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hlthe2b

(102,387 posts)
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 05:16 PM Apr 2019

The NRA Is A Crashed Car On Fire, Ready To Explode

The National Rifle Association is on fire. We can’t look away. ahh, schadenfreude



https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nra-oliver-north-gun-wayne-lapierre_n_5cc85f4ae4b02791823f736d

The National Rifle Association is facing collapse. Membership is plummeting. Investigations are opening. And victims of gun violence are holding the organization accountable for deaths all across the country. All of this came to a head on Saturday during the NRA convention in Indianapolis, where a comedy of errors eventually led to the announcement that the gun group’s president, Oliver North, would not seek reelection. Here’s how the NRA got to that point:

A Lack Of Fear Leads To A Lack Of Money

In the immediate aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead, the NRA’s then-president, Wayne LaPierre, blamed violent video games for the shooting and had the gall to suggest that more guns in school would have stopped the shooter.

--snip--
Framing Obama as an existential threat to gun rights worked for the NRA. Gun advocates who feared Obama was actively trying to disarm them gave the group enough money to spend more than $400 million to get President Donald Trump elected in 2016 — as much as the NRA had spent in every prior election combined going back to 1992, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

But with Trump elected, there wasn’t the same manufactured fear for the NRA to exploit. As Vox pointed out, the group became a victim of its own success: In 2017, it reported a loss of $55 million in income as membership plummeted.


There is quite a bit more worth reading at the link above (including more detail on the devastating embarrassment to Oliver North after his failed "coup" )
27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The NRA Is A Crashed Car On Fire, Ready To Explode (Original Post) hlthe2b Apr 2019 OP
Good! Nuggets Apr 2019 #1
Could they open their membership to Russian gun owners? eom guillaumeb Apr 2019 #2
All 5 of them? Wounded Bear Apr 2019 #4
I want to see Wayne LaPierie marched off to prison. nt doc03 Apr 2019 #3
I have little doubt genxlib Apr 2019 #5
I'm hopeful NY State will pull their tax exempt status. hlthe2b Apr 2019 #6
+1000 genxlib Apr 2019 #7
Dang, who will funnel the Russian money to the Trump 2020 campaign? tanyev Apr 2019 #8
Fox News and Breitbart? Maybe they'll end up going down the same path. madinmaryland Apr 2019 #9
With the increasing brazenness and lawlessness moonscape Apr 2019 #10
Not. Relevant. Anymore. dchill Apr 2019 #11
Karma has taken its sweet time Fritz Walter Apr 2019 #12
Given Columbine (20 yrs anniv), Aurora theater shootings, Deer Creek Middle School and Arapahoe HS hlthe2b Apr 2019 #13
Forgot mgardener Apr 2019 #24
My list is limited to Colorado events. Let THAT sink in! hlthe2b Apr 2019 #25
And we're the gapers.... Chicago1980 Apr 2019 #14
Oliver North TNNurse Apr 2019 #15
Can't wait for their complete demise. llmart Apr 2019 #16
I'm ready, willing, and able to contribute a gallon of gasoline to that fire. patphil Apr 2019 #17
The problem will remain .... Martin Eden Apr 2019 #18
fuck 'em gopiscrap Apr 2019 #19
There's a good report on the NRA problems on the NY Times "The Daily" podcast today. Kablooie Apr 2019 #20
Need something else to help them burn more. LiberalFighter Apr 2019 #21
Into the dustbin of history warmfeet Apr 2019 #22
Yes, please! cp Apr 2019 #23
Great! now explode before we elect a Dem in 2020 IronLionZion Apr 2019 #26
I hope the car is big enough to have all the right people trapped inside. n/t Mr.Bill Apr 2019 #27

genxlib

(5,542 posts)
5. I have little doubt
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 05:22 PM
Apr 2019

Their finances will improve when they have a new scary democrat to point at. They will start the drumbeat all over again and people will throw their money at them.

Let's just hope they will be so chaotic that they will be less effective. And hopefully, their message is finally getting old.

Fritz Walter

(4,292 posts)
12. Karma has taken its sweet time
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 06:38 PM
Apr 2019

...but is nonetheless welcome!

Has anyone else noticed a distinct decline in the number of cars, trucks, SUVs with “proud member” window stickers?

Granted, I’m in an urban area, and don’t get/have to venture into the bordering Deep South hinterlands (thankfully), but still wonder if a growing number of their members haven’t been taking razors to their rear windows.

hlthe2b

(102,387 posts)
13. Given Columbine (20 yrs anniv), Aurora theater shootings, Deer Creek Middle School and Arapahoe HS
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 06:44 PM
Apr 2019

shootings, the Thornton Walmart shooting (two years ago), the CO Springs abortion clinic shooting, Colorado New Life Church organization shootings, and 2006 Platte County High School Hostage event--and these are just the bigger and most recent Colorado-based incidents-- one might think Coloradoans would be ashamed to display an NRA sticker.

While I think gun control efforts have certainly increased, the remaining support for NRA and extremist views on guns are still out there. Whether the public support by individuals has decreased or not, I''m really not sure. It is jarring to see them, but they are out there.

mgardener

(1,820 posts)
24. Forgot
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 07:40 PM
Apr 2019

Gabby Gifford shooting and those people who died.
And all the other shootings where people have been injured and died.

llmart

(15,555 posts)
16. Can't wait for their complete demise.
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 07:02 PM
Apr 2019

And as someone else posted, I want to see LaPierre frogmarched off to prison.

patphil

(6,218 posts)
17. I'm ready, willing, and able to contribute a gallon of gasoline to that fire.
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 07:04 PM
Apr 2019

NRA = Not Really American.
I support gun ownership, but they are just over the top ridiculous in their need to have military weapons.

Patrick Phillips

Martin Eden

(12,875 posts)
18. The problem will remain ....
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 07:12 PM
Apr 2019

Whether or not the NRA crashes & burns, millions of gun "enthusiasts" will continue to vote on that issue first and foremost. Some other organization will fill the void for the gun lobby.

IronLionZion

(45,543 posts)
26. Great! now explode before we elect a Dem in 2020
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 07:49 PM
Apr 2019

because they're painting any Dem anywhere as coming to get your guns. Just like Obama came and took away everyone's guns and then we had all sorts of oppression from our own government, like Nazis appointed to develop child detention camp policies and police shooting unarmed civilians...oh wait.

It's time for the NRA to go away.



Gun safety education and sportsmen's groups exist.

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