Heavy lifting?
Captain Holly has some harsh words for Gun Owners of America and a defense of the NRA:
Not without justification, of course. The NRA has often “gone along to get along”, especially when the Congress was controlled by the Democrats. Back then their philosophy seemed to be “we can’t stop it, so let’s make it as gun-owner friendly as possible”. Since 1994, they’ve stiffened their spine somewhat but their reputation as compromisers has lingered.
The GOA has exploited this to portray the NRA as perfidious turncoats and they themselves as the only “true” defenders of the Second Amendment. While it is true the GOA never compromises, they also never advance. The GOA will often kill a good pro-gun bill because it isn’t “pure” enough. They seem to be under the delusion that the only reason all gun control laws were not repealed years ago is because of the spinless Republicans and their greedy NRA masters. An exaggeration, to be sure, but not far off the mark.
Read it all. While I have leveled my criticism of the NRA regularly, the fact is all gun nuts should work together for the greater good of gun rights. Maybe the NRA isn’t pure enough and maybe the GOA’s no-compromise approach does more harm than good. But there’s a good middle-ground to be had and there are some things that they can agree on. But one memo to the NRA sportsman-only types:
If they come for your hunting rifle, I can’t help you because it means they’ve already taken my battle rifle
September 21st, 2005 at 12:11 pm
The GOA/NRA controversy, similar to the one between big-L libertarians and small-L ones in the GOP, reminds me of a scene in the first episode of the second season of 24, when Jack Bauer murdered a small-time criminal turned snitch to buy credibility with the terrorists about to blow up L.A. His boss recoiled in horror, and Jack responded “That’s the problem with people like you, George. You want results, but you never want to get your hands dirty. I’d start rolling up your sleeves.”
September 21st, 2005 at 2:09 pm
Despite the fact that I’m not a member, I actually like having the GOA around. They keep the NRA honest, like after Columbine when everyone (including my “pro-gun” Senator Orrin Hatch) was all ready to sell out gun shows.