11-09-2018, 11:50 AM
(11-09-2018, 01:36 AM)Benton Wrote: Agreed. Unfortunately, the NRA is strictly against basic training. They're shooting themselves in the foot on this issue.
This isn't true, at least not as you put it. They are against mandated basic training being required to own a firearm, they are not at all against basic safety training regarding firearms and in fact heavily encourage it.
(11-09-2018, 09:55 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: Which is baffling to me. The reason is because I remember an NRA that was all about promoting the safe handling of firearms. That was their main goal and purpose. Teaching people how to enjoy shooting sports safely. When I say I remember this organization, I really didn't even know the full extent of which that organization existed. I remember the transition period, but apparently this shift started in 1977. I just learned this while typing this post and I want to see if I could find anything about the change. This article popped up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-nras-true-believers-converted-a-marksmanship-group-into-a-mighty-gun-lobby/2013/01/12/51c62288-59b9-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_story.html?utm_term=.f369abef7316
It is an interesting primer on what happened to the NRA to get us to the point, today, where it isn't even just a lobbyist for the gun industry but an overall conservative PAC where they rail on social issues as well as gun rights issues.
They have a position set in a firm constitutional foundation and vigorously defend it. You know they do that well based on the number of people who rail against them on a near daily basis. As far as social issues, I don't recall them really pushing for or against any issue that didn't involve firearms. I'm sure it's happened, but I don't recall it and it certainly isn't their main goal. I will agree that they've morphed into a more aggressive organization over the years. This may have something to do with the politicians seeking to limit firearms ownership.
