Time for the NRA to step up.

I disagree. What cost the Republicans control of both houses were:

1) Iraq
2) corruption scandals
3) the Republicans went too far to the right, when most of the populace is closer to the center.
I disagree with you on one point - you omitted another real reason the Republicans lost the house (and the Senate!). I blame it mainly on their lack of leadership with the borders - maybe lack of leadership period [shocked]. Iraq may be first, but the borders are right up there.

On second thought, there was another key reason. Many people voted against Bush when they saw an R on the ballot. The anger at his not listening is strong throughout the country right now. I really believe if he'd listened to what so many were saying about illegal immigration and did something about the borders the election wouldn't have gone so badly for the Republicans.
 
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Not having lived here long enough to know... how do states typically argue their way out of alleged 2nd amendment violations? What is it that they say (either publicly or legally) to justify what they're doing?

The way they get away with it is the 2nd amendment is unincorporated; so
legally speaking, it's not necessarily binding against the states. It's not
like some of the other amendments (eg, the 1st, and the 4th) where
states can be held to the fire for violating those.

And here, the way they get out of dodging the RKBA provision in the MA
-state- constitution is because the SJC ruled or made some opinion at
one point or another that that provision did not guarantee an individual
right to gun ownership.

-Mike
 
The way they get away with it is the 2nd amendment is unincorporated; so
legally speaking, it's not necessarily binding against the states. It's not
like some of the other amendments (eg, the 1st, and the 4th) where
states can be held to the fire for violating those.

And here, the way they get out of dodging the RKBA provision in the MA
-state- constitution is because the SJC ruled or made some opinion at
one point or another that that provision did not guarantee an individual
right to gun ownership.

-Mike

...and who are the "people" if not the individuals???????? What people? Was that ever asked? I often wonder where these interpretations come from...How they twist meanings and definitions is beyond me.
 
You aren't going to defeat them at all. As I said elsewhere, much of the electorate in MA behaves as if they were European. ALL of the politicians do.

Most of the country is somewhat right of center. We are the exception. The country is trending more Red each year.

Gary

I think Gary speaks the truth here. The majority of the voting block in
this state is a bunch of dumb socialists and yellow dog democrats, so the
only way we're ever going to retain rights here is if we get socialist
candidates that basically ignore or gloss over the gun issue, eg, a sort of
"stealth" candidate of sorts.

-Mike
 
...and who are the "people" if not the individuals???????? What people? Was that ever asked? I often wonder where these interpretations come from...How they twist meanings and definitions is beyond me.


One of the ways they probably use the defense that it's not an individuals right is because MA is written as "for the common defense". Don't have all the verbiage of Article 17 at my fingertips, however, that's in there. Then again, I really don't know how liberal minds work, so I could be wrong. [rolleyes]
 
...and who are the "people" if not the individuals???????? What people? Was that ever asked? I often wonder where these interpretations come from...How they twist meanings and definitions is beyond me.

I think theres another thread on this board where that SJC opinion/ruling
was discussed in better detail. They probably tried to use the standard
liberal excuse....

"Article XVII. The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence.... "

Maybe they interpreted the latter half of that to mean that people only had
a right to own guns in some sort of bizarre communal sense, eg, only
under the context of a formalized militia. Of course we damn well know
that many moons ago, the militia WAS the people.

-Mike
 
I belong to GOAL but not the NRA primarily for the reason thay
were constantly sending me letters asking for money for this cause or that cause and for me it was rather annoying.
Perhaps if they spent less on what for the most was part scare mongering and diverted it to the actual cause we may not be in the boat we are in. Add to the fact that speaking for myself
my paycheck can only be stretched so far
 
I think theres another thread on this board where that SJC opinion/ruling
was discussed in better detail. They probably tried to use the standard
liberal excuse....

"Article XVII. The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence.... "

Maybe they interpreted the latter half of that to mean that people only had
a right to own guns in some sort of bizarre communal sense, eg, only
under the context of a formalized militia. Of course we damn well know
that many moons ago, the militia WAS the people.

-Mike

Is the government the only authority who can formalize a militia? If not, is there a permit application we can fill out and send in with a fee? We can formalize and meet a couple of times a year for training and target practice. We all shoot anyway....
 
Is the government the only authority who can formalize a militia? If not, is there a permit application we can fill out and send in with a fee? We can formalize and meet a couple of times a year for training and target practice. We all shoot anyway....


There was a movement to do this back in the 80's and 90's - the feds under Clinton got pretty aggressive at stamping them out. The only remaining one that I know of is the Michigan Militia - http://www.michiganmilitia.com

The other thing you might look at is the Revolutionary War Veterans Association - http://www.rwva.org/ . Check out their Appleseed Project, they are basically trying to train militiamen without forming an actual militia.

I believe I posted this in another thread - but I will post it again because there are military thinkers who have the idea that reforming a citizen militia in this country is the best way to defend against terrorism. William Lind wrote a few articles on this - here is one of them: http://www.antiwar.com/lind/?articleid=6850
 
I disagree. What cost the Republicans control of both houses were:

1) Iraq
2) corruption scandals
3) the Republicans went too far to the right, when most of the populace is closer to the center.

I disagree with you on #3. I don't think they were to the right ENOUGH! It also would help if they kept some of their promises from the last campaign.
 
What do you expect them to do? What leverage do they have here?

Not trying to be negative but...frankly...I don't see what they can do.

OK a while back I was criticizing the NRA for its lack of commitment to MA. Now that firearms owners are up against the wall we need to see some NRA activity here. I am writing a letter to the NRA requesting preemptive action to help us out. I'm not sure exactly what can be done, but I think the time for action is NOW. Contacting my representative is also in the works, but I know he is a rabid anti and do not expect much help there. Circle the wagons, folks, we're in for a long and difficult battle. We need to get the message out that firearm ownership is not the evil dangerous thing that the libs make it out to be. Positive publicity is what is needed and fast.

Chris
 
Renew your membership and then call them to say that you don't want to be on their fundraising lists. They will remove you.

I am a Life Member and I do not get requests for money. Before I became a lifer I called them and asked them to stop sending me fundraising requests. They agreed and now I just contribute when I want to.

Please do renew your membership. We need as many people as possible, especially now. Do NOT blow this off or take it lightly. Your membership will make a difference.

I belong to GOAL but not the NRA primarily for the reason thay
were constantly sending me letters asking for money for this cause or that cause and for me it was rather annoying.
Perhaps if they spent less on what for the most was part scare mongering and diverted it to the actual cause we may not be in the boat we are in. Add to the fact that speaking for myself
my paycheck can only be stretched so far
 
Re: NRA Membership

I had always wanted to be a Life Member, but could never afford the cash in one lump sum. Then I discovered the Easy Pay Plan, which charges you $25 per quarter until your life membership is paid.

I went for it a few days ago. I won't miss $25 every three months, and the life membership just a bit of time away!

I would recommend it for people who aren't rich but still want to be life members. The link is in my sig below...
 
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