I can’t believe that I am looking out for the National Rifle Association, but I think they are being deceived by Republican candidate Donald Trump. Of course, the NRA and Trump probably deserve each other and both deserve to fall flat on their faces in the 2016 election as they continue to promote an environment of hate, fear and violence. First, I want to highlight this statistic: In 2015, there were a total of 330 mass shooting – incidents where at least four people were killed or wounded in the U.S. – an increase of more than 25% from the 263 mass shootings in 2014. Last year, a total of 475 people were killed and 1,870 people injured as a result. The NRA’s stance in reaction to these mass shootings is that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. This, in my opinion, is just a stupid and idiotic stance and has proven to be a completely false assumption.
However, the point of today’s commentary is not to point out the idiocy of the NRA but rather to warn them that Trump may not be their savior. If I didn’t think the NRA and their pro-gun stance was completely useless, I would almost feel sorry for them. Trump will be speaking to a crowd of NRA members in Louisville, Kentucky later today to assure them that he supports their second amendment rights. He will also double down on this pledge to remove all gun-free zones in the U.S. like schools and military bases. Yes, he is a life-time member of the NRA and has a carry and conceal permit, but his position on gun rights has flapped around more than his comb-over on a windy day. In 2000, Trump supported a ban on assault weapons. In his book “The America We Deserve,” he criticized lawmakers who walked the “NRA line.” It is classic Trump to change his stance and basically tell people what they want to hear, and I think he might just be a repeat flip-flopping offender with the NRA if society becomes more vocal against the rising tide of mass shootings, which is already happening. In October 2015, a Gallup poll showed that 55% of Americas say they supported stricter gun control laws. Gallup noted that the result was the highest it has been in recent years. “Americans, in short, would be totally on board if Congress were to pass more restrictive background check laws.” Despite the story that Trump tells his NRA crowd today, if he thought he could get more votes from pro-gun-control voters, he would have no problems jumping on that bandwagon. In his arrogance, he would probably even try to take credit for driving the wagon. Let’s just hope he stops shooting himself (and the GOP) in the foot.
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