If your name was Rip Van Winkle — instead of Loyal Reader of This Column — and you just rejoined the living last week, it would be understandable that after reading the Opposition Media coverage of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, you were convinced Wayne LaPierre was the guilty shooter.
That’s a dangerous misconception. LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, was nowhere near the school when firing broke out. In fact there is no record of an NRA member being responsible for any of the school shootings.
But you wouldn’t know that from news coverage of students, parents, Cultural Marxist corporations, and leftist politicians vilifying an organization that defends a constitutional right for all Americans.
Fortunately, Redstate.com has published a handy list of “5 Things the NRA Doesn’t Do” that is so useful I suggest printing copies to distribute the next time you see a session of ‘Blame the NRA’ break out.
First, and most relevant to current news, the NRA does not murder children. As Redstate explains, “Murdering children isn’t allowed at the NRA and that is very well documented in a 150-year history of never murdering children as a matter of policy.” That’s something that can’t be said of the Democrat’s favorite organization: Planned Parenthood.
Second and third, the NRA doesn’t arm murderers. The NRA doesn’t even sell guns, much less distribute weapons for free. The NRA does sell ammunition, but those transactions take place at the NRA indoor gun range in Fairfax, Virginia, and not at local high schools.
Fourth, since the NRA is a citizen association and not a law enforcement organization, it does not keep tabs on potential mass murderers or terrorists. Blaming the NRA for shootings is like blaming All Recipes for the Boston Marathon bombing because it encourages the use of pressure cookers. The NRA assumes, in spite of much evidence to the contrary, the FBI and other well-funded government anti-terrorism agencies are in charge of monitoring and preventing mass attacks.
Fifth, the NRA does not buy politicians. Labor Unions and George Soros have driven the price so high that even if it wanted to, I don’t think the NRA could afford to rent a congressman for even a brief period of time.
What the NRA does do is meet with elected officials to explain how the organization’s almost 5 million members feel about making sure government does not infringe on the Second Amendment. It also issues endorsements and report cards on the voting records of elected officials to its membership.
Now you know. Attacking the NRA is attacking 5 million Americans who are members and millions of other gun owners who are law abiding and prefer to be left alone by meddling leftists.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.