Whom Does NRA Represent?

As of Thursday, December 27, 2012

It is time for sensible sportsmen to speak up and declare, “The NRA does not speak for us.”

By calling it the “gun lobby,” the NRA seems to represent millions of sportsmen, but if we recognize the NRA as the “gun lobbyist,” representing the gun manufacturers, it puts Wayne LaPierre’s insensitive remarks about the Connecticut slaughter in perspective.

The NRA solution to school shootings is to put armed guards in every school. There are almost exactly 100,000 public schools in the USA; for gun manufacturers, that represents a huge sales opportunity. It also deflects attention away from proposed legislation to ban assault weapons.

For hunting, target shooting or personal protection we don’t need assault rifles, and we shouldn’t need armed guards in our schools, either.

If we let our politicians know that the NRA does not speak for us as sportsmen, perhaps they will find the backbone to pass reasonable gun legislation.

Hugh Mensch

Southern Pines

More like this story

DaveyNC 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I know that those of you on the anti-gun side of this are mostly driven by emotions, but you may want to consider some facts before you begin emoting here this morning: http://goo.gl/rgbRU

BillPayer 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Everyone of us can solve the immediate problem. It would take only a fraction of the population to enrol as members of the NRA. Having achieved a majority, simply amend existing NRA rules to outlaw those guns and equipment that are the problem.

skylinefirepest 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Hugh, take a deep breath bro and repeat after me...I am who the NRA represents...a law abiding squeaky clean gun owner who resents being vilified in the liberal media for the evil actions of others. Ordinary citizens do not own assault rifles, only the police and military do. The NRA represents sportsmen, target shooters, hunters, self defense enthusiasts, etc. I think you'll agree as a "sportsman" that the 2nd amendment has absolutely nothing to do with hunting or sporting purposes. If you don't understand that and want to vilify other gun owners then I'm going to get in your space and tell you to do some easy homework to overcome your firearms illiteracy or shut the hell up!! Oh, don't you reckon that these people who would volunteer to protect our schools would already own firearms?? Don't you agree that even if we use policemen for the job that our children are immensely more important to protect than some feelgood, do nothing politician??

dustyrhoades 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Among the people the NRA represents are a group who demands that they have the means at hand to kill cops and soldiers if they don't agree with the government. They've just supported a bill passed by the Indiana house to allow homeowners to shoot police officers they "believe" to be in their houses illegally.

"If ballots don't work, bullets will," right?

JimRussell44 4 months, 2 weeks ago

No doubt the NRA represents decent, law abiding gun owners who own guns for all the reasons outlined by skylinefirepest. Where we seem to have a problem is in the semantics of describing certain types of weapons. Skylinefirepest tells us that the weapons that can fire rounds as fast as he can twitch his finger and can fire 30, 40 50 or more rounds without re-loading are NOT assault rifles. I don't care if they are called assault rifles or if they are called squirt guns. They are WEAPONS OF MASS DESCRUCTION and should not be in the hands of anyone who wants one. They are not made for hunting , they are not made for target shooting, they are made to kill people. We need to stop making them for the civilian population. We need to start removing them from the general population. In all the recent high profile crimes committed using them, the penalty was death (bad guy kills himself after committing the crime) so let's institute a law that automatically mandates a death penalty for anyone who is convicted of committing any crime using these weapons of mass destruction. Then lets actually enforce that law.

mcdk 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I can obviously see how some are concerned with the statements made by the NRA. This is an emotional topic for all involved. I think many were looking for the NRA to take an approach of more gun regulation, however they took the approach of adding more resource officers to schools. In that I understand the concern of those in favor of more gun control, the position of the NRA is a good step in helping protect our children. I think there are a couple of issues that concern me the most when reading the many post. Magaizine capacity does make it easier for a person to shoot many rounds without reloading. However, it appears as though an understanding of ballistics is not completely understood by all. The AR-15 platform actually shoots a bullet that is much less powerful than any of the hunting rifles used today. The cost of shooting this caliber of gun is cheaper by comparison and therefore used by many for target and competition shooting. Not for use of harming anyone in our society. I do understand they have been used for violent purposes, that I cannot argue. The next think that bothers me is that we have put so much emphasis on controlling guns because killers have used them as well as the fact that guns are, as a rule not socially acceptable. In contrast alcohol is socially acceptable, so we still allow people to drink and drive. Sure there are laws that prevent that and MADD has made huge impacts for the good. Yearly there are pretty close to the same number of gun related homicide deaths as there are alcohol related vehicle deaths. But because alcohol is so socially acceptable, we accept those and still allow people to consume alcohol and drive, 1/3 of DUI offenders have had one before and we certainly are not looking at banning it. A vehicle mixed with an impared driver is a weapon of mass destruction as well.

Thatcher 4 months, 2 weeks ago

BillPayer (4 hours, 30 min. ago)-- "(S)imply amend existing NRA rules to outlaw those guns and equipment that are the problem." To what "NRA rules" are you referring? I'm curious. Cheers!

pantherfan 4 months, 2 weeks ago

The answer to the author's question is simple, the NRA represents it's members, which is approaching 5 million. Folks really need to educate themselves about the AR-15 rifle before describing it as a weapon of mass destruction. It is quite simply an engineering marvel that has a strong following among gun enthusiasts including former soldiers. It is simply a sporting rifle that gives the owner many opportunities to accessorize or "tinker" with different add-ons. It is the civilian version of the M-16. The folks that own them like them for various reasons and it is irresponsible to classify them as gun-nuts. Why should the government be allowed to stop a citizen from owning these? Because some uneducated liberal thinks they are "weapons of mass destruction"?

The Hummer line of SUVs are civilian versions of the military HMMWV or Humvee. I don't know much about cars, but I hear they are extremely fuel inefficient and terrible on the environment. Due to their weight, they could be considered dangerous. Surviving a head-on with one would be very unlikely. So should these be outlawed? Should we look down our noses at those who drive them? Absolutely not. It is so sad to think about what happened to those children. What did that to them was a very sick man, not a particular type or style of weapon. The issue is the type of individual the man was, not the weapons he brought with him. Some accounts say the brave principal almost stopped him with her hands; an armed officer most certainly would have. Why can't we see that?

skylinefirepest 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Pantherfan and mcdk...excellent posts but JimR has gone from being someone you could talk to...well let's just say he has morphed into an anti-gun zombie...not willing to accept real definitions in place of his own definitions. More than willing to blame the gun owners of America for criminals evil deeds. In another Pilot post he is not even willing to accept Dusty Rhoades legal definition of wmd.

OldPilot 4 months, 2 weeks ago

The NRA has about 5 million members? The US population is about 310 million. 1.6% of the population is making the other 98.4% feel like fugitives from the law of averages. This is nuts! PS: 1) Drunk drivers aren't commit premeditated mass murder, they tend to kill themselves and one, two or three others at a time, not in wholsale numbers, not targeting children; 2) Drivers of Hummers don't commit mass murder with their vehicles. 3) If AR-15 clones are such a great sporting firearm what is the objection to limiting them to three round clips? Actually the AR-15/M-16 clones are lousy hunting firearms, a high speed round that is easily deflected by twigs, small branches, underbrush and so on. A larger calibre bolt action rifle or a shotgun, depending on what one is hunting, is a much superior hunting firearm. The AR-15/M-16 and their clones were designed for one purpose, hunting people.

pantherfan 4 months, 2 weeks ago

OldPilot, I wouldn't be recommending big-bore bolt action rifles since you can't hunt with them in the Mineral Springs and Sandhill townships of Moore County.

You miss my point about the hummer.

BillPayer 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Hi Thatcher:

Here's a quote from the NRA web site about membership - " Successful legislative action begins with you -- the individual member."

With less than 5 million existing members, if now is not the time to effect change through membership, then I don't know when it will be.

Immediate co-ordinated action is required - the existing membership is paranoid - now is the time to act and be a part of the desired change. The Founding Fathers could NEVER have imagined bearing the kind of arms, the NRA say are required for "hunting".

Thatcher 4 months, 2 weeks ago

BillPayer-- Thanks for answering my question. Best of luck to you. Cheers!

Yukonjohn 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Skylinefirepest, I see what you are talking about when you say the NRA represents all gun owners, but l am here to tell you, l do not take any of my direction from the NRA. I take my instructions from our Constitution/Bill of Rights/founding documents. They are clear to me. Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!!

Yukonjohn 4 months, 2 weeks ago

BillPayer, Those types of weapons that you refer to are the best that a regular citizen can acquire. The 2nd Amendment was written so citizens could be armed to overthrow a tyranical govt. I have been spending alot of time reading the writings of Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and others in regards to American's gun ownership and it appears crystal clear to me. Thatcher hope you are doing well.

packwilleat 4 months, 2 weeks ago

by Randy

skylinefirepest 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Oldp...for pete's sake, before you go frothing at the mouth do a little simple research...deflected by twigs? Not true! Drunk drivers don't do pre-meditated mass murder? Attempted right here in the TarHeel state within the past couple of years, so also not true! The AR platforms are great sporting platforms and can be used for hunting as the .223 round is an excellent mid power round. But I'll also remind you that "sporting" doesn't necessarily mean "hunting." Oh, and don't worry your little mind about the numbers of dues paying NRA members...a poll taken several years ago found that there was a very high percentage of the gun owning public that supported the NRA, even if not current members. You did make one true comment though...that the original purpose of the AR 15/M 16 platforms were made for the military, BUT almost all arms were originally designed for military or defense usage, so your comment is not pertinant!

bubbasmith 4 months, 2 weeks ago

@oldpilot- You forgot to list the 40 million babies that have been murdered since 1973 at the hands of a so called doctor at an abortion clinic. Why are you and the libs not as compassionate for those 40 million like you are the 20 in Newtown? That is premeditated murder! Why don't you try to outlaw abortion machines?

packwilleat 4 months, 2 weeks ago

"The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don't ask for their love; only for their fear."

~ Heinrich Himmler

The hidden weapon of mass destruction.

Yukonjohn 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Pack, the masses just do not see it coming. They are going to be so sorely surprised!! If the collapse does not happen, I will be sorely surprised. Our forefathers saw that possibility so many years ago, but learned men of our day do not see it, and l believe it is just around the corner!! Best Wishes!!

BillPayer 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Yukonjohn:

As I said - the existing membership is paranoid.

I'm saddened by some of the postings - quotes from Himmler have no place on the matters at hand.

The collapse you allude to will happen - and soon. But that's another issue entirely, and hopefully not one that will be without common sense and LEADERSHIP.

Yukonjohn 4 months, 2 weeks ago

BillPayer, I am not, nor have ever been, an NRA member. I also think that they are paranoid. I think that some of that paranoia is justified. We are living in unprecedented times in our country. We are in dire straits, and that is compounded by the fact so many do not see it. The founders saw it. That is why they wrote things that they wrote, and said what they said. It is scarey to me, but God willing will survive this too. Best Wishes to you are a spectacular New Year!!

Yukonjohn 4 months, 2 weeks ago

for a spectacular New Year, not are a .....

packwilleat 4 months, 2 weeks ago

BillPayer ~ maybe this quote is more fitting and precise for your liking.

"Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA - ordinary citizens don't need guns,as their having guns doesn't serve the State."

~ Heinrich Himmler

I, like Yukon, am not and have not ever been a member of the NRA. The NRA is a love hate kind of organization to me. While I don't stand behind them 100% at least they are standing to protect our 2nd amendment rights. Sometimes the line is clouded by who they aim to protect, us or the manufacturers. The only problem with all this ban this and ban that noise is where does it stop? A 1911(John Browning/American classic) is semi-auto. So is my duck gun. Or a revolver. All of which are capable of firing high round counts with modification and speedy reloads. Have a look at any 3 gun competition, these guys use a combination of AR's, 1911's or Glocks, and high capacity semi-auto 12 gauges. Yet, to my knowledge, none of these guys have harmed(intentionally) their fellow man with any of their weapons. No matter what anyone says guns are made to kill, be it an animal or a person. The problem is making sure a killer doesn't get behind the trigger thinking that it is human season. But if ducks and quail had guns, I'd probably stop hunting them.

sandhillsdogs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Every year in the United States nearly a half million children are tragically killed. The top two causes of these deaths are: 1) Car Accidents 2) Drowning Yes, the pro-car lobby will wail and gnash their teeth, and the NCA will have a hissy fit. But how long can a civilized, democratic society allow our children (and adults) to be maimed and killed by these cars and fluids? Every year, 260,000 children are killed and 1,000,000 injured in car accidents. A significant number of these deaths and injuries are perpetrated by semi-automatic assault cars. Every year, 175,000 children are killed and as many as 3,000,000 injured by water in high capacity containers. When will we say enough is enough? Compared to the number of children killed by firearms every year in America - approximately 1000 - the car and water deaths are astronomical! Approximately 260 children are killed by cars to every 1 child killed by a firearm! Stop the insanity NOW. Write and beg President Obama to make a law that bans the purchase, sale, and ownership of both semi-automatic assault cars and high capacity water containers.

sandhillsdogs 4 months, 2 weeks ago

446 school age children shot in Chicago so far this year despite strongest gun laws in the country...media totally silent!!!

The liberal cesspool known as Chicago has the toughest gun laws in the country. Yet despite all the shootings, murders, violence, and carnage, you'll never hear a word about this from the corrupt state run media. So far this year in Chicago, there have been 446 school age children shot in this Leftist utopia run by Rahm "Dead Fish" Emanuel and that produced Obama, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Arne Duncan, Rod Blagojevich, Bobby Rush, Bill Ayers, and countless other liberal America-hating commies. So far 62 school-aged children have actually been killed in Chicago, with almost 12 hours to go. So why isn't this news worthy? It's because it would embarrass those anti-second amendment whackos who brag about Chicago’s tough gun laws. Or is it because most of the kids who were shot and killed were minorities? Or is it because the corrupt media doesn't want to show Chicago in a bad light???

fugitiveguy 4 months, 2 weeks ago

sandhills dogs, by now you are well aware that the anti gun kooks arent interested in facts or logic

molonlabe 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Hate to break it to you Hough but, the 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or target shooting!

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