Unnamed NRA Writer Pulls a Zumbo

Gun Watch ^ | 4 June,2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On May 30th, in a 1400+ word essay, an unnamed NRA-ILA writer ignited a firestorm against Second Amendment supporters in the opposition media.  In a few badly chosen words near the end of the essay, the unnamed staffer gave the opposition priceless ammunition to smear open carriers.    This should be a lesson to everyone to choose their words carefully.   I do not know if editorial control was exercised.   It is clear that the word choices were emotionally loaded and welcomed by those who desire a disarmed population.

In other words, the unnamed writer pulled a Zumbo.

Here are the offending sentences:

Let's not mince words, not only is it rare, it's downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself. To those who are not acquainted with the dubious practice of using public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one's cause, it can be downright scary.

The writer simply ignores the positive effect that the open carry demonstrations have had in Texas, where the open carry of modern handguns is effectively banned.   Because of the demonstrations, both governor candidates have pledged to support the open carry of handguns if elected.

It was only because of successful disinformation campaigns by those opposed to the Second Amendment that the restaurant chains issued their mild half-rebukes, while still refusing to ban open carry in their restaurants.  The NRA cites the Jack in the Box case, based on what amounts to a hoax.   The original story that those opposed to an armed citizenry published was that the restaurant workers were so scared that they locked themselves into the cooler/freezer.   Except it never happened.   I do not know about the Chipotle incident.   I was not there, nor have I read reports of the people who were there or have I seen video of it.   But Second Amendment opponents seldom have to worry about exaggeration or outright falsehoods.   Their old media allies cover for them.

The NRA-ILA writer then points a finger at open carriers, not realizing that three of his own fingers are pointing back at him:

 But when people act without thinking, or without consideration for others – especially when it comes to firearms – they set the stage for further restrictions on our rights. Firearm owners face enough challenges these days; we don't need to be victims of friendly fire.

Unfortunately, the writer did exactly what he preached against.   His words have become a classic case of "friendly fire" directed at one's own troops.  Using words such as "weird", "dubious", and "scary" to describe a political movement that has gained a multitude of grassroots supporters and seen significant success in Texas, is particularly unwise.   He could have warned about Second Amendment opponents predilection to exaggerate and use emotion.   Instead, he seems to buy into his opposition's disinformation campaign.

I suspect that the writer, unnamed, will escape the Zumbo label.   They ought to reflect on their near miss, and exercise better judgment in the future.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
 
Update: NRA says criticism of open carriers was a mistake:

Posting the criticism "was a mistake," he said. "It shouldn’t have happened. I’ve had a discussion with the staffer who wrote that piece and expressed his personal opinion. Our job is not to criticize the lawful behavior of fellow gun owners. Our job is to effectuate policy changes that expands and protects our members’ right to self-defense."

[marktwain]

The NRA has disowned the statements of this careless staffer.

[Timber Rattler]

Too late, the damage is done.

[ChildOfThe60s]

We have met the enemy, and he is us.

As an aside, in general I am not a fan of open carry. Not that I think it shouldn’t be done at times and some places.

Personally, in the manner of my self defense, I prefer concealed. I just as soon surprise “them”.

[Squantos]

why is all the above provided if the authors name not included....... ?

[dadfly]

the NRA has it’s uses for conservatives. but never make the mistake of assuming the NRA is conservative.

[thorvaldr]

The NRA is a huge corporation that makes plenty of money pretending to protect your rights while in fact not doing an awful lot. This statement shows their real attitude toward you and your rights.
I am done defending these people.

[PapaBear3625]

Carrying an AR-15 into a restaurant is going to cause alarm these days, except maybe rural diners during deer season. It is not the same as walking around with a holstered pistol. The activists who got mentioned in the press were not even carrying the rifles shouldered -- they were carrying them in hand.

We had some activists "pushing the boundaries" with open carry in California a few years back. The net result is that open carry got banned there in 2012.

[GeronL]

Why is the NRA employing anti-gun staffers??

[ChildOfThe60s]

the NRA has it’s uses for conservatives. but never make the mistake of assuming the NRA is conservative.

Agreed

[Secret Agent Man]

they are only doing so b/c it backfired on them.

[GeronL]

Open carry of long guns is ho-hum in Texas. Even the Black Panthers parade down the streets of the big cities with rifles, nobody really cares. It is not illegal.

After the dragging death, Black Panthers in Jasper are armed and headed for the courthouse.

[Sergio]

All legally carried self-defense items, (pepper spray, knife, impact weapon, firearm), are meant to be “felt” and not “seen”. “Concealed” give the good guy the advantage.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I have a concern that the NRA is gradually becoming infiltrated at the top by those who purposes are not gun liberty, but a different, perhaps corporate attitude that seeks to subvert gun liberty.

They achieve this infiltration with the promise of corporate wealth, and perhaps they do deliver it, for a while. But their purpose, their real agenda, is to establish dependency. “It is easier to get a lot of money from a dozen corporations than it is to get a little money from tens of thousands of rank and file members.”

I have this dubious frame of mind, because this most recently happened to the Boy Scouts, to their detriment.

The left is truly masterful at such infiltration and subversion. Hundreds of charities, foundations, and clubs have been taken over, and their original purpose discarded in favor of the leftist agenda.

So the question needs to be asked: what about the NRA?

[GeronL]

I didn’t think carrying long guns was even an issue any more. Why are we moving backwards?

[Gaffer]

I don’t care if they did. The words went out under the aegis of the NRA. I EXPECT protectors of my 2A freedom to whom I have given not an insignificant amount of money to be RELENTLESS in its management of that argument so basic.

This one unmanaged slip of information has done real damage. Damage that I do not choose to financially support any longer.

I hear NRA ‘intructors’, ‘range supervisors’ and other so-called NRA-affiliated connection saying all the time “treat EVERY weapon as if it’s loaded.”

A nice sentiment. Why doesn’t the NRA treat it’s staffers’ words and communications similarly.

I’m done with them.

[Resolute Conservative]

Trojan Horses.

[JoeFromSidney]

the proper response for those restaurants should be to provide gun racks for their patrons' long guns.

[fortheDeclaration]

The staffer should be fired! Clearly, he is not pro-gun, he is a Democrat plant.

[rellimpank]

—agree with you wholeheartedly.

—as with the 19 year old who strolled into his local library with a 12 gauge at port arms a few years ago, some of this stuff is getting us nothing but bad publicity, the California situation being the best example——

—Clayton Cramer , who has done more for the pro-firearms cause than most other writers, had similar words to say a few years ago——

[Joe Brower]