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branford

(4,462 posts)

37. No, some gun control proposals warrant more consideration.

Sat Oct 3, 2015, 02:18 AM

Oct 2015

I don't own any guns, and am probably the closest thing to being a "moderate" in this discussion here on DU.

Besides correcting basic inaccuracies, I simply don't understand the myopic focus on the NRA.

They have about 5 million members out of 80-100+ million legal gun owners in the USA. More than one out of every three Americans legally owns a firearm, including many Democrats, and the NRA represents a mere 5-6% of them. Their advocacy would be absolutely meaningless if not for the fact that a great many Americans, gun owners and non-gun owning gun rights supporters alike, did not agree with their positions, in whole or in part.***

NRA-ILA donations are also vastly overstated and easily confirmable with public records. In any event, the gun control lobby has more than ample funding, including a dedicated billionaire, and numerous organizations, celebrities and politicians at their disposal. For instance, in the Colorado recall elections, gun control advocates outspent the opposition by 6 to 1, and still lost badly.

Additionally, the biggest gun rights victories in recent memory, the Heller and McDonald Supreme Court decisions, had nothing to do with the NRA. These cases and many more victories in lower courts were the work of the Second Amendment Foundation, without any help from the NRA.

The NRA is little more than a boogeyman used by many gun control individuals and organizations to excuse and deflect from their political, electoral, and judicial failures. If the NRA didn't exist, gun control advocates would need to invent something to takes its place.

***
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/oct/02/mass-shootings-have-no-impact-on-support-for-gun-rights-in-the-us

http://www.gallup.com/poll/179213/six-americans-say-guns-homes-safer.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/poll/179045/less-half-americans-support-stricter-gun-laws.aspx

http://www.people-press.org/2014/12/10/growing-public-support-for-gun-rights/

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If your first reaction to shootings is..... [View all] kpete Oct 2015 OP

it means you're a gun humping coward Skittles Oct 2015 #1

I second that motion. PowerToThePeople Oct 2015 #6

You are being too nice. -none Oct 2015 #2

What are you all afraid of? RobertEarl Oct 2015 #3

I refuse to live my life in fear. That's a Republican thing. Binkie The Clown Oct 2015 #4

You think you can't be murdered? RobertEarl Oct 2015 #5

What is the payoff for all that fear? I have read that it cripples judgment. n/t Todays_Illusion Oct 2015 #8

Payoff? RobertEarl Oct 2015 #9

I disagree, a natural response to actual danger catalyzes protective action, being fearful doesn't. Todays_Illusion Oct 2015 #12

Hey, I am not afraid to admit fear RobertEarl Oct 2015 #16

I don't think being aware of ones limitations or realized inability to respond successfully Todays_Illusion Oct 2015 #21

Wrong. RobertEarl Oct 2015 #25

I just can't take all that fear seriously, sorry. nt Todays_Illusion Oct 2015 #26

that's the NRA wet dream Skittles Oct 2015 #33

The NRA supports mass murderer's? GGJohn Oct 2015 #15

NRA did support that shooter RobertEarl Oct 2015 #18

Was the shooter a law abiding citizen up until he committed the murders? eom. GGJohn Oct 2015 #19

According to the NRA he was. RobertEarl Oct 2015 #23

No, the shooter was a law abiding citizen up until the shooting branford Oct 2015 #27

The Navy bans guns aboard ships, too RobertEarl Oct 2015 #28

The Navy does not ban guns aboard ships, GGJohn Oct 2015 #31

"Fuck the NRA" is not a substantive, no less persuasive, argument for gun control (or anything else) branford Oct 2015 #34

Heh RobertEarl Oct 2015 #36

No, some gun control proposals warrant more consideration. branford Oct 2015 #37

So you support the NRA? RobertEarl Oct 2015 #39

"Get rid of the NRA and remove the main political barriers to gun control laws?" branford Oct 2015 #40

"We make sure a car driver is licensed..." beevul Oct 2015 #53

The NRA does not ban carrying at their conventions, GGJohn Oct 2015 #30

After 70 years of not being murdered, I believe I CAN be murdered, but... Binkie The Clown Oct 2015 #41

I dunno, ask the carjack victim that got shot by louis-t Oct 2015 #51

It isn't fear that's motivating me. Old Crow Oct 2015 #7

You don't fear being shot? RobertEarl Oct 2015 #11

No, I don't fear being shot. Old Crow Oct 2015 #13

Heh RobertEarl Oct 2015 #20

Why are you so invested in urging others to be afraid? Old Crow Oct 2015 #22

Tell that to the dead students RobertEarl Oct 2015 #24

Excuse me, but what exactly are you doing in this thread? Old Crow Oct 2015 #29

I have empathy for future innocents RobertEarl Oct 2015 #32

I came into this thread... Old Crow Oct 2015 #35

I don't keep loaded guns RobertEarl Oct 2015 #38

Some take it to the next step... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2015 #10

They are blind to the fact that the change must come from Congress. nt Todays_Illusion Oct 2015 #17

They believe the President has the power of a King.... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2015 #42

The great unknowing and unenlightened, who are expert at oppression and exploitation. nt Todays_Illusion Oct 2015 #48

This is why they freak out when we win. They assume we will do to them what they want to do to us. Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2015 #50

My first reaction is: What the fuck is wrong with everyone? SheilaT Oct 2015 #14

And yet ... Straw Man Oct 2015 #43

If people didn't have guns, SheilaT Oct 2015 #45

A meaningless truism. Straw Man Oct 2015 #49

If I thought giving up my gun would save one single life jack_krass Oct 2015 #56

If your first reaction to shootings is to think........ pablo_marmol Oct 2015 #44

So your response is that all of these gun deaths SheilaT Oct 2015 #46

Yawn. Put that strawman away. pablo_marmol Oct 2015 #60

I'm gonna be real honest here. romanic Oct 2015 #47

In this case, my initial reaction was closer to home. Lizzie Poppet Oct 2015 #52

My first reaction...this means more days of bashing people with mental disorders HereSince1628 Oct 2015 #54

And if your reaction is jack_krass Oct 2015 #55

...and, if you say "stuff happens..." ScreamingMeemie Oct 2015 #57

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2015 #58

And if your second reaction is to blame Bernie... cui bono Oct 2015 #59