A Word About the NRA

The National Rifle Association gets a lot of bad press. Some of it is deserved. Most is not, unless you believe that the government is your mother and the military/law enforcement is your father. The NRA is a flawed organization that sometimes goes too far in defending gun makers and gun dealers and not far enough in promoting things like national concealed carry. But theirs is an incremental fight. Gain some ground here, lose a little there and hope that you've come out a little ahead at the end of the day. It is not a racist organization nor is it strictly a defender of "big gun business," though these corporations must be allowed to exist and to serve the market. It is, quite simply, the most effective and broad-reaching defender of our "right to keep and bear arms" going. If that changes, I'll put my money elsewhere.

While pushing for greater "gun control" is the current mental fashion, this country's founders did not intend for us to be "subjects" but citizens. We have the right and responsibility to defend ourselves and those without defenders and to fight tyranny should the necessity arise (may it never). You don't have to join the NRA (though it's a good idea and they include a great magazine) or quote Charlton Heston, but if you value your rights, do something about them. Get your FOID card, write a Letter to the Editor, email your legislators, introduce others to the shooting sports, etc. Thanks.