In 1995, GHWB resigned as a Life Member of N.R.A. because of Wayne LaPierre

I do not consider this organization good for America. Here's the full letter:

Dear Mr. Washington,

I was outraged when, even in the wake of the Oklahoma City tragedy, Mr. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of N.R.A., defended his attack on federal agents as "jack-booted thugs." To attack Secret Service agents or A.T.F. people or any government law enforcement people as "wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms" wanting to "attack law abiding citizens" is a vicious slander on good people.

Al Whicher, who served on my [ United States Secret Service ] detail when I was Vice President and President, was killed in Oklahoma City. He was no Nazi. He was a kind man, a loving parent, a man dedicated to serving his country -- and serve it well he did.

In 1993, I attended the wake for A.T.F. agent Steve Willis, another dedicated officer who did his duty. I can assure you that this honorable man, killed by weird cultists, was no Nazi.

John Magaw, who used to head the U.S.S.S. and now heads A.T.F., is one of the most principled, decent men I have ever known. He would be the last to condone the kind of illegal behavior your ugly letter charges. The same is true for the F.B.I.'s able Director Louis Freeh. I appointed Mr. Freeh to the Federal Bench. His integrity and honor are beyond question.
Both John Magaw and Judge Freeh were in office when I was President. They both now serve in the current administration. They both have badges. Neither of them would ever give the government's "go ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens." (Your words)

I am a gun owner and an avid hunter. Over the years I have agreed with most of N.R.A.'s objectives, particularly your educational and training efforts, and your fundamental stance in favor of owning guns.

However, your broadside against Federal agents deeply offends my own sense of decency and honor; and it offends my concept of service to country. It indirectly slanders a wide array of government law enforcement officials, who are out there, day and night, laying their lives on the line for all of us.
You have not repudiated Mr. LaPierre's unwarranted attack.

Therefore, I resign as a Life Member of N.R.A., said resignation to be effective upon your receipt of this letter. Please remove my name from your membership list. Sincerely, [ signed ] George Bush

www.nytimes.com/1995/05/11/us/letter-of-resignation-sent-by-bush-to-rifle-association.html

The NRA is a business and a lobby. Their members naively follow.

Duly noted

If I were ever offended by the action of the NRA to the point where I feel it didn't largely reflect my views, I would ask them to remove me as a life member as well. At no point during my membership (last 3-4 yrs) has that been the case though.

George Bush must be a commie pinko freedom killing bastard.

I find it very admirable that he did this.

Originally Posted by SLVR JDM

Duly noted

If I were ever offended by the action of the NRA to the point where I feel it didn't largely reflect my views, I would ask them to remove me as a life member as well. At no point during my membership (last 3-4 yrs) has that been the case though.

I agree. I also am fully aware that they are a lobby. I am a member of many other organizations (including the NJ2AS and the GOA) but as of now, the NRA is still keeping Washington in check in regards to guns, more-so than anyone else.

If we didn't have the NRA, we'd be forced to kill Skittle kids with shovels!

Originally Posted by NFRs2000nyc

I agree. I also am fully aware that they are a lobby. I am a member of many other organizations (including the NJ2AS and the GOA) but as of now, the NRA is still keeping Washington in check in regards to guns, more-so than anyone else.

America... where lobbyists control policy and not elected officials.

Originally Posted by SLVR JDM

Duly noted

If I were ever offended by the action of the NRA to the point where I feel it didn't largely reflect my views, I would ask them to remove me as a life member as well. At no point during my membership (last 3-4 yrs) has that been the case though.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

America... where lobbyists control policy and not elected officials.

Not to excuse it, but this is nothing new. I would love it if lobbyists were booted out of DC and we could kick out every single elected official to start over with how politics is conducted in our country. Obviously the framework would remain the same, but it is beyond time to clean house when it comes to our elected officials and get the special interests groups out.

Originally Posted by SLVR JDM

Not to excuse it, but this is nothing new. I would love it if lobbyists were booted out of DC and we could kick out every single elected official to start over with how politics is conducted in our country. Obviously the framework would remain the same, but it is beyond time to clean house when it comes to our elected officials and get the special interests groups out.

Didn't Obama run on that slogan in 08'?

Originally Posted by Green_Shine

Didn't Obama run on that slogan in 08'?

I'll paraphrase, but he kept spouting "the end of politics as usual in Washington."
Now he is the face of politics as usual.
Retarded people thought it would actually happen.

The NRA is the Al Gore of gun rights.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

America... where lobbyists control policy and not elected officials.

I am all for getting rid of lobbys and firing everyone in congress, then re-elect new members which will abide by the constitution.

Hey there is a group we don't like... post random stories to try and discredit them.

Originally Posted by SLVR JDM

I'll paraphrase, but he kept spouting "the end of politics as usual in Washington."
Now he is the face of politics as usual.
Retarded people thought it would actually happen.

Obamaphone brah

Originally Posted by 2000_328CI

Hey there is a group we don't like... post random stories to try and discredit them.

Okay

Kellermann found people turned those guns on themselves and others in the house far more often than on intruders. "In other words, a gun kept in the home was 43 times more likely to be involved in the death of a member of the household than to be used in self-defense," he says.

Kellermann says the National Rifle Association and other Second Amendment advocates leaned on his then-employer, Emory University, to stop the research. That didn't work.

So, he says, "they turned to a softer target, which was the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], the organization that was funding much of this work. And although gun injury prevention research was never more than a tiny percentage of the CDC's research budget, it was enough to bring them under the fire of the NRA."

Originally Posted by 2000_328CI

Hey there is a group we don't like... post random stories to try and discredit them.

Random stories. It tells you nothing that GHW Bush was so disgusted by Wayne LaPierre, the CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA, that he resigned as life member??

If you're a fan or a member, you should work to get this nut out of there.

Originally Posted by 'busa

Random stories. It tells you nothing that GHW Bush was so disgusted by Wayne LaPierre, the CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA, that he resigned as life member??

If you're a fan or a member, you should work to get this nut out of there.

Let's not forget that Reagan hand picked GHW Bush to be his Vice President. To question Bush is to question Reagan. And we all know that's impossible.

Originally Posted by 'busa

Random stories. It tells you nothing that GHW Bush was so disgusted by Wayne LaPierre, the CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA, that he resigned as life member??

If you're a fan or a member, you should work to get this nut out of there.

I'd love to know what Wayne did that was so bad? If it is as you say, I'll gladly stop contributing to them and stop supporting them.