NRA: Opposition Points the Way

The National Rifle Association is the leading opposition force to common sense gun safety laws. Yet, it is in the laws they oppose that we see the way forward to gun violence prevention actions. What the NRA opposes is what we need! 

Furthermore, what the NRA opposes overwhelmingly protects common sense individual right to bear arms. People can still hunt, can still have handguns for home and car protection, and can still target shoot.  All this while protecting the lives of many innocents. What does the NRA oppose?

Assault weapons ban

Ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons

Ban on large ammunition magazines

The Brady Bill which mandates background checks by licensed gun dealers, and a five day 

              waiting period for handgun purchases. The NRA leadership said after its passage: 

              "When Clinton signed the Brady Bill, a drop of blood dripped from the finger of

              that sovereign American citizen."

Universal background checks (Licensed deaslers must do background checks)

Background checks for private sellers (Not required to do background checks)

Background checks for internet and mail order sales (No background checks required)

National gun registration

Ban on cop killer bullets

Smith & Wesson proposed safety measures (handgun trigger locks, no ammo magazines 

               larger than 10 rounds, and a more thorough system of background checks) S&W

               had to back-off support for these measures as their sales had plummeted 40%.

Mandatory trigger locks

Development and sale of smart guns (Guns can operate only by the owner who has a 

               special chip in a bracelet)

Authorizing and funding research on gun violence by the ATF and National Center on

               Injury Prevention

Funding for ATF staff in order to keep in undermanned

Publications by THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE and JOURNAL OF THE

               AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, saying: "We have a problem with these

               organizations, too, for not holding their articles to their usual standards."

Keeping guns out of the hands of people on the Terrorist Watch List

Laws that would hold gun manufacturers liable and open to suit if their guns were used in a

               crime if they knowingly sold them to straw buyers

Holding a serial gun seller accountable for not keeping records of sales of selling to people

               with criminal records

Senate proposal that would have made straw purchasing punishable by up to 25 years in prison

Laws that would have allowed health care providers to charge a higher premium to people

               who owned guns

United Nations efforts to control illicit small arms trade, saying "The UN is a lethal threat to

               the 2nd Amendment."

Gun laws in Brazil, Australia, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand. "If gun [control] proponents

               succeed in these countries, America will be next."

Requiring gun dealers to conduct inventory checks to prevent losses or thefts

Criticism of militia movement

Banning of high capacity of high capacity ammunition magazines [after Columbine]

Any regulations or weapons ban after Sandy Hook

LBJ's bill to register all and license firearms and ban imported weapons after JFK's 

               assassination

The NRA's position is to not give an inch allowing any regulations. Why? Because to the NRA, guns are a symbol of freedom from government control and tyranny. There is a strong belief that "the government wants to take our guns away." No compromise! No common sense gun laws. Fear and paranoia reign! To quote Wayne Lapierre: "Clinton's semi-autocratic ban gives jack-booted government thugs more power to take away our Constitutional rights, break in our doors, seize our guns, destroy our property, and even injure or kill us."

I believe the above suggestions opposed by the NRA are reasonable accommodations for a safer home and nation. Their opposition points the way forward for a safer society. Their adoption would significantly lower that 30,000+ annual gun violence deaths. It is time to move beyond fear and paranoia and instead concern ourselves with protection of life.

Peace!

Ron