My Thoughts On : The Self-Destruction Of The NRA
Things Didn't Have To Be Like This
In an alternate universe, this would have been top headlines. However, in an reality occupied by a deadly outbreak that killed 400,000 in this country along with a attempted coup, this slipped underneath my radar.
One reaps what they sow. When those in prominent positions spread lies and discontent, people lose trust of that institution. The NRA only have themselves to blame for their financial peril. While starting off with good and noble intentions, the NRA became corrupted by power, control, and money. For the past few decades, they were only invested in gun rights because of that financial incentive. It was never about gun owners, their rights, or the Second Amendment.
One who is consumed with power and control will say anything to keep it. Unfortunately, fear is a powerful tool. Those who only wanted to enrich their gun education and fulfilling hunting experience got drowned out by those who were buying military grade weapons because the G-Men were counting the seconds to get them. Believing the toxic rhetoric, many people became consumed by invisible boogeymen who weren’t their. Many were throwing their money at those who were telling them at quote “they” are counting the seconds that they will take away your guns. Never mind that the Second Amendment was never under any real threat.
One could be a gun-owner while embracing common-sense regulation. One doesn’t become anti-American, anti-Second Amendment, or anti-gun when feeling that such moderation is necessary. Hand guns and rifles were never part of that debate as they serve both a defensive purpose and couldn’t kill scores of people instantly. However, scaring people is good business, and sadly, the NRA got it down to a science. The NRA became intensely greedy. The more gun owners meant more members, and thus, more donations. It was in their best financial interest to tell a whole generation of gun owners that the Second Amendment meant owning anything to your hearts content regardless of its practicality or justification. Military-grade weapons that serve only a offensive purpose were making their way into civilian hands. While many were scared that American Stalin was moments away from ordering the ATF to bust down doors and sieging their guns, Wayne LaPierre was laughing all the way to the bank. Wayne exploited unfounded fears for his own bottom line without guilt.
It was in LaPierre's best interest to keep the gravy train running. Their greed became so intense that they became willfully blind to spies infiltrating their organization from the Kremlin. Those with the difference of opinions weren't just critics, but enemies that had to be stopped at all cost. Those who embraced these polarized views saw the rhetoric as the gospel truth. For many, the right became much more important than the sanctity of life itself. Charged emotions became a substitute for logic and reason. Several saw through it thought. Many got sick and tired of their sensationalist rhetoric. It would eventually catch up.On January 15, the NRA filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. One could argue though that this organization had been morally and ethically bankrupted long before though. However, it's being revived here in Texas as a non-profit called "Project Freedom". One would think that after the self-destruction brought on by intense politicization; the new organization would try to bring the NRA back to its humble roots. One would be quickly disappointed though. Not only has Project Freedom not learn those painful lessons, it seems that they are going to double down on them.
I know that many are going to blame quote "Leftist Radicals" for the downfall of the NRA. However, the undoing of the NRA wasn't a brought on by anyone on the left, but by those who transformed the organization into something other than what it was suppose to be. Those who hijacked the NRA were driven by intense greed, and were willing to say and do anything to get it to. Wayne LaPierre is no victim. He single-handily destroyed the once-respected organization. The members who simply wanted a richer hunting experience free from political spectacle became casualties as well. They simply wanted the old NRA back. One that's now likely never going to happen.
Their is no respect for those who use fear as an instrument of control. This is regardless of whether one is a lobbyist, politician, or preachers/televangelist. Using fear to control people is one of the most deplorable things that one can do. The NRA would still be a respected organization if they never got involved in partisan politics and became consumed with power, control, and money. However, I doubt that their a sense of responsibility from Wayne LaPierre or those who enabled his outlandish rhetoric? As of 2021, the NRA is only a shadow of them former selves. The NRA did this to themselves and are responsible for their own demise. Things didn't have to be like this though.
National Rifle Association (Wikipedia) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association#Political_involvement
National Rifle Association - Criticism (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association#Criticism
Wayne LaPierre (Wikipedia) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_LaPierre
Wayne LaPierre - Criticism (Wikipedia) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_LaPierre#Criticism
NRA files for bankruptcy (CNN Business) : https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/business/nra-bankruptcy-new-york-texas/index.html
NRA Foward : https://www.nraforward.org/
NRA Leaves New York to Reincorporate in Texas, Announces New Strategic Plan (NRA Foward) : https://www.nraforward.org/press-release
National Rifle Assn (OpenSecrets): https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=d000000082
National Rifle Assn (OpenSecrets): https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2018&id=d000000082
National Rifle Assn (OpenSecrets): https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000082&cycle=2018
What is a PAC? (OpenSecrets): https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacfaq.php
N.R.A. Seeks Distance From Russia as Investigations Heat Up (NYTimes): https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/us/nra-russia-maria-butina-investigations.html
NRA in crisis: how the gun group became ensnared in the Russia inquiry (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/01/nra-russia-investigations-gun-lobby
Deceptive Second Amendment Ads (FactCheck.org): https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/deceptive-second-amendment-ads/
Did George H.W. Bush Resign from the NRA? (Snopes): https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bush-nra-resignation/
Articles of Interest (Facts)
Gun deaths in US rise to highest level in 20 years, data shows (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/13/us-gun-deaths-levels-cdc-2017
About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2017 (CDC): https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D76/D48F344
America's gun culture in charts (BBC): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081
Gun violence in the United States(Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States
Crime in the United States (Wikipedia): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States
Fact-checking figures about gun violence in Texas (PolitiFact): https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/sep/06/fact-checking-figures-about-gun-violence-texas/
How many guns are on the streets in the United States? (PolitiFact):https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/sep/09/beto-orourke/how-many-guns-are-streets-united-stat...
U.S. Leads World in Mass Shootings (WSJ):https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-leads-world-in-mass-shootings-1443905359
Articles of Interest (Previous Kixmiller Pigeon Post)
Examining The Gun-Control Topic from a Rational Perspective (Part 1) :https://rkixmiller.dudaone.com/examining-the-gun-control-topic-from-a-rational-perspective
Examining The Gun-Control Topic from a Rational Perspective (Part 2) :https://rkixmiller.dudaone.com/examining-the-gun-control-topic-from-a-rational-perspective-part-2
Examining The Gun-Control Topic from a Rational Perspective (Part 3) : https://rkixmiller.dudaone.com/examining-the-gun-control-topic-from-a-rational-perspective-part-3
WWW.PBS.ORG
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