NRA vs GOA?

[fisharmor]

the NRA was around and fighting when guns were very unpopular.

Explain what the NRA has accomplished, please.... 'cause all I've ever heard that they've actually accomplished is anti-gun.

In fairness to the NRA, they were a target shooting group until after the major gun laws were passed.

And in even more fairness to the NRA, they are still the most widespread training resource out there, and they do a LOT of good when it comes to the actual shooting part of the gun culture.
If they eliminated the ILA altogether and handed over the rights-oriented part of the gun culture to a group that has its head screwed on straight (like GOA) then I'd re-join the NRA tomorrow.
But as long as they have dipshits like LaPierre patently ignoring the constitution, they're not getting a dime from me.

[Pericles]

Bull! The NRA went hand in hand with Attorney General Cummings and the New England gun manufacturers and sat across the table and sold out in the original 1934 GCA that ensured the muddying of the waters on the 2nd amendment including weapons of warfare. The only thing they accomplished was preventing rifles and pistols from being registered and taxed as called for in the original draft bill. NRA sold out the Constitution in favor of their target shooters and hunters which paid their way.

Google News Archive is your friend, as is David Hardy's wonderful synopsis on the various iterations of GCA. Fear was what Congress was using in 1934, not unlike today. Gangsters made rich and bold by Prohibition and the adoption of the automobiles which allowed organized to quickly cross jurisdictions.

IMHO, go GOA and JPFO (and SAS if female).

XNN

Not disagreeing with you at all. Cummings was at least honest enough to flat out state that any ban would be unconstitutional and at most, firearms could be taxed under certain circumstances. Given Cummings background, it was instructive that a basically decent guy would play a part in trashing the Constitution.

Shows the power of the idea that government could get dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals.