In fairness, you should read the case LaPierre makes. I did, and frankly, it does not bring me any closer to his position. In fact, reading skillfully crafted marketing claims like “When NRA first began our campaign to fire Eric Holder we were one of just a few voices in the wilderness” makes my jaw drop at the sheer, amazing chutzpah of it. I guess, yeah, this campaign is their baby, but somehow, LaPierre in camel hair rags eating locusts and honey, was not the first thought in my mind back when there really were voices in the wilderness, who knew they were on to something huge and dangerous, and who were doing everything in their power to...[More]Today's Gun Rights Examiner commentary notes that the wilderness is a big place--maybe we just missed him?
When the NRA released the LaPierre demand it was a serious facepalm moment for me. I'd like to be surprised that the NRA overplayed the current Gunwalker case that badly but they displayed similar actions in their desperation to appear relevant and "in charge" during the Heller and McDonald cases despite being seriously late to the game.
ReplyDeleteThe NRA needs to stop looking at every one of these events as a chance to advertise for new members and/or donations. They do a great job of being the "face" of firearms owners and providing safety and educational programs...and they need to FOCUS on that task. The ILA is a great tool for direct lobbying in DC and they need to FOCUS on that. The ILA would be better served by assisting and funding others such as the SAF, JFPO, and Gura & Possessky and giving them credit for their work. Unfortunately the gang down there in Virgina sees EVERY other group as a threat to their bottom line and has to try to one-up them with ridonkulous stunt press releases like the Fire Holder crap...which just makes them look ineffectual since it has no basis at this time and gives them zero traction going forward. They likewise don't do anyone and favors by muscling in on Supreme Court cases to take precious time away from those who are far more intimately familiar with the case. And then, some days, they are only slightly less annoying than the releases put out by Buckeye Firearms and NAGR whose hysterical, ranting, three-days after I read it somewhere else, "please send us money" e-mails go directly to my trash folder these days.
They could take a serious lesson from the Codrea/Sipsey Method which resulted in where Gunwalker is now and the process being undertaken by Issa and Grassley. Vet your sources, don't overplay the facts, and stick to what you can easily prove to be true.
There is MORE than enough red meat here to feed on and it is obvious that with due diligence more sacred cows will end up in the slaughterhouse. The trick is to not be diagnosed with mad cow disease due to your own crazed rantings and end up slaughtered yourself in the process. The NRA and NRA/ILA need to learn that.
The NRA, and LaPierre, both have a record of stealing credit from others.
ReplyDeleteThis has happened multiple times to the VCDL.
Ironically, Wayne has become a new member of VCDL.
David I became convinced a long time ago that the NRA was only concerned about fund raising.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds good to call for the resignation of Holder but the issue is bigger than Holder.
Holder and a lot of people I this administration need to do some serious jail time.
Plus David I believe the NRA changed our culture when they supported the 1968 GCA.
Aaron Zelman once told me there were 7,000 people in prison on paper work violations and thousands more disqualified for life because of the disqualifiers created under 68 GCA.
David these disqualifiers did not exist before the 68 GCA, yet crime was low.
I can not give a dime to the NRA until they start working on repeal of these laws
The NRA has been stealing credit for years, and they will continue to help the government write legislation antithetical to gun owners as they have since they helped write the '68 GCA, The Lautenberg Amendment, and damn near every other damaging piece of gun control.
ReplyDeleteThey must. It is only through creating new threats to gun owners that they can call for donations and enrich themselves while increasing their prestige as "Players" in the DC game field. That is their sole purpose. I repeat, that is their sole purpose.
As opposed to Larry Pratt at GOA, Aaron Zelman (may he rest in peace) at JPFO, and Alan Gottlieb at Second Amendment Foundation (well he does get a little heavy on the money requests, but at least he gives you a good bang for the buck).
The NRA needs to be cut loose from its money stream. They need to experience the unemployment, the cut-backs and lay-offs that the rest of America has been experiencing. When they start having to cab it to work instead of driving Cadillacs and Lincolns and such, maybe they will start to remember what they are actually supposed to be doing, instead of screwing us over with under-the-table deals they make with the gun control crowd.