The word "terrorism" tends to appear rather frequently on the pages of the St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner, but (fortunately or not, depending on one's perspective) not generally in reference to actual terrorist threats to the U.S. Instead, when I talk about "terrorism," I refer to the largely fabricated bogeyman used as justification to separate Americans from our rights--supposedly for our own good.
Hence, we have the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC)--basically a state-level affiliate of the Department of Homeland Security--looking at conservative/libertarian thinking (including gun rights advocacy) as a possible "terrorism" indicator. We have multiple proposals for laws that would allow the Attorney General to block gun sales, based merely on his suspicion of terrorist inclinations. We have current and retired military service members and law enforcement officers who vow to refuse unconstitutional orders portrayed as a "threat" to our country--one that perhaps the Pentagon should outlaw, according to the collectivists.
I could go on, but I imagine you get the idea.
A new twist, and the point of today's article, is, bizarrely, a call to put the NRA (around 4 million members, and growing) on the "terrorist watch list"--the very same list that we're being told should be used as a basis to deny gun rights.
When it comes to the terrorist watch list, the NRA -- which fans the flames of armed militia and white male paranoia in the U.S. -- should be at the top of the list.
Ooh--guns, militias, and white males--the veritable Triple Crown of Terror.
As I frequently lament, the NRA is probably the least "hard core" gun rights organization, and the one most likely to compromise ("enforce existing gun laws," "Project Exile," NICS "Improvement" Act, etc.)--if they're "suspected terrorists," then the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America, the Firearms Coalition, and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership must be beyond "suspected" of "terrorism," and have been convicted in the court of hysterical anti-gun hyperbole.
Granted, this bit of silliness wasn't written by anyone in the government, or even in the mainstream media--BuzzFlash proudly describes itself as "progressive" (with "progress" being defined, apparently, as any move toward nanny-state collectivism). The author, Mark Karlin, is not just a "progressive" gun hater--he's a professional gun hater--having received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the rabidly anti-gun Joyce Foundation (President Obama's former employers), as part of the agenda of the forcible citizen disarmament lobby.
Still, Karlin's position is the logical end point of the direction in which too many in the media--and in the government--would like to take this country. If and when we get there, support for a gun rights advocacy group will be seen by the government as equivalent to support for Hezbollah, or Al Qaeda.
If we reach that point, the First Amendment will be dead, and it will be time to use the Second for the purpose we all hope it will never be needed. I suppose pointing that out makes me an "extremist."
Fine--I've been called worse.
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Comments
Mark Karlin should be on the terrorist watch list not NRA members. Karlin is the one that is attempting to do an end run on the constitution and in my book that is treason. I must be an extremist as well but then we are in good company, Jefferson, Madison , Washington, Franklin etc were all extremist in their day. I would be proud to join their ranks.
When I was a kid you'd besmirch somebody'd name by calling him a "communist". Today the same effect takes place by using the name "terrorist".
"Instead, when I talk about "terrorism," I refer to the largely fabricated bogeyman used as justification to separate Americans from our rights--supposedly for our own good."
Nailed it.
(And frankly, a part of me hopes they do put NRA on the list. It will be karmically appropriate for Master to go after the prags even before opening fire on the principled. Maybe, just maybe, it might wake some up, that appeasement STILL DOESN'T WORK.
For anyone newly enlightened by this idea, I for one would be happy to let you save as much face as you feel you need. A simple response of a direct look in the eye and something to the clear effect of, "Okay, that didn't work. No more backing up. Where are you at now?" would stay even a single "told you so" from me. I suspect at least a few others might make a similar offer, and we could sure use the help.)
The NRA, with their badge-licking, uniform-worshipping, "leadership", should be the least of the (other) statists' worries. The NRA has probably done more to prevent the government from suffering the justified consequences of its tyrannical actions than any other private organization. And I say this as a NRA Life Member.
If my ownership of guns strikes terror in the hearts of those who would deny my citizenship and unalienable rights, good! However, the word terrorism has been hijacked. It is not terrorism to make your enemies fear you or your likely actions. Terrorism is when one strikes fear in the hearts of innocents in the hopes of causing them to apply political pressure to the relative societal structure to accede to one's demands. It always amazes me that so few even understand the meaning of the world and believe any fear is the result of terrorism. cretins all.
If we really were extreme... how long do you think the (MIAC) would last?
I was thinking the very thing you wrote at the last of your article, "If we reach that point, the First Amendment will be dead, and it will be time to use the Second . . . ."
Thank you.
*chuckles*
Better writing and such. But this has being preached for so long, by so many.
Keep it up!
AIRBORNE!
Gun grabbers throw around the term "terrorist" becasue they have nothing to compare it to. They need to be shipped over to Pakistan for a year to experience what terrorism is all about.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" - Barry Goldwater, 1964
Way I see it is--after a few of those otherwise mostly silent, morally-conscious, rights-respecting, law-abiding American Citizens started showing up at townhall meetings, tea parties, rallies and the like to voice their opinions--tyrannists, despots and other related types in government positions and their handlers couldn’t help but notice more than a few Americans are actually now awake.
They're worried over what might happen next, should those who are awake go on to the next step and stop projecting their own amiable, affable, peaceable natures onto those who have in fact of actuality--screwed Americans royally out of their Life and Liberty--and undertake the unwanted and burdensome task of Restoring their beloved Constitutional Republic.
Issuing memos declaring stand-up American Citizens as ‘terrorists’ is a fear response, plain and simple.
God, guns and guts are not what is wrong with America. The problem is the PC, left wing nut jobs that write stupid crap at the MIAC!
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