National Rifle Association

An editorial from the Late June 2013 North Woods Call

     We continue to scratch our heads over the antipathy we hear from some readers toward the National Rifle Association (NRA).
     Although we are not and have never been members of that organization—and are naturally wary of the money fueled power exercised by these types of lobbying groups—it seems to us that the NRA is legitimately representing the interests of hundreds of thousands of its members—and perhaps the general interests of a free society, as well.
     If not for the battle being waged by the NRA, there would likely be many more restraints on gun ownership than we have already seen—liberty suppressing regulations that do not honor the Second Amendment, or the U.S. Constitution.
     Argue if you must about the “craziness” of semi-automatic weapons in the hands of average citizens.  Our predecessor, Glen Sheppard, reportedly had little use for the NRA himself and would probably agree that prohibitions are necessary.
     But we believe the issue runs much deeper than that.  If we only could trust dishonest politicians and the cynical intentions of those agenda-driven special interests that are lobbying every bit as vehemently against gun ownership, we might have more sympathy for such arguments.
     As it is, we’re glad to see somebody standing up for these basic rights, however contentious they may be.
      Most gun owners—no matter what kind of weapons they possess—have never so much as entertained the idea of using them for ill-intent.  And we don’t believe that removing guns from the hands of law-abiding citizens will keep them, or some other equally effective killing device, out of the hands of those who wish to damage lives and create mayhem.
     The underlying moral conditions and mental health issues surrounding such actions are the real culprits, along with a general spiritual breakdown that didn’t plague earlier generations.
     Demonizing the NRA, or myriad other responsible gun owners who handle their weapons with care, will not lead us out of the dark and frightening place into which society has descended.