The NRA is in our local public school. They sponsor programs which promote sport shooting. The pinched finances of many public school systems make this possible; they welcome private financing for extra-curricular activities. The problem with all of this, however, is that it allows this group to promote its own agenda, while at the same time showing a kinder, gentler face than its radical agenda exposes.
My nephew recently came home from school with a bunch of NRA t-shirts. He got them in various sizes for the people he loves. What can you say to that? He also had a lot a leaflets and bumper stickers, things like that.
He signed up for skeet shooting. He enjoys it very much. I have no problem with that.
However...
My nephew told me about a recent event at his home. He is sixteen years old and was home alone after returning from school (both parents at work). After he was home for awhile, he saw a stranger pull in the driveway and walk across the front yard. His first thought was to get his gun. It was the water meter reader. We have a privatized water system here and the man's company truck had broken down, so he was using his own vehicle (the meter readers don't have uniforms, just an ID badge). Fortunately, nothing truly terrible happened, but this incident disturbed me greatly. I told my nephew, very calmly, that I believed what he did to be wrong. He calmly informed me that he would shoot anybody who he thought was a threat (my nephew is six foot four). What the hell? Where did he get this shit?
Guess.