The NRA Doesn't Even Believe It's Own Lies

The National Rifle Association has been telling us for years now that more guns means a safer nation. And thanks to their lobbying, many states have passed laws that allow the carrying of loaded firearms in public buildings and parks (schools, colleges, bars, churches, etc.). They say it makes everyone safer when "good guys" are allowed to carry their guns anywhere.

This makes me wonder then about the security measures being taken when about 70,000 NRA members will meet in Nashville for the NRA's national convention. These security measures dictate that any gun carried into the building where the convention will be held must not only be unloaded, but must have the firing pin removed so it is not operational.

The NRA knows that when 70,000 gun lovers meet together, there is bound to be a few nuts among them -- nuts that can't be trusted with a loaded and operational firearm. And this is not the first time these rules have been in effect at the NRA convention. Last year in Indianapolis, and the previous year in Charlotte, the same security measure was in place.

Doesn't it make you wonder why it is OK for guns to be carried in schools and colleges and other public places, but it is not OK to carry loaded and operational weapons into the NRA convention site? Could it be that they don't believe their own lies? Could it be that they know that more people carrying guns doesn't create a safer situation, but a more dangerous one? Could it be that they are telling these lies just because they are little more than lobbyists for the gun manufacturers?

It is time we stopped believing the NRA lies (the lies they don't even believe themselves). It is time to pass some reasonable and constitutional gun restrictions -- like requiring a background check for ALL gun sales (even private individual sales), and getting rid of laws that allow anyone to openly carry a gun anywhere in public. There are more than 30,000 gun deaths in this country every year -- far more than in any country (either as a total or a percentage of the population). We could significantly cut this number with a few reasonable and constitutional laws.

NOTE -- While loaded and operational weapons will not be permitted at the convention site, the NRA says those with a concealed carry permit can take their guns to some of the smaller parties and meetings held at other smaller sites.