A consistent idea that the mainstream media and their anti-gun friends in politics keep putting forth is the idea that the NRA is the entire reason that anti-gunners haven’t been able to completely remove the Second Amendment from American life.
The reality, though, isn’t nearly so simplistic.
While there is no question that the NRA has been a strong advocate over the years in lobbying for gun rights in America, they were never the core of the gun rights movement and are not now, if they ever were, the guiding organization for the overall gun rights movement in America.
And it sounds like the left is finally figuring that out (hat tip to here for the lead).
Matt Cohen is a writer for Mother Jones magazine. If you are unfamiliar with Mother Jones magazine, really all you need to know is that, if there is a left-leaning side to a political issue, Mother Jones leans to that left side. Hard. And advocates for everything leftist on the political spectrum.
With that in mind, you may appreciate what Cohen writes for that towering example of wrong thinking about politics. Cohen writes,
The [2020 MLK Day] rally [at the Virginia state capitol] was a bellwether: the sudden downfall of the nation’s most powerful gun group and the rise of more radical pro-gun organizations and militias seeking to take its place. Since 2016, the NRA has seen a steady decline in its ranks. Meanwhile, there’s been a boon in membership for more extreme groups like the VCDL and the Second Amendment Foundation, which recently filed a number of lawsuits challenging state gun control laws, and the National Association for Gun Rights, which paints itself as a more conservative alternative to the NRA.
There’s no doubt a void to be filled by the NRA, but it’s unclear what groups will dominate. “We’ve got 100 million gun owners in this country,” says Joshua Powell, the NRA director’s former chief of staff. “Whether it’s the NRA or some other group, somebody’s going to have to fill those shoes.”
Again, from Cohen:
It would be convenient to link the rise of extremist gun groups this year to the NRA’s downfall: At a time when gun control groups are more impactful than they’ve ever been—spending millions of dollars to successfully boost political candidates running on a gun control platform—their biggest foe is down and out, leaving gun owners across the country feeling powerless. But [UCLA’s Adam] Winkler doesn’t think the narrative tracks. He explains that the rise in militia activity and armed protesters this year “seems to be the natural growth of something that started about 10 to 12 years ago” with the tea party movement when guns became a symbol of protest.
You can tell that leftists like Cohen are scared by the current situation when they call gun rights groups “extremist gun groups” but seem okay with a socialist gun group. It would appear that guns are okay to Cohen and the left if you agree with their politics, but the fact of the matter is that liberty and guns tend to naturally go together unlike leftist politics and guns. And this scares Cohen and other leftists because it means that it’s not safe to continue their “mostly peaceful protests” and such in an armed America.
They are right its not the NRA its them standing up for the Constitution so its the CONSTITUTION that they are against …
Its about controlling people just look to the history of gun control … Trillions of people have died …
As a Patriot Endowment Life Member for many years, I’m in disagreement with the NRA’s leadership and stance over several issues/compromises they’ve embraced. I accept that there will always be issues that move the leadership to a moderate rather than hard right stance. It’s why I’m also a member of the FPC, GOA, NAGR and other Pro-2A advocacy groups. As membership in the NRA drops, the corresponding rise in membership of other organizations increases.
That’s a good thing, because even if the NRA ceases to exist, the fight will still be on.
Only a fool will believe the MEDIA or POLITICAN on guns right! I don’t care if you are a Left wing or right wing! Do you think CHINA or Russia or IRAN really care which side you support or on? Hell No! You are an American and you are their ENEMY! Now you can believe what you want about these POLITICAN. But you are going to be the ones who pay the price! Where at in THEIR plan does it say left or right? All it say in Biden plan is he Going to RAISE TAXES ON THE PEOPLE 35%! WHERE does it say in his plan he going after ONLY THE CONSERVATIVE BANK ACCOUNT? OR THEIR RETIRED? He claim this money belong to the GOVERNMENT NOT YOU! But if you want to be stupid then I guess you never learn anything in school or how these RICH POLITICAN OPERATION! THEY LOVE TO USED THE PEOPLE AGAINST EACH OTHER! Look at Virginia a former military officer took advantage of all THE FOREIGNERS MOVING INTO NORTH VIRGINIA TO GET ELECT! THESE PEOPLE ONLY KNOW HOW TO LIVE AS SLAVERY TO THE GOVERNMENT!
The Left is just a bunch of “Sissys” that try to talk big, but in REALITY they are cowering behind their Mama’s aprons. No wonder they are terrified at the number of guns in the hands of Americans!!
Whereas when the NRA was powerful (and Americans “curious” but “cautious”) the radical Mama’s Babies Left had a target, but now that there are more guns in American’s hands than in our Military, and the NRA is more quiet while the new Gun Groups grow in number, the Left would be SMARTER to “let dogs lie” and find another topic to destroy. Because with so many Patriot Conservative guns ready and willing to defend our Nation, the Radical Left could end faster than it began.
Better to shut your mouth, than tick off a Patriot American these days or you could be looking into the end of a gun pointed directly at you…while your future comes to an instant halt!
FIND ANOTHER TOPIC OF DISCUSSION RADICAL LEFT BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR TRY TO DO, NO RED BLOODED AMERICAN IS GOING TO GIVE UP THEIR GUNS…EVER. THEY’D RATHER GO TO WAR BEFORE THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN — AND THE LEFT WOULD BE OUT GUNNED, OUT MANNED, AND OUT STRATEGIZED!
THE LEFT WOULD BE DEFEATED BEFORE THE WAR GAINED MOMENTUM…
Outstanding comment, Micala! One of the most powerfully worded statements I have ever read! Also, as true as the day is long! Thank you for your insight!
Yeah, I hope more join us, wake up and realize.
I WILL NOT TELL you the location or even the state where this is occurring. A small town , ,under 20,000 , has a gun shop. Last year sells were around 11,000 a month in the early part of the year, then June comes , and YOU can’t buy ammo, and gun sells are 20,000 dollars a DAY . If ammo shows up, you must be at the opening door, then you may get to buy ammo.
It would not surprise me , that this is occurring EVERYWHERE, except NYC and SHIcago ,UnSan Francisco , Portly Oregon and elsewhere
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