A single-issue NRA

[Perd Hapley]

Between the DISCLOSE Act and the Senator Reid kerfuffle, I'm starting to wonder if the chickens aren't coming home to roost on those who complained about the NRA catering to conservatives on issues beyond the Second Amendment.  "Stick to gun rights," they said.  Well...   

[mtnbkr]

I'm ok with a single-issue NRA, just like I'm ok with a single issue ARRL.

Chris

[MicroBalrog]

ARRL?

[mtnbkr]

American Radio Relay League.  They're an advocacy group for amateur radio.

Chris

[Silver Bullet]

 I also want them to be single issue.  It's okay for them to take a side trip to contest McCain-Feingold when it interferes with their Second Amendment efforts.

We have, what, 4,000,000 members ?  Let's say they also adopt, um, environmentalism as one of their principles.  If half of the members disagree with that, the NRA now has only 2,000,000 members.  Then they adopt anti-abortion, for instance.  Half of the members disagree with that:  they're down to 1,000,000 members.  Then they add immigration amnesty.  Half of the members disagree with that:  they're down to 500,000 members.  And so on.

To remain the greatest force for RKBA that the world has ever known, it is important to stay single issue.

[Perd Hapley]

I also want them to be single issue.  It's okay for them to take a side trip to contest McCain-Feingold when it interferes with their Second Amendment efforts.

[Scratches head]

[seeker_two]

Single issue is OK....as long as you keep an eye on things that have an effect on that issue....like SCOTUS appointments, Campaign Finance, search-&-seizure, etc.....and you don't stab other groups fighting for the same thing in the back.....

[Silver Bullet]

[Scratches head]

  I mean, when McCain-Feingold interferes with the NRA's Second Amendment efforts by restricting the NRA's right to communicate, then it is okay for the NRA to take on a First Amendment issue like M-F.

I hope I worded that better.   

[gunsmith]

I'm a single issue NRA life member

However, that doesn't mean I'm gonna vote for Angle, she's the right Angle for me!

[Perd Hapley]

  I mean, when McCain-Feingold interferes with the NRA's Second Amendment efforts by restricting the NRA's right to communicate, then it is okay for the NRA to take on a First Amendment issue like M-F.

I hope I worded that better.   

But the big news now, is that the NRA has caved on the first amendment, so long as they get an exemption. 

I also want them to be single issue.  It's okay for them to take a side trip to contest McCain-Feingold when it interferes with their Second Amendment efforts.

We have, what, 4,000,000 members ?  Let's say they also adopt, um, environmentalism as one of their principles.  If half of the members disagree with that, the NRA now has only 2,000,000 members.  Then they adopt anti-abortion, for instance.  Half of the members disagree with that:  they're down to 1,000,000 members.  Then they add immigration amnesty.  Half of the members disagree with that:  they're down to 500,000 members.  And so on.

To remain the greatest force for RKBA that the world has ever known, it is important to stay single issue.

But as we have just seen, being "single-issue" on the Nevada Senate race or the Disclose Act is alienating a lot of people, just as surely as getting into immigration or abortion.  It leads one to wonder if liberty can be defended piece-meal, or if groups like the NRA can really hope to have a big tent.  The ACLU doesn't.  The NEA doesn't.  The AARP doesn't.  Why should the NRA expect to pull it off? 

[Silver Bullet]

But the big news now, is that the NRA has caved on the first amendment, so long as they get an exemption

I don't see that as caving; their concern was to get their "voice" back, and they did.  They can now proceed to hammering the gun-grabbers at election time.  Mission accomplished.   

But as we have just seen, being "single-issue" on the Nevada Senate race or the Disclose Act is alienating a lot of people, just as surely as getting into immigration or abortion

Hardly anybody, as near as I can tell.  There may be some folks who think that the NRA should naturally be supportive of everything those folks believe in, but I don't think they're very many.  Those folks always have a choice to go support another organization that supports RKBA AND free NASCAR attendance AND free .22 ammo on Independence Day AND free bus service to their church of choice, but that will necessarily be a smaller organization and a less effective one for RKBA.

I don't want the NRA's pro-RKBA's efforts diluted.  I'm all for the other freedoms, but that's not what I'm paying the NRA for.  The other freedoms seem to have plenty of proponents (ACLU, etc.) but organizations that effectively support RKBA on a national level are an extremely small number. 

Just my perspective.