The National Rifle Association's Mass Shooting Hypocrisy

[SecularMotion]

After a gunman killed nine people in a historically African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, gun safety advocates responded with calls to expand the national background check system. Just as quickly, the National Rifle Association (NRA) reacted to those calls, slamming gun safety groups for "exploiting" the tragedy for "political purposes."

One month later, another gunman killed five members of the military at a naval facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The NRA was again quick to respond, but this time claimed the incident provided proof that firearm policies on military bases must be changed to loosen the rules about service members carrying guns.

So which is it? The NRA apparently thinks it is exploitative to discuss gun violence following mass shootings -- unless, of course, the discussion is about why we should loosen gun laws. Their stance on the issue changes based on how to best advance the organization's interests.

Following the mass murder at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, the NRA went into its post-mass shooting standard operating procedure -- shutting down its social media accounts and refusing to speak to the press. Two days later, the NRA's media arm addressed the shooting, with NRA News host Cam Edwards opining that it was "completely inappropriate" to discuss gun policies the day after the incident, adding, "I did not receive a single email communication chastising me or complaining that we should have been talking about policy and politics as opposed to remembering the victims in Charleston."

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/07/22/the-national-rifle-associations-mass-shooting-h/204534

[Travis_0004]

1. At least we know where secular motion stands on exploiting gun violence.

[SecularMotion]

2. I thought you were banned?

Oh nevermind, it was another gun nut.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=307746

Sorry , my error.

[blueridge3210]

3. "Gun Nut"

Stay classy.

[blueridge3210]

8. Well, you would be the resident expert

on "trolls". Stay classy.

[SecularMotion]

10. I have seen many gun trolls come and go on DU, but I'm far from an expert on the matter.

[TeddyR]

4. I want to make sure

That I understand your definition of "gun nut." Is that any person who supports the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms, or just someone who disagrees with you on certain gun control issues? Or something else?

[SecularMotion]

7. Gun Nut

Gun nut is a snarl word referring to a person (often, but not always, male and Republican, and usually in the United States, though they exist elsewhere) who not only believes in the right to keep and bear arms, but makes a point of doing so with gusto.

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gun_nut

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. I don't know whether I believe that

I'll have to have that site thoroughly vetted. It may be a RWNJ front.

[beevul]

17. Wow, look at the hidden posts.

Speaking of, does anyone know if hidden posts/lack of donor star still disqualify a poster from hosting a group?

I checked what I think, are the latest updates, concerning host requirements, and it said "must maintain 100 percent chance of serving on jury".

[petronius]

18. That's only for 'Main Forum' hosts - group hosts can be anyone and do

anything, stars and hides have never been a disqualifier, as far as I know...

[beardown]

19. More info from the web.

snarl word
A word used to induce a negative response or association in the person hearing or reading it. Commonly used to appeal to people's emotions rather than their reasoning.


So by your own definition that you posted, you were using a phrase intended to induce a negative response based on emotions rather than reasoning.

I've assumed that you posted here to try and change minds and attitudes to a more gun control position. I don't know that using snarl word(s) is going to get the results that I assume that you are after.

Thanks again for the postings, keeps the group active and sometimes provides food for interesting debates.

[Fred Sanders]

6. The NRA gives new meaning to hypocrisy.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

12. If it's hypocrisy to call for a policy change after a tragedy then it is hypocrisy to call for

a policy change after a tragedy. Ergo if it is OK for the Controllers to call for more restrictions then it is OK for the NRA to call for fewer restrictions.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

13. Hypocrisy would be Brock violating gun control laws in Washington DC to get himself a gun.

Hypocrisy would be Bloomberg surrounding himself with a squad of armed mercenaries.

[beevul]

16. Shannon Watts too. N/T

[ileus]

9. mediamatters....speaking of gun trolls...

[DonP]

14. Ever notice they never post the actual NRA statements?

They always seem to post what somebody said the NRA said. Always second hand stuff.

Is it that hard to find the actual statement or quote, or are they just lazy?

[Eleanors38]

20. Is Mediamatters still using armed bodyguards? nt