Disappointment

[TrudyU]

Ed: Could the lead on this story be related to this thread? How different is the job of newspaper reporter and TV news person?

http://www.rr.com/video/2381268082

Are these not the sources from which most of us get the bulk of the information that underlies our opinion on most legislation.

[James]

The NRA and its allies need to be careful. If in fact, 90% of US voters favor better gun control laws, which implies that they favor a congress that allows the president of appoint a new chief for the ATF and other reasonable steps like allowing the CDC to research the effects on gun violence on the nations health, then we might have an over reaction and elect a congress amenable to repealing the second amendment. That repeal would be an overreaction. I care not for guns for self defense. I do not believe that most gun owners have sense enough to use guns safely. I do believe we need hunters. We have, collectively, nearly the distroyed the wolves, big cats and bears at the top of the food chain so that the population explosion of deer and elk in Yellowstone and other parks have resulted in great harm to the ecology. Our nations hunters have become the predators in chief and we need them.

We might also want to look closely at Wayne La Pierre and the other full time employees of the NRA. Rumors persist of associations past and present with such organizations as the KKK and the John Birch society. I've had my run-ins with reps of both societies in the past. They are not nice people.

[Haruo]

Associations past and present w/ KKK & JBS:

I don't hear much about present-day activities of these groups. The Klan seems to have largely been eclipsed by the Aryan Nation and its offshoots, and I'm not sure what if anything the Birchers do these days in the absence of the Commies (except, of course, to join the bandwagon of support for seeing Obama as one, which I don't think was a Bircher idea to begin with).

What can you tell us about them, James or anyone?

[James]

In trying to pin down the phenomenon that is Wayne Lapierre, I found this from The Onion.



WASHINGTON—In an emotionally charged press conference addressing gun control legislation, NRA vice president Wayne LaPierre delivered a tearful speech Wednesday honoring the thousands of Americans who have tragically fallen victim to background checks. “Because of our nation’s senseless gun control laws, this poor man with a known history of domestic violence was unable to procure an assault-style weapon, despite his desperate wishes to own and operate such a weapon,” said the visibly distraught lobbyist while gesturing towards a framed portrait of a middle-aged man, one of dozens of photos of victims displayed around the conference room. “It’s unthinkable that in a country like America, a person is legally prohibited from purchasing AR-15s or AK-47 assault rifles just because he or she is revealed to have a criminal record or even a pattern of mental illness. And yet, every day, another 20 citizens will be denied assault weapons due to background checks indicating that they were arrested for making violent threats to a coworker. And for what? For what, I ask you?” LaPierre added that until we live in a world without background checks, prospective gun owners can work to prevent tragedy by purchasing weapons at gun shows.
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[Tim Bonney]

Very funny James! And it isn't far from the truth. The way the NRA goes on a about background checks you'd think we were violating them or their rights in some way.

Since I entered the process for recognition of my ordination to the UMC have had two background checks. If you've not done anything wrong you have nothing to fear. If you have why should we let you get a gun??

[KeithE]

[TrudyU]

[Sandy]

[Tim Bonney]

[ET]

[KeithE]

[ET]

[KeithE]

[KeithE]