I had to admit I'd heard they'd adopted some anti-gun policies and that their executive leadership was trying to downplay that, but needed to do some checking around to be more specific. I promised Michael I'd get that info to him for next week's show.
Here it is:
Per AARP's THE PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA 2000, Chapter 12, "Personal and Legal Rights," pg. 12-21, "Federal Policy - Criminal Justice":
The federal government should continue to regulate the availability of handguns and semiautomatic and automatic weapons. Congress should eliminate the 1998 expiration date for the Brady bill's five-day waiting period and should leave in place the assault weapons ban.OK, but that was eight years ago. What about now?
Apparently the heat induced them to tone down a tad, but not much.
From their 2008 POLICY AGENDA, pp. 12-33 to 12-34:
Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other federal gun laws.If you're of the age where these subversive coots are soliciting you, I hope you tell them to go to hell and why.
...States should: ...enact legislation to eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of federal and state gun laws, particularly with regard to possession by juveniles, convicted domestic abusers and those under domestic violence restraining orders;
I know a number of folks that will not be a member of the AARP because of the views on firearms and other sick liberal agenda.
ReplyDeleteHowever we need to see the big picture here. If the NRA had not pushed the Brady Bill when it was stone cold dead by making it happen through the Baby Brady in PA the AARP wouldn't be able to support such anti-American laws.
I find it very interesting just how a members group that gets out of control from its intended mission or its said to be mission with sleeping members can be such a train wreck.
I have heard that AAA also has an anti-liberty agenda, plus the fact that they are a big part of the reason we are subjected to "drivers licenses". Big groups often go wrong.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say "big advocacy groups".
ReplyDeleteIf, by "strengthen enforcement", they mean do something to actually enforce the laws we already have regarding possession by prohibited persons, I'm all for it.
ReplyDelete"eliminate gaps" is the phrase that bothers me. They may want to proceed with caution. These gaps to which they refer might actually turn out to be things which resemble rights or liberties.
I have a few years to think about it, but as it stands now I won't be joining the AARP.
Gator, I advocate resisting, defying and repealing citizen disarmament edicts here. Enforcing existing gun laws is precisely what the govt was doing at Ruby Ridge and Waco.
ReplyDeleteI've defended my own and my family's lives which could have resulted in a felony charge for illegal transport, carry and brandishing had I been "caught." I've defied mandated state registration edicts. Either of these acts could have turned me into a "prohibited person."
How many men like me are you willing to have the state destroy in your desire to see gun laws enforced?
My dad canceled his membership in AARP several years ago when I learned how anti-gun they are. He had to tell them to go to hell several times before they quit sending him "please don't leave us" material.
ReplyDeleteOops, make that "when he learned..."
ReplyDeleteI'm there now. I've told them politely to Eff Off, yet they still send me solicitation letters and whatnot.
ReplyDeleteI just ignore them, but maybe I should return the material with a succinct message as to why.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, David is right, Gator. Most, if not all, of the gun control laws accomplish nothing in the way of safety, and are unconstituional infringements of the 2A, and should be repealed, nt enforced.
*sigh*
ReplyDelete"UnconstituTIONal", and "NOT enforced"...
Proofreading is my friend...
""I've told them politely to Eff Off, yet they still send me solicitation letters and whatnot.""
ReplyDeleteDon't make them stop sending you their info. Just don't join. It eats up their resources to do other things and eating up bad-guys resources is a good thing. :)
I was guilty of joining some years back then quickly unjoined as soon as I discovered their anti-gun stance. My own damned fault. Who'd'a thunk that those representing folks needing protection the most (next to little kids, I guess but at least they have parental units) would advocate making them defenseless against the rising tide of villains thieves and scoundrels.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I tried to speak to someone concerning what I might have been interpreting wrongly, some old babe would reassure me that guns were icky and the world was better off without them. Case closed. They suck.
"If you're of the age where these subversive coots are soliciting you, I hope you tell them to go to hell and why."
ReplyDeleteI am and and I did. Unfortunately they got a year's membership out of me before I learned that they are not my friends, and are instead my enemies.
Worth pointing out, AARP is strongly linked to the insurance company the Hartford. For those of you who currently or are planning on becoming a customer, you may want to reconsider and send a polite letter informing them why.
ReplyDeleteAARP has been a liberal socialist black hole for more than 25 years. They send me junk mail all the time. It goes in the trash.
ReplyDeleteDavid, isn't it about time you changed the name of your blog to "The War on America"?
"David, isn't it about time you changed the name of your blog to "The War on America"?
ReplyDeleteDavid, oldblinddog makes a good point. It's way more than about just guns anymore. Those that would deny us our 2nd rights are showing that will definitely deny us 1st Amendment rights also.
not to mention their love of "universal Health care"!
ReplyDeleteI dunno. The only thing I think David should change is his shirt once in a while. AARP and NRA goes in file 13. I get butthead COMMERCIALS on the damned phone now, couple a day. The freaking butcher and sandwich maker follow me around in the store to urge me to buy something or other. I've counted as many as TWENTY commercials in between blurbs of movies on TV. They often pre-empt each other. I get enough ads in the mail, if I twisted them and bound them, it would make enough firewood to heat my home all winter. What does the AARP do? They make frail,useless,and cowardly old people feel safer by feeding them bullshit and keeping them in the dark. Know what happened to the "Greatest Generation?". They saw what Hitler and Stalin and Hirohito did in their countries, and tried to duplicate it here. Except the devastation part, but that will be a by-product of their efforts anyway. III.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem with AARP is that they were established as a simple semi-legal scam: a front for an insurance company - Colonial Penn. Nezumi, you're mistaken about The Hartford. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1988/10/01/84702/index.htm
ReplyDeleteIn order to protect their control of the organization, the insurance folks set it up as an extremely undemocratic organization. There never has been an "election" of the directors of AARP. The board is completely self-selecting - present members choose who is to succeed them. So, joining it is to acquiese to anything that the board wants to do - promote gun control, push for socialized medicine, etc, etc, because you are NEVER going to have a chance to "Vote the rascals out".
I get their crap regularly, and it goes in the round file. That way, they waste more money, which is less available to buy off... excuse me, LOBBY congresscritters.
AARP will cheerfully beggar our grandchildren for "free" Viagra. That's pretty anti-liberty, even leaving aside their poor attitude toward the Second Amendment.
ReplyDeleteIII
If you throw away the pre-paid AARP envelope, it costs them very little. If you stuff that bad boy with all the crap they sent you, PLUS pieces of other trash, the heavier the better, then they have to pay the post on a 1 lb., inch thick letter. If LOTS of people do that, they will have to make some adjustments. I don't get those in the mail anymore, for some strange reason, but my family and friends know to save them for me. I get such a delight in striking at the enemies of our Constitution, petty, though these strikes are. :)
ReplyDeleteMake sure you don't break any laws by sending prohibited/dangerous items in the mail.
Message to AARP and their Response:
ReplyDeletemessage:
I have tolerated your repeated junk mail that solicits me to join your organization and to purchase products which you recommend. I've always just ignored and trashed them, suspecting that your agenda is primarily to make money rather than to help your members.
But no more. After reading of your stance on gun control, and finding that you actively support it, it is clear to me that you are a subversive organization, defined as one which supports the overthrow of the United States Constitution.
From your 2008 POLICY AGENDA, pp. 12-33 to 12-34: Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other federal gun laws. States should: ...enact legislation to eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of federal and state gun laws, particularly with regard to possession by juveniles, convicted domestic abusers and those under domestic violence restraining orders;
I hereby require you to remove my address from your database and that, after providing me your affirmation of compliance, you cease any and all attempts to mail anything to me, in any fashion, via postal snail mail or e-mail.
Any further solicitations from you will be reported, and your organization's mail servers will be added to blacklists as verified spammers.
My postal address ( and email address contained herein ) are provided for the sole purpose of removal, and are not for publication.
Response:
From: member@aarp.org
Sent: Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 7:51 AM
To:
Subject: Re: Other - Member Benefits and Services
Thank you for contacting AARP about our membership solicitations. Please accept our apology for any aggravation these mailings may have caused. It's my pleasure to honor your request.
I've removed your name from our solicitation lists, and regret that mailings prepared before today's date cannot be recalled. It will take approximately four to six weeks for this process to take full effect. If you should receive solicitations after that time, please call us toll-free at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) and a Member Service Associate will be happy to assist you. Be sure to have the mailing available when you call, as each notice has specific codes that will help us suppress your name and address more effectively.
(names redacted), I hope this information is helpful. If I can assist you further, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Beatrice
Member Communications
Member@aarp.org
Toll-free 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277)
Toll-free 1-877-434-7598 TTY
Be a champion for change! AARP's Divided We Fail initiative is amplifying the voices of millions of Americans who believe that health care and long-term financial security are the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation.
Demand action and answers from elected officials and candidates by signing the Divided We Fail pledge at http://www.dividedwefail.org/pledge