Luckovich - A Wall to Protect America

[groundloop]

[HassleCat]

1. I used to like the NRA

I was a member, got the American Rifleman magazine, put a window sticker on my car, etc. Then this guy named Wayne LaPierre took over. The NRA started opposing any regulation or restriction of firearms, ammunition, etc. as a "foot in the door that will lead to government confiscation." That was back in the mid 1970s. As far as I can tell, they continue to use this justification to oppose anything and everything. They claim expanded background checks will lead to national registration. They oppose restrictions on bullets designed to penetrate body armor, but I forget the specific "logic" they used in that fight. They're nuts. They always tilted right, but I could deal with it, because they didn't go berserk and leap to the defense of every paranoid nutter in the world. I guess they had to evolve along with their members, more and more of whom are the "prepper" types who stock up on military style weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition. To their credit, they did admit that the "open carry" guys went a little too far when they walked into a restaurant all locked and loaded.

[Old Crow]

2. Interesting analysis from a former insider; thanks.

And I applaud you for knowing when it was time to part company with the NRA. Group-think can cast a powerful spell, yet somehow you avoided it.

[jeff47]

6. They didn't evolve with their members. They evolved with their sponsors.

The NRA's primary source of funding became gun and ammunition manufacturers. So they're just representing the desires of the people who write the checks: More guns, more ammo, to as many people as possible.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

11. Great way to put it.

I come from a long line of hunters, and while they love to hunt and keep rifles and believe the 2nd amendment protects them, they believe the NRA leadership has gone nuts.

[KansDem]

8. I'll never forget--nor forgive--the gun nuts' rally on the anniversary of Sandy Hook

In Newtown!!

From 2013--

Gun Rights Group To Rally In Newtown On Sandy Hook Anniversary

Talk about tone deaf - but anyone who would organize a pro gun rally in a town that suffered immeasurable tragedy as the result of loose gun laws aren't just tone deaf but morally corrupt.

"We are proclaiming Saturday, December 14 as Guns Save Lives Day," Alan Gottlieb, president of the Second Amendment Foundation and chairman of the Citizens Committee, said. "In the coming weeks, you can go to GunsSaveLivesDay.com and get updates on this open source national project that all freedom loving organizations are invited to be a part of."
Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra was not pleased with the announcement.

"For this group to use our Sandy Hook tragedy as a springboard for political action is disrespectful to our community of Newtown and is of particularly insensitive timing," Mrs Llodra said in an October 11 statement. "I respect their right to promote their beliefs regarding guns. I ask that they respect our community and not use us for their purposes.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/11/1246462/-Gun-Rights-Group-To-Rally-In-Newtown-On-Sandy-Hook-Anniversary#

[mountain grammy]

13. My husband was a member in the eighties..

I remember having an argument with him about gun regulation and he used the "foot in the door" and "slippery slope" arguments, telling me he felt the same way about gun regulation as I feel about abortion regulation. If abortion was criminalized, went the argument, women would still have them, they would just be criminals, and the same with guns..

I honestly don't remember which massacre changed his mind. It was a long time ago, even before Columbine. My husband's not a stupid man. He abhors the NRA and is sorry he ever supported them.

[TNNurse]

3. As far as I am concerned

LaPierre has a LOT of blood on his hands.

[SunSeeker]

4. K & R

[spanone]

5. K&R...

[tclambert]

7. I looked up some history for The Great Wall of China, and it didn't work so well.

You know, they basically built it to keep the Mongol Hordes out. But Genghis Khan and his--can you guess what?--Mongol Hordes conquered China anyway. Most of the Great Wall we see in pictures today was built or rebuilt by the Ming dynasty, partly to keep the Manchus out. Yet the Manchus repeatedly raided south of the wall, and eventually conquered the Mings and established the Ching dynasty.

Hadrian's Wall between England and Scotland didn't keep William Wallace (Braveheart) from sacking York in the English midlands.

The most elaborate defensive wall of all time, the Maginot line, built to keep the Germans out of France, failed spectacularly in 1940, when the Germans conquered France in a month.

My point? Walls don't work to keep the foreigners out. Is it cynical of me to wonder if someone in the business of building walls sees money to be made off building one between Mexico and the U.S.?

[pacalo]

9. Very excellent point!

[Glassunion]

16. Actually the Maginot Line was perfect.

Unless of course your attacker comes through Belgium. Which is pretty much what the Germans did.

Grandpa pushed them back through the Ardennes. He lost his hearing there.

[Gothmog]

10. Great cartoon

[jalan48]

12. Guns for all Americans, guns and arms for all the world. That's how we do it.

[mountain grammy]

14. Thank you, Mike Luckovich.

[DesertRat]

15. Wow

k&r

[winter is coming]

18. At first glance, I thought it said, "NSA" not "NRA".

Kinda sad that the cartoon works for either.