"Stand And Fight" is the theme of this year's NRA convention. Just in case you were worried that there was not going to be enough wingnuttery in Houston this weekend, rest assured. There will be plenty on hand.
James Porter, NRA president as of Monday, addressed a group of 300 at a grassroots organizing meeting. In addition to the "culture war" bit, Porter called his audience, "the fighters for freedom" and said, "We are the protectors." (from the AP)
But, of course, “The NRA doesn’t do pep rallies” according to NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. So I guess Porter's little speech was delivered to something more akin to a hootenanny (which is different from a hoedown in that a hoedown involves dancin'). What else might one do in Houston this weekend, you ask?
Spend the day exploring the products from every major firearm company in the country, book the hunt of a lifetime in our exclusive outfitter section, and view priceless collections of firearms in our gun collector area. You'll also see knives, wildlife art, shooting accessories, hunting gear, ATV's, and much more!
So, not a pep rally, but a heckuva good time, huh? Oh, and did I mention the celebrities? Well, you have to dumb down the definition but there will be celebrities. You can expect to see Sarah "darn-tootin" Palin, Rick "what was the third thing" Perry, Rick "don't google my last name" Santorum, and the Nuge!
Buford T. Possumpants!®, a Birmingham, AL lawyer and second-generation NRA president, is a fount of quotable quotes and colorful language. Like this bit, in which he refers to the Civil War as "The War of Northern Agression".
And, just because I think everyone should see this. Here is the video intro to Rick Perry's speech.
Here's one from Crickett, the gun that accidentally killed a 2 year-old in Kentucky last week. Not funny, but sort of ties in to the "culture war" theme. The tagline? "Start a tradition of your own."
The scariest thing about all of this gun-totin' talk is this. There have been at least 62 mass shootings in the last 30 years, and more than 3/4 of the shooters obtained their guns legally. Twenty-five of the shootings happened since 2006. Seven took place in 2012.
Porter is right in a way. Our gun culture is rampant and at war. The question is when we will be able to look at the issue of guns and violence in a sane and sensible way. Sadly, I get less and less sure that day will ever come.
P.S.: a little reading on the beginning of the military-style gun market in the US.