“The NRA is a gun industry trade association masquerading as a shooting sports foundation,” ex-astronaut, professional husband and gun control advocate Mark Kelley opined in a Houston Chronicle editorial [via cbsnews.com]. “Guns fly off the shelves after tragedies because LaPierre and the gun manufacturers he represents exploit people’s fears. In return, gun manufacturers gave LaPierre and the NRA tens of millions of dollars last year alone – and he spent almost $1 million of it on his own salary, Everyone in the gun lobby gets rich when the gun manufacturers sell the most guns. And that’s why LaPierre and the rest of the leadership of the NRA and other gun organizations are spending so much of their time wild-eyed, preaching possible government confiscations . . .
When LaPierre and his crew of highly paid Beltway insider staff reversed their earlier support of common-sense measures like expanded background checks, they sent a strong message that instead of standing with the 3 million of your members who supported background checks, they were working on behalf of the manufacturers’ profit margins instead. It seems to me that the time is right for a new generation of leaders within the NRA.
Nick agrees that Mr. LaPierre may not be the ideal NRA jefe—given Wayne’s “get off my lawn” demeanor and antipathy to the younger generation’s love of COD. Still, doubting LaPierre’s motives, or the government’s desire to confiscate firearms, is like questioning the fitness levels of a professional cheerleader.
Anyway, Mr. Leghorn, Dan and I are in situ, ready to report from Kelley’s heart of darkness: the NRA convention. We’ll look for Mark, Rachel and any other gun control advocates we can find . . .