NYAG - Grab your popcorn?

[ousdahl]

I suppose the NRA issues are a microcosm of a bigger general trend, of average joes getting so worked up about certain special interests that they don’t or won’t stop and consider that maybe they’re actually fighting against their own economic interests?

[twocoach]

Yeah, I don't know that there's a path forward other than turning on the bad actors and seeing if their heads on a pike are enough.

Depends on what sort of evidence they have.

[ousdahl]

Oh yeah. The whataboutism on this is going to suck.

What about that, anyway? No pun intended.

What sort of issue could come close to some equivalent?

Whatabout that time (insert left-leaning nonprofit) blew all their financial contributions on (insert unrelated self-indulgent whatever), if there’s even some direct parallel to draw?

[jfish26]

Oh yeah. The whataboutism on this is going to suck.

What about that, anyway? No pun intended.

What sort of issue could come close to some equivalent?

Whatabout that time (insert left-leaning nonprofit) blew all their financial contributions on (insert unrelated self-indulgent whatever), if there’s even some direct parallel to draw?

It will be the usual hodgepodge of fever-dream shadowbabble keyword nonsense.

Clinton Foundation - Hunter Biden - $2 billion from Jina - They're coming for your guns - Sanctuary cities - antifa - Planned Parenthood.

[jfish26]

I like the Second Amendment.

I hate the NRA.

A world where the second amendment remains in tact, without the craziness of the NRA and their ability to block some reasonable and limited restrictions/regulation on gun ownership seems like a good thing.

Am I missing something though?

But that's what's going to be hi-larious about all this.

Trump will portray this as an attack on the 2nd Amendment.

Trumpers will follow that lead.

And in so doing...they'll be mad...about something that defrauded them, and used their money not for 2nd Amendment advocacy purposes, but for personal enrichment.

Yep. An "attack" on people by protecting them from fraud. Checks out.

[twocoach]

But that's what's going to be hi-larious about all this.

Trump will portray this as an attack on the 2nd Amendment.

Trumpers will follow that lead.

And in so doing...they'll be mad...about something that defrauded them, and used their money not for 2nd Amendment advocacy purposes, but for personal enrichment.

Yep. An "attack" on people by protecting them from fraud. Checks out.

If I was sending the NRA an annual membership due so they can lobby to uphold my 2nd Amendment rights, I would want to know if they were actually using that money for their own personal enjoyment. But maybe that's just me.

[jfish26]

Right. What this means is that what you thought you were spending money on - advocacy for rights and privileges important to you - was being stolen.

[jfish26]

[twocoach]

Right. What this means is that what you thought you were spending money on - advocacy for rights and privileges important to you - was being stolen.

Yep. Fraud 101.

[ousdahl]

[Deleted User 89]

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-des ... phant-hunt

The Secret Footage of the N.R.A. Chief’s Botched Elephant Hunt

sad

[TDub]

Im very against trophy hunting. Particularly destination trophy hunting.


Especially when the elephant is smarter and more useful than the hunter.

[jhawks99]

I didn't think it was possible for me to have less respect for that guy.

[Deleted User 89]

it seems like there would be huge overlap in the vent diagram between those who’ve been duped by both trump and lapierre

both men achieved tremendous power and clout by convincing people that were nothing like them, that they were somehow exactly like them and had their best interests at heart

so much gullibility

[Deleted User 863]

it seems like there would be huge overlap in the vent diagram between those who’ve been duped by both trump and lapierre

both men achieved tremendous power and clout by convincing people that were nothing like them, that they were somehow exactly like them and had their best interests at heart

so much gullibility

Maybe all 5,500,000 NRA members?

[ousdahl]

I’d be curious to see a case study among NRA members, demographics, how involved, how they vote, how well versed they are in gun laws and gun violence statistics, maybe even some kinda survey to shed light on their values and world views, etc.

[Deleted User 89]

it seems like there would be huge overlap in the vent diagram between those who’ve been duped by both trump and lapierre

both men achieved tremendous power and clout by convincing people that were nothing like them, that they were somehow exactly like them and had their best interests at heart

so much gullibility

Maybe all 5,500,000 NRA members?

nope

easy to assume so though

edit: as of 2017, 77% of NRA members are republican or lean republican

https://pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/ ... periences/

[twocoach]

it seems like there would be huge overlap in the vent diagram between those who’ve been duped by both trump and lapierre

both men achieved tremendous power and clout by convincing people that were nothing like them, that they were somehow exactly like them and had their best interests at heart

so much gullibility

Maybe all 5,500,000 NRA members?

nope

easy to assume so though

edit: as of 2017, 77% of NRA members are republican or lean republican

https://pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/ ... periences/

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/nation ... D000000082

97.87% of funds donated to Congressional candidates in 2020 by the NRA was to Republican candidates.

Of House of Reps members, 167 of 170 who received money from the NRA were Republicans.

Of Senators, 22 were Republican, 6 were Dems and 1 was Independent.

Of all federal recipients, 97.91% went to Republicans.

So you can see why it's an easy assumption to make.

[Deleted User 89]

right, but republican does not necessarily = trump

[zsn]

it seems like there would be huge overlap in the vent diagram between those who’ve been duped by both trump and lapierre

both men achieved tremendous power and clout by convincing people that were nothing like them, that they were somehow exactly like them and had their best interests at heart

so much gullibility

Maybe all 5,500,000 NRA members?

A high enough number of 5.5 million, though. Also it looks like enough of the members stopped their membership that the cash flow dried up to a point where the slush fund could no longer fly under the radar.

A rather crazy former colleague was a firearm enthusiast (maybe still is, both counts) but vehemently opposed to the NRA. He became a member one year so that he could get the sticker, shot it up and put it on his car!