Group misrepresents Ashcroft NRA ties: Anti-gun website displays phony lifetime membership card [Free Republic]

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Group misrepresents Ashcroft NRA ties: Anti-gun website displays phony lifetime membership card: News/Current Events Front Page News
Source: WorldNetDaily.com
Published: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 Author: Jon Dougherty
Posted on 05/29/2001 00:15:14 PDT by JohnHuang2

A National Rifle Association Lifetime Membership Card purported to be that of Attorney General John Ashcroft and posted on a noted anti-gun website is a fake, NRA officials have said.
The phony card was posted at the Violence Policy Center-sponsored AshcroftGunWatch.org website last week, The Alamance Independent first reported May 23.
Though an accompanying Violence Policy Center press release criticizing a recent letter Ashcroft wrote to James Jay Baker, the executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, did not allude specifically to the alleged membership card, readers of the VPC web page had been left with the impression the card was real.
The title of the VPC release, "Ashcroft Proves NRA is Calling The Shots at the Justice Department," together with the phony card graphic, also added to the alleged authenticity, some said.
The VPC defended its use of the graphic, which was, admittedly, phony.
"It is intended as a parody of an NRA card," Josh Sugarman, spokesman for the Violence Policy Center, told WND in a statement. "We assumed any reasonable person would view it as such."
In his letter, Ashcroft was responding to a request by Baker to give the NRA some idea of how the Justice Department, under the leadership of the former conservative Republican senator from Missouri, would view the Second Amendment.
"… Let me state unequivocally my view that the text and the original intent of the Second Amendment clearly protect the right of individuals to keep and bear arms," Ashcroft said.
His pro-gun rights stance has drawn the ire of the anti-gun Violence Policy Center, which accused the attorney general of reversing "longstanding" policy at Justice that viewed the Second Amendment as a collective right of states to form their own militias.
Pro-gun groups, meanwhile, argue that the policy was actually developed during the Clinton administration, which had a history of backing gun-control initiatives, making it somewhat less than a "longstanding" interpretation of the Second Amendment.
But even some Second Amendment supporters have also been less than enthused with Ashcroft's overall stance on gun control.
While the AG has been clear regarding his support of the Constitution's guarantee of an individual right to own a firearm, he has also said he would continue enforcement of controversial gun laws, such as so-called "assault weapons" bans and background checks.
Related stories:
Gun rights organizations at odds
Congressman gives away free guns
Gun rights groups gang up on NRA
For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.

1 Posted on 05/29/2001 00:15:14 PDT by JohnHuang2
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Ashcroft Proves NRA is Calling the Shots at U.S. Department of Justice

Attorney General John Ashcroft has sent the NRA's chief lobbyist a letter expressing a position on the Second Amendment that is in direct conflict with legal precedent, historical research, and established Justice Department policy. Ashcroft's letter raises serious questions as to whether Ashcroft will follow through on promises he made at his confirmation hearing to enforce federal gun laws and defend them from spurious and frivolous pro-gun legal challenges. In addition, Ashcroft's personal views pose a serious threat to pending gun crime litigation, such as U.S. v. Emerson.

The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit organization working to fight firearms violence through research, education, and advocacy. As a gun control think tank, the VPC analyzes a wide range of current firearm issues and provides information to policymakers, journalists, public health professionals, grassroots activists, and members of the general public.

2 Posted on 05/29/2001 01:05:10 PDT by xm177e2
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In retrospect, it should have been obvious the card was a fake. Any organization so dedicated to individual liberty and so hostile to regulation would probably not have photographs of members on the cards themselves.

"It is intended as a parody of an NRA card," Josh Sugarman, spokesman for the Violence Policy Center, told WND in a statement. "We assumed any reasonable person would view it as such."

But this is ridiculous. The card is obviously not a parody, it looks very much like it could be real. If you know very little about the NRA, as I do, you would have no real reason to doubt its veracity. Also, "Life Member" is a real rank in the NRA.

This isn't a parody, it's a LIE.

3 Posted on 05/29/2001 01:08:33 PDT by xm177e2
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To: xm177e2

This is the VPC's idea of a good read. And they say we are paranoid for fearing a complete ban, yet that is exactly what they are demanding.

4 Posted on 05/29/2001 01:21:59 PDT by xm177e2
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To: xm177e2

"Attorney General Ashcroft has also vowed to put the ‘instant' back in instant check and run the system as Congress intended so that only criminals, not honest citizens, are denied guns. A top-to-bottom review of the National Instant Check System is underway right now."
- NRA Chief Lobbyist James Jay Baker, May 19, 2001

And this is their idea of a damning anti-Ashcroft quote. Give me a break!

5 Posted on 05/29/2001 01:23:36 PDT by xm177e2
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To: xm177e2

This is the VPC's idea of a good read. And they say we are paranoid for fearing a complete ban, yet that is exactly what they are demanding.

Good read? I looked it up on amazon.com and I came up with this:

Every Handgun is aimed at you - 27 reviews - 2.5 out of 5

More Guns Less Crime - 107 reviews - 4.5 out of 5

No wonder commies hate the "educated" class...

6 Posted on 05/29/2001 01:44:42 PDT by Pissed Off Janitor
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To: JohnHuang2

"The phony card was posted at the Violence Policy Center-sponsored AshcroftGunWatch.org website last week, The Alamance Independent first reported May 23." (WorldNetDaily)

Original story from Alamance Independent

7 Posted on 05/29/2001 03:42:59 PDT by glc1173@aol.com
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To: bang_list

KBoom.

8 Posted on 05/29/2001 05:02:23 PDT by Joe Brower
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To: Joe Brower

Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!

9 Posted on 05/29/2001 05:18:31 PDT by BallandPowder
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To: JohnHuang2

I will be disappointed if Ashcroft 'is not' a member of the NRA.

10 Posted on 05/29/2001 07:22:02 PDT by RCW2001
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To: JohnHuang2

If it's fake id cards and graphics they want to battle with I'm ready and open to any ideas...

11 Posted on 05/29/2001 07:26:08 PDT by Registered
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To: RCW2001

"I will be disappointed if Ashcroft 'is not' a member of the NRA."

I guess the commies at the VPC don't know that there are three top tier NRA memberships, Life, Benefactor and Endowment. I would be surprised if Mr. Ashcroft was only a "life" member.

12 Posted on 05/29/2001 07:50:49 PDT by ScreamingFist
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To: xm177e2

This isn't a parody, it's a LIE.

Antigunners are communists. Communists lie. Q.E.D.

13 Posted on 05/29/2001 07:52:38 PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Registered

If it's fake id cards and graphics they want to battle with I'm ready and open to any ideas...

They just pissed off the two giants of Free Republic: You and ... someone else.

14 Posted on 05/29/2001 07:53:43 PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Registered

Start with Communist Party of America membership cards.

Does NAMBLA issue cards at all?

15 Posted on 05/29/2001 08:01:16 PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Registered

"If it's fake id cards and graphics they want to battle with I'm ready and open to any ideas..."

How about a VPC "Get Out of the Concentration Camp Free" card. Or perhaps a Life Membership in the VPC Gestapo card. Don't forget it must say "For The Children" on the card somewhere.

16 Posted on 05/29/2001 08:05:35 PDT by ScreamingFist
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To: Lazamataz, Registered

"Start with Communist Party of America membership cards."

Now we're getting somewhere. The current NRA Life card has a Bald eagle above an American flag. Maybe a vulture and....?

17 Posted on 05/29/2001 08:11:11 PDT by ScreamingFist
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To: Registered

I can hardly wait for your next masterpiece :-)

18 Posted on 05/29/2001 08:33:03 PDT by Myrddin
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To: Lazamataz

"Antigunners are communists. Communists lie. Q.E.D."

A few years ago, I'd have thought this "closed minded" or perhaps "simplistic."

Were I able to, I'd like to meet the me of a few years ago, and sock him sqaurely in the mouth.

19 Posted on 05/29/2001 08:45:27 PDT by Mr. Bungle
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To: Registered

I'm somewhat undecided as to whether a Communist or National Socialist membership card for VPC Director Josh Sugarmann would be a more appropriate *parody*.

But surely there's an ID-card suitable photo of him on the jacketcover of one of his books....

-archy-/-

20 Posted on 05/29/2001 10:23:46 PDT by archy (archy@hyperchat.com)
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To: xm177e2, registered

BWAAAHAAAAHAAAAHAAAAA!!

That is too funny! I just right-clicked on that pic to see its address. I was honestly expecting it to point to Registered's site. I was thinking "This must be yet another winner from Registered because even Josh Sugerman can't be that paranoid!" Imagine my surpirse to learn that yes, Josh Sugarman really can be that paranoid.

21 Posted on 05/29/2001 10:37:41 PDT by Redcloak
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To: ScreamingFist

three top tier NRA memberships, Life, Benefactor and Endowment

You missed the "Patron" level.
The correct order is Life, Endowment, Patron, & the top is Benefactor.

22 Posted on 05/29/2001 11:28:40 PDT by ASA Vet
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To: Lazamataz

Does NAMBLA issue cards at all?

They don't, so if you made fake cards, they would obviously be parodies, and you would face no legal hassles!

I think that would make a good thread, fake cards of prominent lefties in evil organizations...

23 Posted on 05/29/2001 13:34:55 PDT by xm177e2
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To: xm177e2

I think that would make a good thread, fake cards of prominent lefties in evil organizations

fake cards? heck man just find the REAL ones! Don't most lefties ALREADY belong to an evil organization? Dimocraps?

24 Posted on 05/29/2001 14:02:20 PDT by goodieD
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To: ASA Vet

"You missed the "Patron" level"

I thought "Patron" had to be bestowed or something, thanks for the clarification.

25 Posted on 05/30/2001 10:38:14 PDT by ScreamingFist
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