What an interesting concept!
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I like Canada and most Canadians. In fact I think Canada is so great they should be in our national anthem. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America And to the republic for which it stands one nation under Canada with liberty and justice for all. h/t Robin Williams for the pledge
Today there was a very calm discussion on guns on KQED’s Forum radio show. It was exactly what the NRA wanted; a discussion a month after the last big shooting so that the conversational focus can move away from the emotional pain of 20 dead kids. It was all very rational. And that pissed me off. During the conversation Hammond threw in the perfunctory line, “our hearts and minds go out to the victims of that horrible shooting.” How many times have you heard that line right before they switch to talking about the needs of a small group of entitled, self-indulgent jerks who think their desire to go “pew pew pew” with real army weapons outweighs everyone else’s rights? Here is the link to the question, his response, the perfunctory line and then the pivot away from the tragedy to his figures on gun deaths in New Hampshire. I’ve been listening to lots of gun enthusiasts’ podcasts lately. They are desperate to show how this shooting has nothing to do with their obstruction of sane gun laws and gun hawking. If they didn’t personally put the semi-automatic into the person’s hand and said, “Go shoot ’em.” they think they . . . → Read More: The Disgusting Lack of Empathy of Gun Owners of America’s Michael Hammond National Rifle Association gearing up for a fight – CNN “We are mobilizing for a fight,” NRA President David Keene told CNN. “We will engage our members.” The association is planning to send mailings to its members urging them to contact members of Congress with their opposition to new gun laws. “Let them know you feel strongly,” is how Keene summarized the group’s message to member. So my question to you my friends in the public safety movement is, “What are you going to do to beat them?”The NRA went into yesterday’s meeting with Vice-President Biden yesterday knowing they weren’t going to agree to any suggestions or make any concessions. How do I know? They had their statement written to send out before the meeting even started. Although I don’t have a time stamped copy, I’ve worked with organizations who put out statements. It takes days, sometimes weeks to get one put together. They are working hard to get the discussion back on their terms and on their turf. The NRA says, “Come on America, stop focusing on dead kids! Think of yourself!” I’m going to bet 200 Quatloos that there wasn’t a press release . . . → Read More: 20 Dead Kids = Inconvenience in NRA Lifestyle Sales of AR-style rifles, ammo spike up –Walla Walla Washington Union-Bulletin Right now the NRA is primarily a marketing and sales organization. Sure they do other things like offer gun safety training programs and threaten politicians to push some laws and crush others. But I believe a lot of their power comes from the development and training of their members in communication skills and providing them with the right words, phrases and concepts to achieve their current goal: guns everywhere. If you have become pro-public safety, like I have, you’ll want to figure out ways to convince others of your views and then develop ways to reach your goals. Also, when you see the NRA for what it really is, how they make the public less safe, and can work on ways to increase public safety. The NRA has a $300 million budget, a large portion of that goes to “education and communications.” And they are good. Very good. Tobacco industry good. In a recent LA Times Op-Ed there is a story from a former NRA trainer about the psychological and linguistic techniques used on NRA members. Ever since reading, the brilliant and funny book by Christopher Buckley, “Thank . . . → Read More: Guns Don’t Sell Guns, People Do |
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