NRA in Massachusetts

[M1911]

I guess what I'm getting at, is I'll take a halfway pro gun "waffler" over
a bona-fide anti any day of the week.

+1

Deval will be on the podium with Mumbles and both will go strong-arm the legislature.

 

[Executive]

Before anyone jumps on me, refer to post #74. I have renewed my membership for five years to the NRA.

That being said, the fact remains, as backed up by numerous posts in this thread, that "true, the NRA does not do much in MA", and this is what upsets me. I do not expect radical changes to draconian MA firearm laws, nor do I discount the actions of the NRA at the Federal level. I do expect the NRA to have more of a direct presence here, as a powerful national organization. Supporting the lesser known GOAL and funding clubs is nice, but I want an NRA with clout to directly challenge infringement on my firearm rights by MA state legislature, AG, and mayors. If as many have pointed out, the NRA is the 800 lb. lobby gorilla, I want that gorilla working in MA directly, not just backing up the little monkey that is GOAL (no offense to GOAL, or monkeys for that matter). We in MA need help here and now.

Chris

 

[M1911]

but I want an NRA with clout to directly challenge infringement on my firearm rights by MA state legislature, AG, and mayors. If as many have pointed out, the NRA is the 800 lb. lobby gorilla, I want that gorilla working in MA directly, not just backing up the little monkey that is GOAL (no offense to GOAL, or monkeys for that matter). We in MA need help here and now.

I believe that you are missing a very key fact about political power. Only one thing counts: the ability to deliver votes.

That's what gives the NRA a lot of power in DC -- they can deliver votes. If a legiscritter in a blue state votes against the NRA, they will pay for it at the next election. The legiscritters know this, so they listen to the NRA.

The NRA does not have "clout" in MA for the very simple reason that they can't deliver the votes. Most voters in MA are anti-gun and believe in gun control. The NRA can spend all the money they want in MA, but they would just be throwing it away. The NRA could spend a bunch of money supporting campaigns against Fargo, Barrios, and Menino, but it won't help our cause (in fact, it will help them).

If you are envisioning lawsuits, realize that judges in MA (both state and federal) are mostly anti-gun and the deck is stacked against us.

The NRA can't help us until we can get more people in MA to vote pro-gun. I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[JellyFish]

Good for you man. Sorry if I got nasty earlier on, I think you did the right thing for the right reasons. Kudos.

Let's hope that Dingbat Deval doesn't get elected though or all of this may be for naught. We shall see...

Before anyone jumps on me, refer to post #74. I have renewed my membership for five years to the NRA.

That being said, the fact remains, as backed up by numerous posts in this thread, that "true, the NRA does not do much in MA", and this is what upsets me. I do not expect radical changes to draconian MA firearm laws, nor do I discount the actions of the NRA at the Federal level. I do expect the NRA to have more of a direct presence here, as a powerful national organization. Supporting the lesser known GOAL and funding clubs is nice, but I want an NRA with clout to directly challenge infringement on my firearm rights by MA state legislature, AG, and mayors. If as many have pointed out, the NRA is the 800 lb. lobby gorilla, I want that gorilla working in MA directly, not just backing up the little monkey that is GOAL (no offense to GOAL, or monkeys for that matter). We in MA need help here and now.

Chris