The NRA Unmasked
Gun violence exacts an enormous toll on U.S. society-claiming tens of thousands of lives every year. Many more thousands are wounded and scarred physically and psychologically. From malls to schools from places of worship to concerts there is no safe space. Weapons of war are easily obtainable. We have the spectacle of armed militias in combat gear roaming statehouses, threatening the lives of government officials and invading the national Capitol itself on January 6. The main lobby for guns is the National Rifle Association, the NRA. It resists common-sense reforms. No matter the tragic occasion, the NRA recites its slogan, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” The NRA denounces calls for reasonable gun control as attacks on freedom and liberty. The organization’s actual history is hidden not only from the general public but even from its own members.
Speaker
Frank Smyth
Frank Smyth is an independent journalist who has covered the NRA for many years. His articles appear in The Washington Post and The Progressive. He won a Society of Professional Journalists National Investigative Award for his Mother Jones story, “Unmasking NRA’s Inner Circle.” He is the author of The NRA: The Unauthorized History.
Sato Tatsuhiro –
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Note ‘a well regulated militia’… is MOST important! This does NOT mean that the common folk even youth can go out and buy AK 47s and other assault rifles! The ‘regulated militia’ today is the US arm forces such as Coastguard, Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy. Plus, the civilian law enforcement agencies who BTW are all well trained and vetted, the police, sheriff, US Military Reserve in all the states, the FBI, the Secret Service, and other well-vetted and trained enforcement agencies are the ‘militia’ today. Certainly NOT 18 year old mentally unvetted civilians to go and purchase assault rifles are NOT meant in the Second Amendment! Great speakers!
Mary in NY –
The NRA Unmasked is amazing.
Brian Pfitzer –
Excellent show. As I was listening in Concord New Hampshire USA Friday I entered a convenience store and the clerk was sidelined with one or two people and a long barrel gun. I didn’t hang around to become engaged. Just saw the activity of a few guys fawning over a gun and that was enough for me to hightail it out of there.
I don’t know what the answer is to our current problem of the killing of innocents but our legislators/representatives are not gonna come up with it. People are gonna take to the streets and demand change. We have to!! Thank you David for rebroadcasting this show from 2021. Listened on wnhn. 94.7 fm. A struggling grass roots station here in Concord.
Ed Martinez –
Very good program. The NRA definitely operates independently of what common Americans have expressed in opinion polls: Americans do want enhanced gun control measures from their government. Traveling across state lines to purchase firearms for another person to sell in their own state is solidly illegal and the Federal A.T.F. does go after people that engage in this activity.
Chelsea –
I really enjoyed listening to this program and learned a lot. I am excited to listen to it again.
Brent Tozzer –
Listened appreciatively on Atlanta’s WREK-FM (wrek.org).
STEVE JARDINE –
Frank Smith said with the open state borders people will travel to another state and pay someone to purchase firearms for them and then return their own state and sell them. That act is a crime and there are laws against that. The ATF call it a “straw purchase” The criminals don’t care about gun laws so when you pass more gun restriction laws the only people that are effected are the law abiding citizens. Criminals will always be able to get guns.
Craig –
Excellent show. Thank you very much. I listened on KALW in San Francisco.
Kristine Collins –
Fascinating expose! Thanks so much for airing on KSER.