The Lobby Against Common Sense: The Right's Campaign Against Gun Violence Reform

[billh58]

While the White House, governors, Congress and other public officials grapple with policy responses to last month’s mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, many Americans wonder whether the massacre of young children will provide momentum for more effective laws that previous killing sprees – even one that gravely wounded a member of Congress – have not.

Some assume, wrongly, that nothing can be done. Politicians’ fear of the $200+ million National Rifle Association (NRA) is generally cited as the reason for weak gun laws that undermine law enforcement and put citizens at higher risk from gun crimes. The power of the NRA to determine the outcome of elections may well be more myth than reality, but even the perception of such power can give the group tremendous political muscle, along with its aggressive lobbying and strong-arm political tactics.

The NRA is not alone in attempting to prevent effective regulation of guns and promoting reckless policies that leave Americans vulnerable to crime. Its efforts are supported by the same kind of coalition that undermines the nation’s ability to solve a wide range of problems. Corporations, right-wing ideologues, and Religious Right leaders work together to misinform Americans, generate unfounded fears, and prevent passage of broadly supported solutions.

Understanding the extremism and dishonesty at the heart of right-wing obstructionism is crucial to overcoming it.

-Much more at link-

http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/lobby-against-common-sense

A notable quote from the beginning of the article:

“Radicals in power have already devoured our First Amendment right to Freedom of Conscience through ObamaCare and have repeatedly chomped on our Freedom of Speech in the ongoing ‘homosexual rights’ campaign. Now these insatiable socialists are drooling all over our Second Amendment right to bear arms!”

-- Mathew Staver, Liberty Counsel, January 2013

If this sounds familiar, NRA apologists and Second Amendment absolutists post similar sentiments frequently. Obstructionism exists not only within the "declared" right-wing, but also from those who claim to be Democrats, but lean heavily to the right towards Libertarianism.

Vote for a real Democrat, and primary those DINOs who pander to the NRA for votes. Together, we can bring common sense and sanity back to the out-of-control gun culture in this country.