How the NRA is winning

[ProgressiveProfessor]

Article from the WaPo.

It’s easy to think that in the wake of Wayne LaPierre’s angry press conference and the National Rifle Association’s tin-eared web video on President Obama’s daughters that the NRA is losing — and losing badly — in the fight over the proper place for guns in American society.

Easy and likely incorrect.

There’s little doubt that the inside-the-Beltway crowd and those who have been longtime advocates of more gun control laws are outraged by the brash style that the NRA has adopted following the shootings in Newtown, Conn.

But, there’s also plenty of evidence to suggest that the NRA is regarded entirely differently in the country at large. Polling conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal this week showed 41 percent of people had a favorable opinion of the NRA, while 34 percent viewed it unfavorably, a margin largely unchanged from a similar survey conducted in January 2011.

And a look at the longer-term trend line on views of the NRA by Gallup suggests a striking consistency in the overall impression Americans have of the gun rights group.

More at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/01/18/how-the-nra-is-winning/

[Scuba]

1. The next massacre will be ignored by the public, is that it?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I posted without comment. Flabbergasting thing to find in the WaPo given their record

[gejohnston]

6. since they are trying to prevent the last one

instead of the next one, they already are. I caught a clip on BBC, talking about UK massacres and the resulting gun laws. One point a retired MPD inspector named Collen Greenwood made is that the laws were passed to deal with the last one, but nothing was done to prevent the next one until it happened.

[Scuba]

8. Another NRA talking point. Why do you keep posting those here?

Instead of adding noise, why don't you offer something we can do to stop the gun violence.

[gejohnston]

9. I didn't know the BBC was the NRA

since I got it from the BBC, but it is possible Greenwood is a member NRA-UK. I actually have offered suggestions which have to do with the root causes of all violence. It seems that too many are too concerned simple answers and culture wars.

[Scuba]

10. The BBC is not above echoing what they hear on the US media.

And the US media is a tool of the right. C'mon man, this isn't that hard.

[gejohnston]

12. this was some time ago

and they were talking about mass murders specifically in the UK. It was a round-table of talking heads talking about it from different angles.
While the US MSM perceived by both sides as having a liberal or conservative bias, is often corporate or cosmopolitan bias, which is why it is anti OWS and anti gun. Fox on the other hand, is a horse of a whole different color.

[Scuba]

13. OK, I'll accept your assertion that this was an aberration. Thanks.

[Eleanors38]

14. Oh, you want to see another of your "NRA Talking Points?" Try Barbara Boxer...

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/19/news/la-pn-sen-boxer-national-guard-schools-20121219

Sen. Boxer proposes deploying National Guard at schools
December 19, 2012|By Richard Simon
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Sen. Barbara Boxer presents legislation to strengthen school safety on… (Michael Reynolds / EPA )
WASHINGTON — Federal funds would be made available to deploy National Guard troops at schools under legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in response to last week’s mass slaying at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

The Save Our Schools Act would leave it to governors to decide whether to call out the National Guard and how to use troops around schools.
____________
I suppose by your reckoning that is a Point on Steroids, so it may not qualify for rejection. But don't worry, you don't hear much about it from MSM anymore (maybe they were unaware of the conjured-up narrative of the controllers: If it ain't about bans, it's an "NRA Talking Point."

[Starboard Tack]

3. Propaganda is a very effective tool.

Apologists are effective purveyors of propaganda.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Pro-gun propaganda from the WaPo?

[rightsideout]

7. Actually not really

I get the Post delivered everyday and the gun control coverage is fair. Today there are two editorial pages that are pro gun-control. And there was a pro-control cartoon from Toles today.

Today's Editorial from the Editor of the Washington Post agrees with Obama's Executive Orders on gun control. It was either today or yesterday.

I'd say the Post favors more gun control than favors the NRA by a pretty wide margin. But they also acknowledge it will be tough getting gun control particularly magazine sizes and assault weapon bans passed through Congress.

The post Op-Eds cover both sides so you'll see some pro-gun advocates editorials in the Post. Although it doesn't reflect their overall views on the issue.

[Eleanors38]

24. There has been an improvement in WaPo's coverage

when compared with it's agitprop days supporting gun bans. Perhaps they realize that covering all sides in this debate is not only ethical but, given the declining fortunes of MSM, good business.

The NYT, on the other hand...

[Eleanors38]

16. Is WaPo's stuff propaganda? Have they gone over to the Dark Side?

Similar poll results were had by CBS.

[Starboard Tack]

17. Why do you think I was referring to WaPo?

I was explaining the poll results.

[gejohnston]

18. are you saying that "anti" propaganda

sucks? Or just that they suck at it?

[Starboard Tack]

22. No, I'm saying the NRA is a very effective propaganda machine.

[Eleanors38]

19. So the poll results are propaganda.

[Starboard Tack]

23. No. They reflect the efficiency of NRA fearmongering.

[Eleanors38]

25. I genuinely wasn't clear. While propaganda is important...

The numbers from CBS, IIRC, have a sizeable bloc of undecided/no opinion respondents. These people are grossly out of touch for all that propaganda.

[CalFresh]

5. 250,000 new members

at $25.00 each is over 6 million dollars. Gun shops selling out of guns and ammo. Gun makers running 24/7. In the short term President Obama is the NRA best friend. If I was GM I wish he would put a end to the SUV.

[Scuba]

15. How many members have resigned over this? How many will not renew?

How many names are on the Obama for America mailing list?

[louis-t]

11. I don't think the NRA cares how they are 'viewed'.

They're selling a TON of guns right now. If screaming like a bunch of loons is what it takes, they will continue.

[Pullo]

21. The NRA has an atypical view on what constitues good publicity

The NRA has always had a flair for provocation, its nothing new really. Back in the mid 90's LaPierre was out calling ATF agents "jack-booted thugs" like those of Nazi Germany. This was just before the 1995 OKC bombing, LaPierre's statements caused a huge stir back then. Their post-Newtown press conference many were so appalled by was just business as usual for the group. Anyone who's paid any attention to the NRA over the last few decades should have expected nothing less than they got.

[Eleanors38]

26. Good points. Da age of da Innertube requires hyperbole above all...

We see it here on DU, but the NRA will school you. There is also some morale boosting going on, here.

Curiously, the WaPo article touches on another NRA characteristic: below the surface, they are slightly more moderate than other "gun rights" groups. And they have to keep that below the surface. In the future, the fledgling Firearms Policy Coalition might shift the pro-2A dynamic. Wouldn't it be flabbergasting if the considerable numbers of left-leaning gun owners could be brought to bear? They aren't now.

[Pullo]

28. Yep, the GOA and SAF take a more puritanical position on gun rights

Gun Owners of America and the Second Amendment Foundation ^

The NRA tried to derail the Heller case at several points. Robert Levy of the Cato Institute marshaled an effort to get a 2nd A case in front Supreme Court. It was only after Cato outmaneuvered the NRA and succeeded getting a case heard that the NRA endorsed the plaintiffs' case. More recently, the McDonald case was championed by the SAF, with the NRA running to the front of the parade very late in the game to appear like they were running the show.

[hrmjustin]

20. Standing on principle is important. The leadership of the NRA is evil and it must be confronted

[Eleanors38]

27. What do you think of the new Firearms Policy Coalition?

[hrmjustin]

29. I am sorry I have not heard of this group.

[gejohnston]

30. they are new

http://www.firearmspolicy.org/

[hrmjustin]

31. We will just have to see how they conduct themselves.

Anyone can make a web page look nice.

[gejohnston]

32. they are a coalition of groups who actually do stuff

instead of ranting and saying stupid shit that does the cause more harm than good. There have been times I have wondered if Wayne and Ted aren't Brady moles. Since Ted represents the archery industry, gun bans would be good or their industry because of more demand for bow hunting.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[hrmjustin]

33. Are they really nonpartisan?

[gejohnston]

36. One does mostly court cases

SAF for example. CalGuns is just in California. Many are, and the NRA is to a degree, or at least does just enough to make it look like it. They endorsed Strickland over Kaisach, but I doubt they did as much for him as they would any Republican. To be perfectly honest, I think the NRA fucks over pro gun Dems because the NRA board of directors is a collection on neocons that care more about other issues that are near and dear to neocon hearts. Granted the NRA does have some extremists like Neal Knox that actually wants to repeal NFA, which is too extreme even for me. Granted, I think NFA should be reformed so that a single shot rifle with a fifteen inch barrel isn't regulated the same as a machine gun, but I support the current regulations on Machine guns minus the Hughes Amendment.

[hrmjustin]

37. Well I am for give and take on issues and I think there is a need for honest groups to debate this

issue.

[Pullo]

42. To be fair, the NRA endorsed Strickland over Kasich as well

Kasich voted for the '94 AWB so that(and a couple other things) dinged his standing with the NRA.

I agree you with about the NFA on all points. Knox and his Firearms Coalition take/took a very fundamentalist approach to gun to RKBA advocacy. Their philosophy IMO was to take the most extreme position possible and give moderates the room take a pragmatic position that moves the needle in favor of gun rights, but seems more mainstream. Knox himself was a big part of the Cincinnati Revolt when the hardliners mutinied against their leadership and seized control of the NRA. I'll admit I'm glad they did, because the NRA leadership was ready to basically abdicate their advocacy of the RKBA. I don't think there would be much left of the 2nd Amendment had the organization taken that path.

[Eleanors38]

34. Coalition based, variously, in blue states...

http://www.firearmspolicy.org/

These are major groups in the pro-2A camp. And evidently a little tired of the NRA.

[hrmjustin]

35. With most issues there is a give and take.

I think it is fine to advocate and defend the right to have guns. I think the NRA is no longer an honest party to this discussion. The NRA is an arm of the GOP.

[Eleanors38]

38. I think that is the point. Another "arm:" Coalition to Stop Gun violence...

They are working actively to defeat pro-2A Democrats in the primaries, esp. in states where ANY Democrat has a hard chance getting elected. There is a posting about their activities in this group.

[virginia mountainman]

39. you also do realize that the NRA

Has given far more money to Democrats than the various gun control groups could even DREAM about??

[hrmjustin]

40. That does not mean they are good.

They are an arm of the GOP.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

41. Money & power is all that counts. 4M members, 80M gun owners, $300M budget. nt