Yes, those lovely people over at the NRA have decided that they've had enough of Shannon Watts, the public face of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Their new strategy to blunt the effects of this gun-control group seems to be attacking the leader on a personal basis. Not for what she says. Not for her position on the issues. They've decided to go for the gutter and attack this woman's claim that she's a "stay-at-home mom".
Which is true, but not QUITE true enough for the NRA. Seems that she's not a TRUE Scotsman in their eyes. How does one accomplish this smear tactic? Ah, for the answer to this (and probably no other questions) you'll have to read the part pasty the squiggly-jiggly.
In this article from Salon.com, we get all the filthy details about the NRA's latest attack on those who would see stronger gun laws in America. We get to see how LOW one has to go (and be) in order to attack one's foe for their personal life. And this from a very wealthy organization against one woman. Misogynistic? Probably. A sign that the NRA has become desperate? Unquestionably.
The Salon piece links to this piece in MotherJones.com which describes the tactics used by the Open Carry and other radical gun nuts against the women who would dare stand against the unfettered access we grant people in this country. If you choose to read the MotherJones article, take your Pepto-Bismol first.
If you want to read the entirety of the NRA hit piece on Watts, click here.
Since what Salon quotes from the NRA piece doesn't count against my Fair Use of Salon's original content, I'm gonna throw content from both of them at you.
From the NRA:
Had Watts “been a stay-at-home mom” for the previous five years? Not exactly. In December 2008, Watts announced the formation of her public relations firm, VoxPop Public Relations, including an impressive list of clients for which she was already working. The registered address for her PR firm was a residence, so presumably she was running her pr firm out of her house. Her children were all well into school-age or older, so it’s likely that she had plenty of time to run her business during the day.
She earns money??? Did the rest of her family approve this in advance? Somebody get that woman's shoes off of her and chain her ass to a stove! Perhaps fi your husband is an NRA member, you HAVE to remain in the home and are prohibited from earning your own paycheck. I dunno, but it seems like an odd position to take in 21st Century America.
This woman has received death threats from ammosexuals bent on amassing personal arsenals capable of holding off a full company of the Russian Army - if they can find enough people to fire them. The NRA isn't quite so bold and honest about their hatred. They've chosen to attack her because Shannon Watts ISN'T June Cleaver. Those pricks.
The link to the MotherJones article (above) covers Watts' problems with danger.
I can't help but quote the final paragraph of the Salon piece here. It's a gem!
The NRA wants to convince Americans that they are an innocent organization merely here to teach people "to respect firearms and make responsible choices about them," as Kopel writes. If so, then maybe it's wise not to pander to the worst impulses of right-wing radicals, like loathing women who dare to step out of the kitchen.
Shannon Watts got guts. Even the NRA can't shut her up.