Fairfax, Virginia – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Cuomo-James jihad against the National Rifle Association has drawn some support from some Second Amendment supporters. Many of them have often called the NRA “sellouts,” “Fudds,” or “Negotiating Rights Away.” But not standing against the state of New York’s attacks on the NRA is very short-sighted for a number of reasons.
Cuomo Wasn’t Just Targeting The NRA
When one reads the actual letters Andrew Cuomo’s minions sent to banks and insurance companies, the exact language used is key. The late Rush Limbaugh told us, “Words mean things.” So, what words did those letters use? Both letters mention NRA, but they also included the phrase “similar gun promotion organizations.”
What is a “gun promotion organization?” Could it be those that advocate for Second Amendment rights? Arguably, because the NRA did that for years. But does it stop with the NRA? Probably not. Gun Owners of America, the Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the Firearms Policy Coalition are just one four-letter word for New York: Next.
Even Ammoland might be considered such an organization. Think about that. The NRA is our first line of defense against New York’s assault.
NRA’s “Single-Issue” Approach Matters
One thing is clear: There are a lot of new gun owners, and gun ownership is becoming more diverse. This is potentially very good news, but only if we can avoid allowing anti-Second Amendment extremists from playing “divide and conquer.”
Ironically, the NRA’s “single-issue” focus, long a boogeyman of some, may actually be crucial when it comes to capitalizing on more diverse gun ownership. By focusing only on gun issues (to include secondary issues like judicial nominations and fighting campaign “reform” schemes), the NRA brings a diverse coalition together and complicates things for anti-Second Amendment extremists.
Remember, 2020 was decided by a razor-thin margin in a number of states. Biden really has no room for error, as noted earlier in these pages. We should not repeat his blunders.
NRA Doesn’t Just Do Politics And Legislation
The NRA has never been just about lobbying. They have been at the forefront of providing training in firearms safety. The group also helps provide training for law enforcement and those who have an interest in gunsmithing. There’s work for hunters, ranges, local gun clubs, and competitive shooters as well. The group also has programs for those with disabilities, youth, and women.
Who else does any of this, much less all? Maybe you don’t like the NRA’s political and legislative strategy. That is your business. But the loss of those programs, especially when we are seeing millions of new gun owners, would be a blow from which the Second Amendment community might not recover from.
For 150 years, the NRA has been there for those who exercise their Second Amendment rights, and not just on the legislative or political arenas. Yes, Wayne LaPierre’s strategic missteps are such he should step down, but the organization has much to provide for the next 150 years, and Second Amendment supporters would be very short-sighted to root on the Lavrentiy Beria-inspired witch hunt Letitia James has been carrying out.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
I want the NRA to survive but without Wayne and his henchmen/women. I will not monetarily donate while he’s still there. I do support SAF, GOA and FPC.
Endowment Member
As long as the current corrupt leadership is tolerated, I won’t
even round up on midway purchases.
Not $.01 for nra corrupt sellout traitors
nra brought me gca 34 & 68 and every horrendous cancelation of my / my kids rights. They can burn to the ground.
Support Second Amendment Foundation (who actually litigates most cases nra rides in at the end to claim credit for) FPC and GOA.
NO MONEY FOR nra
nra Life member (and I have purchased 9 additional life memberships for family) but never again as long as wayne is feeding on the carcass
The NRA needs to get back to basics.
Get rid of stupid things like its wine club and cigar club. Cut back on selling products with the NRA logo. Cut back on ‘freebies’ when you join and renew.
Focus on gun rights, gun training and gun safety.
We should be looking also at the rubber stampers on the board and go after them and their businesses for the treason they have subborned
I have been a NRA member for 45 years but I won’t send them another dime until LaPierre is gone.. Until then it’s GOA and SAF. If the NRA decides to run itself into the ground to keep LaPierre it’s a shane.
The NRA is out of control. I don’t appreciate how they use my donations and dues. Wayne makes me grind my teeth whenever I see him in his over priced suits. In an ideal world, the NRA would heed us and stop the waste of resources and the Fudd mentality of appeasement. In the real world, Wayne and the board feel too powerful to listen to our desires. There is no incentive to reform. If the NRA needs to perish to be replaced by a better organization, so be it. GOA would do so much more with the resources I… Read more »
The NRA says it has somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 million members. The actual number has never been made available. But what is certain is that those “around 5 million” members don’t all get to vote in the Board of Directors elections. Many years ago, only those with Life Member or above status could vote. Currently people who have had annual membership for five or more consecutive years can also vote. But that number is also difficult to pin down. It is also difficult to come up with how many of those eligible actually return their ballots. I was… Read more »
The NRA supported every infringement in the 20th century & continued that support with the bump stock ban. Wayne has murdered any credibility that organization thought it had. There are other organizations that have filled the gap. It’s time for the FUDD patrol to go.
I don’t disagree that we need the NRA. A strong, healthy and focused NRA.
Many with negative feelings about the NRA are typically speaking out against the current leadership and not the organization itself.
The NRA would do well to consider new leadership with more fiscal responsibility.