Has anyone seen the article in the newest American rifleman about Reid securing land and funds for a new nra range? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for shooting ranges, but… it worries me that this may be a political stunt on Reid’s part and that the nra may be funding his career with my money. I’m sure senator Reid is a good guy, but I completely disagree with the vast majority of his politics, namely the healthcare bill. Does anyone know a detailed record of his past votes on 2nd ammendment issues? Thoughts? Comments?
Gun Owners of America rated him an F.
http://gunowners.org/111thsrat.htm
And a brief voting record. http://gunowners.capwiz.com/bio/id/370&submit.x=16&submit.y=21&submit=go
I threw up in my mouth a little when I read that today, the way they were fawning over him.
I feel ill.
To be fair McCain’s politics on many issues aren’t that much different than Reids.
That said, this isn’t the first time the NRA has gotten all warm and snuggly with a communist who has supported some piece of pro gun legislation.
On one hand I understand they ally with those who support them on issues in order to encourage that support, but on the other I wish they’d be a little more considerate about who they jump into bed with.
I might be overly idealistic, but I think the gun grabbers should be shunned regardless of any occasional support of pro gun efforts or declarations of being a gun owner.
I didn’t like it either, seemed so staged and phoney. Good thing the magazine is free with membership.
Reid is a tool - a bastard to liberty and he’s desperately trying to hang onto his career and the subsequent power that comes with it. Anyone who sees him for anything more than that it seriously delusional.
Likewise, the National Rifle Association continues to position itself as a champion of the 2nd Amendment - and in many ways they are. It would be a mistake however to view them as the last wall in the fortress. From their fat-cat salaries, to gleaming office towers, (one Virginian referred to sarcastically as “The Mansion”), the NRA is a business - a profitable one, before anything. They continually push cheap Chinese crap on their membership, flood mailboxes with junk mail - begging for donations and are not only in bed with the likes of Harry Reid, but also Tim Leatherman - who is not exactly the 2nd Amendment’s best pal.
The NRA is simply superb at training, firearms history, events and education. However, I would hardly rate them an ‘A’ in protecting and defending the principles of our forefathers. They are a: “if it looks good, it is good” organization. I was at the Second Amendment March, unlike 99% of the rest of the shooting community, who decry as keyboard commandos the erosion of our rights, but won’t dare leave their 9-5, big screens and comfy computer chairs to dare stand up for it. You know what they say about excuses…
The National Rifle Associations involvement, (or lack) in this event was metaphor for their organization as a whole: Stay far enough out on the fringes for people to notice, but do as little as possible to risk your rep. Yes indeed, the NRA was at the Second Amendment March, but they where whoring for memberships and not actively involved in any way, shape or form. They set up their membership brothel well away from the event - off on their own in the very corner of the area. No one left the booth and the National Rifle Association offered ZERO speakers for the event. No officials whatsoever spoke throughout the entire day. Their only advertisement was a blurb on their website - ZERO mention in ANY of their publications prior to the event. They had hats, t-shirts and stickers aplenty, but that was only for the shills who where shelling out hard-earned for memberships. Meanwhile, members of GOA, JFPO, RKBA, VCDL, etc - were wandering through the crowd, engaging marchers, handing out stickers, brochures and offering directions and advice.
The NRA was indeed there and I suppose they can at least be given credit for not selling out as badly as the ultimate scumbag opportunist Ted Nugent, (who took credit for spawning this march but could not be bothered to show up - for lack of an adequate appearance fee). They also made more of an appearance than Fox News, (who didn’t even send a cub reporter), but I guess that’s my point. The National Rifle Association puts itself out there as something it’s not - and many folks just swallow it and pay up. They show up at an event to pacify the masses - scream from the rooftops about the success of DC-Heller, when they actually tried to derail it. Sat back for the ‘86’ NFA, ‘89’ Import Ban and ‘94’ AWB - throwing masses of shooters under the bus. And yet, so many hold the NRA as omnipotent - “Oh my MassMark, how could you say anything bad about the only organization who is defending our rights?” <insert shudder here>.
I say, keep sipping on the fruit punch and wait for the tire tracks again, or start shaking the trees within the National Rifle Association. In anyone needs a wake-up call as much as the DC politico, it’s the ivory tower that is the NRA…
reading that article in the NRA magazine disturbed me for several reasons…
One of the reasons Reid supported that range is to eventually outlaw shooting in the desert outside of town. Another reason is to shut down the private outdoor shooting ranges like Desert Sportsmans. The Clark County Range has all kinds of goofy rules, like you can’t shoot human shaped targets (includes B27 targets, I believe) and no movement is allowed on the range, the most you can do is draw and fire from what I understand. Reid acts pro-gun because he has to with his constituents here, the only benefit I think it gives is that, with his position in the Senate, he can block anti-gun legislation from reaching the floor. If he wins in November, I don’t think he’ll care too much about even doing that. His pandering to the pro-gun crowd still doesn’t make up for the rest of his left-wing policies in my book. If you think that article is sad, you should see the video of him on his website at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the range. He talks about how he used to carry a gun when he worked for the Nevada Gaming Commission, and he talks about concealed carry. You can also see Shelly Berkley and Dina Titus in the video, our 2 anti-gun congresscritters. Unfortunately, due to union support, I think Reid can still pull out a win, even with his terrible approval ratings.
Yet another reason to justify why I walked away from the NRA a couple of years ago.
I did not like the article but it is not enough to justify me walking away from the organization that has done more for gun ownership than any other organization, by far.
I think that the NRA has seen what rifles and handguns are selling at rates far beyond hunting rifles and are beginning to get it. For a long time however, it felt as though their policy was to guarantee nobody ever took my bolt action 30-06 and double barreled shotgun, at the expense of every other gun in my safe.
If getting into bed with a dirt bag like Ried was the only issue I would agree but this is the same organization that did everything in their power to prevent the Heller case from being heard by the SCOTUS. They fight the easy fights but won’t lead on the tough ones.
I would argue that their strategy is effective.
And I think you just nailed it. I think they are getting it too, but I have to wonder if is just the publishing side of the house that is getting it or if the leadership is getting on board. The NSSF at least is getting it, holding work shops for writers trying to get them into the black rifle / pistol game and stop suing the whole “assault rifle” moniker.
People need to look at the 90s verus today; such as compare CCW states, ‘assault’ weapon bans, how guns were constantly attacked by the media, etc, and then ask how much of that change was influenced by the NRA.
Things are much better, and even anti-gun politicians are afraid to raise the issue.
I certainly agree with this. I was a friend of Neal Knox and even ran for NRA Director when Heston first ran. I got 33,000+ votes, normally way more than you need to win… but not on the Heston coronation year. That was the year Neal’s slate of reform candidates (“work horses, not show horses”) were vilified by the NRA establishment.
I am still a Patron Life Member and my 2 year old grandson is a Life Member.
The Reid article made me sick too.
The NRA is a politically savvy single-issue organization and is smart enough not to piss in the Senate Majority Leader’s Cheerios if he will help advance their agenda. There is nothing wrong with that. In politics you work on some issues with people who oppose you on others. I don’t really see the problem here.
The NRA is coming around to focus more on self-defense, shooting sports and tactical mindset from the old hunting mentality, but these things take time. The majority of gun owners do not participate in shooting sports or think too deeply about self-defense, and would probably find the hobbies of most people on this board a little strange. We are not the majority in the nation or even among gun owners…
This is not your typical election year. Reid is fighting for his political life in a state where the NRA has considerable sway. As a whole Reid is no friend of gun owners and his re-election will set us back far more than the NRA gained on this single issue. YMMV.
Big money and big politics make for strange bed-fellows…i doubt only a handful of folks on this forum approve of Reid but why not use him to have a really nice range on federal land for generations. Would it have been better to not have pursued this because reid is a worm on all other topics?? Reid will be out of office soon enough and this range / NRA will not save him imho. Regardless, how long will this range be available to shooters?? Maybe for decades after reid is an old man and gone…seems like a wise move to me & I hope it sticks in the craw of every fellow libtard friend of reid who hates guns.
Other articles in my American Hunter:
[b]Hunting is Saving Africa’s Wildlife
A win for International Conservation
Common Sense BATFE Reform Gathers Steam
Court Dismisses Heller II
Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish Amendments on Statewide Ballots This Year
End of The AR Near, Says Anti-Gun Activist
Brady Keeps Playing Losing Hands
[/b]
I’m a lifer and spend my yearly $$$ at the Friends of the NRA Banquet. Everytime I see fellow hunters and shooters down the NRA, it makes me feel I need to send a little something extra. Frustrating!!
…rant over
On some issues…yes, on others…no.
Things like CCW, absolutely. But when it comes to black rifles and NFA stuff they are still red headed step children. At least in the 90s your parts kit included an original barrel.