Yup!If anybody here doesn't think the NRA doesn't have well educated think tanks and strategists plotting and planning their every move...
I'm still DVRing a bunch of MSNBC shows and skimming 'em every night to see what gun lies they're telling tonight (they gave up trying to be cute / skirt the edges a while ago). I particularly remember one show (Chris Haynes) where the MSNBC talking heads were engaged in their usual groupthink, and making fun of the NRA (sounded like a bunch of the "cool kids" in high school).
One of the guests that night was Jack Abramoff (you remember him, don't you?).
Old Jack gave the MSNBC pundits around the table a quick lesson on how lobbying really works, and explained to them how the NRA was playing both sides in the recently defeated legislation. If one group they're lobbying wins, the legislation goes down in defeat - if the other side they're lobbying wins, they're working to water down the legislation to the point of it being useless.
I could not help laughing, as you could see the light come on in the heads of all the MSNBC "cool kids" around the table after Abramoff schooled 'em a bit - you could see the "HUH" expression on all of the group's faces!
Unfortunately, some NRA members have not had that light come on yet.
I saw many gun owners that were ripping the NRA because of some stuff they were doing regarding the recently defeated legislation - it's a shame they didn't see Abramoff's 'Inside Baseball' take on what the NRA was up to.
'Course, human nature being what it is, some of those same folks will refuse to see that light, and will probably stomp off in a huff....
I ain't giving that NRA any of my money!
Hey, I may not agree with everything the NRA does, and LaPierre may not be the best spokesman I've seen, but the more I learn, the better they seem to be playing the political game lately.
I wonder how many of those "ain't giving none of my money to the NRA" crowd are supporting their state 2nd Amendment activists?
I belong to the NRA for the national level work they do - I belong to VCDL for the state level work they do.