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"Seminar Topics at the Scaled-Down NRA Convention." |
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I know 100's of NRA members, personally through
various local clubs I have been associated with over the years, and know of no
violent crimes, and no "nut cases" as you joked about. You apparently listen to
every whinning politico and nod your head, such as Sarah Brady, Dianne Feinstein,
Bill Clinton, Chuck Schummer, etc. Your extensive research apparently includes
only their unsupported or outright lying statistics and polls, rather than real
crime statistics and fact. Politically incorrect RIGHT from the start... Keeping it up, ALL day long... (James Wargula) As a person who has trained about 1000 students in various forms of shooting, self-defense, and gun safety, including the county and city SWAT teams, I'm sick and tired of being blamed for the actions of two spoiled brat rich kids whose parents gave them BMW's and were too clueless to notice that the kids were building pipe bombs in the garage, posting death threats to the Internet, and making videos dramatizing their plans to massacre the football team. If they hadn't had guns they would have blown up the whole damn school with the propane bombs they deployed in the kitchen. Would you feel less guilty for being a gun owner if they had killed everyone that way instead? A week after that incident happened in Colorado, a kid walked into a school in Great Britain and shot a couple of people. You can't own a handgun or a centerfire rifle in Great Britain any more. They turned them all in last year. And now they've had 3 bombings in London in a few weeks. I was at a conference all this week in Wash DC on nonlethal technology. One speaker, from England, commented that the level of civil unrest in London, mainly related to soccer games, was *much* higher than anything here in the US. It just doesn't make the news over here. They have major riots all the time. Humans are an aggressive, competitive species. That's how we've survived this long. It's really hard for people to accept that there are going to be a few "bad apples" in every bunch. Technology has advanced a lot in 1000 years, human nature has not. We're still just barely above the apes in a lot of ways. Want to make the world better? Let's institute a background check and training program to certify parents. Those that have drug abuse and alcohol problems, mental problems, or aren't willing to invest the time and effort to love and raise their children, get turned down. The street cops, social workers, and parole officers I've met all credit those factors, not "easy availability of guns" as the big issues. But nobody ever asks the people who really know. All we get on TV are sound bites from Beltway pundits who live in walled compounds and have personal security guards. [...]I have my own beefs with the NRA, mostly due to their bloated, inefficient bureaucracy and excessive fundraising efforts. Gun control isn't going to reduce violence, without an incredible change in the garbage being put out by the media. Honestly now, which one is a better commercial enticing teens to buy guns? A copy of Guns and Ammo on a grocery store magazine rack? or "The Matrix"? It's just like the War on (some) Drugs. As long as our culture is filled with images showing that mass violence and gun misuse is cool, the screwed up people that want guns for that purpose are going to get them. Unless you are ready to vote for house to house searches to collect all the guns. Supply will surface to meet the demand. The media over-reports violent crime, because we love dead people on the news. Guess what? Every day - every single day, since the Columbine massacre we've lost at least 10 kids to DWI deaths. Alcohol kills about 6 times more people each year than guns do. Where's your outrage about those tragic deaths? Would you endorse new restrictions on the minimum driving age, mandatory breathalyzers installed in cars, and limits on the amount of beer you can buy in a day? Tragedy is all around us. We just over-react to gun death because TV had conditioned us to make it "special", and we're so used to DWI deaths that we don't even blink at them anymore. When those DWI kids died the president didn't come down and hand their parents a $100,000 check for each child for burial expenses and cry on national TV about it. We're pretty selective about our outrage, even though our priorities are screwed up. The NRA *is* addressing the issue of gun violence. We've got 40,000 volunteer instructors out there teaching gun safety and responsibility in a culture that has demonized us and marginalized us out to the fringe. I think it's a damn shame that our society is so screwed up that it's socially unacceptable for me to offer to put on an NRA Home Firearm Safety class for my neighborhood association. All because people like *you* propagate this image of the NRA as a "radical fringe organization". Exactly what is *radical* about my desire to make my neighbors aware of how to train their children to safe around firearms? Where else are they going to go to get that knowledge? Local police departments won't teach anybody anything about guns, for fear of liability. And half the cops out there are totally incompetent with guns. Ask any cop firearms trainer. Or I can tell you all about it from personal experience. When I post to public forums I take great care to be tactful with what I say, and try to respect those with whom I disagree. Because I've learned that many people have strong feelings on the gun violence and gun control issues, mostly stemming from good intentions. But I also little tolerance for those whose opinions are based solely from facts learned from TV. And since this is private email, and I think you are a smart guy who is capable of thinking more intelligently than you are now, I am going to challenge you to think more deeply about this - to get beyond parroting all the buzzwords you've absorbed from the media. Because the topic is important and deserves it. I have called local talk radio hosts to call them on the carpet for being clueless about the technical facts about guns. Rush won't talk about guns on his show and I don't have time to sit on hold that long anyway. If we are going to solve the problems we have, we have to start with the facts. And facts, or even firsthand experience, is in short supply when the gun debate comes up. And it's extremely disappointing that so many people are incapable of admitting how much of what they believe is sheer opinion and how little is based on anything substantial. Which is why the debate is so shrill and so unproductive on both sides. If half the people who spent their time bitching about it, did something - anything - other than talk about it, we'd see some good things start to happen. (Karl Rehn) Why is it that so many know-nothings seem to LOVE to demonize a group of law-abiding American citizens? Did you know that the NRA will not accept a criminal into it's membership. For all his "concern", Bill Clinton could not be an NRA member if he so desired, as he is not of proper moral character, and is a law-breaker. (James Wargula) [First message] Small dick?? I tell you what buddy I own tons of guns and I kill poor little defensless animals and I happen to have a huge Pecker... I've been subscribed to you for a long time but this shit is stupid. I think that it is great when you make fun of politicl figures but dont make fun of the NRA I have to put up with this kind of shit at school and I dont want to see it on my computer... If you come up with any more of these kinds of lists just skip me for that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Second message] I dont want to unsubscribe I just want you to not send me any of the top 5 lists of that nature because I get offended when someone criticises guns and/or the NRA. Thats all. I like you guys... Awh hell never mind I guess if i dont like the title I dont have to read the list do I. (Kyle T Painter) X-headers-can-be-kind-of: tiresome X-actly-why-people-put-them-in-their-email-is: sometimes a mystery X-moose: once bit my sister X-moose-bites: can be very dangerous, you know Let me suggest that you ask somebody whose opinion you trust -- preferably somebody who is not anti-gun -- whether or not yesterday's list seemed more lame than funny. (Joel Rosenberg) I'd tell ya to stuff those gun-nuts, but they'd prolly discharge a weapon somewhere they shouldn't.. but then again, that might not be a bad idea!! (I work for the CHP and I'm far too frequently amazed at what NRA folks think is perfectly okay for a citizen to collect, trade, own and carry. I tell all my non-law enforcement friends to keep pepper spray instead of a gun - if someone takes it away from you and uses it, you will live through the event!) (Linda Olmstead) I just wanted to let you know that I loved the gun control list. (Sue S.) I feel you were remiss in not mentioning your political use of this list when I first joined. Nowhere did you mention that this list would be used for espousing your political beliefs in a one-sided off the wall commentary that leaves no opportunity for rebuttal. If you think that this is the proper venue for such aspirations then again I am sorry that you did not so mention before I forwarded your prior emails to my friends and co-works telling them how much I enjoyed your comedy efforts. I have spanned two continents and feel it my duty to inform you when you are alienating people who otherwise enjoy your messages. As to the whether or not I would consider calling Rush re his fairness, in truth I suppose I would, failing that I would change the radio station. If your politics are to be sent in the guise of a humor mailing then I should do no less with your list. (Michael Lederman) I hope I'm not trying to cut this too fine, but wouldn't "spawn of Satan" pretty much pre-suppose illegitimacy? I didn't agree with many of your "gun" comments but you're as entitled to express your opinion as the next guy -- maybe a little more since you employ humor rather than invective. As a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, I may not agree with you (or with many statements made by NRA spokespersons, for that matter) but I'll defend to the death your right to make them -- now, when I say "to the death", I don't necessarily mean mine, so don't call me if you find your house surrounded by a bunch of well-armed guys for whom "intellectual" is an expletive. the truth is, most of my hardware has cable connected to my PC anyway. (Kevin P. Smith) Hard to believe....but I am actually writing this in regard to the list about the NRA. I waited to voice my comments, so that I would be better focused for the occasion. I do not claim to be a "gun activist". Nor do I scream about people owning them. The NRA has political clout, as does any other group that causes people to take sides. I once was an active member of the NRA. Honestly, I am not as of this time due to lack of money. Yet, I feel that they are correct in their beliefs. They do not stand on the pedestal and yell that it is your God given right to own a gun, so buy one !!! They tell everyone that it is a choice to own one, and that it is no one's business but each individual's that may decide either to own or not to own a gun. Basically, I have the same opinion of abortion. I do not tell ANYONE how to run their lives. I do not condone anyone for their choices. Everyone is to live their lives accordingly. It isn't the weapon's fault that it happens to have been used in a manner not seemingly fit politically. It is the person that uses it in the wrong manner. Why is it that everyone seems to want to pick on groups that stand up for the rights of others? Sure, there are some groups that stand up and yell. And they may not have anything to say in my best interest. However, it may be in the interest of others. But, that is THEIR OPTION. And I don't hold it against them. I failed to see humor in the list that belittled the NRA. Sure, maybe someone did. But, look at the weight of the many that are bitching about it now. Your choice for this list was in terrible taste. You should have reconsidered. Now that I am done bitching myself, I'll have you know that the majority of your lists I do find funny and entertaining. I will stick around and read on, even though I realize that some of this humor is at someone's expense, and that not everyone will see it as "funny". (pot calling the kettle black, huh?) Thanks for the great laughs. Keep 'em coming !!! (Dean Hickman) G'day Chris -- Some people are really sensitive, aren't they? Well, I thought the NRA topic was terrific -- one for the archives and to be re-published at intervals. There is nothing to give one a terrific inner glow as to have all one's prejudices and pre-conceived (and doubtless ill--informed) ideas confirmed! What an extraordinary society the US must be. Here (immediately taking the moral high ground and feeling even smugger) guns are rare and difficult to get, and gun owners don't admit to it for fear of being branded no-neck rednecks. Most of these types live in our Far North (Crocodile Dundee territory) -- the equivalent of the Deep South. Must the closer to the equator one gets, the greater the need to blast away. Semi-automatic weapons are strictly illegal -- single shot only permitted. As for handguns -- what are they? Surprisingly, gun-related deaths are rare. (Bernie Morey) I THINK THAT THOSES SAYINGS ARE PREVERTED. AND FOR ANY 13 YEAR OLD TO READ THAT KIND OF CRAP IS A SHAME. AND I KNOW THAT THE LORD IS NOT SMILING DOWN ON IT AT ALL, AND HE IS THE 1 WE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO IN THE END.AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR END WILL BE. ANY MINUTE IN FACT. TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, NO ONE IS PROMISE THE NEXT MINUTE. TAKE A LOOK AT THOSES KIDS ALL 15 THAT ARE DEAD FROM THAT HIGH SCHOOL . I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. (Judith Paul) I saw the list regarding the NRA. It was vaguely funny. I don't have a real problem with folks making jokes about something they know absolutely nothing about. However, at the tail end of the message, there was a link to a drawing that depicted many dead bodies piled in the form of the letters "NRA" and a quote attributed to Lorna Luft apparently blaming the NRA for the deaths in Colorado. If these two items were not a part of your original message, please disregard this email. However, if you do believe that the NRA had any part in the deaths in Littleton, Colorado, I can assure you that they did not. If you will take the time to do a little research, you will find that one of the NRA's primary purposes is to support and train people in the safe handling of firearms. At no time do they ever condone the irresponsible or illegal use of any device. They offer many training programs and certify firearms instructors, a certification that indicates that the instructor has shown that s/he knows how to safely handle a weapon, and has demonstrated that they can safely impart this knowledge to their students. One program that the NRA has produced and offers to schools is the Eddie Eagle firearm safety program. You may have heard of it when it was criticized by the Violence Policy Center as a firearms recruiting program. However, I don't think the VPC can point to a single life that has been saved as a result of any program they advocate. Eddie Eagle can. Last summer, ABC World News Tonight broadcast a story in which children were allowed to play in a room in which a deactivated .22 pistol had been hidden. Researchers were able to watch the children when the children thought they were left to play without an adult to supervise. Through the course of their play, the children found the firearm. Every single child that acted out inappropriate or dangerous behavior with the firearm had never been taught to safely handle firearms. Every single child that either acted to keep the other children away from the firearm OR left the room searching for an adult HAD been taught to safely handle firearms. That sounds like firearms safety programs can (and do) work. In the body of the email, I noticed that you are from Austin. I'm sure you are aware that Texas allows law abiding citizens to carry firearms after they pass a course in safe handling and an overview of applicable laws. Prior to the passage of the law, several newspapers came out against the law, citing fears of "blood running in the streets" (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram and Houston Chronicle for two). It should come as no surprise that the NRA advocated passage of this law. Have you noticed something about violent crime rates in Texas over the past three years? They are going down. John Lott has written a book called, "More Guns, Less Crime". You should check it out. It notes that every single state that has relaxed the laws restricting law abiding citizens to carry firearms has experienced a REDUCTION in violent crime. Every state that has moved to restrict gun ownership by law abiding citizens (legislation such as that advocated by VPC) had experienced an INCREASE in violent crime. Take a look at the most violent cities in America (Washington, DC; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA), and you will see a list of the cities that have done the most to restrict gun ownership Australia recently banned private ownership of firearms over .22 caliber. Last year, violent crime INCREASED by 45%. Just for your own information, you should find out what topics were really covered at the NRA convention. I think it will surprise you. Oh, one more thing. Do you realize that these school shootings only began to happen AFTER a federal law prohibiting possession of firearms within 300 feet of a school was passed? Gee, what is that cliche'? "When firearms are outlawed, only outlaws will have firearms?" Maybe it is true, after all. (Stephen Wakefield) Big difference between owing a firearm and killing someone with a firearm, rock, car, fork, axe, cocain, sharp stick, 21" monitor... Do us all a favor and answer this question: How many people (kids, old folk, gangsters, etc.) were killed by guns in 1975? I promise you it was a hell of a lot less than today, and there were still firearms available over the counter. Gangs existed. Guns existed. Kids existed....... Don't, for one second, believe that guns do this to our fellow humans. Sorry, can't blame the NRA. It's all us. In closing, the only reason vehicular homicide is NOT the hot topic is simply this. GM is THE largest company on this planet. Followed by Ford and the oil companies. Do you think they would stand for any activist B.S. bestowed upon them by the fringe? Hell no! Besides, how would we get to the bar so we could drive home wasted off our asses? Fighting logic is a bitch p.s. You won't ever see my view, nor will I see yours. If you aren't prepared to eat your neibor's cat, you aren't prepared. (Shane Greif) |
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