Bryant Gumbel: "The NRA is A Curse Upon The American Landscape | Crooks and Liars

[Fred Sanders]

More at http://crooksandliars.com/2015/01/bryant-gumbel-nra-curse-across-american


"If there's anything progressive Americans share is their utter abhorrence of the unfettered proliferation of guns and the danger it poses to innocent people. People who have normal human emotions like compassion and concern for their fellow man, are not fans of easily accessible weapons of death. Bryant Gumbel, host of HBO's Real Sports, has these feelings of loathing for a group that is synonymous with domestic terrorism, the NRA.

The NRA hasn't always been such a powerful proponent of the mass proliferation of firearms. Wayne LaPierre's terrorism has been aided and abetted by the 1982 movement, led by Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to redefine the Second Amendment. The tax-free enablers of domestic terrorism and the most powerful lobby in Washington, the NRA, has an abhorrent record of murder and mayhem sponsored by their gun manufacturer overlords.

Gumbel's Real Sports featured a segment on the eat what you kill movement. Gumbel went out with a hunter and learned a little about the hunting world. He said that he hasn't had any experience with firearms. But when asked about the NRA, Bryant said,

"There are a few things I hate more than the NRA. I mean truly. I think they're pigs. I think they don't care about human life. I think they are a curse upon the American landscape. So we got that on the record.""

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

1. It's easy to...

...think that way. Evidently it's not all that difficult to think with your glands instead of your head.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Adrenal or pituitary?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

3. More likely...

...axillary lymph.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Why do you cut off your postings so most of it is not in the title...just curious?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. Since you ask...

...I try to be polite to any readers and not needlessly lengthen a title when a few words would be fine. Any thought deserving of expression need not be limited by the title line. You are, IIRC correctly, the first to ask about that so bravo for your perspicuity.

[Straw Man]

5. So are second-rate sportscasters ...

... the go-to spokespeople for the gun control movement now? Sad ...

The tax-free enablers of domestic terrorism and the most powerful lobby in Washington, the NRA, has an abhorrent record of murder and mayhem sponsored by their gun manufacturer overlords.

That's some real purple hyperbole there, I must say. Gnashing of teeth and rending of garments must have accompanied its creation.

Yawn ...

[Shamash]

11. I for one am impressed and see an opportunity here

Since the NRA is the most powerful lobby in Washington, despite being outspent by more than a factor of 100 by the financial services industry, clearly the NRA is a master of turning money into influence. Fred should study them to see how they manage to be the most powerful lobby in the country while only spending about the same as the fearfully influential dental industry on lobbying efforts.

Seriously folks, the amount spent on lobbying, PACs and campaign contributions is public knowledge. Do you really want to say stuff like "most powerful lobby in Washington" when anyone who can spell "Google" can call you on it? (Fred, you have my permission to cut & paste "Google" in case you have trouble remembering it on your own).

NRA 2013 Total Lobbying Expenditures: $3,410,000
American Dental Association 2013 Total Lobbying Expenditures: $2,850,000

NRA PAC 2012 campaign contributions to federal candidates: $984,037
ADA PAC 2012 campaign contributions to federal candidates: $1,680,249
Securities & Investments (overall industry) 2012 campaign contributions to federal candidates: $287,881,384

[Shamash]

7. Misrepresentations by Fred, 01/22/2015 edition

I thought the President and the Democratic Party were the ones redefining the 2nd Amendment. After all. they're the ones who think it confers an individual right to firearm ownership. Unless...

Barack Obama is a secret Republican!

And Fred, remind me again which side of the issue here at DU is the one that openly advocates violence against other DU members? I just wanted to make sure I called the correct group "terrorists".

[Fred Sanders]

8. Bearing false witness is a sin, sir. As sinful as the NRA as stated by the truth telling veteran sportscaster

But your post is" revealing", thanks for that.

[branford]

9. I guess the great cultural and legal debate about firearms in America is now over.

Byrant Gumbel has spoken, and nothing represents the totality of American thought, culture, politics, historical understanding and legal acumen like a second-rate cable sportscaster like Mr. Gumbel. It's a shame he's only on cable.

In any event, the NRA should thank Gumbel. The press and attention garnered by his comments and those who repeat them as gospel should be great for NRA fundraising. I believe that AR-15 sales are also starting to slump. Maybe Gumbel should demand they be banned.

[Fred Sanders]

10. You forgot the sarcasm emoticon after the second paragraph.

[Shamash]

13. I don't think sarcasm is necessary

People like you are the best thing to ever happen to the NRA. No matter how distorted a caricature they might use to describe a "gun grabber", you match and exceed their hyperbole in real life. Do you honestly think people like you helped Democrats in Colorado in the 2013 recall and 2014 mid-terms?

As I recall, both Marsh and Giron went into the recall with Democrats outvoting Republicans 3 to 2 and with a 6 to 1 spending advantage on campaigning and both were from Obama+20 districts in 2012. Yet both of them lost because Democrats went to the polls for the sole purpose of voting out Democrats on a gun control issue. We lost Mark Udall (formerly D-Co) to a Republican, and I do not think it is coincidence that he strongly supported Marsh and Giron during the run-up to the recall (and just as quickly scrubbed his "about" page of his support for the new laws afterwards).

Yet you think the clueless mendacity of folks like you helps the Democratic party. You drive moderates towards the Democratic Party like Westboro Baptist drives agnostics towards Christianity.

[branford]

14. I believe the deification and demonization of the NRA is simply ludicrous.

First, I'm not and have never been a member, nor do I have any desire to joint the NRA. I don't even own any firearms. I do, however, understand basic constitutional interpretation, am not inclined to mess with the Bill of Rights, am capable of distinguishing relatively objective research concerning firearms from partisan advocacy, and respect the cultural and regional traditions of Americans even though I do not share their background.

Second, there many other lobbying organizations that are far larger and spend more than the NRA (or really their affiliated lobbying arm, the NRA-ILA). The NRA is powerful because they get loyal voters, including nonmembers, to the polls with great regularity. The are the definition of grassroots. The are conceptually no different from any other organization that supports constitutional rights such as the ACLU or Planned Parenthood, and arguably far better than more selfish lobbying interests like many corporate and commercial endeavors.

Third, the NRA is still the gold standard in firearms training, safety and sport, including by law enforcement, with a long and notable history. They also only became involved in gun rights lobbying as a expected response to increasing gun control efforts. For every action, there will be a reaction.

Fourth, I get confused by the mixed messages sent by those advocating firearms restrictions. One moment, the NRA is an all powerful embodiment of evil that manages to mind control, bride and otherwise control virtually all elected officials across the country in order to bathe in the blood of dead children killed by firearms. We're then also told that NRA efforts are meaningless, they're little more than a front for firearm manufacturers, and their involvement really doesn't affect elections or political popularity. It's enough to cause political whiplash.

Fifth, gun control advocates rarely realize than most firearm rights legal victories are not the result of the NRA, including Heller and McDonald, but other groups like the Second Amendment Foundation. The NRA is also quite moderate compared to more absolutist gun right groups.

Sixth, the near myopic focus on the NRA has been a disastrous strategy for gun control, even that which is clearly constitutional. Apart from the obvious legal victories, support for gun rights is at an all time high, Congress and most state legislatures are hostile to gun control (and such positions have repeatedly hurt Democratic electoral prospects), all while the NRA fundraising (and gun sales) appear unstoppable.

[Fred Sanders]

15. Cut and paste, we have all seen the NRA propaganda, sir. It is truthfully refered to by Gumbal.

[branford]

16. You react to most criticisms about gun control positions

by just claiming it's NRA propaganda or talking points. I cannot be more clear, that does not constitute an actual substantive rebuttal, even here on liberal DU. It nothing more than an attempt to shut down discussion by demonizing your opponents, and the very reason why the NRA has been so politically successful.

If you believe that gun rights advocates misstate law or facts or misconstrue political trends, you need to point out actual errors and countervailing studies. Simply accusing them of using NRA arguments is not only lazy and childish, you appear not to grasp that the reason why the NRA uses certain arguments is because such facts and studies clearly inure to their benefit. Something does not become untrue just because it is espoused by your adversaries.

If your argument for gun control is little more that the NRA is evil (and Bryant Gumbel agrees), be prepared for many more gun rights victories and increasing firearm liberalization. Groups like the Second Amendment Foundation will laugh heartily as they win case after case while you cannot get over your obsession with the NRA.

[Fred Sanders]

17. Will you join in the laughter of the Second Amendment Foundation, whoever they are?

[branford]

21. That's exactly what I mean.

You complain about court decisions and other issues favoring gun control, and yet know nothing about the groups responsible, just lazily blaming everything on the NRA. You don't even care to know who your real opponents actually are, no less why they are winning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_Foundation

[Fred Sanders]

24. RW anti-Democratic Party gun groups on bookmarks? Impressive.

[branford]

25. Sigh . . .

Do you have any other responses other than accusations of NRA talking points and accusing opponents of being right wing? Moreover, you really need to accept that there are a great many gun rights (and owning) Democrats in the USA, and the gun control battle is more regional or urban vs. rural, than it is a matter of Republican vs. Democrat. Heck, even you hated NRA is more than happy to, and consistently has, donated money, time and support to pro-gun rights Democrats.

The obsession by you and others with the NRA, and the apparent complete inability to understand the arguments and viewpoints of your opponents, will have the inevitable and quite evident result that even more moderate, less controversial and entirely constitutional firearm legislation like universal background checks will never pass in Congress. You are the very reason why gun control loses time and time again.

Moreover, rather than puerile accusations, try reading up on who the Second Amendment Foundation is, why they take certain cases, who are the named plaintiffs they advocate for (hint: they're often minorities, women and other vulnerable groups), and the arguments they espouse that have lead to one victory over another.

[Shamash]

19. Fred, you typed too quick. I guess the answer was b)

[Fred Sanders]

23. The answer is Bryant Gumble speaks truth to firepower, truth is not confined to a profession.

[ManiacJoe]

35. Feel free to point out this "truth" you speak of.

It certainly is not in the article quoted in the OP.

[Fred Sanders]

36. The NRA is evil. Thanks for the opportunity to assist you.

[ManiacJoe]

40. Glad you cleared THAT up.

[Straw Man]

38. I can see that you admire the man a great deal.

Almost enough to spell his name correctly.

Cut and paste, we have all seen the NRA propaganda, sir. It is truthfully refered to by Gumbal.

I think Gumbul was shot once so he does have some experience with guns, and he knows many folks

The answer is Bryant Gumble speaks truth to firepower, truth is not confined to a profession.

It's "Gumbel."

"Speaks truth to firepower" is a catchy line, by the way. Did you think that up all by yourself?

http://www.texaslrev.com/wp-content/uploads/Magarian-91-TLR-49.pdf

[blueridge3210]

20. That's all you have?

Your response to the post is "Cut and Paste" and "NRA Propaganda"?

If that's what passes for reasoned discourse amongst gun control proponents it's no wonder the rights of firearm owners has been steadily expanding of the last two decades.


Just saying.....

[beevul]

12. Bryant who?

Why should we care what he thinks?

[ileus]

22. See even bryant knows guns kill people....LOL

Another "then nra is the enemy" but I really don't know why idiot.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

26. "He said that he hasn't had any experience with firearms."

What is it about the wildly and belligerently ignorant that leads them to believe they have a right to dictate to others on matters they know nothing about?

[underpants]

27. Just because he has no experience with guns doesn't mean he doesn't know their effect

[Fred Sanders]

28. I think Gumbul was shot once so he does have some experience with guns, and he knows many folks

with similar experiences of being shot with guns. Makes him an expert.

The kind of experience 30000 folks a year have in America, the experience of interfering with the freedom of a just released mini-missile to their brains. If they are lucky.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

29. Would you take romance tips from a celibate?

[underpants]

32. Or

Would you take romance tips from a pornstar?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

33. That's hardly analogous to Mr. Gumbel's experience. nt

[Electric Monk]

37. I'm pretty sure the analogy was to some of our gunthusiasts here, regarding giving advice. nt

[blueridge3210]

39. So.........

Who are the "glib, sociopathic 'gunthusiasts'" that post here? Or, are you still afraid to answer the question?

[Electric Monk]

42. Someone who cares about my answer as much as you do might well be. Dig it? :) nt

[Straw Man]

43. You tapdance divinely.

.♩♫ Tea for two, and two for tea ... ♫♫

[blueridge3210]

45. Business as usual.

Some of the controllers her seem to lack the cognitive, intestinal and testicular fortitude to actually make a meaningful statement.

Just sayin......

[Nuclear Unicorn]

41. What makes a person qualify as a gun porn star, or is that one of those

insults tossed out to disqualify an interlocutor rather than admit an argument has been lost but undefined so the person applying it can weasel out when confronted?

[beevul]

30. That doesn't make him objective.

At best it makes him a biased beltway blowhard.

[underpants]

31. That makes no sense

Objectivity has nothing to do with it

He was making a statement based on facts

[Nuclear Unicorn]

34. No, he's emoting based on his ignorance.

[ileus]

44. Wonder if he even knows what the initials NRA stand for??? I bet he doesn't.

Just three letters he's always hearing associated with mean ole guns all the time.