Long Ago And Far Away

 I first became aware of this story when I read a tweet about it: "This confirms that the NRA may not be filled with the most likeable people."

The story was about how, in the wake of the massacre at Columbine High School back in 1999, senior leaders of the National Rifle Association were discussing the optics of their pending convention in Denver just days and a few miles away from the site of all that gun violence. Jim Baker, chief lobbyist for the guns and ammo club, was recorded saying, "At that same period where they're going to be burying these children, we're going to be having media. Trying to run through the exhibit hall, looking at kids fondling firearms, which is going to be a horrible, horrible, horrible juxtaposition."

Which, in its own creepy way sounds vaguely sympathetic. The same could be said of the idea of a victims' fund. Kanye Robinson, who would soon become the president of the NRA suggested giving "the victims a million dollars or something like that," would "look bad," to which PR consultant Tony Makris responded that providing money could symbolize that the organization felt "responsible." Which is a little more on brand for these guys. 

The powers that were back in 1999 went on to refer to some of their more activist members as "hillbillies" and "fruitcakes" who might embarrass their organization in the wake of what was at the time the worst school shooting in U.S. history. And even though the festival of death they had planned was scaled back from what had originally been planned, Chuck Heston was out front, delivering the party line: "Why us? Because their story needs a villain. They want us to play the heavy in their drama of packaged grief, to provide riveting programming to run between commercials for cars and cat food." 

So they were stuck between a rock and a memorial service. They didn't want to cancel their convention, because that would be "surrender." At the same moment, they showed a twinge of remorse for the victims who were killed just before their big party. 

What to do, what to do? 

Ultimately, they went ahead and held their convention, and eventually hardened their stand to those who were killed in school shootings. After Sandy Hook, the NRA party line was, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." In the wake of the murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, they tossed off this bon mot: "Many in legacy media love mass shootings." Suggesting that the NRA has moved on from their initial stage of grief, fret, and onto full scale denial. 

What have we learned here? The NRA may not be filled with the most likeable people.