The NRA’s War on America

[marmar]

from Consortium News:


The NRA’s War on America
March 4, 2013

The NRA’s rejection of virtually all gun-safety proposals is not only a repudiation of common sense but a bare-knuckle assertion of right-wing power, money and propaganda over the desire of most Americans to better protect themselves and their kids from guns. It will take a determined electorate to prevail, says Beverly Bandler.

By Beverly Bandler


The issue of the NRA vs. America is not only about the nation’s horrific gun violence epidemic. Americans have to decide whether the National Rifle Association and the gun industry should continue to corrupt our political system — whether the NRA with an estimated 3 million members and a management dominated by firearms manufacturers should control politicians and determine public policy for 315 million.

Or as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said, “The NRA is only powerful if you and I let them be powerful.”

The NRA has morphed from a group that represented ordinary gun owners into a front group for the firearms industry, whose profits are increasingly dependent on the sale of military-bred weapons like assault rifles.

Today’s NRA also stands astride some of the ugliest currents in our politics, combing the “Astroturf” activism of the Tea Party, the unlimited and undisclosed “dark money” of groups like Crossroads GPS, and the sham legislating of groups like the American Legislative Council. ....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2013/03/04/the-nras-war-on-america/

[onehandle]

1. Just another funding branch of the GOP. nt

[apocalypsehow]

2. As the article points out, 1.4 million dead since 1968 thanks to firearms in the wrong hands:

"The consequences of the NRA’s long-running assault on gun-safety laws have been devastating to American citizens. “Since 1968, more Americans have died from gunfire than died in all the wars of the nation’s history: 1.2 million died in wars (from the Revolutionary War though the Iraq War); 1.4 million died in firearm deaths,” according to Politifact."

That is simply appalling, and another reason America's bloody gun culture must come to an end through comprehensive, nation-wide firearms regulation like the state of New York just enacted.

Kick, Rec.

Also, see sig line:

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Why does the NRA hate America? n/t

[rdharma]

4. Today’s NRA

Back in 1999 Wayne LaPierre supported universal background checks. Now he doesn't.

I wonder why he changed his opinion on that issue? However, I think I know the an$wer to that que$tion!