NRA. Another Approach?
by Christine Merser
Action Item: Check on those you are voting for to make sure they are on the right side of gun control. Find out if they get money from the NRA, and if they do, take to social media and tell them it makes you reconsider your vote.
Another school shooting last week. The loss of some fabulous humans. The fourteen year old was tagged a year ago. Seriously? When he was thirteen. He had posted some comments about wanting to shoot up a school. So, what does the father do? Why, he gives him an AR-14 (or whatever the letters and numbers are; I refuse to Google it). The father is arrested and could go to jail for the rest of his life. And still, most Americans view this from afar. It didn’t happen to them. One step removed is the same as millions of miles away.
I live in Maine. I love living in Maine. I love the beauty around me, the fact that I can drive anywhere and park, and that people are nice to each other. While I ignore some signage along the way that is against everything I believe in politically, I can live next to my neighbors with kindness and consideration, even if our politics are different.
I love Maine.
It was almost a year ago that everything changed in Maine. Worst mass shooting in 2023. Less than an hour from me. And, the man who did the shooting was still at large days later, and so we were all in lockdown and every store and public place in my world was closed. The camaraderie around shared breakfasts at my favorite local diner were not happening, when we needed them most.
A few nights into this shocking moment in my space, a friend asked me if I locked my car (I leave my keys in the car most nights), and so while on the phone I went out and locked it. After I hung up, I went back out and unlocked it and put the key in it. If the shooter wanted my car, I wanted to make it easy for him. I don't want him coming into my house to get the key. We have nothing to discuss.
Then there was the press conference with Susan Collins doing her quick step dance, the one where she wrings her hands and pretends she is on the side of right, when she always caves to the party line that destroys women's rights, and holds back gun control. I got a bunch of calls. My friends were outraged by her demeanor and quick step to non-accountability without the music. Outraged.
I finally couldn't take it anymore.
“You sound surprised. That surprises me.”
“No, I’m just telling you how slippery she was.”
“But she was the same way with Kavanaugh, and then again with the Barrett vote, and then when they reversed Roe V Wade, she said, ‘but they promised.’ I don’t understand why you are calling me to tell me she is behaving exactly the way she always has. I can’t hear it anymore.. Isn’t it time to stop talking about it and do something?”
It wasn’t a pleasant conversation, and to be honest, I don’t really care. My friends, my liberal, well-wishing friends, and me continue with the same pattern over and over again. Hand wringing. Eyes on the screen for days around the tragedy. Outrage. Contributions to organizations that are still not getting the job done; the same organizations we have been giving to for years. Two weeks later focusing on the next pressing issue.
Should I turn to Albert? Such a smart guy. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein
That’s what we do, the same thing over and over again. Leaving the power in the same hands (Chuck Schumer this is meant for you!), to get the job done and when they don’t, we just keep voting them in.
It’s time we own our failure, naivety and well-meaning impotence. It’s ours. Me and my friends. I own it.
What am I offering?
Follow the money. That means the NRA, funded by gun manufacturers.
Politicians follow the money. On both sides of the aisle. So let’s put the money on the side of right and simple things - like citizen safety.
As far as gun control, the NRA money is controlling the politicians controlling the laws that are killing our children. Let’s start there. Look at these numbers? Seriously, look at them. (sorry I couldn’t find anything more current than 2010. What does that tell you?)
In April, 2023, the NRA had 4.3 million members. The members vote each year to determine who will run the NRA. A one year membership to the NRA is $45, which is substantially less than I have paid to people who are trying to change the gun laws in this country. What if 2,000,000 of we the people joined the NRA and elected me president of it? Ok, not me, but someone better than me who could handle this mess without wanting to shoot a bunch of people. Someone with an eye toward bringing the US to where the rest of the world sits around gun control and its place in society.
Who’s with me?
Do not join the NRA… yet. We are looking into the options and will get back to you. If you want to get involved, get in touch.