I'm pro-2nd Amendment. I have a lifetime permit to carry a concealed weapon. I've got pistols, rifles, shotguns... My wife has a Featherweight .38 with an internal hammer to protect herself and the kids if I'm not around. I often carry when travelling since the vast majority of the states that I travel to have reciprocity laws and I don't know what I'll run into. I don't often feel the need to ccw when I'm out in town. The rural folks around me are pretty mellow. If I lived in another location, perhaps I'd ccw more. I always have a knife on me though.
I am also a lifetime member of the NRA. My father bought it for me a couple of decades ago as a gift when it was super cheap. I'm glad he did because I am adamantly anti-NRA and the NRA has spent waaaaay more on me on printing and mailing costs of their monthly propaganda magazine, "American Rifleman", and all the other crap they send me, than the paltry $50 or $100 that my father spent on the lifetime membership (I can't remember. It was long ago.). I'd cancel it because of the environmental impact of using those resources, and because they can claim me as a member in their advertising and fundraising drives and bigger numbers are better for that stuff, but I remain a member so that I can partake in their bankruptcy in my own little way and I recycle all of their propaganda (except for the pre-paid envelopes... which I send back to them un-stamped and empty... so that they have to pay the postage... "Postage will be paid by addressee"... support the USPS!!).
Before the NRA's bankruptcy filing, they were calling me weekly, begging for donations. I'd keep their fundraising people on the line as long as possible so that they couldn't spend time wheedling money out of another NRA member... and I'd explain my reasons for not giving them a dime at length. Half the crap that they'd say to try to get me to donate were lies, so first I'd call them out on their lies and propaganda. Then I'd let them know that the NRA is anti-democratic. They fight ANYTHING gun related. The VAST majority of Americans (80%+) support common-sense gun control legislation, like universal background checks, closing loopholes, preventing potentially violent offenders from obtaining guns, etc. However, the NRA is adamantly opposed to the will of the vast majority of Americans. The NRA is an extremist fringe group these days. They even oppose legislation that would prevent the mentally ill and violent criminals from obtaining weapons. Seriously.
Like many here, I had to pass a background check to get my ccw permit. It wasn't hard though. I just don't understand the opposition to universal background checks and reasonable waiting periods. If you're a law-abiding citizen, you'll get approved. If you're a wife-beating or violent felon, mentally ill or whatever, you shouldn't. Common-sense legislation may prevent criminals from obtaining a gun and may save numerous lives (maybe yours or one of your loved ones). Doesn't sound that bad to me.
Kindest regards,
Kantuck
Though mom may walk funny for a little while after...
