns, short-barrel rifles, silencers, and other weapons
1968 Gun Control Act, which was modeled on the 1938 German Gun Control Act
1986 Hughes Amendment which froze the number of machine guns available to civilians
1994 Assault weapon ban and magazine capacity limits
With a “success rate” like that, who needs enemies?
It is interesting to note that much new “gun control” legislation is enacted when the Republicans are in power…
IF the NRA wants to regain its moral bearing it must subscribe to this idea–NO COMPROMISE..period!
Wasn’t the NRA also responsible for the twilight provision of the AWB? You know that provision that ended the ban after a certain number of years?
Yep – as well as NICS, which derailed a national waiting period on all firearms purchases.
And Three Strikes, which locks up repeat felons.
I hope that you aren’t holding these examples up as good things. That just makes the NRA an anti-RKBA organization. They successfully advocate for gun control.
Negotiating Rights Away has the NRA.org on the run !
Better to get something instead of 100% of nothing.
Not really. The NRA touted as an RKBA organization is like having fire extinguishers and alarms that only slightly work. It gives a false sense of security and will prove deadly in a real fire. As long as the NRA stands as is, no organization willing to really fight for the exercise of the unalienable individual right will be able to grow to full fighting strength. The NRA keeps the water from boiling too fast so that the frog doesn’t know to jump out of the pot. If I were anti-liberty, I would make an organization like the NRA to thwart any real successful efforts to restore the exercise of rights. The NRA has been successful in exactly that way.
Look at these moronic POTG that continually call for compromise, appeasement, and “conversations.” Over the generations, the NRA has been quite successful indeed.
One more time on the “bump stocks”… NRA did not fight for them in the first place, they became “legal” though bureaucratic deregulation by the BATFE. No laws were changed either way. NRA did not go to the matt to keep them because the original regulation was from ATF, not congress. ATF allowed, ATF disallowed.
If this is your entire reason for dissing NRA, even though others here have mentioned tactics and amendments pushed through by NRA on the Clinton era bans and regs, you’ve missed the boat entirely. GOA can’t do a damn thing about anything, never has.
https://home.nra.org/joint-statement
“Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations.”
Ah, the annual premature declaration of victory from the antis. Is it spring already?
Hey, at least I’m housebroken!
Yeah? Well that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
I am the walrus.
Quite often, firearms owners are their own worst enemies. The duck hunters don’t like the AR-15 “black rifles” so they see no problem if attempts are made to ban them. The traditional rifle owners don’t like machine guns, so they have no problem with them being legislated out of existence. Some pistol owners see nothing wrong with certain long guns being outlawed just as some rifle owners would have no problem seeing pistols banned.
Friends, ALL firearms advocates must “hang together” and realize that an assault on ANY means of firearms ownership and self-defense is an assault on ALL forms of firearms ownership and self-defense.
There is absolutely NO ROOM for complacency among ANY Second Amendment supporters. An attack on one is an attack on ALL…
ALL firearms laws are unconstitutional on their face. Imagine the hue and cry if “reasonable” restrictions were placed on First Amendment activities, especially with the “mainstream media”. The Second Amendment is clear–what part of “shall not be infringed” do politicians and the media not understand…of course, they understand full well…it’s part of their communist agenda…
Absolutely correct. The Anti’s want to bait us into a debate about which types of guns are “suitable to their Conditions and as allowed by Law” (as provided in the English Bill of Rights). Why should we insist on TAKING the bait?
The facts of the matter are that ALL firearms are dangerous; lethally so. Granted, there is a difference between the .22 Short Rimfire vs. the .50 BMG. Nevertheless, the former is lethal. It’s good enough to kill a human. As to magazine capacity, the discussion amounts to how many aimed rounds we are willing to accept a terrorist/crazy will fire during the 10 minutes it takes for a cop to return fire. Our answer is that a first-responder on-site ought to return fire before a murderer can fire 6 rounds from a revolver.
Of all gun-deaths, 2/3’rds are suicides. A single-shot will suffice. Almost all the rest are 1-on-1 homicides; a few rounds will suffice. Only a few percent of homicides are mass-murders where larger magazine capacities play a minor role.
They are coming for ALL our guns; every last one. It is only by wringing-out the six-shooter, double-barreled and single-shot that they can hope to rid society of suicide-by-gun and homicide-by-gun.
The tiger may eat you last; but he most assuredly will eat you.
The problem is, we have allowed the anti Second Amendment crowd to define the terms.
A firearm is a tool which possesses no evil intent on its own. Assigning intent to an inanimate object is the epitome of insanity. Demonizing a weapon on “looks alone” also marks the accuser as an unstable individual who is also insane. Call them out on their illogic and insanity.
Another dirty tactic the anti-Second Amendment crowd uses exposes children to potential and actual harm by putting them in “gun-free zones”. These people care not one wit about children, but uses them for their own nefarious purposes.
We need to TAKE BACK the argument…
When the antis blame the firearm for the actions of a criminal, state that: “a firearm is an inanimate object, subject only to the intent of the user. Firearms ARE “equalizers” and are used to preserve life and make a 90 lb. woman equal to a 200 lb. criminal”.
When the antis attempt to justify their “gun free zones” counter their misguided argument with “you mean, criminal safety zones” or “victim disarmament zones”.
State that “we protect our money, banks, politicians and celebrities, buildings and facilities with PEOPLE WITH GUNS, but protect our children with “gun-free zone” signs”.
When the antis state that: “you don’t need and AR-15”, counter with, “Who are YOU to consider what I need or want?”
When the antis criticize AR-15s in general, counter with: “you mean the most popular rifle of the day, use able by even the smallest, weakest person as a means of self-defense. Besides, AR-15s are FUN to shoot”. Offer to take them to the range and supply them with an AR-15, ammunition and range time. I have made
many converts this way.
When the antis state that: “You don’t need an AR-15 to hunt with”, counter with “AR-15s ARE used for hunting, but in many states, are prohibited from being used to take large game because they are underpowered”.
When the antis state that: “AR-15s are high powered rifles”, correct them by stating that “AR-15s with the .223 or 5.56mm cartridge are considered medium-powered weapons–NOT “high-powered” by any means”.
When the antis state that: “the Constitution was written during the time of muskets, and that the Second Amendment should only apply to “weapons of that time period”, state that: “by your logic, the First Amendment should not apply to modern-day telecommunications, internet, television, radio, public-address systems, books and newspapers produced on high-speed offset printing presses. Only “town-criers” and Benjamin Franklin type printing presses would be covered under the First Amendment”.
When the antis state that “only law enforcement and government should possess firearms”, remind them of the latest school shooting, as well as Columbine, where “law enforcement” SAT ON THEIR HANDS while children were being murdered, citing “officer safety”, afraid to challenge the shooter, despite being armed to the hilt. The government-run murderous sieges at Ruby Ridge and Waco are also good examples of government (mis)use of firearms. Let’s not forget the millions murdered under communism by their governments AFTER their firearms were confiscated.
“A firearm is a tool which possesses no evil intent on its own.” This statement is true as a purely factual matter. Nevertheless, the fact of the matter does not necessarily make it effective rhetorically.
The modern American mind has already become attuned to the firm belief that: “But, if only we could eliminate X, then . . . ” As soon as we play the tape “a tool which possesses no evil intent” the listener’s internal tape runs: “But, if only we could eliminate guns, then . . . ” So, I wonder if this tool – no evil intent argument might prove COUNTER-productive by begging-the-listener’s-internal question. It just triggers the listener to run her internal tape.
Would it be better to jump directly to the “equalizer” argument? ‘A gun is the only tool that empowers a woman, or any other weaker person, to respond effectively to a big-bad-man with a club, knife, gun or even just his bear hands.’
‘Would a big-bad-man think twice about attacking a vulnerable woman crossing a parking lot or opening the door of her home if he feared she might be armed?’
‘Shouldn’t we worry more about women’s self-defense then a criminal’s desire to rob, rape or kill again?’
“oh, but that would be stepping on the big bad mans rights”…… (heavy sarc)
yes it would and it has been proven in every place in the states that has had problems with rape that have introduced programs to get more women into shooting and carrying for defense. i say fuck the lefties and their agenda. deport them to one of their holy grail places like communist china or cuba
Agreed !! The problem is, we have allowed the anti Second Amendment crowd to define the terms. Which is especially true with the term “Assault Rifle” We should be using the term “Self Loading Rifle”
If you look at how groups of people who have a different view points they are quick to make their own label
to make their argument.
Pro Life VS Pro Choice
Retarded VS Special Needs
Illegal Alien VS Refugee
Homosexual VS Gay person/people
If you are reading this you know that can’t go out and buy and Assault Rifle because it is (NFA Weapon) or a select fire weapon. So what do you prefer Assault Rifle VS Self Loading Rifle Think About It…
“Allowed” has nothing to do with it. Fact is, we have no say in establishing the terms of debate.
There are cracks in the wall of control, but the enemy still owns the means by which the terms of debate enter public consciousness. The best we can do is to find effective counters that level the field a bit after the fact. That, and find some way to widen the cracks and kill their means of control.
Yep. Folks are running to the NRA to make contributions and establish memberships.
Oh… and they are running to gun stores to buy weapons that they expect to turn over to the government any day now.
For the children, don’t ya know!
LOL LOL LOL.
Why does the word DELUSIONAL come to mind?
Now i’m a bit angry with how the NRA is run and who is running it (not the elected board). Wayne, Chris and their leg humpers, really need to go! However, sent a check to the ILA.
Maybe we should all attach a note to those checks…
Yo Wayne & Chris: No Compromise! “Stand and Fight” means you too!
I was going to Putin my 2 cents, but you all have said it so well.
Take a friend to a range every chance you get. Leave the magnums at home and start with something like the S&W 15-22. Black evil rifle in .22lr. Keep politics secondary. Safety first.
In other news the children at parkland who are leading the way to deprive us of our rights are whining and complaining that new safety measures are not fair.
they want overbearing safety precautions….. now fucking deal with it. either get out of the debate or go live in communist china and leave the rest of us law abiding people to get on with our lives doing what we love without harming anyone
Let’s just say…You DID finally beat the NRA and they no longer had any power whatsoever.
You still have MILLIONS of pissed off gun owners to deal with. That’s a fight you simply CANNOT win. We grow the food. WE build your houses. WE unclog your toilets. WE deliver your useless gadgets. WE protect society from the real bad guys. All we have to do is say “Not doing it anymore” , sit back and watch you uppity suburban/urban liberals eat each other.
Declaring victory a mite prematurely aren’t we?!? A LOT of these young pod eaters(condom eaters?) don’t vote. I vote…but a major roadblock are RINOS. Glad I’m old…😡
Condom SNORTERS! Perhaps this latest fad is a conspiracy by the drug cartels to train American yoots to be coke-mules.
The NRA isn’t on the run but they did back slide. Their lack of support and political under the table deals to sell out is disheartening as it was in the 90s. I’m still a member, RSO and Instructor for now. That may have to change though.
Oh, yeah, Twitter follows are a good measure of popularity. Same way MDA claims to have “members” because some Democrap liked them on failbook. Also, “Democratic Socialist” Bernie is looking a lot better than the current Republican governor of Vermont- he has consistently voted against gun control in the Senate. Perhaps he took to heart Marx’s words about frustrating any attempts to disarm the proles.
““Democratic Socialist” Bernie is looking a lot better than the current Republican governor of Vermont- he has consistently voted against gun control in the Senate. Perhaps he took to heart Marx’s words about frustrating any attempts to disarm the proles.”
Benedict Scott RINO,who if he doesn’t veto S. 55 will be a one and Done,former governor.
The Burnmeister is a Communist,he admits to it and is proud of it,he is Never better.
what i find interesting is that in the writings of Karl Marx it actually says that there should be a rifle hanging in pride of place in every workers cottage. his words are the basis for most communist ideologies yet ALL communist countries set about disarming the populace of those arms
There is a significant gap between the fantasies of Marx and the real world.
Keep using comparisons like the Maginot Line. Willing to bet those ignorant punks never heard of it, not in a government school. hehe
“…the NRA’s Maginot line will break.”
Didn’t the NAZI’s break the Maginot Line? NRA= French defenders….. Anti-2nd Ammendment People = NAZIs…. sounds about right to me.
They didn’t have to break the line, they just went around it through Belgium… Germans were way more intelligent than frogs.
On the run? Yeah, absolutely — on the run to our local gun stores to stock up on firepower and ammo.
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2018/04/john-boch/gun-owners-buying-guns-at-record-pace-in-march-thanks-david-hogg/
So, Hogg has now supplanted Obama as the greatest gun salesman of all time (at least on a March/mMarch measure).
Hogg has a long way to go to supplant Obama’s lifetime gun salesman achievements.
As a Florida resident who watch the open carry law die in the REPUBLICAN controlled Senate here year in and out for the last 10 years I had major concerns about the NRA’s clout here in Florida well before Parkland. Even though Republicans controlled the entire State govt and over 90% of them were A rated by the NRA nothing was ever getting done. I worried that maybe the Republicans didn’t fear nor care about the NRA anymore. My fears were justified after Parkland when in weeks Republicans passed gun control laws that aren’t even the law in the most anti-gun states like California.
The 2018 Election will be pivitoal. Not only Nationally but in local State Govt elections like here in Florida.
If there is a “Blue Wave” and Republicans lose big the Republicans and media won’t view it as payback by us gun rights voters who stayed home. Republicans will say it was all anti-trump fervor and there was nothing they could have done to stop it.
Conversely Democrats will see it as a validation of their rabid anti-gun policies. They will say it shows that the NRA is done as poltical threat and they shouldn’t fear running on gun control or passing MORE gun control laws.
If Republicans WIN in November(Especially here in Florida) it will validate their recent hard lurch to the left on gun control. They will believe the NRA is nothing but a paper tiger and they will just ignore them in the future much like they now ignore the Pro-Life people of the evangelical Christians.
So honestly…win or lose the NRA is kinda screwed.
The only way to show they still have power is in the Primaries(both national and local). The NRA needs to pick a handful specific and vulnerable Republicans who voted for Gun Control and need to go at them full bore. They need to make this a well known, well orchestrated endeavor that is clearly communicated to the press, NRA members, and Republican Politicians…..call it something like Operation Gun Freedom and advertise and organize the sh!t out of it.
IF they can show Republicans that they still have the power to primary turncoat Republicans the NRA might be able to turn things around.
If the NRA ignores the Primaries and concentrates on the general election we are screwed.
No one but an idiot will pour a ton of money into a primary race where the opponent does not have a record beyond what he/she says. NRA could’ve supported Jeb, Ted, Rand, Ben, or any of the other 20-some that ran for POTUS in 2016 and Trump would’ve still beaten the hell out of them. At least he knows how to fight. His support from NRA came after he won the primary.
Look at Saccone- lost despite the RNC money dump. Losers are losers.
Convince people in your state or municipality that you are the one to vote for, win your primary and then others will consider donating to your cause.
Why would the NRA flip out, it supports gun control. The NRA is not an organization protecting rights. It promotes government privilege in the place of the exercise of rights.
The NRA is a part of the anti-RKBA crowd.
This !
I suspect you don’t follow the NRA at all, and that your post here is just to sow discontent form the inside.
It would be expected that an anti gunner would use the free access to these sites to stir up dissension.
We have the NRA, with a dues paying membership of over 5 million, with no other 2 bit gun advocacy group coming anywhere near those numbers, and you want to take it down? Of course you do.
If you want to see the real shakedown, see the amount these minor meaningless self anointed pro 2a groups pay their leadership. You won’t, because you can’t.
Gun folks, you had better get your pissed-off selves together, or you are going to have anti-2a tracks up and down your back.
“I suspect you don’t follow the NRA at all, and that your post here is just to sow discontent form the inside.”
You would be wrong. Anyone who has followed my postings over the years knows better. I call the NRA out because it supports government privileges over the exercise of the unalienable individual right. Long ago, I tried to like the NRA. Many of us got fooled by it in the mid 1990s. That won’t happen to some of us again.
“It would be expected that an anti gunner would use the free access to these sites to stir up dissension.”
You have no clue how far from anti-gun I actually am. Do you support gun control or do you support the unalienable individual right to keep and bear arms?
“We have the NRA, with a dues paying membership of over 5 million, with no other 2 bit gun advocacy group coming anywhere near those numbers, and you want to take it down? Of course you do.”
It is a pro-gun control organization.
“If you want to see the real shakedown, see the amount these minor meaningless self anointed pro 2a groups pay their leadership. You won’t, because you can’t.”
I certainly will not support an organization that promotes and fights for government privileges to the destruction of the exercise of the unalienable individual right to keep and bear arms. I will not remain silent about such an organization either.
“Gun folks, you had better get your pissed-off selves together, or you are going to have anti-2a tracks up and down your back.”
Very true. POTG had better wake up to the government privileges that have been served up to us in place of the exercise of unalienable individual rights.
Poor John, all that calling out and bitching- the NRA is shaking in their jackboots, right? I’d bet John here tried to take over some portion of an Ohio NRA affiliate, perhaps tried a coup like Neal Knox and his flakes did in the nineties and now his feelings have been hurt and, like Neal and Jeff, tried to go off on their own. Well- haven’t heard much from them (of course you’d need a medium to contact Neal 🙂 ) and NRA keeps chugging along and gaining power and influence.
It appears to John that this battle is already lost and he’s of course, blaming NRA, which right now contains 4-5% of all American gun owners. It was many fewer in the past, like during the beginning of the Clinton years. And then he, and the other 95-96% who are too cheap or scared* to get involved sit around, never give money to support the most sacred of American god-given liberties, and bitch because the very people they obviously hate don’t come to their rescue.
And by the way- I’d NEVER try to keep you silent. Just keep on going like you are, I doubt you have a very large following, doubt also that it’s growing.
*The scared ones are the peeps that really get me- “I ain’t a-gonna join no group a’ccuz Ah don’t want nobuddy to knowed Ah gots guns…” I hear this about 6 times at every gun show… WOW
I’m not seeing it. Aside from an appearance here or there on cable news and more of the same as always shitty bill’s rearing their heads it feels like anyone who isn’t actively pro or anti has moved on from the Parkland thing weeks ago.
Aside from the RINO fuckups (eat a dick VT, FL) the atmosphere feels very pre-Parkland. None of the “normies” on the ground in my day to day life have said anything about gun control one way or the other for days now.
“In 1993, it knocked off Democratic Governor Jim Florio after he banned assault weapons in gun control-friendly New Jersey”. And they haven’t done a thing to help gun-owning New Jerseyans since. Besides, Florio was universally hated, not just by gun owners.
Why don’t those who live in New Jersey try to do something for themselves??? You really want people from out-of-state to come to your rescue? Might as well live in CA.
Are we not going to address the Maginot line comment? Its like they’re not even trying to disguise their fascist leanings anymore.
I’ve never subscribed to “First Freedom” either. I’ve switched around to the other various magazines, and honestly, I don’t get much firearms news from them. But I know all of them have more political news than I care to read so why bother selecting a magazine that is all political news? Doesn’t mean I’m any less politically active on gun rights. Never ceases to amaze me how little they understand about the NRA membership.
Second that. I received First Freedom for a while as part of some offer I don’t remember, but all the info in the mag was old news anyway. I suppose it would be better than nothing, but anyone who relied on that mag to keep tabs on the civilian disarmament movement would be uninformed. And I’ve never been big on Twitter; don’t follow anyone.
But I do vote at every opportunity, and my Congress critter’s office has interacted with me enough to recognize my voice.
Just about any printed mag or newspaper is old news by the time you get it. Use the NRA website if you’re a member.
Pick the NRA up by the ankles and beat the anti’s 1/2 way to death with them. They’re only useful as a blunt object of slow destruction.
Where I’m from we call what these kids are doing, and what the progs are promoting, “dancing before you reach the end zone”. The result will be humiliating defeats that they won’t understand because they think one weekend shit show march has won the war. Far from it. Most of us have been in this fight for years, long before most of these kids were born. Once the Tide Pod eating condom snorters get handed a few loses they will quickly lose interest in this fight and will move on to the next shiney object. They have the attention span of a hummingbird which works to our advantage.
The great Gun Ban push is happening now for ONE REASON ….. Both parties are scared of our Great Awakening ! —– Both Dems. and RINO’s know they are GONE in the Mid-Terms if they even look sideways at the 2ND Amendment. … ( so they move to BAN Guns first )
NRA , too little to late for Florida , Vermont …. is Pennsylvania next ? … Where are they ?
“NRA members who subscribe to their activist magazine America’s First Freedom”
Did not know that, I am going to subscribe tonight.
Nothing more than American Rifleman…minus gun reviews. I regretted getting it. Nothing to read on the john!😏
” We’ve got the NRA on the run”, sounds like War talk to me. We’ve got ISIS on the run. We’ve got the NVA on the run. War talk. These no gun peace people sure do use a lot of War talk
A large portion of their twitter followers are there to troll them.
Surprise? They had national orgs coordinating protests within three hours, lol. Just waiting on the word to come down from on high, is all (all the more interesting that no such rapid response occurred after Vegas; obviously word did not come down after that one)
The reason that not much happened after the Las Vegas shooting is that the left expected a major shift because of the high number of people shot. That did not come to pass. After nothing much happened when so much was expected forced the left to plan and preset contingency plans in place for the next incident. They were ready ahead of time to let loose an action plan that could not be dismissed!
They can believe what they want to believe and it’s good that they are vastly underestimating the strength of activist NRA members.
I’m an activist NRA Benefactor Life Member and Pennsylvania resident. I don’t receive America’s First Freedom and I refuse to have a Facebook or Twitter account. I voted for Ted Cruz in the primary and, reluctantly, Trump and Toomey in the general election, mainly to get Gorsuch and because I believed that both Trump and Toomey would be better for Second Amendment rights than anyone else running, especially a Democrat/Leftist.
I know many more NRA members that are just like me.
This is where advocacy journalists can’t think objectively. Yes, they would like the NRA to be on the run and headed for defeat. But remember when plucky, pink-sneakered Wendy Davis was going to turn Texas blue? How about when the GOP would never win another national election? Politics is more complicated than this, but there is one thing that can be counted upon. Gun rights voters tend to turn out and vote. They don’t vote for or against the NRA. They vote for their rights. And, they now have no doubt that the gun grabbers are engaging in their own Tet Offensive.
Fetterman thought that he had the Indians on the run too, see how that worked out.
The only running the NRA is doing is to the bank, with all the new members dues checks.
If only that was all that it was doing, I wouldn’t have to bitch about it everyday. Unfortunately, it endorses gun control. That makes the NRA dangerous to liberty.
Still waiting for your proof, and your long list of GOA and NAGR accomplishments other than funding Pratt’s and Brown’s lifestyles. I’m betting somewhere, way back, you tried to break into NRA leadership and once people heard you talk they tried to distance themselves from you like they did Doug Buchanan, Neal Knox and the other delusionals who would’ve actually put NRA “on the run”.
Exactly where did I suggest the GOA? Read again, Tory.
Ohhhhh, NOW I get it. YOU are the answer, the way, the truth.
Sure, you wouldn’t be associated with ANY firearms rights group.
Yeah, that all makes sense now. And the best thing is, you don’t have to argue with yourself, either.
Wait a minute…
Still trolling, Tory? Tsk, tsk.
You’ll have to excuse John. He doesn’t understand politics and has no remotely feasible or plausible plan to get what he desires so badly. Instead, he sits on the sidelines and throws stones at the people on the field actually fighting the war because they fail his 2A purity test.
One day though he’s going to get what he wants by wishing it into existence if the people on the battlefield would just stop messing up his concentration.
Oh, I’ve probably been at this much longer than you. You’re likely still wet behind those widdle ears, son.
The anti-gun cultists are sounding an awful lot like the Imperial Japanese Navy crowing over their “victory” at Midway. Camera Hogg and company are looking like kamikazes…
“NRA-backed Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte stuck with the NRA and lost to Democrat Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire with guns a major issue.” – Not even a minor issue to judge from any political ads I saw. Her being a spineless lackey who did whatever the GOP leadership told her was probably more of a factor.
There are a lot of non-NRA people that vote pro-2nd amendment. In Cook county you don’t want your mailman to see NRA magazines. (Remember mailmen going ‘postal’?)
Saturday, April 14, pro-Second Amendment rallies at all state capitols and D.C. Starting at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time, noon Mountain time, etc. Organized by NCCPA. Check out their Facebook page for updates.
No thank you.
The Ohio event page…
https://www.facebook.com/events/225283361383591/
“****EVERYONE will be subject to a search and all carry ins such as purses, bags, backpacks and such! If you don’t submit to the search you will NOT be permitted to attend!”
Sitting on the sidelines for victory!
Nope. I have other events to attend. I don’t need to go to one with such an anti-liberty action right out of the gate.
I checked it out after I saw they had Facebook event pages, with the intent of attending and sharing the information. Then, I read that horseshit.
Funny, we never have to violate people’s rights when we hold events.
Come to Iowa- we carry our handguns right into the Statehouse. I’ve stood with our governors (plural since Branstad became China Embassador a year back) in their office and with other elected officials in the Statehouse with my Glock 43 IWB and no one’s ever the wiser. Also many times in same room with Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst as well as US Reps. Freedom, eh? Of course, NRA was a big help in crafting our law, along with our system that doesn’t require any NICS call if one holds a CCW or WP4. No need for redundancy. Other states ought to adopt this.
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