Do You Believe The N.R.A. Should Have Any Voice In America?

1. 71

   crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years ago

   Do You Believe The N.R.A. Should Have Any Voice In America?
   
   I've been watching the actions of the NRA which I once belonged to and supported and you know what. I'm not sure they should have any say in America and the politics of gun control. As a retired US Naval Officer and Native American I once supported them but I no longer can. I fear how many more school shootings we will see before school goes out. Maybe its time that we radically changed the gun laws in the USA. We must protect our children. I saw a ambulance headed toward an area Elementary School today and it scared the hell out of me. I would give up my guns to protect the youth of America.
   
   

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2. 61

   Superkevposted 11 years ago

   I don't know how much say they have exactly. They represent millions of people who believe in the 2nd amendment and they lobby based on their constituents wishes. Like tons of other groups.
   
   They have the right to lobby and state their opinion as much as the anti-gunners do. Congress can listen or not. But to say they should not be allowed to make their case as fervently as the other side strikes me as being out of tune with the 1st amendment.

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   1. 71

      crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder how much the Gun Lobby though is about big money and how much is about the constitution. I'm not sure that all lobbyists shouldn't be outlawed. Why are they necessary. Any lobbyist. Not just gun lobbyists. Maybe we should throw them all out.

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   2. 74

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      crazy:
      I have to agree with you. I wrote a hub on kicking them all out of washington, they certainly do not represent "the people" and their ability to bribe politicians has gone too far.

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3. 97

   chef-de-jourposted 11 years ago

   The NRA should have a voice and should be allowed to speak up just as any association in a democratic country should be allowed. You can't deny anyone the right to voice an opinion.
   However as you point out they do seem to have more political clout, a disproportionate amount, and this is due to the power of the dollar, and congressmen fearful of their status. The pro gun lobby is very powerful and has some celebrity behind it which also helps to maintain its image as a positive force for American values.
   Sandy Hook however seems to be the final straw. The US must reform its gun laws and I hope Obama succeeds (where other presidents have failed) because how can you not do anything after 20 children are slaughtered?
   As a Brit it's very hard for me to relate to the power of the gun in your country but when I see and hear the NRA spokesman I shudder! I don't want to relate at all. He wants teachers to be carrying guns inside school? Am I correct? If so then that's the straight road to madness. Perhaps they need a new spokesperson.
   With over 300 million guns, a zealous pro-gun mentality, the NRA, a stubborn congress, Obama's challenge is massive. But a good start would be to get these horrific assault weapons out of the public domain. These things are so powerful, who would want to own/use such a weapon apart from a professional soldier?

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   1. 72

      platinumOwl4posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      anyone remember how the labor union started out and what they eventually became. Million of American are now out of work due to there greed for power and more money. Just thought I throw this in for good measure.

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4. 62

   mintinfoposted 11 years ago

   As long as there is a 2nd amendment the NRA should have a right to lobby for its validity. They maybe powerful but their power is no more than a judge whos sole power is to decipher the law and apply just decisions in disputes. Society as a whole should reexamine the moral implications of protecting the 2nd amendment as it stands now and make appropriate changes according to the health of the republic.

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   1. 74

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      great points.  Washington should bring the constitution into the future and people need to stop trying to return to the past.  The 'good old days' were not so good after all, were they?

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5. 74

   d.williamposted 11 years ago

   No organization should have the power to influence governmental decisions.  The NRA is no different than the religions, and any other corporation that influence our politics. 
   What is wrong with their lobbying is the influence they "buy" from politicians who have no understanding of what they are defending, and who don't even care, as long as they are paid large sums of money to be someone's mouthpiece in Washington.
   It has never been about what is right, or what is wrong, but rather, the influences by any single enterprise is all about money, power and greed.   What happens to civilians in that process is simply collateral damage in that quest for the almighty dollar.  It was also a shame that the original motto of our government was misspelled and ended up:  "in God we trust", instead of "in Gold we trust".

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   1. 72

      platinumOwl4posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Usually I don't, but in this instance I concur with your answer.

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6. 72

   platinumOwl4posted 11 years ago

   Yes, They should. When they had the incident in Waco Texas, it was said that children were being abused. It turns out that what those people were really trying to do was break away from an oppressive system. Remember what happen. Children are scarified when someone is attempting to pull a con job on the public. I feel sad of the parents who lost there children. But there is not enough legislation on the mentally Ill were the problem seem to lie. In Newton, the young man killed his mother first. I wonder what happen when a person can murder the person who delivered you into the world. I own two nine millimeters and I have never shot one outside of the firing range.

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   1. 74

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      the majority believes as U do, but unfortunately, the majority no longer rules this country.  Big money does, & there is BIG money being made selling guns & ammo in this country.  Incidental killings of others is just  collateral damages to t

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7. 60

   jravity1posted 11 years ago

   I can't hear you over all the gunshots...

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8. 69

   Shyron E Shenkoposted 11 years ago

   The NRA as a group should not have a say in any political policies/laws.
   I believe that people have a right to have a gun. Not an assault weapon made for the purpose of killing anyone!!! I also believe every person should have a background check and any history of mental illiness in the home that person should be denied a permit and the application for a permit from any person who is mentally ill should be reported and the person should be forced to get treatment.
   
   
   This fight to get gun laws passed is really good for the NRA's pocket book...
   That is what they care about and all they care about.
   
   I once was given a gun permit application and TOLD to mail it.  I had in my possession a piece of paper as to this person's mental state and I enclosed a copy with the request.   Permit denied!

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   1. 71

      crazyhorsesghostposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree 100 percent with you Shyron.

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   2. 61

      Superkevposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "I believe that people have a right to have a gun. Not an assault weapon made for the purpose of killing anyone!!! "
      
      So, ummmm, are you less dead if I shoot you with a handgun? What, exactly, do you think guns are for??

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9. 60

   ib radmastersposted 11 years ago

   The government cannot protect us from random acts of violence.
   And the government would be protecting our children more by going after the drug cartels and gangs that sell illegal drugs to the children, use children for prostitution, and human trafficking.
   
   There are over 33,000 known gangs in the US with over 1.4 million gang members, They use guns to protect their illegal businesses.

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10. 60

    Levi Legionposted 8 years ago

    Thomas, your question is so very irrational. I'm not saying this to be mean.
    
    "Should the NRA have a voice in America?" They have as much right to a "voice" as any other group, whether you agree with them or not.
    
    "Giving up our guns" would not prevent school shootings, sorry to inform you. We can't let tragedies cloud our judgment out of fear.

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11. 78

    Jack Burtonposted 6 years ago

    It's pretty much a given that those who are anti-firearms are also all-in for being anti-1st Amendment and all the other various freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans. This Hub Question is all the proof we need to know that for sure.

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