# When did the NRA become a hyper-partisan anathema to rational thought? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 11, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568 "2011-11-11T04:04:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/81 "2011-11-12T03:36:03Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > I know this: > > The NRA does not support the right of an individual to own anti-tank weapons or anti-air-flying-things weapons or heavy duty weapons used in war. > > Why? > > Because they’re comfortable with these kinds of bans since no inner city people – see: minorities – will ever get their hands on them. What a strange thing for a person to post. And your citation is… [QUOTE=Naxos] But by voting as their president a moronic insane actor like Heston, who made that well known paranoid claim about his dead cold hands, is proof enough. [/QUOTE] What a very slightly less strange thing for a person to post. Well folks, the debate is over. Time to piss on the fire, call in the dogs, and kindly deposit your racist firearms in the nearest Bessemer furnace. ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/82 "2011-11-12T03:39:48Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > What a strange thing for a person to post. And your citation is… Truth is strange? If the NRA cared so much about the right of individuals to arm themselves, they would not oppose US citizens owning anti-tank weapons. But they do. Hypocrisy is not easy to hide. As is mental dysfunction. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/83 "2011-11-12T03:41:24Z")
There is zero truth in what you said. None whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/84 "2011-11-12T03:44:52Z")
Well _I_ certainly can’t think of any reason why a person or group might favor individuals having the right to own handguns, rifles, and shotguns, but not anti-tank weapons or anti-aircraft weapons, other than a racist plot to have black people kill each other off. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/85 "2011-11-12T03:48:02Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > Truth is strange? Cite that that’s the truth? > [@](#): > > Hypocrisy is not easy to hide. As is mental dysfunction. Who do you feel is exhibiting mental dysfunction in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/86 "2011-11-12T03:50:49Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > […] other than a racist plot to have black people kill each other off. It’s not a plot. It’s a social attitude for tolerance of anti-social measures that major law enforcement wants to do away with, but the NRA vehemently supports. There’s no other explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/87 "2011-11-12T03:58:57Z")
I’m so confused. There are large political/community groups that are forthwith about their desire to ban all firearms. Yet the NRA is not necessary to protect the rights? Aside from whether they go too far in their zeal or not, suggesting that lobbying groups to protect firearm rights from organizations that would lobby against them seems pretty straightforward. And… and … and the NRA being okay with bans against tactical nuclear weapons and civilian-owned TOW missiles makes them … makes them _racist_? Oh, they had Charleton Heston as their leader, that explains it. Huh? But that bit of silliness aside, does the NRA’s support of some Democrat incumbents overwhelm the anti-democrat and paranoid conspiracy-like machinations of the leadership. This isn’t a rhetorical question; I don’t pay close enough attention to the group to know. I alluded to the possibility in the OP–is it that what I have heard of the NRA’s political activities in recent years is cherry-picked juicy bits that make great soundbites and LaPierre is either much more balanced than he appears via mass media or is a relative minority and negligible opinion-maker? ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/88 "2011-11-12T04:03:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > And… and … and the NRA being okay with bans against tactical nuclear weapons and civilian-owned TOW missiles makes them … makes them _racist_? Their action is the result of their intention, not the other way around. They support unfettered access to handguns, they don’t support unfettered access to weapons of any kind. If they were supporting the right of an individual to arm themselves, they would support the right of an individual to own whatever weapons they chose… but they don’t. They only support the unfettered access to legal _and_ illegal handguns. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/89 "2011-11-12T04:08:22Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > They only support the unfettered access to legal _and_ illegal handguns. This is tiresome, but necessary… Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/90 "2011-11-12T04:17:20Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > This is tiresome, but necessary… > > Cite? I won’t post links to forum discussions. Links are spam. Do some research on the attempts of the City of Chicago in the past 20 years to establish some kind of regulation in straw purchase of handguns in the surrounding suburbs… where people go there, buy 20 guns, and come back to Chicago and sell them to gangsters… all of which the NRA is strongly against and has paid off several Republican (mostly) politicians to vote down. That’s what the NRA is all about the last decades… let minority groups have handguns so they can kill each other. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/91 "2011-11-12T04:26:00Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > I won’t post links to forum discussions. Links are spam. > > Do some research on the attempts of the City of Chicago in the past 20 years to establish some kind of regulation in straw purchase of handguns in the surrounding suburbs… where people go there, buy 20 guns, and come back to Chicago and sell them to gangsters… all of which the NRA is strongly against and has paid off several Republican (mostly) politicians to vote down. > > That’s what the NRA is all about the last decades… let minority groups have handguns so they can kill each other. I see. It’s true because you say so. Gotcha. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/92 "2011-11-12T04:27:37Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > … If they were supporting the right of an individual to arm themselves, they would support the right of an individual to own whatever weapons they chose… but they don’t… And that is my biggest problem with the NRA. The fact that my home state does not allow civilian ownership of NFA weapons, but many states surrounding me do, yet the NRA does nothing about it, really pisses me off. I’m still a member though. I like the magazines. ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/93 "2011-11-12T04:29:14Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I see. It’s true because you say so. Gotcha. It’s true because that’s the way it is. It’s in the news. You show a lack of knowledge of reality. Your statements should be evaluated considering that lack of knowledge. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/94 "2011-11-12T04:30:48Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > I won’t post links to forum discussions. Links are spam. > > Do some research on the attempts of the City of Chicago in the past 20 years to establish some kind of regulation in straw purchase of handguns in the surrounding suburbs… where people go there, buy 20 guns, and come back to Chicago and sell them to gangsters… all of which the NRA is strongly against and has paid off several Republican (mostly) politicians to vote down. That’s already illegal, easily traceable, and if the City of Chicago really cared so much, they could trace every sale and pin it back to both the dealer and buyer and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. It is clear that Chicago and recently, the Daley administration hates minorities accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/95 "2011-11-12T04:31:28Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > I’m still a member though. I like the magazines. That’s fine. That’s all what freedom is all about. The problem is when people are not aware of what they are supporting. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/96 "2011-11-12T04:35:11Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > That’s fine. That’s all what freedom is all about. > > The problem is when people are not aware of what they are supporting. I’m quite clear actually. If any of us needed an NRA Issues remediation class, it’s the person staring at you in the mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/97 "2011-11-12T04:37:25Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > It’s true because that’s the way it is. > > It’s in the news. > > You show a lack of knowledge of reality. Your statements should be evaluated considering that lack of knowledge. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/98 "2011-11-12T04:37:56Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > I’m quite clear actually. If any of us needed an NRA Issues remediation class, it’s the person staring at you in the mirror. It isn’t because I don’t support the NRA. I know what they are all about. They have proven their intentions over and over again the past 20 years. I know why they pay Republicans to vote down any and all controls of handguns. The NRA members know it too. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/99 "2011-11-12T04:39:53Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > It isn’t because I don’t support the NRA. > > I know what they are all about. They have proven their intentions over and over again the past 20 years. > > I know why they pay Republicans to vote down any and all controls of handguns. > > The NRA members know it too. Cite? I must have missed that fact in last month’s American Rifleman mag. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568/100 "2011-11-12T04:51:16Z")
Well, to be fair to **Naxos** , this country does have a long and tragic history when it comes to guns and racial minorities. There were the dark days during Reconstruction when masked, hooded members of the KKK would ride through the countryside at night, forcing the terrified ex-slaves to accept pistols, rifles, and ammunition. Sometimes the Klansmen would just randomly hurl guns and ammo into the houses of the black people. Or the infamous “poll tax” during the Jim Crow era–if you couldn’t pay it, you would be forced to take a gun instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-nra-become-a-hyper-partisan-anathema-to-rational-thought/602568.md?page=6)