"But if the NRA is going to constantly involve itself in any and all legislation involving guns, and spend millions lobbying politicians to get its way, then yes, it has a responsibility to lobby for safer gun ownership in the form of better mental health/red flag laws as a whole, and it needs to get out of the way of legislation that would improve background checks that would prevent the mentally ill from owning firearms."
This is nonsense. Should the ACLU "get out of the way of legislation" that puts Muslims on terrorist watch lists without due process, or take responsibility for monitoring felons whose convictions are overturned for failure to adhere to Miranda rights requirements?
"Better background checks"? Like what? The NRA basically came up with NICS and was a proponent of FixNICS, which increased the number and quality of records entered into the database and even penalized governmental agencies for failing to enter those records. How should existing background checks be made "better"?
What is the demographic shift you are referencing? Is it increased firearms purchasing across all major demographics, or decreased support for gun control across all major demographics?
And what compromise do you propose that would prevent anti-gun politicians from enacting a new AWB anyway? New York, California, Massachusetts and Maryland all have incredibly robust gun control laws yet have instituted AW and LCM bans anyway. So what is the compromise exactly?
Yeah and felons had due process. That's how they were convicted. A collateral consequence of their criminality (the determination of which included due process) is being disqualified from owning firearms.
As long as you have due process protections (you know, where you actually have a hearing, have an opportunity to put on evidence, etc.) before you strip somebody of their rights, then I doubt any person has problems with taking firearms away from the mentally ill. In fact, if you are adjudicated mentally ill, you are disqualified from owning firearms, just like with being a felon. And you can always go through the process of adjudicating somebody mentally ill. What you cannot do is simply take somebody's guns because you don't like them. What if they're on the no fly list? What if the sheriff thinks they are nuts? If they can take a person's guns because he's allegedly dangerous, then why can't they just throw him in a cell to keep him - and us - safe?
Sure but the point is that every time gun owners "compromise" they are just setting the baseline for the next "compromise" for "common sense gun laws." It's a one-way ratchet. People on this thread alone talk about things like red flag laws and how we need more/better ones. Do we not already have these in the form of civil commitment statutes in virtually every jurisdiction? What about due process rights? How will those be observed and protected? Oh they won't, because guns? What's the limiting principle on that approach to civil rights/civil liberties? Did you know that the NRA has helped legislatures in some states with their red flag laws if proper procedural safeguards are adopted and observed?
The concept that the NRA, or any other advocacy organization, has the responsibility to address our nation's manifest mental health crisis at every turn is laughable. What exactly are they supposed to do? Build mental health facilities?
This thread is weird. Huge guy kicks people's asses in amusing and entertaining ways. What's not to like?
It's not like the books were MacBeth. They're all the same fucking story.
I like their wine too, but who came up with that stupid brand? I mean, would you rather have "Stag's Leap," "Oak Thorn Something Something," or "Steve"?
I'd much rather stay near the Pantheon than Trastevere. Trastevere is really cool but it can be hard to get in and out of when you want to see the rest of town. The Pantheon is in the heart of everything.
DC enjoyment depends almost entirely on what you do for a living, IMO. If you are plugged into the things that make the place run, it's great. If you aren't, then it's just a bunch of jabbering assholes who are drunk on their own self-importance.
Agree on the botanical gardens but I really save that for when it's cold outside. It's awesome to walk into a big room of orchids in the middle of winter.