Is the NRA to blame for mass shootings?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 07:42:51 -0400

Why is it that every time some mentally defective person goes into a school or movie theatre or any other public place (which is 9/10 times a gun free zone) and shoots up the joint, the NRA gets blamed? Are people actually so ignorant to think that the person who committed the atrocity was a card carrying member of the NRA? Or is this just a cop-out by the low information voter crowd who likes to blame a tool and not their own failed gun free zone policies? So, what say you RP?

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Oct 12 at 2015 7:44 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 07:44:54 -0400

Simply stated "no"

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 12 at 2015 7:47 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 07:47:52 -0400

It's more likely than not it's mental illness not guns that kill people.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 8:00 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:00:38 -0400

!! But we must blame NRA because NRA is slaughtering us politically !! lol

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 8:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:06:45 -0400

It wasn't the NRA that caused the shootings. It wasn't the gun that caused the shootings. It was the individual that did the shootings.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Oct 12 at 2015 8:41 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:41:51 -0400

NO, the NRA is not to blame. The NRA however, is an easy target.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Oct 12 at 2015 9:21 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:21:09 -0400

No, the individuals that committed the acts are responsible, not the NRA, not the 2nd Amendment, not the gun manufacturers and not the guns, the criminals that committed them, PERIOD.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 12 at 2015 10:58 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:58:58 -0400

No the NRA is not blame for mass shootings SSgt Alex Robinson. That would be comical if nobody bought into it. Unfortunately many of the people who buy into that logic suffer from cognitive dissonance and don't fault Planned Parenthood for selling the body parts of pre-born infants who went through an induced abortion.
Individual people or groups of people are the ones who are responsible for killing many others. There may well be a significant number of factors involved in why the killing take place. Mental illness, drugs or alcohol consumption, vengeance for real or perceived injury, the thrill of acting out a fantasy, etc. can each be one of the factors involved.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Oct 12 at 2015 11:10 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:10:24 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member The picture says it pretty clearly.NO

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 12 at 2015 11:19 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:19:15 -0400

The emotional attacks of the left on anyone with whom they disagree don't have to be rational, and generally are not. Hatred is irrational.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 12 at 2015 11:19 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:19:33 -0400

The NRA is a boogeyman in the narrative currently popular among those who fear guns. It is the scapegoat for all people who fear living in a free society where personal responsibility extends to personal safety. Obviously boogeymen and scapegoats are imaginary constructs, but that matters not. They are very real to people who fear their own shadows and are willing to surrender all for the illusion of safety. They matter not unless they overthrow the Constitution. In that time We the People who value personal liberty may be called upon to defend the Constitution with more than words and ideas.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 11:33 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:33:31 -0400

The only blame that should be placed is on the shooter. Guns are not the problem.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Oct 12 at 2015 1:22 PM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:22:23 -0400

I'm not a big fan of memes, but that one in the OP is great.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Oct 13 at 2015 2:50 AM

COL Ted Mc — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 02:50:18 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member - Staff; The NRA is no more to blame for mass shootings than the AAA would be for car accidents if it were lobbying (successfully) for every American's right to drive cars with no proof of ability and no insurance or the ALPA would be for plane crashes if it were lobbying (successfully) for every American's right to fly aircraft regardless of their size.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Dec 5 at 2015 9:09 AM

MAJ Alvin B. — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 09:09:10 -0500

Absolutely not.
Individuals are repsonsible for their decisions, their actions and the consequences if those actions.
To me blaming the NRA is akin to blaming the National Association of Retailers or a store for forcing you to buy too many shoes.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Dec 5 at 2015 11:21 PM

Capt Chris McVeigh — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 23:21:54 -0500

A better question would be "do the actions of the NRA enable mass shootings to continue?". To that I would say yes. I have no problem with a group advocating for the rights of its constituents, that's why groups like this exist. However, the NRA doesn't want to enter into a discussion, they want there to be no discussion and no changes whatsoever.

I see it the same way that the tobacco industry used to be and to a lesser extent (because public opinion has changed) still is. Steadfastly denying there is anything wrong, preventing any real research into the issue and using their own personal statistics to support their own beliefs. The problem I have with the NRA is that their goal is not to improve anything based on logical reasoning, but to firmly squash all debate on the issue.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 9:55 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 09:55:36 -0500

No, I don't think so.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Dec 6 at 2015 10:31 AM

SFC Stephen King — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 10:31:42 -0500

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 9:50 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:50:59 -0500

Yes. Simply by floating on gun manufacturers' money and opposing any reasonable accommodations that could result in lower profits for said manufacturers (my opinion).

Below is a subject matter expert's study that shines some light on the myths that many gun owners (I am one, too) believe.
http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/six-things-americans-should-know-about-mass-shootings

Six Things Americans Should Know About Mass Shootings

America has experienced yet another mass shooting. As a criminologist, I have reviewed recent research in hopes of debunking some of the common misconceptions I hear creeping into discussions that spring up whenever a mass shooting occurs. #1: More Guns Don’t Make You Safer A study I conducted on mass shootings indicated that this phenomenon is not limited to the United States.

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Dec 7 at 2015 1:26 AM

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 01:26:39 -0500

But when your own president engages in the same absurd behavior–declaring that ISIS is contained while the group was planning a devastating attack in Paris that it would launch the very next day, or declaring that America is safe from the terrorist threat of ISIS while a terrorist who had pledged allegiance to ISIS was on the run from police after assisting in the execution of at least 14 completely innocent people at an office party in California–it’s not even remotely amusing. It’s terrifying.

And it’s not just Obama. This disease of delusion has spread to members of his cabinet as well.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced after the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino that her “greatest fear” was not future deadly terrorist attacks against innocent Americans. Instead, Lynch said her “greatest fear” was that there might be an anti-Muslim backlash as a result of the terrorist attacks. She then transitioned into a discussion about the need for America to accept more refugees from the Middle East, according to Politico, which covered her remarks at a Muslim Advocates dinner event on Thursday. She did not mention during her remarks that one of the San Bernardino terrorists was an immigrant with a Pakistani passport who had passed a Department of Homeland Security background check prior to being admitted into the U.S.

This is madness.

Barack Obama refused to admit that Americans are most certainly not safe from the threat of ISIS attack, even while ISIS apostles were murdering American citizens in California. The White House refuses to admit that ISIS, an acronym in which the very first letter stands for “Islamic,” is driven by a devotion to a radical interpretation of Islam that declares all infidels must be slaughtered by faithful Muslims in service of Allah. This is not foreign policy. It is a deadly form of political schizophrenia that has all but crippled the president’s ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy. “ISIS is not Islamic” and “Americans are nowhere near Baghdad” are two sides of the same delusional coin.

Our president has decided that his narrative is more important than our safety. That his legacy is more important than our security. Extreme Islamic terrorists are not “on the run.” ISIS is not “contained.” And America is not safe from the threat of future terrorist attacks from ISIS and its radical Islamic adherents.

That is the reality of 2015, whether Baghdad Barack wishes to acknowledge it or not.
[This could include those who blame the NRA for Islamic terrorist attacks...]

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made Jun 29 at 2016 1:08 PM

SSG Roderick Smith — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:08:36 -0400

Lolz. No.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 29 at 2016 1:14 PM

SGT William Howell — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:14:23 -0400

Blaming the NRA for gun deaths is like blaming Ford for the estimated 460 deaths that will happen on our highways this 4th of July.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jun 29 at 2016 2:29 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 14:29:41 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member blaming the person means that an acknowledgement has to be made that wicked people exist in this world. Blaming the tool, an organization, the victims, or some other outside circumstance just makes it easier. For those who don't like guns it is a part of pushing their agenda. Same old argument. If guns kill, silverware causes obesity, and cars cause vehicle accidents. Of course none of those are true. Car accidents are caused mostly by carelessness/bad decisions. Let me send that text at 80 miles an hour down the turnpike, or One more drink won't affect my ability to drive. Same thing with spoons. Spoons don't order a triple chocolate double latte mocapaccino with 50,000 calories in it. The consumer does. Same with chocolate cake, ice cream, soda, McDonalds, Burger King,Wendy's, etc... To blame the spoon or the car is ridiculous. Even a person with murderous intent, if they use a knife, bomb, box cutter, or airplane, the killer is the asshole, not the tool. It is only when that person of murderous intent uses a gun that all of a sudden it is the implement that is an issue. Guess what. It is a lot harder to acquire a plane than it is a firearm. Yet on September 11th 2001 18 Middle Eastern Men managed to take over four planes without firing a single bullet, and they killed over 2,000 people. That doesn't include the people who became sick from inhaling the dust at ground zero. Nobody blamed American Airlines, the FAA, United Airlines, they blamed the terrorists. Why? Because the terrorists were the assholes who caused the pain. Forty Nine innocent people were killed in the Orlando shooting. They were killed because an asshole who couldn't accept the lifestyle of his victims, or himself, or both went into the nightclub and murdered those people. That is it.

Response by Alan K. made Jun 29 at 2016 2:34 PM

Alan K. — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 14:34:27 -0400

Of course they are, there has to be someone to blame besides those who committed the crime....

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 29 at 2016 10:01 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 22:01:54 -0400

Some say that we are known by the company we keep. The NRA is also known by its enemies and their enemies make the NRA look pretty good to me.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Jun 30 at 2016 6:01 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 18:01:45 -0400

I am the NRA. A decorated Army Veteran, Business Owner, Father, Grandfather, brother in arms to all my brothers and sisters out there who have served in the military, medical field and law enforcement. I'm a Scout Master, Combat Lifesaver, Chaplain's Assistant. Do you blame me because I am a NRA member when you accuse the NRA of these violent acts? If we didn't have the NRA our 2nd Amendment Rights as we know them today would have been long gone. If you aren't a NRA member you should seriously consider joining. It won't be any easier to defend our right to Keep and Bear Arms into the future. The NRA does more to educate the public about the dangers of a firearm in the hands of someone to young and untrained than congress does. They do hunter safety education, and the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety message for kids who discover a firearm in the home of a childhood friend or dumped onto a playground of, "Stop, Don't' Touch, Leave the Area and Tell an Adult" has saved countless lives of our children. If the NRA is a terrorist group then I am a member of that group and obviously a terrorist myself. I don't see it that way. I see the NRA as the last Bastion of Hope for our 2nd Amendment rights and urge again that all of you non members consider joining the NRA and through education we can make America Strong again.

Response by TSgt Jackie Jones made Jun 30 at 2016 9:40 PM

TSgt Jackie Jones — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 21:40:48 -0400

It's the criminals fault. Plain and simple.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 1 at 2016 7:32 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 07:32:57 -0400

The NRA is being treated as a boogyman, just like the ACLU is treated as a boogyman.

They're an easy target because they're large and being large they have money and history.

However, let's look at the Math.

Violence in the US is DOWN. "Firearms Related" Violence in the US is DOWN.

MOST Mass Shootings are "gang related" and are a socio-economic issue exacerbated by population density (Aka Inner City).

There are 12,000~ Firearm homicides a year, with about half of those being "gang related." Only 5%~ involve longguns (Rifles or Shotguns).

People have been trying to "ban" or "regulate" the WRONG $*%&%( things, and the NRA as a Lobbying Organization has been absolutely correct to call them on that fact.

I don't agree with them on everything. Far from it. However, the Gun Control Movement has historically been using "Flawed Argumentation" which they support with BAD MATH, Emotion based argumentation, or which violates the "big rules" (Constitution, specifically 4a, 5a, and 2a in that order).

Response by SSG Jason Turner made Jul 3 at 2016 1:48 AM

SSG Jason Turner — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 01:48:56 -0400

If you think the NRA is at fault for mass shootings your just simply an idiot. The NRA doesn't brainwash people into killing sprees. If we are going to go down that route I'll go ahead and say that any of you that have PTSD are a threat to society and should be banned from owning firearms. Cuz that's about as dumb of a statement as says the NRA is responsible for mass shootings.

Response by SPC Robert Bobo made Oct 8 at 2019 12:05 PM

SPC Robert Bobo — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:05:33 -0400

Rediculus, no way , I've been a member since the 80's and NRA has always been about education and our rights as gun owners