Hmmm... 'The NRA Quietly Backs Down On Domestic Violence' - HuffPo

[WillyT]

The NRA Quietly Backs Down On Domestic Violence
Laura Bassett & Christina Wilkie - HuffPo
Posted: 04/22/2014 1:40 pm EDT Updated: 04/22/2014 5:59 pm EDT

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WASHINGTON -- For nearly a decade, the National Rifle Association successfully blocked a bill in Washington state that would have required alleged domestic abusers to surrender their firearms after being served with a protective order. Only those actually convicted of felony domestic violence, the nation's largest gun lobby argued, should be made to forfeit their gun rights.

This past year, the NRA changed its tune. As the bill, HB 1840, once again moved through the state legislature, the gun lobby made a backroom deal with lawmakers, agreeing to drop its public opposition to it in exchange for a few minor changes. This February, with the NRA's tacit approval, the bill sailed through the state legislature in a rare unanimous vote.

The NRA's decision not to oppose the measure was a stark departure from its usual legislative strategy. For over a decade, bare-knuckled lobbying by the NRA has doomed similar bills in state legislatures across the country. Legislators who backed such bills, particularly in states with strong traditions of gun ownership, could practically be guaranteed a challenger after the NRA withdrew its endorsements or backed their opponents.

But over the past year, the NRA has quietly scaled back its scorched-earth campaigns against stricter domestic violence laws. The group has consulted with legislators in states across the country on bills similar to HB 1840. With the tacit approval of the NRA, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota have all passed or advanced bills banning the possession of firearms by those convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse, those served protective orders, or those deemed by the court to pose a physical threat to their families.

Minnesota state Rep. Dan Schoen (D), the sponsor of one anti-domestic violence bill, said he spotted an opening after the NRA helped pass a similar bill in Wisconsin...

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Much more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/nra-domestic-violence_n_5191555.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. Well, the NRA does very little good these days. They used to be OK.

They have transformed into an ugly, obstructionist tool of manufacturers and the extreme right.

Like the ACLU, however, they sometimes fall on sides of an argument that seems contradictory.

For example, the ACLU will support hate speech under the first amendment, support extreme speech.

Similarly, the NRA still offers fairly benign safety programs- quite a contrast to some of their other efforts.

In other cases, they oppose stupid-ass laws like the now dead (thank you my dear Democratic governor hero Jerry Brown) semi-auto rifle ban.

Look, there's stupid on both sides of any gun issue.

Thanks for bringing up the issue.

[Eleanors38]

2. Since the article offers no speculation as to WHY...

the NRA has changed its tack, I will offer some possible reasons:

1) Women, who arguably suffer the most from domestic abuse, constitute approx. 20% of gun owners, and are the fastest-growing demographic within that population. Why would the NRA want to be on the bad side of that many gun-owners?

2) The competition for gun-owner allegiance now includes more moderate groups who don't share the NRA's dogma.

3) Related to the above, the NRA may be looking for any chance to improve its Ted Nugent-looking public personna. When you have major hunting mags souring on the likes of Nugent, even the dehydrated Frenchman LaPierre can't fail to notice.

[ManiacJoe]

3. I am actually impressed with that reporting.

I am not surprised about the WA state bill. The pro-gun forces here work with the NRA but tend to have an independent streak.