The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: ericire12 on May 05, 2009, 09:05:58 PM
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http://www.cuatower.com/2009/05/04/nra-univ-teaches-2nd-amendment-rights/
NRA Univ. Teaches 2nd Amendment Rights
May 4, 2009 by admin
Ryan Winn
Vice Chairman
College Republicans
Guest Commentary
Last weekend the College Republicans at The Catholic University of America joined with College Republicans from chapters from across the District of Columbia and Virginia to attend a program at the National Rifle Association Headquarters entitled “NRA U.” This half-day seminar was designed by the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) for students and other young adults to learn about our 2nd Amendment civil rights.
Now here is where this article may surprise you, I was more than a little skeptical prior to attending this event. I was very unsure on the issue of gun rights and more importantly I hail from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where it is nearly impossible to own a gun due to restrictions, fees, government interference. Further I had always heard that the NRA was a radical organization of some sort, made infamous by films such as Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” and criticized repeatedly by our own College Democrats via twitter.
With these things in mind you can imagine my surprise when I sat down for NRA U and was treated to a well reasoned, explained, and honest presentation on the 2nd Amendment instead of the right wing ranting I was told to expect prior to attending the event. Here are the facts: the National Rifle Association is a nonpartisan, single-issue group that has been promoting, defending, and educating American citizens of their 2nd Amendment rights since 1871.
The NRA U program, created just two years ago, is designed to create a dialogue about the repression of 2nd Amendment civil rights among college-aged students despite several Supreme Court decisions reaffirming the right to bear arms. Even here on the CUA campus the College Democrats would have you believe that only gun-toting nut jobs would ever attend an event at the National Rifle Association let alone openly support the right to carry a weapon. Furthermore several online updates from the aforementioned group attempted to imply a less than subtle connection between the NRA’s views and contradictions over the Republican pro-life platform. Since this event I am proud to see both a renewed interest in the issue of 2nd Amendment civil rights on campus and a more visible show of support for gun rights here at CUA. You can hardly walk through the Pryz without bumping into someone wearing a NRA U t-shirt or grab lunch without hearing people talking (in some cases arguing) about the trip last weekend.
The discussion created by this trip alone is an incredible opportunity for members of the CUA community to debate and learn about their rights under the 2nd Amendment. I am proud to be both a College Republican and a card-carrying member of the College Republicans. Lastly I have just one piece of advice for the groups who have attempted to portray this event as anything less than an opportunity to better educate ourselves, “criticize all you want, the College Republicans will be busy leading the CUA community in a comprehensive debate and discussion of the issues.”
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Good on the NRA. This kind of stuff is why it is important to be a member and give monetary support.
OH! Forgot where I was for a second... Sorry for preaching to the choir.
Good stuff. Good stuff.