US gun control: What is the NRA and why is it so powerful?

[webfact]

Relatives of children at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde gathered at a nearby civic centre //IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS

 

In the wake of a school shooting in Texas that left 19 children and two adults dead, President Biden asked: "When are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?"

 

The National Rifle Association (NRA), the largest gun-owners' organisation in the US, lobbies against gun-control laws. It is holding its annual meeting in Texas, from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 May.

 

What has the NRA said about the Texas shooting?

 

The NRA condemned the shooting in Uvalde, calling it a "horrific and evil crime" and "the act of a lone, deranged criminal". It said it would "redouble our commitment to making our schools secure."

 

Full story: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35261394

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2022-05-28

[George Bowman]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

The National Rifle Association (NRA), the largest gun-owners' organisation in the US, lobbies against gun-control laws.

During my two decades of living in Thailand, I have complained about corruption from time to time. However, Thailand is still in kindergarten compared to the states. 

[Excel]

24 minutes ago, George Bowman said:

During my two decades of living in Thailand, I have complained about corruption from time to time. However, Thailand is still in kindergarten compared to the states. 

And let's hope it remains so. The level of armed violence in Thailand is unacceptably  high compared to many other nations yet compared to America it is still not even on the charts. Fingers crossed it never gets there.

[TooPoopedToPop]

What just happened in West Virginia might answer that question.

[animalmagic]

Broken & Bankrupt: The NRA in 2021 - NRA Watch

 

This sums it up quite well.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

"When are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?"

When you do a Prayut and tweak the constitution?

[onthedarkside]

A meme post has been removed, along with a trolling post and flame reply.

 

Also a post making an unsourced and unsubstantiated allegation.

 

 

[Tropposurfer]

Profits, money, political bribes 'contributions', buying of politicians and political parties, corruption, greed, inhumanity, racial and social indifference to name but a few. So perverse so utterly perverse.

[Jingthing]

Britsplained starting at 2:10.

 

 

[jingjai9]

The US constitution once approved of slavery. I wonder if the pro-slavers made the same kind of arguments as those who argue for the second amendment (I am right because the constitution says so). 

The US constitution was not written by God. It was designed to be changed, for example the second amendment. 

 

The debate for and against gun control illustrates how money controls US politics. The courts have essentially legalized corruption.

 

Seems like the only solution is to propose new legislation or put up state-wide referendums taking money out of politics so that no one may contribute as much as a dollar to the election of public officials. 

If people running for public office had to run their campaigns using a set amount of money obtained from the government's election funds, the people would be able to see how well each candidate could manage a budget - kind of like an audition.

[bannork]

Now if only one of these crazed lone wolf gunmen would enter the NRA annual meeting and let loose, the NRA representatives, at least those left alive,  might start to understand that guns are the problem.

[Stargeezr]

People should remember that the 2nd amendment was  written when there was hardly any machine guns, or rapid fire rifles.

 

  It was when people actually needed to pack some sort of firearm for their protection. Thanks jingthing for your video, and jingjai9.  I am glad that most countries do not have this 2nd amendment in their constitutions.

[Atlantis]

5 hours ago, bannork said:

Now if only one of these crazed lone wolf gunmen would enter the NRA annual meeting and let loose, the NRA representatives, at least those left alive,  might start to understand that guns are the problem.

Congratulations. Your comment is:

1. Really Sick - "because 20 innocent people got massacred, I wanna see many many more die of the same fate to make them start to understand my P.O.V. better"

2. Really Thick - surely the lone gunmen would be shot to pieces within seconds? Because it's the NRA? R for Rifle?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle

Edited May 28, 2022 by Atlantis
Spelling

[bannork]

My error, I thought the R stood for retard not rifle. The solution to these massacres is simple: strict gun laws, UK, Australia, Canada swiftly passed  legislation after suffering their own tragedies. The result was no more mass shootings.

I read 80% of Americans support strict gun control but the blood money paid by the NRA to politicians such as Ted Cruz prevents the necessary legislation being passed.

How do people like this sleep at night?

 

[bannork]

[wombat]

Why?

My guess is they are stronger than the minority that want to change the constitution.

The solution is very simple...

The common denominators are all these wanna be scumbags advertise their macho on social media's.

Tweak the algorithm so it recognizes guns ammo rifles.

When the censor botts recognize them they get red flagged to enforcement who go round for a chat and confiscation.

Guns don't kill people...people kill people.

 

 

Edited May 29, 2022 by wombat

[wombat]

14 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

taking money out of politics 

Good luck with that one.

[LarrySR]

Daniel Defense weapon manufacturer that made the AR15 rifle used in the Texas massacre posted this advertisement last week.

 

[LarrySR]

1. The NRA finances the campaigns of Republican lawmakers.

 

2. The Republicans & right wing media use the 2nd amendment to frighten the rube demographic. "The evil anti American Democrats will take your guns." .....and over and over again, the gullible rubes end up voting for tax cuts for the rich and the rich that don't want to pay taxes.... pay for Republican campaigns.

 

 

[bannork]

14 minutes ago, wombat said:

Why?

My guess is they are stronger than the minority that want to change the constitution.

The solution is very simple...

The common denominators are all these wanna be scumbags advertise their macho on social media's.

Tweak the algorithm so it recognizes guns ammo rifles.

When the censor botts recognize them they get red flagged to enforcement who go round for a chat and confiscation.

Guns don't kill people...people kill people.

 

 

You say guns don't kill people, people kill people but you're omitting the blindingly obvious- a gun kills a lot quicker than a knife.

The shooter in the school in Texas, how many could he have killed using a knife before he was overpowered? Probably none because killing with a knife is harder and much more personal.

Guns are lethal anonymous weapons, if you  continue to grant the general population easy access to them, then mass shootings will continue in the land of the 'free'. 

 

[FolkGuitar]

1. Remove larger magazines. Make 3-round clips largest legally permitted. That's large enough for hunting. Make possession of larger rifle magazines a criminal offense.

2. Enforce existing gun regulations. That's not being done now.

3. Require training, testing, health checks, licensing, and insurance, for firearm ownership. We do that for driving. Why not for firearms? The Constitution with its 2nd Amendment can be amended again. It's been done before.

There are already plenty of 'infringements' to firearms ownership; it takes three separate licenses to own a fully automatic firearm, shoulder-fired missiles, etc. A few more infringements can do a world of good.

4. Make any crime committed with a firearm punishable by Life Imprisonment Without Parole at Hard Labor.

 

This won't completely stop the crazies, but it will sure slow down crime with firearms. 17yr old gangbangers will think twice before shooting rivals at schools, or in drive-by shootings that go on several times a day in the U.S.  Life imprisonment without parole. Not a one or two year sentence that becomes a status symbol to gang members.

Edited May 29, 2022 by FolkGuitar

[LarrySR]

Republican campaign ads and Christmas cards. 
 

[Damrongsak]

16 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Profits, money, political bribes 'contributions', buying of politicians and political parties, corruption, greed, inhumanity, racial and social indifference to name but a few. So perverse so utterly perverse.

Complete lack of integrity. 

[Excel]

7 hours ago, Atlantis said:

Congratulations. Your comment is:

1. Really Sick - "because 20 innocent people got massacred, I wanna see many many more die of the same fate to make them start to understand my P.O.V. better"

2. Really Thick - surely the lone gunmen would be shot to pieces within seconds? Because it's the NRA? R for Rifle?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle

Well considering members of the NRA and their supporters are generally talking violent sick s***t condoning anything that allows armed people to kill at random it appears most of them have their heads up their own backsides so hence won't see an armed intruder enter their conference hall. 

[kbelyeu]

19 hours ago, bannork said:

You say guns don't kill people, people kill people but you're omitting the blindingly obvious- a gun kills a lot quicker than a knife.

The shooter in the school in Texas, how many could he have killed using a knife before he was overpowered? Probably none because killing with a knife is harder and much more personal.

Guns are lethal anonymous weapons, if you  continue to grant the general population easy access to them, then mass shootings will continue in the land of the 'free'. 

 

Does being killed by a knife make you any less dead?

[DaveE13]

21 hours ago, bannork said:

He is a proper buffoon

[ozimoron]

1 hour ago, kbelyeu said:

Does being killed by a knife make you any less dead?

The salient point is that a person armed with an AR 15 will kill far more people far quicker than a knife. The .223 round literally dissolves the body's organs on impact so a hit anywhere in the abdomen or head is normally fatal. In fact, even a hit on a limb will cause so much damage that the person often dies from blood loss and shock. None of that happens with a knife. Further more, the gun has a very rapid rate of fire which compounds the problem. Not to put too fine a point on it but how many knives reach 500 meters? 

 

Finally, how many mass killings have been carried out in the US using only a knife? You are being deliberately obtuse in ignoring obvious facts.

Edited May 29, 2022 by ozimoron

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  Please stay on topic.  

 

[Red Forever]

The ding a lings are so addicted to the toxic combination of god and guns that it's gonna take a seismic shift in their "culture" for good to prevail.

[KhunLA]

I disagree with the the title, and think (IMHO) that the NRA, is far from powerful.  They boast a 5 mill membership, and think they are being overly kind to themselves.   Considering the number of legal gun owners, and population of USA, simply shows, they aren't really liked by anyone.

 

I personally don't know anyone who would be a member, after their strong stance against wanting every gun sale registered.  That was their final silliness, and membership plummeted. 

 

All the gun owners I've known, contrary to news spinning, WANT strong regulations for 'selling' firearms.   BUT, they want to be able to buy what they choose, higher capacity mags.  Do they want 30 round mags, not really, but definitely more than 5 round mags.

 

Assault weapons, are not one of those, again, only 2 states even allow, and complicated & expenses to get permission to own.   Only the silliest collector would bother.  Only the most ignorant person, keeps spewing the 'need to ban assault rifles' over & over, as they basically have been banned for decades.   Please stop showing your ignorance by using that term, 'assault rifle'.  

 

NRA is bankrupt for a reason, few support them, except politicians who will take their money.  Here's a good news-blip, that has some interesting numbers & thoughts.   Shows Americans, won't be changing the 2nd Amendment anytime soon.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081

 

Part about % wanting stricter laws, could simply be as most I know think, simply closing the few loopholes left open, and there are very few of those.  Registration at private sales mostly.  Not much actual change, of that, the change wouldn't actually affect much.  But closing better than leaving open.  Close one way gang banger could arm themselves.

 

As it stands now, Americans do NOT want to change the 2nd Amendment, when they do, it will be changed.   The same as other amendments, about minority & women's rights, voting rights, prohibition, etc etc that were changed.

 

If you take the time, very little, and realize how many guns are in the USA, and stats on how many 'legal' guns are registered, you'll understand why, people want firearms for protection.

 

200-390 million estimated guns in USA

Less than 10 million legally registered. According to this, though I think they missed a few:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/215655/number-of-registered-weapons-in-the-us-by-state/

 

Doing the math, that gives the criminals a 20-39 to 1 advantage.  hmm