# New NRA Proposal: One Step Beyond? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 26, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098 "2014-07-26T15:25:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/61 "2014-07-29T14:08:25Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > As an aside, we went on a class trip to a government gun range in 12th grade. We sat through a gun safety lecture, then shot at some targets with 0.22" bolt-action Mausers. It was fun. > > It was about as mandatory as any other school outing - a note from our parents would have been enough to keep us home. I don’t remember many kids skipping it, though. I think some folks would shit a brick around here if someone suggested that we expose their children to firearms (even if it was in an attempt to teach safety). There is a simialr reaction from some parents wheeeeeene suggest that we have a class that teaches kids how to put a condom on a banana. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/62 "2014-07-29T14:13:47Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I thought the requirement in the video was that everyone own, not bear. And it is clear we can constitutionally force people to bear arms (or at least contribute to the war effort) [Selective Service System - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service) I was just asking it as an aside. Besides, “or at least contribute to the war effort” leaves an out I never intended my question to contain. Now, if I recall correctly, in the video the proposal was that all schoolchildren be required to learn how to shoot competently before being allowed to go to the next grade. Would this not fall under the classification of “bearing arms”? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/63 "2014-07-29T14:17:40Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > As an aside, we went on a class trip to a government gun range in 12th grade. We sat through a gun safety lecture, then shot at some targets with 0.22" bolt-action Mausers. It was fun. > > It was about as mandatory as any other school outing - a note from our parents would have been enough to keep us home. I don’t remember many kids skipping it, though. Was this in the US or Israel? If the latter, then it’s understandable give compulsory military service. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/64 "2014-07-29T14:18:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I think some folks would shit a brick around here if someone suggested that we expose their children to firearms (even if it was in an attempt to teach safety). I think the brick-shitting would come if it wasn’t a voluntary class and that the parents weren’t informed beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/65 "2014-07-29T14:23:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Was this in the US or Israel? If the latter, then it’s understandable give compulsory military service. The latter, and yeah, it was part of our preparations for military service (Israeli high school kids treat the army the same way American kids treat college - as something you start worrying about as soon as you turn 16). Still, it shows that ultimately, it’s no big deal either way. I mean, creationist kids go on field trips to the natural history museum, why shouldn’t lefty kids go to a gun range? Knowledge is good, even knowledge of things you don’t like. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/66 "2014-07-29T15:44:06Z")
That’s just crazy talk. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/67 "2014-07-29T16:16:53Z")
So, did everyone else know that the NRA’s top attorney was a (gun-using, natch) [murderer](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/07/robert-dowlut-nra-murder-mystery)? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/68 "2014-07-29T16:29:20Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > So, did everyone else know that the NRA’s top attorney was a (gun-using, natch) [murderer](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/07/robert-dowlut-nra-murder-mystery)? Umm, no. Conviction tossed by State Supreme Court, charges dismissed. Pretty much not “a murderer” here in the USA. And it has little bearing on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/69 "2014-07-29T16:59:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And it has little bearing on this issue. I agree. This is about the ideas put forth, not the people in the background. ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/70 "2014-07-29T17:29:52Z")
The NRA is, apparently, trying to become just like PETA–say outrageous and stupid things in the hopes that people notice you. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/71 "2014-07-29T19:05:37Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > The NRA is, apparently, trying to become just like PETA–say outrageous and stupid things in the hopes that people notice you. Yeah, because nobody knows who the NRA is. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/72 "2014-07-29T19:31:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Umm, no. Conviction tossed by State Supreme Court, charges dismissed. Pretty much not “a murderer” here in the USA. Technicality. No-one doubts he did it. He certainly did the armed robbery before that. > [@](#): > > And it has little bearing on this issue. Just find it interesting, the sort of people who advocate that guns “make people’s lives better”. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/73 "2014-07-29T20:08:08Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > The NRA is, apparently, trying to become just like PETA–say outrageous and stupid things in the hopes that people notice you. Whooooosh! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/74 "2014-07-29T21:39:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Technicality. No-one doubts he did it. He certainly did the armed robbery before that.Just find it interesting, the sort of people who advocate that guns “make people’s lives better”. Who is advocating that guns make people’s lives better? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/75 "2014-07-30T07:13:53Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Who is advocating that guns make people’s lives better? Did you read the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/76 "2014-07-30T13:25:49Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Did you read the OP? Whooosh! ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/77 "2014-07-30T19:25:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think the brick-shitting would come if it wasn’t a voluntary class and that the parents weren’t informed beforehand. Well the parents would be informed but it wouldn’t be voluntary. Is sex ed voluntary schools that have it? Your kid can skip school that day but they’re going to teach it as part of health ed. And frankly I think people would have kittens even if it was voluntary. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/78 "2014-07-31T07:32:37Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Whooosh! Not seeing it, sorry. Perhaps you could explain? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/79 "2014-07-31T13:05:48Z")
The OP didn’t argue that guns make people’s lives better. So, I’m assuming you’re referring to the video. It also seems based on your post that you were taking it too seriously. It was very satirical and not meant to be taken literally, as **Czarcasm** did in the OP. Apologies if I misread your post. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098/80 "2014-07-31T14:30:51Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > The OP didn’t argue that guns make people’s lives better. So, I’m assuming you’re referring to the video. It also seems based on your post that you were taking it too seriously. It was very satirical and not meant to be taken literally, as **Czarcasm** did in the OP. > > Apologies if I misread your post. And as I’ve already pointed out, judging by the responses from both the supporters of the video and the narrator of the video there is some question as to how “satirical” it was meant to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nra-proposal-one-step-beyond/694098.md?page=5)