Media Ignores Call For Gun Violence Prevention In Loughner Sentencing Hearing

[Dog Gone at Penigma]

5. because of the myth that the NRA has influence?

The reality is that the NRA spent a lot of money on politics, as they have promoting a generally extreme right wing agenda. But the outcome of that spending was not productive for them; the candidates they supported lost far more often than they won, and the candidates they opposed won far more often than they lost.

Numerous polls show that there is a significant consensus for MORE not less gun regulation and enforcement, even among gun owners, and even among NRA members.

That is where the disconnect occurs that demonstrates the NRA is more interested (and probably has more money coming in to them) from the gun manufacturers than members --- and there actions are reflected accordingly.

Everything the NRA does is to promote gun sales, and that includes unrestricted gun sales to crazy people who engage in mass shootings. as well as lots of sales to criminals, drug dealing cartels through straw purchasers -- ANY and ALL sales.

The NRA accomplishes this not only through the money they openly spread around on behalf of gun manufacturers, but also through the actions of ALEC and similar unregistered lobbying activities where they put money directly and indirectly into the pockets of conservative politicians who in exchange willingly enact the legislation that the special interests - including the NRA - write for them.

THAT is what grass roots groups are up against, it isn't a lack of desire, it is organized and extremely well funded opposition. That they also get gullible gun nuts to go along with this is part of why this is a problem. How can anyone take seriously as an honest advocate an organization that includes in its leadership someone like Ted Nugent? They are advocates - but not for gun owners; they are lobbyist, but largely unregistered, corrupt, illegal lobbyists.

Guns are destructive, they are lawless, they are a serious public health issue. Sooner or later, the gun nuts will have to stop sticking their thumbs in their ears, wiggling their fingers, and yelling how patriotic they are -- guns are not patriotic, there is NO legal validity to overthrowing our government, and guns do far more harm in homes to the people who live there than they do good.

You can easily find three or four or more murder suicides with firearms every week; you can find deaths and injuries from guns every week that are suicides; you can find accidents with guns every week, you can find instances of domestic abuse intimidation with guns every week. That is on top of the mass shootings that occur far too often, the almost weekly shootings at locations outside the home like the 60+ Walmart shootings alone this year.

You cannot find that many verifiable, demonstrable, provable instances of firearms protecting people; not even close.