Flaying the NRA

Brian Doherty does a pretty decent job of flaying the National Rifle Association in a Reason article titled The NRA Muscles into McDonald v. Chicago.

I’m an NRA Life Member and I tend to think of the NRA as a strong ally in the cause of liberty, but they have become a very unreliable ally. I am cynically reminded of a quote from General George S. Patton, who said “I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me.”  The NRA feels a lot like that proverbial French division.

The NRA has spent portions of their huge funding on issues not related to the right to keep and bear arms. Perhaps even worse, the NRA seems far more interested in raising funds than on spending them to defend American rights.  I understand the advantages of building a large endowment, but the time to act in defense of American rights is now.

Most critically though, the NRA has become very soft on the issue of the right of Americans to keep and bear arms itself. They have filed court briefs in favor of gun control and they have lobbied in favor of new gun control statues.

Their theory seems to be that if we give the fascists a little control, it will be more difficult for them to demand a lot of it. I am not convinced of the value of this approach. The German people certainly did not pacify Adolph Hilter by electing him as Chancellor.

The next time the NRA calls you asking for a donation, let them know that your money is going to a better organization, such as Gun Owners of America, Second Amendment Foundation, and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.