Son of a Gun

--America Rifleman, Sept. 2011

Ranger's updated stanza of America:
My country 'tis of thee
sweet land of give to me

Hey Mr. Policeman
I've seen you in my neighborhood
You look to me up to no good
I've seen you with your gun in your hand
--Mr Policeman, Rick James
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Ranger's mind is on the National Rifle Association (NRA) after finishing two copies of the National Rifleman in a VA waiting room.

The photo accompanying the Special Feature Life of Duty shows Spokane Police Officer Terry Preuninger, a good German name for a dude rigged out with a German-made sub machine gun. Notice the sap gloves -- does the name "Officer Friendly" pop into mind? Why are the American people o.k. with Ninja turtles posing as law enforcement officers?

The NRA is pushing a schizophrenic platform. On the one hand, guns for all, in case insurrection becomes necessary; On the other, a militarized police force which would render such an eventuality null and void. Fear is the operative watchword in both, conflicting, scenarios. But hey, we the public are accustomed to subsuming inconsistent messages.

The NRA packs its membership rosters with people high on Jefferson's "blood of patriots" comments. They forget that Jeffersonian democracy is as demode as the flintlock rifle that we would have to pry out of Charleton Heston's cold, dead fingers. These saps are then taught to revere the example of guys like Officer Preuninger, without realizing that his example is the antithesis of the free, gun-toting citizen which the NRA peddles; he is the one you would aim to overthrow! The paramilitary police does not favor overthrowing any institution.

The NRA sells fear while supporting the entrenched state apparatus of paramilitary power. It is a duplicitous message packaged for a non-discerning public. While the NRA is a non-profit organization, it makes millionaires out of its top executives -- are these guys anything but government, or big business or Republic party shills? The top NRA execs earn more than the President, Vice President and Secretary of Defense . . . selling fear is Big Business.

Would they revolt against a repressive government? Would they take to the firing line if gun ownership were outright banned? The NRA machers are consummate insider Republican right-wingers pretending to defend the common man. They poseurs in a grand charade.

Either you are or you aren't -- you can't be both. The NRA fails the consistency test.

Take Them to the Range

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The above ads are featured in this month's National Rifle Association publication, The Rifleman (May 2008). The NRA is the group that advocates for private gun ownership under the 2nd Amendment, and protecting your women from assault from evildoers.

However, deviating from their foundational claims of respect for womenfolk, they now run ads featuring pure objectification of these national treasures. Even one dense as Ranger catches the blatant sexual innuendo.

Curious an association like the NRA, which espouses traditional rights and maintains a pretense to morality would even consider running such exploitative advertisements.

The sexism in the NRA magazine is onerous because they do wrap themselves in the flag, affiliating with apple pie and supposedly everything wholesome and good about America. Apparently, profiteering via ad revenues is part of that American ethos they so cherish. They have borrowed from the Bush administration's play book: Do as we say, not as we do. Problem is, you lose your integrity when you make such compromises.

These hypocrites should get a grip on something other than their pistols. In fact, they should join the 21st century, which aspires to be something better than the last 8 years the George Bush administration has delivered.