Anybody Here Have A True Top-Level Connection To The NRA?

[semperfi71]

If so please inform them that they are wasting their time "getting the message" of the Second Amendment and the upcoming battle to the gunowners.

It is imperative to their cause to get that message to the REST of the Amercian public.

I post a link here to a news article, note the last comment and its lack of real knowledge. Note the fact that the anti-gun politicians are appealing directly to the people and asking them to appeal to congress on weapons ban laws.

Thousands march for gun control in Washington - Yahoo! News

If the NRA thinks they have the "power" to influence enough politicians to win this fight they are mistaken. And I hear they are already bragging that they will have the power.

They must appeal to the majority of the public.

Read my following post please.

 

[semperfi71]

I was a newly minted Air Traffic Controller during the PATCO strike of 1981. I had many conversations with the PATCO members before the strike.

Their overall opinion was that if enough of them went on strike they would wield enough power to gain advantage to their side.

I told them they would only succeed if they could engage enough of the populace to support their gambit. Otherwise they would garner no sympathy from the population and therefore the politicians would not follow along as well. All they care about is the majority in the polls. The polls were overwhelming in favor of the government and not PATCO.

However, the PATCO union was so entrenched in their own propoganda that they were firmly brainwashed into believing that they had a just cause and would prevail simply because they would shut down ATC with their power and the government would give in to their demands.

There were many issues of this time in history that I need not dwell on. But PATCO was wrong on many counts.

BUT, they were so smug in their opinion that they would win simply because they could control politicians with their strike by shutting down their ability to travel.

I am fearing that the NRA is reaching that point, they think that they can "own", or influence enough politicians that they will prevail.

Politicians in America care about three things, money for themselves, polls that indicate a majority, and numbers of constituents that indicate a potential majority.

The more people in between the pro- and anti-gun factions who the NRA wins over, the more likelihood of a victory against gun control.

Unfortunately I currently see the NRA as failing to get the real, and correct, message to the masses.

 

[redlevel]

I am fearing that the NRA is reaching that point, they think that they can "own", or influence enough politicians that they will prevail.

The way NRA owns or influences politicians is to go into their districts or states and dump huge mounts of money in television, radio, and print ads. These ads are how NRA influences the masses. They have been very successful with this tactic, and the politicians know it. The classic example, and the one the politicians won't forget, is the whipping the democrats took after passage of the Clinton AWB. I'll trust the NRA to know how to influence legislation.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Just my 2 cents worth but I have to agree the NRA could be doing a better job of educating the public. Where I believe they are falling down is in the area of our history. We keep hearing how Britain, and Canada and Australia have such "great gun laws". But we are not those countries. To the contrary, we gave England the boot over 200 years ago, including their (parliament) form of government. Our ancestors used guns in a responsible manner to secure our freedoms, that's the history Americans need to hear. We're the descendants of those folks and continue with a tradition of responsible gun use. Because some people act irresponsibly don't mean we should give up our traditions any more than we should give up the automobile because some drink and drive or operate in an unsafe manner. We have a proud history of gun use in this country. This is the message people need to hear.

 

[riderrick65]

Reply to Thread

The way NRA owns or influences politicians is to go into their districts or states and dump huge mounts of money in television, radio, and print ads. These ads are how NRA influences the masses. They have been very successful with this tactic, and the politicians know it. The classic example, and the one the politicians won't forget, is the whipping the democrats took after passage of the Clinton AWB. I'll trust the NRA to know how to influence legislation.

We'll see ...... I know that I'm doing my part, contributions & contacting my government reps.

 

[redlevel]

NRA isn't a public relations firm, they are a lobbying organization, and that is what they do best. NRA isn't nearly as concerned with swaying public opinion as they are with influencing politicians. Sometimes the two functions overlap. Maybe they need to hire a PR firm, but their forte is making elected officials toe the line.

 

[StlBluesFan72]

This is an all out battle, and they are not out in front leading the troops. I know they do a lot from behind-the-scenes, but they should be buying print ad, or anything they can do to reach the sheeple. Gun enthusiasts like everyone here are "in the loop" on what is going on, but there are millions of gun owners who have no idea how deep they digging to disarm us all. The NRA needs to quit preaching to the choir, and get thier *** out of the church, and out in the streets. Sponsor some marches, hold some rallys, do SOMETHING .. WE WILL HELP !!!!

 

[riderrick65]

Reply to Thread

NRA isn't a public relations firm, they are a lobbying organization, and that is what they do best. NRA isn't nearly as concerned with swaying public opinion as they are with influencing politicians. Sometimes the two functions overlap. Maybe they need to hire a PR firm, but their forte is making elected officials toe the line.

Hope your right

 

[danysw]

The NRA is not just a lobbyist organization but lobbying is one of the best parts of it. They are well organized and well directed, they have been doing this job for more than 100 years. I not always agree with all their agenda but with more than 80% and without any doubts they are the best of the best defending our 2nd amendment rights and that’s enough for me. The only thing they (us) need is more funds, they (us) need more people to join them.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

NRA isn't a public relations firm, they are a lobbying organization, and that is what they do best. NRA isn't nearly as concerned with swaying public opinion as they are with influencing politicians. Sometimes the two functions overlap. Maybe they need to hire a PR firm, but their forte is making elected officials toe the line.

I agree, lobbying is what they do best and it has worked for decades. However, times have changed and the traditional way of influencing politicians isn't (in my opinion) enough. We need to win the "hearts and minds" of the majority of the public, something that will also influence politicians. To do that we need to appeal to our history, our forefathers, and their relationship to guns. People don't get enough history as it is. If the NRA isn't going to include this in its tactics who will? A well informed public will be our ally, a public ignorant of its history will not.

 

[owenwd54]

WE can not give up . Call write e mail all of your state representatives and let them know that we are watching how they vote and we will not forget . Let Congress and Senate Know that we will not forget what they do. Let them all know that we are not going away and that this will never end until we know that our 2nd amendment rights preserved for ever.

 

[JenniferG]

Well, I'm certain that the NRA is doing all that they can to influence decision making politicians. I believe they do the best job we ask them to do. Having said that though and reading this,

If the NRA thinks they have the "power" to influence enough politicians to win this fight they are mistaken. And I hear they are already bragging that they will have the power.

I respond with: I am the NRA. I do everything I can to educate non gunners that the position of the NRA and all of it's members (4.5 million) together with other pro second amendment organizations, along with more that 100 million gun owners, and all those that believe in the absolute rights affirmed by the Constitution have the moral high ground on this issue.

I look to the NRA to lobby politicians and provide us with the information and talking points we need to educate others about the 2nd amendment and responsible gun ownership. I will however be damned if I'll set back on my duff and rely on someone else to do the work that needs to be done just because I send the NRA a few bucks here and there. It's up to us to educate the public, it's up to us to stay on our politicians butts by writing letter and signing petitions, it's up to us to show up at the polls and vote for people that support our rights and vote against anyone that doesn't.

We are all the NRA and every time I hear a politician or liberal nut job dump on the NRA and call the NRA, Nazis or killers or something like that they are insulting me dammit, they're insulting me. Are they insulting any of you? Are we helping the case or just complaining that someone else isn't doing enough? Just asking.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The NRA cannot teach 300 million people the basic concepts of freedom nor be a substitute teacher for history lessons that schools and parents have failed to do over past many generations.

As far as reaching out to the public, the NRA has had quite a bit of TV airtime lately on evening and morning TV. Some interviews are friendly, others hostile, but you won't hear much from the NRA explaining how "assault weapons" are needed for the people to defend themselves against a tyrannical government. That message doesn't work. Many gun owners privately snicker at such a message. The media portrays these ideas as kooky and the NRA would loose influence defending themselves. Instead, the message is basically contained to: We tried an AWB and it didn't work. The government wants to take your guns away. The words Second Amendment are sprinkled around here and there, but that's about all the general public can wrap their heads around. It's not the NRA, it's us.

 

[magsherman]

We can't just sit back and hope that the NRA will save us from this assault on our freedoms, just like we can't hope for better political leaders to come along later and get us out of this mess. It starts with "WE THE PEOPLE".

 

[BobC357]

...
We are all the NRA and every time I hear a politician or liberal nut job dump on the NRA and call the NRA, Nazis or killers or something like that they are insulting me dammit, they're insulting me. Are they insulting any of you? Are we helping the case or just complaining that someone else isn't doing enough? Just asking.

The problem is that John Q. Public hears the lies and nobody is telling the truth to these same people. The lamestream media won't. Thus, those who get their reality from TV don't hear or get the NRA message. That, unfortunately is the majority - the very people the NRA does need to influence.

 

[semperfi71]

Good points by all. I would like to add some personal thoughts (a challenge more each day as I have a hard time finding my thoughts)

“Somebody” needs to educate the average public that the gun control laws of other nations are not indicative of good “gun control”. If I am correct our nation is the only independent republic from birth, all others are dictatorships, monarchies, “faux” democracies, etc. As such their citizens are subjects. We are not. They follow their nations will, quite often at great cost to personal liberty.

Also there is the fact that other nations have better CRIME CONTROL than the United States, therefore their citizens ARE safer and not in need of protection from a criminal element.

“Somebody” needs to educate the average public that the other amendments do indeed have “reasonable restrictions” placed upon them. However the Second Amendment specifically states, “…shall not be infringed”, as such NO RESTRICTIONS can/should be placed on the right to bear arms.

“Somebody” needs to explain that the Second Amendment was specifically written so that all citizens are allowed the accumulation of “arms” that are available, this so that the citizenry has parity with the government in protection from that government. However, the Second Amendment has been watered down by the political judiciary to the point that many of the current restrictions have been accepted. And yes I don’t want my neighbors having an M1 Abrams tank. But I do believe the right exists.

“Somebody” needs to educate the average public that the term, “Why do you need………” is inexcusable in a free society. No one should have to explain why they “need” something to anyone. And nobody has the right to demand of the need as long as that need is not an endangerment to others. I respond to those who say, “Why do you need….?” with, “Who are you to determine what others need? It’s none of your business.”

I agree that the NRA’s first job is to lobby politicians. But, as one person above stated, this is a new world, and as such the uneducated populace needs to be educated with intelligent debate on the issues of gun control since they will be the final arbiters of the direction gun control takes in this nation.