NRA Members Favor Common Sense Rules

The leadership of the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, in recent years, become little more than a super right-wing shill for weapons manufacturers. They hide this by scaring their members into thinking that everyone from Democrats to President Obama to the United Nations is conspiring to take away the right of Americans to own firearms. And that leadership brings up these overblown conspiracy theories every time any new regulation is being discussed -- no matter how tame or reasonable the regulation is.

After the shooting in Aurora, many people are once again talking about making some changes in the regulation of firearms in America -- and of course, the NRA leadership is over-reacting as usual. They try to present their organization as monolithic and in agreement on all gun regulation issues. And polls have shown that when the question is asked that way (Do you favor gun control?) an overwhelming number of NRA members (and probably the public at large) will quickly answer NO. It is quickly assumed by many that the question implies an erosion (or overturning) of the Second Amendment.

But when asked about separate issues (without labeling it as gun control), a pollster recently found a majority of gun-owners (both NRA members and non-members) are not opposed to some common sense rules regarding firearms. The pollster is Frank Luntz (who commonly does polling for the Republican Party), and his survey was done last May for Mayors Against Illegal Guns. His survey included both NRA members and gun owners who are not in the NRA, and here are some of the results he found (with the percentages shown being those in favor):

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUN OWNERS.
NRA...............74%
non-NRA...............87%

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUN SHOP EMPLOYEES.
NRA...............79%
non-NRA...............80%

PROHIBIT TERRORIST WATCH LIST MEMBERS FROM BUYING GUNS.
NRA...............71%
non-NRA...............80%

MANDATE GUN OWNERS TO TELL POLICE IF THEIR GUN IS STOLEN.
NRA...............64%
non-NRA...............71%

CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED A SAFETY TRAINING COURSE.
NRA...............74%
non-NRA...............84%

CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY TO THOSE 21 OR OLDER.
NRA...............63%
non-NRA...............74%

CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO THOSE WITH VIOLENT MISDEMEANORS.
NRA...............75%
non-NRA...............81%

CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO THOSE ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
NRA...............68%
non-NRA...............78%

It seems that a majority of gun owners (whether in the NRA or not) agree with these common sense rules. Unfortunately, the NRA leadership does not. They even came out against the proposal to keep guns out of the hands of those on the terrorist watch list. They automatically oppose any new regulation -- whether it makes sense or not. And since they are the ones that control the purse-strings and put out the NRA propaganda, nothing will be done by Congress (where most members are afraid of being labeled as "anti-gun" and would take a campaign donation from the devil himself).

Hopefully, at some time in the future, the NRA leadership can be wrested from the ultra-right-wingers -- and given to those who would protect both the Second Amendment and reasonable gun regulations.