Tom Eblen: NRA's slippery slope full of holes

HERALD-LEADER (Kentucky) ^ | May. 25, 2008 | Tom Eblen

[neverdem]

As expected, I heard an earful about my column last week on a new gun group that opposes the National Rifle Association's hard-line views and allegiance to the Republican Party.

NRA loyalists from around the country sent me e-mails echoing the organization's claim that a small rival, the American Hunters & Shooters Association, is just a "front" for gun-control activists. They said that anything that weakens absolute Second Amendment freedom is a slippery slope that will lead to the nation being disarmed.

I believe just the opposite is true -- and I think many gun owners realize it.

There's a lot of money and power to be had by representing gun enthusiasts. Nobody knows that better than the NRA and its many competitors. With guns in nearly half of all American households, these organizations know that fear -- "sneaky liberals want to take away your guns!" -- is a powerful recruiting tool.

Both Democrats and Republicans love to exploit wedge issues that will energize their base. Republicans have become masters of the technique, courting factions that feel so passionately about hot-button topics -- guns, gay rights, abortion, prayer in schools -- that it has become difficult to find common ground on many important issues in American life.

I don't know whether the American Hunters & Shooters Association is a good organization or a bad one. What I found interesting was its willingness to say what many "pro-gun" Kentuckians like me think about this endless debate: that we need some intelligent compromises to protect responsible gun ownership and make communities safer.

Many law-abiding Kentuckians want guns for self-defense or farm use, or because they enjoy shooting, hunting or collecting. Or they believe that America would be less safe if responsible, law-abiding citizens were disarmed. Members of the NRA and similar groups are generally the most responsible gun owners and shooters out there.

Guns were an important part of the frontier heritage that helped make America great. And Kentucky, after all, was the nation's first frontier.

But gun violence and crime are serious problems. The no-compromise crowd has kept law enforcement agencies from having some tools they need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and crazy people. And that has led to some over-reaching, such as when police in New Orleans illegally seized hundreds of guns after Hurricane Katrina.

Without some intelligent compromises, each new tragedy, like the Virginia Tech or Columbine massacres, will prompt more emotional calls for banning guns. All guns. There are zealots on both sides.

The NRA and other gun groups could learn something from the horse industry.

High-profile deaths of horses in Thoroughbred racing and eventing have created some public backlash against those sports. Rather than stonewall, though, horse industry leaders are aggressively working to make their sports safer. They love horses, sure, but they also realize that their sports could live or die with public opinion.

As society becomes more diverse, we must regain the lost art of compromise. Otherwise, we'll never be able to deal with complex problems in ways that protect everyone's rights. Polarization may be good for special-interest groups and political parties, but it's bad for America.

If Second Amendment absolutists keep standing up and daring others to pry their guns from their "cold, dead fingers," eventually somebody's going to do it.

Reach Tom Eblen at (859) 231-1415 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1415, or at teblen@herald-leader.com.

[neverdem]

NRA gives endorsement to Schweitzer Montana, Donkey

There's no compromise with Amendments, only a new Amendment. See Prohibition.

The war on guns: Joel Miller explains how drug cops are killing 2nd Amendment

Connecting the War on Guns & Drugs [my title]

[SteamShovel]

The NRA and other gun groups could learn something from the horse industry.

Idiot analogy.

Since when is there anything about horses in the "Bill of Rights"?

[Eagles6]

Wow! What a nitwit. He’s more than welcome to voluntarily give up his as he climbs on to the cattle car.

[holymoly]

If Second Amendment absolutists keep standing up and daring others to pry their guns from their "cold, dead fingers," eventually somebody's going to do it.

You talk the talk, Mr. Eblen. Do you walk the walk?

Molon labe!

[gidget7]

Not what I want to see from someone living in KY. Criminals will get guns no matter what laws we pass or what compromises are made. Period. They do not obey laws, why would they obey gun laws? They do not obey the gun laws already on the books, they will find ways around new laws too.

The danger lies in an unarmed America! unable to protect itself.

[Cold Heart]

“nitwit” bump

[Billthedrill]

I don't know whether the American Hunters & Shooters Association is a good organization or a bad one.

Translation: "I'm an idiot who doesn't want to research any facts that might get in the way of my feelings."

[onevoter]

Libs would prefer that we outlaw them so that their favorite needy group, criminals, won’t have to risk their lives to rob and rape the rest of the population.

[supercat]

High-profile deaths of horses in Thoroughbred racing and eventing have created some public backlash against those sports. Rather than stonewall, though, horse industry leaders are aggressively working to make their sports safer. They love horses, sure, but they also realize that their sports could live or die with public opinion.

Firearm manufacturers endeavor to make safe products. When they have discovered unsafe defects in their existing products, they have sought to correct them. The vast majority of firearms-related injuries and fatalities are the result of either deliberate or reckless action. The way to prevent such injuries and fatalities is to lock up the people who would cause them. If someone shoots bullets skyward on New Years Eve, prosecute the person. I've never heard pro-gun person defend such conduct. On the other hand, some people think that any gun which could be used to shoot a robber without having first spent 30 minutes fumbling with a lock is "unsafe". Of course, in their eyes, the real danger with such guns isn't that they'll wrongfully be used to shoot innocent people--it's that they'll be used to further compound the unfairly shabby treatment received by most criminals.

[bereanway]

“The no-compromise crowd has kept law enforcement agencies from having some tools they need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and crazy people. And that has led to some over-reaching, such as when police in New Orleans illegally seized hundreds of guns after Hurricane Katrina.”

Yeah, the NRA and RKBA crowd is responsible for the illegal behaviour of the NOPD. Come to think of it, it was no doubt the RKBA folks who were responsible for those NO police officers who joined in the looting.

[BorisTheBulletDodger]

National Rifle Association's hard-line views

Uh... most of the people I know who do not like the NRA do not like it because it is NOT HARD-LINE ENOUGH.

[Navy Patriot]

Without some intelligent compromises, each new tragedy, like the Virginia Tech or Columbine massacres, will prompt more emotional calls for banning guns.

The problem, Tommy boy, is that even WITH some "intelligent" compromises, you will still get the same leftie whining emotionalism. The instant you give an inch, the tyrants and would be masters will start all over again wanting more "reasonable" gun control laws.

Then, when you get another Virginia Tech because you have disarmed more victims, the lefties will say: "Tom you said there would be no more VT's if we let you off with so little gun control. YOU LIED, and got all those people killed, YOU LIED, YOU CRIMINAL, we have to take ALL your guns."

Enjoy your visit from the jackboots Tommy.

[wastedyears]

It would be good if this guy moves to an area with no internet.

[Who is John Galt?]

If Second Amendment absolutists keep standing up and daring others to pry their guns from their "cold, dead fingers," eventually somebody's going to do it.

"Second Amendment absolutists?" Hey, Tom, as a vital part of the Constitution, the Second Amendment is the "Law of the Land." And yes, when it comes to the Constitution, I am an "absolutist" - I will accept no substitute for the Rule of Law. Unfortunately, it sounds to me like ol' Tom is an advocate for undermining the Rule of Law.

A word of advise: if you don't like the Constitution, Tom, feel free to try to amend it (lawfully, as specified by the Constitution itself - not via liberal activists on the bench). Until then, go fly a kite...

[fish hawk]

I was going to post that very same message but got disgusted and moved on. Glad you took the time to point this out.

[B4Ranch]

Bookmark these maps because they show where violent homicides in the US is originating from.

__________________________________________________________________

These maps are from the article titled "Anti-gun Promo Blackfires"

I think perhaps it should have been entitled, "The African Americans are slaughtering each other in our US Cities"

Baltimore PROPER, which is reflected on the map is 64.34% Black or African American, 31.63% White.

_________________________________________________________

These Baltimore Sun maps show a terrible problem but do not clarify who the murderers are.

Baltimore Sun map of PEOPLE murdered, 2007:

_________________________________________________________

Baltimore Sun map of BLACKS murdered, 2007: (264)

_________________________________________________________

Baltimore Sun map of WHITES murdered, 2007: (12)

Of the 12, 6 were killed downtown while probably buying drugs. _________________________________________________________

[NRA2BFree]

IF our sorry government would prosecute and execute when murder, rape or other violent crimes were committed, we would have very few murders committed with guns.

Laws unenforced are worthless! There's no need for any more laws on the books that are not enforced. The REAL reason they want our guns is so they can control us.

[Czar]

My own feeling, precisely...and I’m a Life Member.

[wastedyears]

I don’t own one yet, but I’m absolutist on the Second Amendment. My only reservations are with WMD. I don’t check prices on Mustangs or Hellcats, but if somebody wants to mount .50cal machine guns in them, then by all means if they can find a safe area to learn and train, they should be able to do it.

Only thing is, your average person might not have the land, money or knowledge to maintain WMD. In that case, it could be collectively owned by the town, and I don’t mean town government.

NOT considering the Second Amendment to be absolute will open every door Liberals can think of to limit the right.

[Balding_Eagle]

Good post. I’m glad to see that you put it up from time to time.

It’s very educational.