It is excusable that some Americans are so disgusted over the level
of gun violence that they desperately seek a villain to lash out
against. Every time there is a mass shooting the usual targets,
Republicans and the National Rifle Association receive the brunt of
criticism but always emerge unscathed and more empowered to carry on. It
is true that Republicans, and some Democrats, embrace the NRA line that
any gun safety proposal is a war against good Americans that drives
their votes to continue the NRA’s gun proliferation crusade unabated.
Whether gun safety advocates will acknowledge that there are no
Senate or House members representing a state or district called “
NRA”
is irrelevant; they seriously need to stop blaming the NRA for the
actions of congressional Republicans and terrified, angry, and religious
conservative voters responsible for promoting guns to kill other
Americans.
Obviously, and with seemingly valid reasons, a significant number of
Americans are blaming the number and increase of mass shootings on the
National Rifle Association and its lunatic executive vice-president
Wayne La Pierre for doing what the NRA exists to do; sell millions of
guns. Now there are more than Americans assailing the NRA including a
British Broadcasting Company (BBC) host who decided to advise American
citizens that if they are tired of mass shootings and needless deaths,
they simply have to “
break and dismantle the NRA.”
The BBC’s Aaron Heslehurst
discussed
America’s gun violence epidemic with columnist Maike Currie who agreed
that the frequency and number of mass shootings plaguing America were “
staggering.” Currie said the problem is that “
everyone points to the Second Amendment that was set up in 1789 in a different world; something needs to be done about this.” Heslehurst agreed and threw out some “
staggering statistics”
he believes indicts the NRA for the number of Americans killed by guns,
then counseled what it takes stop the carnage. He noted,
“
In the last 43 years, more Americans have been shot by another
American — shot and killed by another American — than all of America’s
soldiers killed in wars in the last 240 years. And you go where’s the
priority? You talk about the NRA, right? If anyone really wants to get
serious, that’s what you have to try to break, dismantle.”
Another pundit tended to agree with Heslehurst and focused on the
NRA’s influence unrelated to the outrageous amounts of money the gun
lobby spends on Republicans. Matt Yglesias has a valid point that
although the NRA has
donated
close to a million dollars each to several leading Republicans, money
is not the source of the NRA’s power and influence; frightened and dysfunctional wingnut gun nut fanatics who vote religiously are.
Yglesias notes, “
lots of lobbying groups have more money than the
NRA and almost none of their clout. The NRA’s true sources of power are
people and focus.” Because the NRA has
over 5 million
real members who are terrified, religious, and angry to call their
congressional representatives, volunteer and spread NRA fear and
loathing with family, friends and acquaintances, Republicans get the
message that gun maniacs pay attention to how Republicans vote and show
up on Election Day.
The NRA’s focus is simple; oppose gun regulations using any means
necessary. That laser focus makes them a very adept and successful
corporate lobby, but they are not shooting people, casting votes in
Congress or at the ballot box.
It is beyond dispute the National Rifle Association exists to sell
guns to Americans, and it spends inordinate amounts of money buying
loyalty from Republicans. Even pressuring legislators with the dreaded
NRA “
report card” is a ploy to sell more guns, but the
organization is not shooting Americans; frightened, hate-filled, and
religious Americans are and that is where the blame lies. Without a base
to elect Republicans willingly doing the NRA’s bidding, the NRA would
be as unsuccessful as the gun safety movement.
Although the NRA is
handing out
nearly a million dollars to several leading Republicans in Congress to
block gun safety measure, neither the NRA as a non-profit organization,
nor its insane leader Wayne La Pierre, are allowed to cast a vote in the
House or the Senate. That decision lies with Republicans, and some
Democratic cowards, who are terrified of receiving a failing score, or
reduction in donations, from the NRA.
It is true that the NRA exerts inordinate power over legislators, but
without frightened and gun-mad voters electing equally frightened
Republicans to keep gun violence rising, the NRA would be impotent. It
is time to stop blaming the NRA and focus on “
breaking and dismantling their base of support and cowardly Republicans;” the two groups ultimately responsible for the increase in guns and gun violence.
