Posted on 05/08/2004 6:16:37 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Advice for Bush
5/6/2004
Commentary
by Robert A. Ricker
"The GOP's over-reliance on the NRA is risky. But it is a risk that will pay off for the GOP unless the leaders in the Democratic Party wise up -- and quickly."
That was the advice I offered Democrats in an op-ed I wrote for the July 23, 2003 edition of The Los Angeles Times. I told them not to believe the NRA when it promised it would go easy on vulnerable Democrats come election time if they would just support legal immunity for the gun industry -- the gun lobby's top priority this Congress.
I'm honored and humbled that senators in both parties heeded my advice. Last month Senate Democrats and several moderate Republicans banded together to stop the gun lobby's immunity legislation by amending it with measures to renew the federal assault weapons ban and require background checks on all gun sales at gun shows.
In fact, 10 Republican Senators voted to renew the ban in 2004. And more Senators voted to close the gun show loophole than in 1999 -- the year of the Columbine massacre. What's behind these changes?
As someone who used to work for the NRA and several other gun lobby organizations, I believe that lawmakers are catching on to the gun lobby's emperor-has-no-clothes strategy. Democrats and moderate Republicans are beginning to understand that the gun lobby, led by the NRA, does not represent mainstream American gun owners.
I can tell you firsthand that the power of the gun lobby is more perception than reality. After all, there are 80 million gun owners in America; only 4 million are NRA members. And many of these only join to get discounts on hunting equipment. They believe in the Second Amendment but understand that an AK-47 isn't a hunting rifle.
Even more interesting is the fact that the NRA doesn't speak for even its most die-hard members. NRA leaders like Wayne LaPierre and Kayne Robinson are pragmatists. Others, like NRA board member Grover Norquist are pure right wing partisans who care more about electing Republicans than protecting gun rights.
The tension between pragmatic NRA leaders and the miniscule number of die-hard grassroots fanatics played itself out in the debate over gun industry immunity. According to reports, NRA leaders were willing to accept a renewed assault weapons ban in exchange for winning passage of the gun industry immunity bill. But when the far-right grassroots found out, Wayne's world came crashing down. The NRA was forced to issue a statement denying any deal, and ultimately had to oppose final passage of the immunity bill when the assault weapons ban and gun show amendments were attached.
Today the tension is boiling over in a more public way. Die-hard pro-gun advocates tend to be more libertarian than conservative, and many are organizing against President Bush -- much to the dismay of NRA leaders.
Given this dynamic, my advice today is directed not at Democrats, but at President Bush. Stop dancing with the devil. The gun lobby doesn't have the power to protect you if you let new Uzis and AK-47s flood America's streets, and voters won't buy a "blame Congress" excuse. They'll blame you.
Giving in to the gun lobby's every demand will alienate millions of Americans -- sportsmen and non-gun owners alike -- who understand and support the public safety value of an assault weapons ban.
Mr. President, if you abandon mainstream voters for the support of a fanatical few, you will jeopardize not only public safety, but also your hold on power.
Robert A. Ricker is a lawyer and lobbyist who has represented such groups as the National Rifle Association. and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Remember 1994, you mercenary puke?
Yeah Right!
A whore who wouldn't stay bought. I hope his new employers remember that.
As someone who used to work for the NRA and several other gun lobby organizations, I believe that lawmakers are catching on to the gun lobby's emperor-has-no-clothes strategy. Democrats and moderate Republicans are beginning to understand that the gun lobby, led by the NRA, does not represent mainstream American gun owners.
True. Gun owners have been dragging the NRA leadership kicking and screaming into even the mild opposition to gun control that they've been demonstrating.
Yeah right! I am sure your militia does much more to protect our right to keep and bear.
WAKE UP! If it wasn't for the NRA you wouldn't have a right to keep and bear.
I have been following it for years starting with Neal Knox. The NRA is not perfect but it is the only game in town. We need all the voting members we can get. If it wasn'tfor the NRA we would have a right to keep and bury guns. CCPs are also a result of the NRA.
That's correct, most of us think the NRA is too willing to compromise away our RKBA.
I can tell you firsthand that the power of the gun lobby is more perception than reality. After all, there are 80 million gun owners in America; only 4 million are NRA members. And many of these only join to get discounts on hunting equipment. They believe in the Second Amendment but understand that an AK-47 isn't a hunting rifle.
What discounts on hunting equipment? The only discounts I know of are those you get by belonging to an NRA affiliated club or state level organization that is also CMP affiliated. Clue: M-1 Garands are not "hunting equipment".
Most of those 80 million still support the NRA, and self identify as NRA supporters, even if they don't formally join.
I do believe the alert level for this article should have been for "projectile vomiting", not merely "puke".
Not usually. Often the NRA has been more of a hinderance, and even if it was "the NRA" that pushed CHP/CHL legislation, it was usually the state association, which is only NRA affiliated, not a part of the national organization.
They still don't get it: There are more folks in this country who do not hunt than there are "hunters." Those folks who do not hunt are interested in protecting themselves from everybody, including our own government or terrorists or biker gangs or the neighborhood gang. They know that any gun ban merely enhances the effectiveness of all of these groups who might injure them but does NOT protect they themselves as citizens. I say: Sure let the gloves come off, bring it on! Time for the RATS to expose themselves as the party of despotic treason that they are! Time also, for the hunters to get their collective heads out of a deer's A$$ and wake up to the reality.
The NRA has been incredibly successful at promoting and passing legislation. These state "organizations" (usually some guy with a dial up connection and fax machine) are more adept at muddying the waters and turning gun owners with the same views against each other than actually getting court proof legislation through legislatures.
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