Sebastian and
Lyle have opened up the proverbial can of worms over the history of the NRA and some manufacturers allegedly supporting federal gun laws in the past.
Well we know that there have been quite a few screw-ups over the years. Smith & Wesson tried to get a monopoly by signing on to Clinton era gun control. The NRA initially tried to derail Heller over the fact that the court as it stood when it all got started wasn't a definitive winner. Etc.
Yeah, most of them have screwed up at one point or another. So what do we do? Do we Zumbo every group/company that we disagree w/? Do we keep sending money/buying product if we disagree w/ them?
I personally spread the wealth around as much as possible. I'm a life member of both the
NRA and
SAF and an annual or more of the
Illinois State Rifle Assoc. and
Champaign Cnty. Rifle Assoc. I've had my issues w/ all of them and I let them know it when I do. If they don't listen, I put more of my support, both money and activity, to the others but it would take a lot for me to cut them out entirely. There are some groups I admit I won't even waste blog space on mentioning.
As for firearm manufacturers, I buy what I like. So far that hasn't come into conflict w/ politics or activism but one who openly works against my interests I will not buy from again w/o some
rough music.
Whatever you choose to do, let it be useful. Don't just whine and kvetch about what a bad job "X" is doing. Go join/support another group and/or company and tell the ones you disagree w/ WHY, not just "You suck" or similar such comments that make you look like a fool. Then go out and keep up the activism. If you sit on your rear and let the groups do all the work, then don't complain about what you get.
