Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Getting the NRA Facts Straight

[T]he National Rifle Association continues to lead the way in protecting not only the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans, but also our long-standing hunting heritage.

Anyone who argues differently doesn't have their facts straight.
I don't know about hunting heritage, Mr. Cox. But when it comes to the Second Amendment, I've asked NRA repeatedly to explain how its positions are consistent with the Second Amendment when it gives political endorsements and underserved A-ratings to known gun grabbers, when it endorses "gun free school zones", when it calls for "enforcing existing gun laws," and lauds federal usurpations of power such as "Project Exile."

I do find it interesting when you say you protect the "rights of law-abiding Americans," it gives you an "out" from concerning yourself with Americans who defy and resist unconstitutional edicts that restrict or prohibit their right to keep and bear arms.

Rather than engaging with a life member posing legitmate questions, you and your organization choose to ignore and not respond. I understand it's a numbers game, and it does not serve your purposes to acknowlege these challenges. That's OK. I've seen more and more gun owners wising up to you guys over the years. That trend isn't reversing.

It's not a choice between AHSA and NRA, folks, between whose brand of "gun control" we find more palatable. That's a false alternative, a tail-chaser, and more importantly, a diversion of time, energy, resources and focus.

2 comments:

E. David Quammen said...

Chris W. Cox....Cox? ... Cox? ... Where have I heard that name before? Let's see now....Oh, yeah! One of the founders had the name Cox. But he had an 'E' at the end of his name;

"Whereas civil-rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as military forces, which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms."
- 'Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution' using the Pseudonym "A Pennsylvanian" in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789 at 2 col. 1.

"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? ... Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American. The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people."

- Tenche Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788. (Mr. Coxe was a prominent Philadelphian and political economist who was named assistant secretary of the federal treasury in 1790, commissioner of revenue in 1792, and purveyor of public supplies in 1803).

"...not in the hands of either the federal or state governments..." you say, Mr. Coxe?
But, that seems remarkably different than the known stance taken by the NRA;

NRA Supported the National Firearms Act of 1934, by Angel Shamaya

Well now, isn't THAT something! Wonder what Mr. Cox would have to say about that?

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmm, probably something incorporating short ropes and long drops....