I wonder how many show up at the VPC and Brady annual meetings?
Money talks and B.S. walks.
That about sums up the state of the gun prohibition movement in the United States now that the National Rifle Association has left town. But in its wake, according to estimates from Mayor Phil Gordon, the NRA left about $70 million, and enough good will to suggest that if the Violence Policy Center and Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence had shown up to protest, they might have been ridden out of town on a rail.
If they showed up for their own convention, it might create a tiny blip on the city’s financial radar screen, compared to the financial windfall produced by the NRA’s visit.
But 100-degree-plus temperatures do not make for happy protesting, especially when nobody is listening. VPC’s Josh Sugarmann issued a sneering press release, while Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign apparently didn’t say a word for public consumption. (Though one columnist suggested that Helmke missed an opportunity to exploit a shooting tragedy earlier this spring. He failed to exploit it during the NRA meetings, as well.)
May 20th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Actually the Brady Campaign would probably have most of officialdom with them, however those of the ruling elite class aren’t gonna show up to protest the “peasants” exercising their RIGHT to armed self-defense–over whom they think they rule. They’ll just use tyranical means enforced by hired guns to achieve their objectives.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:50 am
“however those of the ruling elite class aren’t gonna show up to protest the “peasants” exercising their RIGHT to armed self-defense”
I know that the reason there are so many long term members of Congress is that while people think other politicians suck, theirs is just great. But how about Oklahoma Sen Tom Coburn! I keep waiting to find out there is something hideously bad he’s kept hidden, but so far he has been a constant champion for smaller government and gun rights. He seems to be one of the few who doesn’t feel like he is in the “ruling elite.”
May 20th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Meetings? Why would they want to have meetings? These are fundraising organizations that are run by a handful of people who couldn’t care less about differing views. Just send in your money so we can keep collecting our generous salaries, thank you.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Ka,
Yes there are some patriots, public servants, who support the rights of the people, especially in Congress. Typically the ruling elites are among mayors, governors and, of course, the executive branch of the Federal Gov’t…and not to forget the black-robed dictators in the judiciary.