WASHINGTON — After four days of self-imposed silence on the shooting that killed 26 people inside a Newtown, Conn., elementary school, the nation’s largest gun rights lobby emerged Tuesday and promised ‘‘to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.’’
The National Rifle Association explained its unusual absence ‘‘out of respect for the families and as a matter of common decency’’ after Friday’s shooting that left 20 children dead, all ages 6 or 7.
Comments
Look, I am not a gun owner but I took abuse for saying that the NRA has to be part of the solution. I am also not anti-gun and have many hunter friends. You all need to see the middle ground and the NRA needs to be part of that middle ground! This issue is too complex for sound-bite politics!
The old days of the NRA persona being that of the monthly arrival of American Rifleman and the face of Charleton Heston are gone. The organization isn't just silent after this tragedy, they're deliberately shadow for a reason: they have a handful of outrageously-paid lobbyists who influence our daily lives without showing face. They shy from having a public spokesman because they KNOW that they're ripping off regular, day-to-day hunters and sportsmen to boost the fortunes of a handful of manufacturers. Any national organization that lobbies legislation without face is cowardice - this handful of "leaders" are the worst example in generations.
The laws of the nation are bought and sold- get at the heart of the matter and reform lobbying!
I have no problem with the NRA staying silent while those children are still being buried. This is not the time to be political, it's the time to morn. There is plenty time to debate gun control later.