The NRA Sits on Sidelines of Gun Fight With Feds

ap ^ | 04-18-10 | Matt Gouras,

[george76]

The National Rifle Association has been taking a low profile when it comes to the firearms freedom acts that have been passed by seven state legislatures and spawned a growing legal fight between those states, some gun advocates and the U.S. Justice Department.

So far it has cleared legislatures in Montana, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Arizona and Idaho — and is still pending in others. Alabama, South Carolina, and West Virginia have signed onto the lawsuit even though they have not yet passed firearms freedom act legislation.

[stuartcr]

No low profile when it comes to asking for more money. I think I get at least 1 solicitation per month from them asking for $$$

[Leisler]

The iron law of bureaucracy. The NRA doesn’t want a clear cut victory. Most of the pro gun legal actions have been done by libertarians. If the trend continues there won’t be much need for the NRA. The NRA has a vested interest in no victory. They live off the constant struggle.

[stuartcr]

I agree, like media entertainers and talking heads.

[Erik Latranyi]

This is just the continuing attempt by the left to drive a wedge between conservatives and some of the organizations that represent them.

Do not let them divide and conquer us.

[Lurker]

The NRA has a vested interest in no victory. They live off the constant struggle.

Bingo.

[rellimpank]

—that is because this approach is a sure loser about like “nullification”-—

[OldMissileer]

While I do not trust the NRA much I think they believe these laws are going to pass regardless and that injecting themselves into the fray would give ammo to the leftists.

The NRA is high profile and sometimes their participation can be used against them by the left.

Discretion being the better part of valor, and all that...

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The NRA is home to quite a few wishy washy RINO types. They like to be invited to all the big DC social events!

[Larry R. Johnson]

I hope that you do contribute occassionally. Remember what the protesters on the 60’s said, “If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem”.

[NVDave]

Exactly. They want to be seen as “serious” inside the Beltway.

[stuartcr]

I’ve been a member for close to 30yrs, along with the Virginia Shooting Sports Association. I pay my dues, but nothing extra.

[Larry R. Johnson]

I remember a time when the NRA could concentrate on the shooting sports, education, product development and all the “fun” things. I thank God they have taken up the fight against government “gun control”. Remember the operative word is not “gun”, it is “control”.

[Rockingham]

The better explanation is that like all large, established organizations, caution rules the NRA. They are run by careerists and their goals are usually defensive and incremental. The NRA therefore tilts toward the status quo. This is not necessarily bad as it assures someone will be around to carry on the effort if and when gun rights visionaries and risk takers fail, as they often do.

[mrmeyer]

As a NRA member since 10 (jr. member) and current NRA life member, I find this troubling.

"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." -

[skimbell]

"...They want to be seen as “serious” inside the Beltway..."

They are serious. Can you even imagine where our gun rights would be now without the N.R.A.?

Along about the time R.F.K was shot, had it not been for the N.R.A., the nation probably would have gone along with the GG's and accepted their idea of "common sense" gun control-the same sort of "common sense" restrictions that the left pushed through when they got the country to accept no smoking on "short, domestic flights of less than one hour".

How'd that little common sense grab at your freedom work out? As a result of that, we now have places in America where you can't smoke in you own living room.

I'll take the N.R.A.'s shortcomings if they help keep guns in private citizens homes.

[Uri’el-2012]

GOA is "all Hat and no cattle".

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Some people still believe in the myth of the “friendly opposition”.

[jwparkerjr]

re: Discretion being the better part of valor, and all that...

Exactly the "Mom" phrase I was going to use! A winner knows, among other things, how to choose the fights he figures he can win and avoid the rest. Mom had a million of 'em, and everyone of them comes in handy on a daily basis. God rest her soul, she LOVED words and always stressed how important it is to use the correct word phrase.

Her response to "Why?" was always her big moment though! "Because I said so, that's why!

Allow me to illustrate using a picture I took sometime back at Busch Gardens:



The little guy had been running around aggravating other gorillas, so Mom went over and I would swear she talked to him!

[ColdWater]

They live off the constant struggle.

Which organization doesn't?