Guns and Free Speech (The NRA sells out to the Dems and aids their re-election)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | June 16, 2010 | Editorial

[St. Louis Conservative]

The National Rifle Association is suffering a sudden onset of amnesia this week, as the gun lobby cuts a deal to exempt itself from the latest Congressional attempt to repeal the First Amendment. NRA members may soon regret the organization's bid to ingratiate itself with Democrats at the expense of its longtime free-speech allies.

The campaign finance bill, sponsored by Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Chris Van Hollen, is the Democratic response to the Supreme Court's January decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which restored the First Amendment right of corporations, unions and nonprofits to make independent campaign expenditures. At the time, the NRA's Wayne LaPierre called Citizens United "a defeat for arrogant elitists who wanted to carve out free speech as a privilege for themselves and deny it to the rest of us."

Look who's arrogant and elitist now. Under the Schumer-Van Hollen bill, political speech would be bound up with new restrictions, including special burdens on government contractors and corporations that have a certain level of foreign ownership or received TARP funds. The bill also includes disclosure rules designed to hit corporations, requiring CEOs to appear to "approve this message" the way politicians do, and for groups to identify their donors. Except for the NRA.

Under the NRA carve-out in the House bill, the new rules won't apply to any organizations that have been around for more than 10 years, have more than a million members and receive less than 15% of their funding from corporate donors. That fits the NRA nicely, though as best we can figure, everyone else, from the Sierra Club to Planned Parenthood, fails to qualify. So much for defending the little guy against the fat cats.

[St. Louis Conservative]

I hope every NRA member is making their extreme displeasure felt at this outright sell out to the Democrats and our first amendment protections.

[guitar Josh]

I’m glad I never was with the NRA, I’m with Gun Owners of America, they will never compromise our rights.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

http://gunowners.org/

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[23 Everest]

This horsesh!t.

I’m a NRA Life member. I challenge anyone of you to say that we are not pro America. We don’t care which side of the aisle you sit on. If you are for the 2nd Amendment and free speech we will support you.

Unlike other post, you can’t be for the above and against other freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights. period.

[stuartcr]

I’m a long time NRA member, but I just pay the dues, not the extra they continually ask for. I also support the VSSA (Virginia Shooting Sports Assoc). I think everyone should find some gun org to support.

[Crim]

Yeah the NRA endorsed STRICKLAND...I wont be renewing my instructor cert and I will be letting them know why.

[Red_Devil 232]

I heard they are also backing Reid in NV.

[therut]

They ALWAYS support the incumbent if they are pro-gun. Reid knows how to vote usually on guns. Do I like what the NRA has done. NO. That my friends is politics. It is not Sunday School. And no it is NOT consistent or a respectful position the NRA has taken.

[Crim]

I wonder if they’ve been infiltrated...standard tactic...undermine from within.

[1st Division guy]

have been a life member since the 60’s and when i read about this i am seriously considering dropping my membership and going with the goa.

[GeronL]

The NRA has been a sell-out for a while.

[GeronL]

Harry Reid got their endorsement.

Harry Reid supports anti-gun judges, gov’t funding to groups that oppose gun rights.... etc

He’s pro-gun like Stupak was pro-life.

[opentalk]

bump

[elkfersupper]

I became extremely annoyed with the NRA in the early 1970's.

They have so much money and think they have so much clout that they think they have to work both sides of the fence.

Screw that.

[23 Everest]

Eh, that’s a bit of a stretch GeronL. When was it they gave him a A rating?

[Ammo Republic 15]

I’m a longtime life member but I actually stopped donating money back in the late 90’s.

[Man50D]

I’m a NRA Life member. I challenge anyone of you to say that we are not pro America. We don’t care which side of the aisle you sit on. If you are for the 2nd Amendment and free speech we will support you.

Your organization has entered into an unholy alliance at the expense of your fellow Americans freedoms. The NRA has aligned itself with the very group who seek to destroy our Constitutional form of government. You couldn't be more naive if you honestly think these flaming socialists will not come after your guns because the NRA has capitulated to the whims of flaming socialists and marxists.

Read the article at the following link to see how they plan to confiscate the guns of all Americans. The NRA will end up with nothing. You have done a disservice to the country.

U.S. agrees to timetable for UN Gun Ban

[donmeaker]

I bet you feel really ashamed of them for selling out. Giving up the birthright of freedome for a mess of potage. What a shame!

[23 Everest]

Does this mean I have to give my NRA pocket knife back?

Really, they are against Feinstein and Boxer in CA. and that’s all I need right now.