Impact of election on RKBA organizations?

19-3Ben · Nov 10, 2016

I'm trying to do this without discussing the actual politics of the issue. Mods, if I fail, or if this thread goes off the rails, please do shut it down. I don't want to create a mess.

Just before the election, there was a major push from the NRA for membership. Constant ads on YoutTube, the $25 BassPro gift card promo for joining etc... I think that they, like everyone, expected Clinton to win, and figured they needed to bolster their numbers/support to help us survive the incoming anti-2A legislation.

Now that we have a Republican White House, Congress, and Senate, it seems unlikely that at least for the next 2 yrs, the anti-2A agenda will accomplish anything. Of course we could keep that long if the 2018 mid-term elections keep a R majority in Congress.

My point is, are people going to feel that the threat has been temporarily averted, and not feel as much pressure to join RKBA organizations? Should we expect to see membership fall off a bit?
What effect, if any do you think this will have on our rights? Is a R majority in WH and Congress enough to keep us safe even if NRA membership drops?

I realize it's a bit speculative and i know we don't do aimless speculation in Activism. But I really feel like this actually has a point. I want us all to figure out a game plan to seize this unique opportunity for us. RKBA organizations are part of that, and our own individual efforts are part of that. If people have constructive ideas for how to fine tune our activism to suit the unique situation, I think this can be a very productive conversation.

Louca · Nov 11, 2016

19-3Ben said:
... are people going to feel that the threat has been temporarily averted, and not feel as much pressure to join RKBA organizations? Should we expect to see membership fall off a bit?

People keep using the day after the election as the point in time when our RKBA efforts finally changed things; like somehow overnight things are all better now and there is no longer any effort necessary. Folks, the ONLY thing that changed is a person we elected who (hopefully) will change the direction things will go in the future. That future is on and after Jan 20, 2017, inauguration day. So, in my opinion, the threat has not even temporarily been averted. I would be braced for what can and probably will happen between now and 20 Jan 2017.

To answer your question, yes, sadly, I do think there will be less activity and even a lowered sense of importance on the whole subject of RKBA.

Carl N. Brown · Nov 11, 2016

Historically bad legislation has come from both parties. Democrats have branded themselves as the gun control party. Indeed, I have heard for decades that unquestioning support for gun control is one of the litmus tests used by liberals to detect true liberals. That does not automatically mean that Republicans or conservatives are all supporters of RKBA.

Both parties have proposed gun control measures,laws and policies, that may have had noblest of intent, but which infringed on traditional and lawful use of arms by the law-abiding without impacting bad behavior by bad people with guns.

No, we cannot slack off and expect that a candidate or candidates who promised to support second amendment rights won't get snookered into believing that a gun law effective only against us might have public safety value.

@Louca: is your avatar a three-legged parson's bench or a Mad Magazine poiuyt? Cool.

Louca · Nov 11, 2016

Carl N. Brown said:
@Louca: is your avatar a three-legged parson's bench or a Mad Magazine poiuyt? Cool.

Very, VERY good observation. I had thought it was called "The Plinth" from Mad Magazine sometime back in the 60's (looks like #93 from 1965). But your name "poiuyt" seems to bring up a lot more hits for it! Thanks. They also had the box it went in which was something like this:

19-3Ben · Nov 11, 2016

Whoa. Very reminiscent of something MC Esher would draw.

LiveLife · Nov 11, 2016

The Trump win caught the liberal left by surprise as they thought Hillary was going to win. Listening to NPR and other liberal radio shows, they are transitioning from shock/depression to anger, hence the violent protests fueled by "professional" perhaps paid protesters using social media to stir up support.

For the next 2 years, the antis have absolutely nothing to lose and my guess is they will fight hard as they ever have to build up support and attack at local/state levels to push their agenda.

Living in California, I have seen their destructive efforts and results at city/state levels and hope/pray for a SCOTUS nomination and federal legislations that will not only stop but reverse the damage antis have caused in past decades.

Now is the time for 2A supporters to come together and increase our war chest/NRA and support law makers to introduce and pass 2A friendly laws that will "trump" state laws.

bannockburn · Nov 11, 2016

bds

For the next 2 years, the antis have absolutely nothing to lose and my guess is they will fight hard as they ever have to build up support and attack at local/state levels to push their agenda.

My thoughts exactly! Now that the center stage battleground has been lost look to the Antis to move their attacks to the State level where they can spend millions of dollars on any number of schemes and back-door legislation to promote their anti-gun plans.

Now is the time, as always, to be ever vigilant in protecting our 2nd. Amendment rights from those who will stop at nothing to take them away.

LiveLife · Nov 11, 2016

For decades, antis have spent money and efforts at lower courts and NRA has been working to combat their efforts without too much success. Thankfully, future nominations to SCOTUS will help overturn lower court decisions.

It is crucial that we double our efforts to support NRA/ILA at state levels so other states don't become like California - https://www.nraila.org/donate/

This is the finest hour man and woman of substance must stand with Republican controlled House/Senate/White House to reverse decades of attack on the Constitution and the 2A. We have been given an opportunity to change history and we cannot mess this up for our children and future generations.

Support 2A and gun rights by voicing your support/ideas at greatagain.gov set up by President-elect Trump - https://apply.ptt.gov/yourstory/

jdc1244 · Nov 11, 2016

“…are people going to feel that the threat has been temporarily averted, and not feel as much pressure to join RKBA organizations?”

At the state and local level, jurisdictions contemplating various bans and restrictions might now reconsider given the Supreme Court’s ideological composition will remain the same.

Indeed, current measures such as New York’s Safe Act are likely in jeopardy, particularly if the 4th Circuit should rule in a manner invalidating Maryland’s AWB, splitting with the 2nd Circuit which ruled the Safe Act to be Constitutional.

“What effect, if any do you think this will have on our rights? Is a R majority in WH and Congress enough to keep us safe even if NRA membership drops?”

That would depend on one’s state or jurisdiction of residence.

Some states will continue to pursue enacting more restrictive measures as compared to other states, indifferent to the results of this month’s election, and immune from the political process.

The restrictions in these states can only be addressed through the judicial process.

Our Second Amendment rights will remain unaffected; rather, state and local governments will likely be required to take a more narrow, tailored approach when placing reasonable limits and restrictions on the Second Amendment right, a right which is inalienable but not absolute, as is the case with all other rights.

The individual right to possess a firearm pursuant to the right of lawful self-defense will be safeguarded by a settled, accepted jurisprudence acknowledging those rights as fundamental, where laws and measures seeking to limit or restrict those rights are subject to strict scrutiny of judicial review, having the effect of preempting such laws and measures which are clearly prima facia un-Constitutional.

LiveLife · Nov 11, 2016

Having lived in California most of my life and seeing the damage antis have done gives me chills what can also happen in other states.

Do not underestimate the will and the tenacity of the antis.

End game for them is to take away our guns from us.

We may have just won a major battle but the war is far from over.

Phaedrus/69 · Nov 13, 2016

The NRA has relied on FUD to drive donations for eight years. I think the current election results will crater their fundraising for quite awhile.

hso · Nov 13, 2016

Look at the state Anti initiatives over the past 4 years and we can see that the Antis shifted from failing to get legislation through the federal government to winning in many states. Maine just narrowly fought off a Bloomberg funded Anti campaign. California, Oregon and Washington have all fallen to Anti efforts focused on their citizens.

Since the Antis have changed their strategy to working state by state (unsurprising since that was our strategy for carry laws) we need to ask the large RKBA organizations what they plan on doing to block their efforts. My concern is that large organizations want to keep all the control to themselves and not work with the state RKBA groups and they bring slick tone deaf efforts to the struggle. OTOH, the Antis work with the local Anti groups and have a local face to their programs with backing from the Bloombergs of the world.

Impact of election on RKBA organizations?

19-3Ben

Member

Louca

Member

Carl N. Brown

Member

Louca

Member

19-3Ben

Member

LiveLife

Member

bannockburn

Member

LiveLife

Member

jdc1244

Member

LiveLife

Member

Phaedrus/69

Member

hso

Moderator

Similar threads