PART I – Legislative Activity Then and Now
This is the first of a (for now) two-part series on the NRA and legislation. This diary explores a bit of legislative history in light of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy’s impending bill to ban high-capacity clips for semi-automatic weapons. Next time, the diary will look at the NRA’s historical roots, current activities, and financial underpinnings.
First, full disclosure: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a hunter. I have never been in a position that it was required to feed myself or my family, so I have never had a motivation to take it up as an activity. I am, however, a gun owner. Several guns, in fact. And I know how to use them.
For several years I participated in competitive shooting events, some of them sponsored by the NRA, and I have won a few marksmanship trophies. However, I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the NRA. That doesn’t mean that I’m anti-NRA. There is another reason I have never joined the organization.
In the summer of 1986 I had recently graduated from college and was living in Dallas. My best friend was married to a Dallas motorcycle cop whose brother was a police officer in Arizona. My social circle was dominated by police officers and their families. I vividly remember being at a party with 30 or 40 of these folks when the subject of the NRA came up.
I was somewhat, although not entirely, surprised to find I was the only person in the room without an NRA membership card. I found that out because the NRA discussion culminated in a bonfire where everyone present (except me) burned their NRA membership cards. And what provoked this display of disdain for the NRA? The group had recently come out forcefully in opposition to pending legislation banning teflon-coated, armor-penetrating bullets. (These were commonly referred to as "cop-killer" bullets because they were specifically designed to penetrate the body armor worn by police officers during armed confrontations.)
All of my friends there relied on guns daily in their jobs, most had extensive personal collections of firearms, many of them hunted, and most participated in competitive shooting, as did I. They were certainly no bleeding heart liberals. But they knew, on a very personal level, how much more dangerous these munitions made the job of law enforcement. And they knew just how misguided the stance of the NRA was on this subject.
Eventually it was this kind of pressure from police and other law enforcement officials that forced the NRA to change its position and half-heartedly support the ban on armor-piercing bullets. The bill was signed into law by Ronald Reagan in August, 1986.
That experience showed me that the NRA was responsive at one level to its members. But it also showed me the kind of entrenched power that the NRA had become in our national politics and I have never felt comfortable with that.. That power has increased dramatically in subsequent years, and it has often been exercised to the detriment our society.
Everyone expects the NRA will come out just as forcefully to oppose the proposed ban on high-capacity cartridges. It’s time once again for law enforcement officers of all types to step up and make their voices heard. After all, this is the kind of ammunition that makes their jobs so very dangerous every day.
We can expect the tired old argument that criminals, by definition, are lawbreakers and making these cartridges illegal won’t keep criminals from buying them. While that may be true, what is equally true is:
- There is absolutely no valid use for 30+ cartridge clips for anyone other than military and law enforcement officers. Citizens don’t need to fire 30+ bullets at a time to shoot targets – a 10-cartridge clip is sufficient for rapid-fire competition.
- Anyone whose aim is so bad they need to be able to spray 30+ bullets to hit their chosen target needs to be deterred, or their aim improved. If their guns and ammunition are legal, they should go to a range and learn to be a better shot. (The NRA sponsors free programs in every state for this.) It shouldn’t take more than 10 bullets to kill an intruder. If it does, you probably aren’t gong to be successful anyway and when the intruder takes your gun away from you, they will still have 15-20 bullets to use on you or your family.
- While it may be true that criminals will still be able to buy high-capacity clips, a ban will make them a lot harder to come by and reduce the danger to everyone. If they can’t flood gun shops and shows with this "merchandise," manufacturers will make a lot fewer of them, which will automatically reduce the opportunity for criminals to obtain these clips. Routing them to military and law enforcement will further reduce their availability. Who knows, it might even make it more difficult for gangs to spray down neighborhoods with bullets as they drive by.
- High-capacity clips are the ammo of choice for terrorists, not hunters or marksmen or defenders of hearth and home. They need to be identified for what they are – terror weapons. By advocating for the widespread availability of high-capacity clips, those supporters join the ranks of terrorist sympathizers.
In recent years the NRA has attempted to reclaim its stature among the law enforcement community by creating one of the earliest of the astroturf organizations. According to Mother Jones (Jan-Feb 2004):
The NRA has tried to repair its ties with police by helping create a new law enforcement organization altogether. According the New Republic, in 1991 the NRA gave $100,000 to help launch the Law Enforcement Alliance of America. Since then, the NRA has often promoted the LEAA's positions on issues as evidence that the law enforcement community stands behind the NRA.
The NRA may now have another opportunity to stand with law enforcement and against terrorists. They can represent their constituents and support the millions of patriotic Americans whose lives are jeopardized daily by these high-capacity clips, or they can take the low road, along with the arms dealers and other terrorist sympathizers who would hold our nation hostage
Unfortunately, over the past two decades the NRA leadership has tried to distance itself from accountability to its members by seeking funding sources apart from its membership. The next diary will explore some of the leadership and financial issues that have taken the NRA down the same road to foreign control as the National Chamber of Commerce.
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Tonight’s Top Comments. . . .
From commonmass:
This comment by Bulldawg in deoliver47's diary about Maine Governor Paul LePage's comment that the NAACP could "kiss my butt" struck me as one of the most succinct and truthful statements made about Paul LePage since he announced his run for Governor.
From Phonegery:
There are threads, and then, there are...hilrious threads...and then there is this one from DanK Is Back's From "Blood Libel" to "Pogrom"] diary. Don't miss a comment from Dallasdoc's initial comment to the one that inspires DaNang65's deep embarassment to David54's sympathy - for the lions to Cedwyn's colorful explanation and alizard's technical solution on to the end of the thread.
In that same diary, rosabw sums up the right wingers succinctly.
From sardonyx:
Dem Beans expands on urbanites finding ways to fit into their adopted rural homes in Gay in Maione's Speaking Rurally diary.
In Eddie C's diary, shpilk gives an outstanding definition of real fiscal conservatism -- which has been long abandoned by Republicans and misunderstood by most Democrats.
From me:
vigilant meerkat sums up my feelings exactly in Eddie C's outstanding Jan Schankowsky diary.
cadfile hits the nail on the head about à la carte religion and history.
Fonsia defines a new (to me) term, Stochastic Terrorist, in Fishgrease's Booming the Red State Blues.
Also in Fishgreas’e diary, claude reminds us of the perils of giving in to the bullies and terrorists among us.
Tonight’s Top Mojo . . . .
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers, and Mojo Friday:
1) So sad. but true by BOHICA — 109
2) something that worked for me at work by Krush — 92
3) It's like DKos and my spam folder by begone — 85
4) Wow. Just wow... by BoiseBlue — 83
5) As Springsteen sang... by Hawkjt — 80
6) That's an excellent idea. by Fishgrease — 78
7) There are times when I literally can't believe by vigilant meerkat — 74
8) You're right, Americans are emotional vampires. by Azazello — 74
9) I hope on DK4 by Gay In Maine — 71
10) great diary... by mbh1023 — 69
11) Thank you for the summary by davidkc — 68
12) I even promised myself I'd be nice today! by Fishgrease — 62
13) We don't know that we are (losing) by political mutt — 62
14) Yeah. by MBNYC — 61
15) Biden's new chief of staff by The Dead Man — 61
16) When Obama's campaign began to surge, I knew by Kimball Cross — 59
17) Until they have it all. by vigilant meerkat — 57
18) New classic: by IndieGuy — 56
19) The speech resonated around the world... by Shockwave — 56
20) I'm in love with you right now. by jarhead5536 — 54
21) Altruism porn - love that term. by Benintn — 54
22) I suggest we all take the President's by ceebee7 — 54
23) *applause* by talismanlangley — 54
24) Clearly this is civility. by political junquie — 53
25) As someone helping by Dale — 53
26) Don't say "fuck it", by pkbarbiedoll — 53
27) Newt Gingrich calls his by Snud — 53
28) asdf by BFSkinner — 53
29) The Law is the problem by twigg — 53
30) We see this all the time by davidkc — 52
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tip Jar by IndieArmyWife — 488
2) Tip Bucket by Fishgrease — 379
3) Tip jar for transcribing that. (n/t) by BruinKid — 341
4) How did we get outmaneuvered by... by juliewolf — 283
5) We gotta believe by Eddie C — 283
6) Tips for telling LePage how you feel. by Deoliver47 — 281
7) Tip Jar by Gay In Maine — 267
8) Tip Jar by jamess — 137
9) So sad. but true by BOHICA — 109
10) something that worked for me at work by Krush — 92
11) It's like DKos and my spam folder by begone — 85
12) Wow. Just wow... by BoiseBlue — 83
13) As Springsteen sang... by Hawkjt — 80
14) That's an excellent idea. by Fishgrease — 78
15) Scritchie Jar by triciawyse — 76
16) You're right, Americans are emotional vampires. by Azazello — 74
17) There are times when I literally can't believe by vigilant meerkat — 74
18) I hope on DK4 by Gay In Maine — 71
19) I'm not FishGrease - this is not a tip jar by pkbarbiedoll — 70
20) great diary... by mbh1023 — 69
21) Thank you for the summary by davidkc — 68
22) I even promised myself I'd be nice today! by Fishgrease — 62
23) We don't know that we are (losing) by political mutt — 62
24) Tip Jar by ericlewis0 — 62
25) Biden's new chief of staff by The Dead Man — 61
26) Yeah. by MBNYC — 61
27) When Obama's campaign began to surge, I knew by Kimball Cross — 59
28) Until they have it all. by vigilant meerkat — 57
29) We are forecast by Frankenoid — 57
30) New classic: by IndieGuy — 56
31) The speech resonated around the world... by Shockwave — 56