NRA endorses Donald Trump despite history of gun control support

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

NRA endorses Donald Trump despite history of gun control support

National Rifle Association endorses Trump as the only alternative
to Hillary Clinton, who group’s leaders say wants to abolish the
second amendment

Lois Beckett in Louisville, Kentucky, and Ben Jacobs in Washington
Friday 20 May 2016 22.35 BST

The National Rifle Association on Friday endorsed Donald Trump, a presidential candidate who once supported a ban on assault weapons but who the group sees as the only alternative to Hillary Clinton.

If the former secretary of state is elected in November, the NRA executive vice-president, Wayne LaPierre, told a packed convention hall: “You can kiss your guns goodbye.”

Trump, once a supporter of gun control policies that are anathema to the gun rights lobby, claimed he was surprised by the endorsement.

“I will not let you down,” he promised NRA members in his speech. “Remember that, I will not let you down.”

In a discursive address that combined his trademark improvised riffs with more unsteady moments reading from notes, the presumptive Republican nominee tried to convince the crowd that he was one of them.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/20/nra-endorses-donald-trump-convention

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Let's be honest,

Con Man Don will do and say anything that will benefit himself and himself alone.

[Buttons3345]

13. I agree!

Also, today the NRA is supported mostly by The Right Wing Nuts!

[Wellstone ruled]

22. And a few Joe Six Pack Democrats.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

24. Elitist?

[Wellstone ruled]

30. No. Joe Six Pack Democrats

helped elect Jesse Ventura and most of them were Union brothers and sisters. Yup,they wanted their Guns,Beer and a hundred dollar State Refund. But,there again we had a Party Candidate,who thought his famous last name would surly give him the Governorship,and when the polls started to go south,he would not believe it and got lazy. When the election was over,some of us looked at the voting trends and the what where and why's. And thus the phrase Joe Six Pack Dems.

[joeybee12]

2. Any NRA members here--and there are some--should realize it has been a partisan org

And has been for quite some time...the Donald could have said he wanted to take everyone's guns and lock the owners up, and the NRA would still endorse him, he's such a kidder they'd say.

[cheapdate]

3. The NRA agenda is more empowered with a Republican rather than a Democrat in the White House.

A simple concept that escapes some voters on the left.

[spanone]

4. FTNRA

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

5. The NRA

...has withheld endorsements from either party due to both candidates not having a good 2nd Amendment record.

The NRA has endorsed a Democrat incumbent over a Republican challenger if the incumbent has a good 2nd Amendment record.

Even if the Republican talks the talk better. They would rather go with a proven record.

[rockfordfile]

7. NRA a far right extremist group

NRA a far right extremist group and clearly proud to support a racist bigot again.

Not surprised.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

10. No, they are not. See below.

For Democrats supported by the NRA.

[Takket]

6. NRA is such a fucking joke

8 years of "Obama is going to take your guns away!" Sparking runs of gun shops to buy more weapons, and now they are right on to "Hillary is going to take your guns away!" and their buffoon followers are still lapping it up and lining the pockets of gun manufacturers.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

12. I am a life member.

Not active, not even very interested, don't even read the mail they send me.

But a member, nonetheless.

I am not a buffoon.

[Kingofalldems]

14. How's old Ted Nugent these days?

He's a board member and I believe wants Obama dead.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

23. Like I said....

Not active, not interested, but there are many members that are not buffoons.

Nugent is an asshole.

[rockfordfile]

8. NRA a group of right wing gun nuts

NRA a group of right wing gun nuts. If these people could be just NRA members and not Americans, they would. They're like religious fanatics.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

11. "Right wing gun nuts."

I'm not going to argue the 'gun nuts' part of your premise, but right wing.... no. They support pro-2nd Amendment candidates of either party. See below.

[rockfordfile]

16. again they have made it clear they support a racist bigot for President again. They're far right

To say well they gave some support to a few Democrats doesn't mean really anything from that right wing extremist group.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

25. Leave out Ted Nugent for a moment.

"extremist group"

That is a serious accusation.

Is the ACLU an extremist group for the First Amendment due to the fact that they have defended the KKK's right to free speech?

There is no such thing as Constitutional Extremism.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

9. They are not necessarily right wing. That's a myth.

Below is a list of Democrats all highly rated by the NRA. The NRA is a pro-2nd Amendment organization which does not take sides on any other issues, right or left. What the names on the list do all have in common are that they are from rural states (except Indiana, which is a more populated state than most of the others).

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/01/17/1463981/meet-the-nra-backed-senate-democrats-who-oppose-obamas-gun-violence-prevention-plan/

Below is a list of the Senators in question, how they’re rated by the NRA, and what they’ve said about gun law reform:

1. Max Baucus, Montana (NRA Rating: A+). Baucus appeared to oppose any federal action on gun law reform, saying in a statement that “Before passing new laws, we need a thoughtful debate that respects responsible, law-abiding gun owners in Montana instead of a one-size-fits all directives from Washington.”

2. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota (NRA Rating: A). In a local television appearance before President Obama’s announcement, Heitkamp accused the White House of having ulterior motives besides preventing mass killing, claiming “There isn’t any amount of gun regulation or gun executive orders that will solve the problem of identifying people who could potentially do this and making sure they get the help and their families get the help so they don’ t do this. I’ve said it all along that this is wrong headed…I think it is an agenda driven by something other than school shootings.”

3. Tim Johnson, South Dakota (NRA Rating: A). Like Baucus, Johnson argued against federal solutions: “We in South Dakota have far fewer problems with guns than they do in New York or New Jersey and it makes common sense to not have one size fits all.”

4. Joe Donnelly, Indiana (NRA Rating: A). Donnelly simply said that “I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” pointed to his NRA endorsement, and rejected the assault weapons ban plan of Obama’s proposal.

5. Mark Begich, Alaska (NRA Rating: A). Begich cited his support for mental health legislation, but demurred on gun restrictions, saying “there is no quick fix when it comes to keeping our families and communities safe. We must make smart investments to increase our safety while ensuring Americans’ Second Amendment rights are protected.”

6. Joe Manchin, West Virginia (NRA Rating: A). Manchin blamed a “culture of mass violence” rather than the spread of deadly weapons, wishing the president had created a “national commission [to] build the consensus we need for real action backed not only by gun control advocates, mental health experts and entertainment industry executives but also by law-abiding gun owners who fully understand the history and heritage of firearms in America.”

7. Jon Tester, Montana (NRA Rating: A-). Tester refused to take a position, saying “As Congress considers ways to address gun violence, we must look at all aspects of this issue. Our priority must be keeping all Americans–especially our kids–safe. I will look closely at all proposals on the table, but we must use common sense and respect our Constitution.”

8. Harry Reid, Nevada (NRA Rating: B). Reid, like Tester, wouldn’t say one way or another: “I thank the President’s task force for its thoughtful recommendations. I am committed to ensuring that the Senate will consider legislation that addresses gun violence and other aspects of violence in our society early this year. The tragedy at Sandy Hook was just the latest sad reminder that we are not doing enough to protect our citizens – especially our children – from gun violence and a culture of violence, and all options should be on the table moving forward.”

[Kingofalldems]

15. Explain this away.

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/10/14/nra-board-member-ted-nugent-calls-assassination-president-obama.html

[Kang Colby]

18. I don't think anyone cares to make excuses for Ted Nugent.

But for those of us who support gun ownership, the NRA is a net benefit. I'm truly proud to be an NRA member. I also support civil rights for all, marriage equality, gay rights, and issues impacting women. I don't have a pickup truck, I don't like Nugent music, and I'm not a bigot.

[Kingofalldems]

20. And yet you belong to an organization who has this cretin,

along with others, on their board.

[Kang Colby]

21. I didn't vote for him.

Meanwhile, 90% of U.S. gun control efforts are funded by Michael Bloomberg; a proponent of racially disparate "stop and frisk" tactics for law enforcement purposes. Who do you think has oppressed more racial minorities, former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg or Ted Nugent?

[rockfordfile]

17. Maybe Trump can pick Zimmerman as a VP

The NRA loves Zimmerman and Zimmerman loves them back.

[EL34x4]

19. And in 2012 the NRA endorsed Romney

Who had signed more gun bans into law than President Obama ever did.

[Cosmic Kitten]

26. Trump *Evolves* just like Hillary!

Both presumptive nominees
are panderers and will say
ANYTHING to gain power.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

27. That I agree with.

[dembotoz]

28. years ago i worked on a campaign for a dem who was also an nra certified instructor

and you got it...they endorsed his opponent who never went hunting in her life.

he was shocked i tell you shocked.....

he was infact the ideal nra candidate but the wrong party....

the nra lost an active member and a skilled instructor...nary a ripple for them

[Kang Colby]

29. Did he take their survey?

Just curious.