Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Perd Hapley on May 22, 2013, 11:58:08 PM
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Short video explains why the NRA has such clout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdt6Jj64TVU
Do you think that's a good explanation? What else might explain the success of gun rights groups?
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There's some truth to it, but he sets up a false dichotomy between the 5 million members of the NRA (assumed to be against gun control) vs everybody else who is assumed to be for gun control. In fact, you have 5 million NRA members plus a bunch of freeloaders against gun control vs a large number of people who are for gun control, and an indeterminate number (I suspect the vast majority) who don't care.
His "cleaning up after a party" principle is called the Tragedy of the Commons -- but it works against *both* organized group.
The NRA is effective because it represents a large voting block (5MM plus the freeloaders minus the loyal Democrats) That's pretty much it. The 2nd Amendment probably also plays a part, but not the part you would expect -- it's because 2A shows the righteousness of the NRA's position and some politicians still have a somewhat working (although atrophied) conscience.
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There's some truth to it, but he sets up a false dichotomy between the 5 million members of the NRA (assumed to be against gun control) vs everybody else who is assumed to be for gun control. In fact, you have 5 million NRA members plus a bunch of freeloaders against gun control vs a large number of people who are for gun control, and an indeterminate number (I suspect the vast majority) who don't care.
His "cleaning up after a party" principle is called the Tragedy of the Commons -- but it works against *both* organized group.
The NRA is effective because it represents a large voting block (5MM plus the freeloaders minus the loyal Democrats) That's pretty much it. The 2nd Amendment probably also plays a part, but not the part you would expect -- it's because 2A shows the righteousness of the NRA's position and some politicians still have a somewhat working (although atrophied) conscience.
Freeloaders, huh?
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Yup. The video author's idea, not mine, I just ran with it.
Politicians know that the NRA represents not only the votes of its 5 million members, but also other gun owners who don't join because they don't want to cough up $25. (A lot of them still vote.) It offsets the NRA members who vote straight ticket Democrat because that's what their union tells them to do.
Have you got a better theory, or just looking for something to be offended by?
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The NRA has estimated that for every member, there are 20 people who think they're members through their clubs or who don't know their memberships have expired. So that 5 million is more like 105 million. Add into that the people who are sympathetic, and it's a big number.
Anecdotally, at every legislative hearing I've attended, our side outnumbered the anti's by 20:1 or more. I don't think there's many committed anti-gunners.
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The actual membership of Antigun groups has always been small. Their funding has almost always come from liberal foundations.
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The actual membership of Antigun groups has always been small. Their funding has almost always come from liberal foundations.
This, combined with the MSM as a force multiplier.
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This, combined with the MSM as a force multiplier.
And politicians' innate dislike/distrust/disdain of the public.
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And politicians' innate dislike/distrust/disdain of the public.
And the fact that regulating stuff let's them claim they "did something."
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for every voting NRA member there are at least 5 who are not members but basically agree with the NRA and will have the sticker on their car or something, because it is kind of cool.