NRA Membership Boom as President Obama Talks...

The NRA has seen a major spike in membership since gun control became a hot topic in the political world. Sure, the idea of limiting guns in some way has been around for a while, but never has it been so popular as it is today. In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, it is understandable people want to prevent anything like that from ever happening again.

A popular response is to limit or simply ban guns. The National Rifle Association is one of the most outspoken opponents to any such laws. Since the gun debate heated up, the group has had a membership boom to the tune of 250,000 new members in just a matter of weeks. Those numbers speak for themselves.

Spokesman Andrew Arulanandam isn't surprised, "This is in direct response to the threats and accusations coming from Sen. (Dianne) Feinstein and President Obama." Yes, something needs to be done about all the gun violence, but like so many Americans, the group is not okay with the government impeding on the 2nd Amendment.

Arulanandam adds, "If anyone is wondering if the American people cared about the Second Amendment ... those numbers give a very clear answer." Clearly, there is a fine line between protecting the people and stripping people of their rights. Many opponents of gun control laws worry the latter is the case. With Obama set to announce a proposed set of regulations today, January 16, those numbers will likely rise again. The group has just over 4 million members now.

The NRA has also had an influx of financial contributions as they promise to fight against certain gun control laws. This is going to be a very expensive, public drawn out fight.

Comments: 12

Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 16, 2013, 12:15pm UTC

In the sneaky way"liberals" do everything, Obama is exploiting a tragedy to pass the first in a continuous parade of assaults (pun intended) on the Second Amendment...It will make it easier for the "liberals" to further their socialist agenda (eg confiscation of personal property) if the peasants are disarmed...

The M 16 is the modern day musket...

Come and Take It!!!

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Wil B. Jan 16, 2013, 4:25pm UTC

Unless the numbers are verified by an independent source, I wouldn't take the NRA's word for it. Much like the Klan, they like to inflate their numbers in an effort to seem more popular and influential than they might be. I'm not saying that their numbers aren't likely to be up after their most recent PR efforts. They probably are. It's not like teabaggers, gun fetishists, etc. are in short supply.

Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 16, 2013, 8:17pm UTC

Here is a stsat for you, will, from your favorite police, the FBI...

In 2011, 323 homicides were committed by rifles...a statistically meaningless number...

This is a phony crisis made up by Obama and the main stream press to detract from his failure to deal with the economy...

BTW...you are an idiot...

Linda B. Jan 16, 2013, 8:24pm UTC

I am seeing reports that the membership numbers are inflated and that the NRA leadership is out of control but haven't been able to find an outside source to validate/invalidate that statement.

That's not really the question, though--in terms of the national population I think the NRA is a relatively small percentage--the question, to my mind, is this: will the rest of America stand up and say what they think as well?

I'm thoroughly tired of the NRA getting as much press as they do and there's actually another organization (the Gun Owners of America, I believe) which was formed out of many smaller 'NRA-type' groups. They came together because 'the NRA is too willing to compromise'. Now, THAT'S a scary thought...

Wil B. Jan 16, 2013, 10:35pm UTC

Linda, I think lots of Americans who are tired of all the gun violence, and who are tired of the NRA, the Teabaggers, the gun fetishists, etc. will stand up and say what they think. But what they're unlikely to do is to organize themselves into a nation-wide lobby group and pour millions upon millions of dollars into lobbying efforts and campaign funding the way the NRA has done. They'll stand up and say what they think, then they'll sit down and get on with their lives.

The gun fetishists, on the other hand, don't seem to have lives that aren't intimately entangled with their guns, and the associated paranoia and "Dirty Harry" fantasies, so they'll just keep screeching about the 2nd Amendment and the FEMA camps and whatever.

"... there's actually another organization (the Gun Owners of America, I believe) which was formed out of many smaller 'NRA-type' groups. They came together because 'the NRA is too willing to compromise'. Now, THAT'S a scary thought..."

I've heard of them. They're a nasty little bunch.

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NRA Membership Boom as President Obama Talks Gun Control

Comments: 12

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