How the NRA is winning

The Washington Post ^ | January 18, 2013 | Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake

[MinorityRepublican]

It’s easy to think that in the wake of Wayne LaPierre’s angry press conference and the National Rifle Association’s tin-eared web video on President Obama’s daughters that the NRA is losing — and losing badly — in the fight over the proper place for guns in American society.

Easy and likely incorrect.

The National Rifle Association is at the center of a debate on guns and gun control.

There’s little doubt that the inside-the-Beltway crowd and those who have been longtime advocates of more gun control laws are outraged by the brash style that the NRA has adopted following the shootings in Newtown, Conn.

But, there’s also plenty of evidence to suggest that the NRA is regarded entirely differently in the country at large. Polling conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal this week showed 41 percent of people had a favorable opinion of the NRA, while 34 percent viewed it unfavorably, a margin largely unchanged from a similar survey conducted in January 2011.

And a look at the longer-term trend line on views of the NRA by Gallup suggests a striking consistency in the overall impression Americans have of the gun rights group.

[longtermmemmory]

how many law suits have been filed in NYS?

[Chuckster]

RGR up 25% in one month.

[hinckley buzzard]

Nice list. Kind of redundant though.

[DesertRhino]

“Because I think millions of NY’ers and Millions of Chicago folks woudl dissagree! Ask the folks in ‘gun free zones’ where it’s now ILLEGAL to own or possess a gun if the NRA ‘won’ in those districts!”

The NRA cannot save dip$hits in those states who insist on electing state governments openly hostile to gun ownership and freedom.
Those states fill their legislatures and governorships with leftist thugs. Explain to us how the NRA could ever influence policy in such states? The populace there is the sole author of their own misery.

How disingenuous, to elect such a state government, then whine that the NRA won’t wave a magic wand and make them gun friendly. lol

[CottShop]

[[1. The NRA is already in the midst of a membership boom,]]

Well good for hte NRa- they get to make even more money as peopel have hteir rights stripped away one NRA compromise with gun opponents at a time-

Our forefathers fought and died TRYING to protect our freedosm from tyranical governments- they died at the hnds of their governments- they bled out on battlefields, ordied horrible slow painful deaths due to infections- And our response to current tyranny is to give the left angry looks? and tsk tsk them? and compromise with htem?

It’s sad watchign a nation lose it’s soul and becoem a passificst socialist nation- and to refuse to fight for their rights- but it’s even sadder watchign this all happen and watching the right crank out one article after antoher claiming victory- The boat IS sinking WP- thaks to peopel like you assurign everyoen htat everythign is ok while the hull falls away beneath us-

[Night Hides Not]

Jay Carney: NRA Ad “Repugnant And Cowardly” (Surprise! Carney’s kids also attend Sidwell Friends!)

But it's ok to bring other children in for the photo op of his 20+ Executive Orders.

[longtermmemmory]

so what?

we have a new healtcare agency which congress any any future president can not control.

we now have a new “violence” agency which is out of the control of future presidents and congress.

essentially only kafka bureacrats will rule. next it will be “please enjoy this year’s hunger games.”

[Louis Foxwell]

Good idea

[CottShop]

[[The NRA cannot save dip$hits in those states who insist on electing state governments openly hostile to gun ownership and freedom.]]

As i understand it, upper state NY is mostly conservative- and could possibly be rallied IF there were soemone capable of motivating poeple- When the revotls and resitance movements i n this coutnry began, they started otu with 1/3 of the people (2/3’s didn’t want to resits in order to protect their rights)- and while the city areas do have lots of liberals, you woudl be surprised at how many closet conservatives there are too- the problem is lack of motivation, lack of encouragement- they see their state as lost because, well, because the left has convicned them it is-

[[How disingenuous, to elect such a state government, then whine that the NRA won’t wave a magic wand and make them gun friendly. lol]]

It is NOT the gun owners (who almsot exclisively are conservatives- except of course for the guards surrouinding the leftists), and htese folsk for them ost part did not vote for thse thugs in office- the problem is that the right is a minority- it’;s larger than peopel think I’m sure- but they are not to blame- they don’t have anyoen representign them or standign up for, or even motivating them themselves to take action-

It’s NOT a lost cause IF (and agreed- it’;s a huge IF) IF a leader can emerge to guide them-

[Louis Foxwell]

Use spell check or stop posting. Your illiteracy is embarrassing.

[CottShop]

[[he was polite and waited as they were escorted out. He made well reasoned points, and gave no angry looks.]]

My mistake-

[[And we do not need a single messiah on guns like an MLK, or whatever. We need to attack them on a wide front, NRA leader here, GOA leader there, a Mayor who stands up, a Sheriff who announces he won’t enforce, Wyomig saying they will arrest feds who come to enforce illegal gun laws there, Yeagers angry video, the Texas congressman who says he will intrduce articles of impeachment, etc etc.]]

I agree that efforts ARE underway- but they are not cohesive and large enough to be truly effective- (i don’t know if it wasi nth this thread- but I had said years ago the governemtn tried enacting a law the peopel didn’t want- Several states stood up to the govenrment and were a large enough contngency, that hte govenrment was forced to back down- ) But the methods you descriobed above will only realyl result in the govenrment ‘compromising’ i nthose isolated areas, but still enforcign the laws everywhere else-

Now, havign said that- There is a glimmer of hope that htsoe isolated incidents can spark into a nationwide movement- BUt, I don’t beleive the American peopel have the will to fight (for htem ot part).

[[They need to feel the heat from a hundred directions.]]

But that will ONLY be effective IF it’s large enough- a few bee stigns aren’t dangerous (don’t mention anaphalactic shock), but a behive’s worth of stings are- especially if the bees are angry enough to let it be known in no uncertain terms that will not take it anymore-

[[We don’t need one magic leader who will immediately be given the media rectal exam. ]]

No but we DO need oen leader (or several) who don’t give a damn what the media says, who know what is right, and who will follow through ion it regardless of how popualr they are or not- the people need someoen who will do what they say- mean what they say, and follow htrough to the end with what they say- regarldess of the cosnequences- when hte cause is right- the left can go pound sand- epsecially when the movement just ciontinues to grow and grow and grow- pretty soon those hwo are not onboard will begin to see that hey- maybe they really are on the wrogn side of the issue- and neecd to listen to the majority instead of ignorign htem because the minority scream louder- The left are thugs, and will continue beign thugs UNTIL the right realizes that thugs are nothign more than huff and puff- and hwne push comes to shove, the left tuck their taisl and try to hide behind the very skirts of the constitution that htey were so eager to do away with

[CottShop]

[[The NRA is busy in hand to hand combat politically,]]

i’m not takign that away from them- (although I do NOT liek the constant compromises as my previous post explained-) I do appreciate the hand to hand combat as it is a needed form of defense, however, hand to hand combat does not win wars these days- shock and awe do- the time for hand to hand is after the shock and awe campaign in my opinion

[CottShop]

Yeah- ‘heh heh’ that’s it=- boy you got me pegged- good job detective- (don’t give yup youtr day job)

The ship is sinking, and NY and cities all across this nation HAVE ALREADY LOST hteir masot of second amendment rights but ‘the NRA is effective’ by golly!

I don’t mind you dissagreing withwhat I say- but do so in a civil manner if possible- isntead of issuing an assinien statement please- I’ll return the favor either way you chose- it’;s up to you

[CottShop]

[[Use spell check or stop posting]]

Gee- ok- the man has spoken- I’ll stop posting- They do have meds to treat folks who are obsessed with htings liek spellign in informal forums- If you want to obsess over spellign instead of discussing hte issues beign discussed0- that’s yourv problem, but at least don’t be an ass abotu your obsession-

[Standing Wolf]

Americans hate hypocrisy. So far I haven’t seen any evidence that regular Americans didn’t get the message. What we have is a ruling class outraged it got caught in a double standard.

That's well said, Vince Ferrer. We're intolerant of hypocrisy, pretension, dishonesty, neo-aristocracy, envy, and everything else the leftist extremists have been shoving down our nation's throat.

I believe it's time for a national divorce. If the leftist extremists want to live like New Yorkers and Californians, so be it—but all of us who uphold traditional American principles are absolutely unwilling to be reduced to state serfdom.

[CottShop]

[[HAVE ALREADY LOST hteir masot of second amendment rights]]

Have already lost most of their- meant to say

[AdaGray]

I just upped my membership from Life Member to Endowment Member. The NRA has become a magnet for men because it is the only group around with the guts to get in Obama’s face.

[NFHale]

Bob Casey from PA already said he’d vote for an assault weapon ban.

He’s a piece of sh*t dem.

Don’t count on any of them.

[Kenny]

I think you’re right but where to start? Maybe a website where they could all sign on as a central point to organize. Problem with that is, many gun owners are already scared to put their name anywhere as they know the government is coming for them sooner or later.

[RitaOK]

Maybe start local contacts, gun clubs, etc. maybe contact NRA for advice.
Needed is something to offer, certainly a plan or agenda of some kind that directs a large force, but one that is an assist to NRA.

Does the NRA have state or regional offices, I wonder? Maybe local Tea Party people around town, city and county. A rickety start, this thinking out loud, huh..

Rita