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60 Minutes archives: Understanding the NRA

December 19, 2012 12:39 PM

This 1977 story on the NRA is a rare inside look at the powerful gun lobby and how it has influenced gun control laws in America.

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by FredS1950 December 27, 2012 4:44 PM EST
Good quote (2000 & 2003 NRA Conventions) from Charlton Heston (NRA President 1998-2003).

In 1996 Charlton Heston had a hip replacement, in 1998 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, in 2000 he was treated for alcoholism, and in 2002 he was diagnosed with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

There was a whole lot more than "stubborness" occurring in his case (maybe more accurately described as a sort of compulsive behavior).

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For another recent story about the current run on assault rifles, I recall some of the other posters demanding unrestricted rights to possess assault rifles, alcohol, and controlled drugs.

Some of those posters even went way off the deep end to threaten more incidents like the insane David Koresh/Branch Davidian battle if more gun controls are legislated.

What a stew !! - especially including unrestricted access to semi-automatic weapons that are already efficient slaughtering machines, and which can be altered into much more efficient automatic weapons.

In one of the last posts, an apparently inexperienced poster suggested that some guns should be confiscated from some owners.

In answer to that, one of the more compulsive types said something like "Son you better bring lots of ammo to take my guns".

Would you want to be the real son of that guy when it's apparent (legally or medically) that the guns need to be taken ?
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by SouthernKudzu December 27, 2012 12:29 PM EST
Those who support gun control and feel no one should own a gun should simply look at the extreme rise in crime, especially armed robberies and home invasions that is now happening in Australia since they banned firearms. Guess what people, the criminals could care less about laws and will be the only ones still in possession of firearms if all others are forced to get rid of theirs.
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by destruk3 December 27, 2012 9:27 AM EST
The NRA should expand to include Anthrax and Sarin gas. Responsible, innocent people who would never commit a crime should be able to have this deadly nerve gas too.
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by bobcat887 December 27, 2012 1:59 AM EST
It's not about dead bodies. It's big business.
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by norm3333333 December 23, 2012 11:58 AM EST
I thought the NRA might give a little after the Newtown disaster. But no. Like Charlton Heston said: "from these cold, dead hands". Well, he's dead now -- but his incredulous stubborness lives on -- even in light of the hard, cold facts. Ten thousand people die every year by gunshot wounds. America, wake up, or die.
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