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| Edmund Burke, painted 1767-1769 by Joshua Reynolds. |
I have had two firearms instructors. One trained me to use a handgun before I received my concealed weapons permit, and he reviewed proper rifle use with me. He also taught me the legalities of our state, and called my attention to some of the pitfalls in home defense law. The next instructor taught home defense, refined some of my skills, and refined some of the legal aspects of carrying and actually using a concealed weapon, if it ever becomes necessary. The first man is decidedly an "under the wire" kind of guy. He believed that no one should know that I carry a concealed weapon. He thought I should shoot only at his range so my neighbors wouldn't know I had firearms. The second instructor is much more NRA. He gives out the bumper stickers, the buttons, and had the largest area radio station do a remote broadcast with prizes from his training establishment. He believes that people who are pro Second Amendment need to be loud and clear about it, and make sure that our politicians know it too.
This leaves me in a difficult position. I believe fully and completely in Second Amendment rights, not just because I think I ought to be able to kill a rabid wild animal on my farm when it's necessary, but because I don't believe that our system of government will last, without the people themselves being armed. Any invading force, the Chinese, the Russians or anyone else would have a hard time taking most of the United States with its citizenry armed as is presently. However, the Obama regime with its penchant for keeping records on its opposition and for punishing them at their convenience makes some people who want to join the NRA express fear in doing so. I can't tell any of you what to do. I know only that in the words of Edmund Burke, the British author, statesman and orator,
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
So, all I can do, is speak what I believe to be truth while I sit here somewhere between staying under the wire, and shouting over it. Some days, it feels more like I am tripping over it.
11 comments:
I'v been a member of the NRA much of my life. I just hope I can afford to remain so, since I'm still not working.
I signed on for a five year NRA membership right before they ran a special and I could have had a Lifetime membership for not much more. I too hope I can continue mine, although I suspect that other gun and rifle associations might serve me better. The NRA has been more willing to negotiate certain things with the government than I would have been.
Jane,
The NRA seems to be able to negotiate with government(on some issues). I wonder if the other gun and rifle associations have this capability?
I'm more of the OPSEC type person, don't advertise what you have or can do when it comes to security. You need to defend yourself,your family, your property, and your food. Who else will do that for you?
I don't belong to the NRA, no money and not sure what the reason would be to join a national club like that. They may want to spend more time organizing at the local level as they seem to be real interested in money like the rest of the politicians in DC. I am probably wrong about them but that is the perception from out here.
I grew up around guns before the days of instructors, our parents and friends taught us how to use them. I don't belong to the NRA, I wouldn't join any organization that would have me as a member.
OK, I belong to the local black powder club but there are advantages to me for doing that, the dues are only 25 bucks a year and I can go camp and shoot there anytime I want to.
I took forth place in a shooting match on Saturday, not bad for an old drunk.
With the way things are going these days, I'm starting to think that under the wire is safer. Of course, we should still educate and recruit gun owners, but be a little lower key about it. Along the same lines, I'm not a big fan of the open-carry movement. I think firearms have their greatest deterrent effect when nobody knows if one is carrying or not, and one can't frighten off the firearm-phobic public when they don't know you're carrying.
Great point Sandy, The NRA is a strong lobbying entity, and does get some things done. I belong to a couple of gun rights advocacy groups, but I think you are absolutely correct.
Yes, I don't support all their decisions, but they do have excellent training opportunities. The magazine is quite good and it has helped me in terms of where to find certain products, and maintain what I have. They also have quite a wonderful NRA store which sells some discounted things that aren't always related to firearms.
NRA ran a very low priced lifetime membership recently. Of course, I paid about that much for a five year membership before that particular drive began. I was a day late and a dollar short !
Good shooting, BBC !
Yes, there is something to be said for under the wire. I never carry openly, thinking I would be the first person to be taken out or challenged for my weapon. It is concealed. Most people never know I have it, except at the feed store where everyone is armed, all farm people.
It is important to speak up enough that our guns rights don't evaporate making a takeover of our nation by corrupted domestic forces or a foreign force possible, and probably likely.
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