NRA U Aims At Leftist Academia

[Martin Eisenstadt]

NRA takes message to liberal academia with new NRA University initiative

By Caroline May- The Daily Caller | Published: 2:57 AM 07/24/2010 | Updated: 12:40 PM 07/24/2010

The National Rifle Association is in the process of educating the next generation of gun rights advocates, taking their message directly into the belly of liberal academia with their campus initiative, NRA University, or NRA U for short.

NRA U is a training class for students interested in learning more about gun safety, the NRA, the Second Amendment, methods for crime prevention and legislative threats to gun rights. It aims to arm — pun most definitely intended — students with the information they need to debate and become effective activists for gun rights.

Rachel Parsons, an NRA spokesperson told The Daily Caller, “NRA U was conceived to help pro-gun students have a voice in the often one-sided gun control debate on many college campuses.” She continued, “We wanted to offer students the opportunity to learn facts about the Second Amendment and educate them on ways to get involved.”

The program has been in existence for three years and is continuing to grow. To date, the NRA says they have held programs at 14 campuses throughout the country and have reached over 1,000 students.

Sarah Adler, a senior at Central Connecticut State University, went through the program this year. “It’s a great opportunity,” she told TheDC. “They teach you all about Second Amendment issues, history, legislation and how you can get involved. Everyone who came to the event at my school had a great time.”

While the event participants had a good time, Adler says the program was not without detractors. “I go to a school in Connecticut which is definitely a blue state. People who disagree don’t come to the event and voice their problems, they will just rip down our posters. It’s very passive aggressive,” she said.

In the face of such adversity, Parsons notes the manner in which the program can help. “Educating young people on the truth about the Second Amendment provides them with the proper tools to educate others, both on-and off-campus.”

To be sure, gun proliferation is a polarizing issue. In 2007, Seung-Hui Cho opened fire at Virginia Tech, murdering 32 people and wounding 25 others. Gun rights activists have argued that more lenient carry laws may have helped to prevent or end the massacre. Others disagree, however, saying the preponderance of guns is what lead to the tragedy.

Today, Virginia Tech remains a gun-free zone, but not one overtly hostile to discussing the issue of gun rights. “If a student organization wanted to bring a speaker to campus they have a right to do so. We don’t restrict anyone from discourse,” Mark Owczarcski, Virginia Tech spokesman, told TheDC. “It would not be a question of whether we welcome it, just so long as the group followed the rules and protocol, such speakers could come on campus.”

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a gun-advocacy group, is gung-ho about the NRA’s attempts to breed young gun advocates. “We fully support gun rights education efforts in universities,” Kurt Mueller, eastern director for the group, told TheDC. “We believe it is important for all adults to be educated about guns and gun safety…..We think its great.”

Parsons is very positive about the effects this program will have in the coming years. “NRA University helps students learn how to become effective grassroots activists working to preserve Second Amendment rights for their generation and for future generations,” she said. “College students today are our leaders tomorrow.”

[BROWN TEAL]

The National Rifle Association is in the process of educating the next generation of gun rights advocates, taking their message directly into the belly of liberal academia with their campus initiative, NRA University, or NRA U for short.

An excellent move by a highly respected organisation.
In NZ I've been involved in a major firearms safety and appreciation distance learning course since 1987, whereby students not only have the opportunity to obtain a firearms licence by completing the course they also learn much about shooting sports and about NZ's excellent firearm laws; together with a background to the hunters role in conservation (Ducks Unlimited, etc) and about respect for - wildlife, wildlife habitat, property and property owners.
The course has been ongoing since 1987 and all students completing the course gain 7 units on the NZQA National Framework.

[Herbert Spencer]

...NZ's excellent firearm laws

True, certainly relatively better than those of many other countries, but still replete with restrictive registration and permit schemes that effectively limit self-defense rights.

Interesting to note the history of NZ gun control laws.  "Early laws were mainly targeted at Māori during the land wars in the Waikato and Taranaki..."  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politic...ew_Zealand

Reminiscent of US Supreme Court Justice Thomas' recent opinion in the McDonald case, where he noted the historical use of gun control laws to disarm blacks during the post-Reconstruction era in the US and thereby prevent them from protecting themselves against attackers.

“Militias such as the Ku Klux Klan, the Knights of the White Camellia, the White Brotherhood, the Pale Faces and the ‘76 Association spread terror among blacks. . . . The use of firearms for self-defense was often the only way black citizens could protect themselves from mob violence.”

The right to keep and bear arms is essential to the preservation of liberty.  Conversely, when someone wants to try to take your liberty, they first try to take your means of self defense. Or as Jefferson said, when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

[BROWN TEAL]

True, certainly relatively better than those of many other countries, but still replete with restrictive registration and permit schemes that effectively limit self-defense rights.
Interesting to note the history of NZ gun control laws.  "Early laws were mainly targeted at Māori during the land wars in the Waikato and Taranaki..."  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politic...ew_Zealand

You are certainly correct in regard to the severe limitations in NZ on the right of self-defence, but this is a totally politically contrived policy, as the NZ Crimes Act clearly shows that individuals do have the right to protect themselves, their family and their property. Sadly our policy is part of the “British Disease” that we still have to live with.
Your Wiki link provides a good overview of the situation, although the number of firearms licence holders is now considerable more than 230,000 – more like 260,000 and growing at a rate of 8,000-10,000 per year.
A recent study of homicides in NZ shows that in spite of our high number of firearms per head of population homicides with firearms is far lower than in the UK and Australia - where there have been massive firearm control policies implemented over the past decade.
This is one quote from the study:
A former director of the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, Tsutomu Ishiguri, has voiced similar sentiments, describing New Zealand gun control as "world class".
Suicides with firearms have also plummeted since the introduction of the very successful 1983 Arms Act, which states that “All persons wishing to have a firearms licence must take a course of study in firearms safety, pass a test, be considered by the police as ‘a fit & proper person’ to have a firearm and have security for the firearm/s.”
There are only two means of complying with the “Study & Test” requirements: one is to attend a NZ Mountain Safety Council lecture and answer a test paper containing 30 questions, and the other is to successfully complete the OPEN POLYTECHNICS four module FIREARMS SAFETY distance learning course, part of which involves completing a verification process which shows that the student has visited - a Gun Club or an Arms Dealer, or a Firearm Collector and can show clear evidence that a sound knowledge of firearms and firearms safety has been acquired.
Two referees are needed when an application for a firearms licence is made – one of whom must be a close relative. This system helps eliminate at least 99% of the undesirables.

[BROWN TEAL]

Here's some info on the firearms and homicide study:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/articl...d=10660886

[Ben Johnson]

Reminiscent of US Supreme Court Justice Thomas' recent opinion in the McDonald case, where he noted the historical use of gun control laws to disarm blacks during the post-Reconstruction era in the US and thereby prevent them from protecting themselves against attackers.

That's what it seems to be about, N-words with guns. While white demographics means concealed carry, black demographics means disarming. Racist bastards.

[BROWN TEAL]

Here's the latest statistics from NZ Police National HQ:

New Zealand Firearm Statistics

Licenses and endorsements

As at May 2010
There are just over 223,000 holders of a firearms licence that is current (this number fluctuates on a daily basis between about 217 000 and 225 000 as licenses are issued, cancelled, expire, etc).

Endorsements held
• 3,447 B endorsement holders (target pistol shooters)
• 3,689 C endorsement holders (possession of pistols and/or restricted weapons as a collector, heirloom, museum curator or theatrical armourer)
• 5,171 E endorsement holders (permitted to possess MSSAs)
• 457 dealers' licences.

Current data records approximately 36,000 pistols and approximately 7,800 MSSAs in the possession of licensed firearm holders (with endorsements).

Pistols and Restricted weapons

As at May 2009 (more recent data requires the running of a special report requiring considerable work and which we are unable to repeat at this time):

Pistols and restricted weapons held on C endorsements. 26 686

Pistols held on B endorsements 18 943

Conclusion

Taken from the above information:

1. Approximately 19 000 pistols held for the purpose of target pistol shooting.
2. Leaving approximately 17 000 pistols possessed for the purpose of collecting, as an heirloom or by museums and theatrical armourers.
3. About 9 700 restricted weapons possessed for the purpose of collecting, as an heirloom or by museums and theatrical armourers.

[Martin Eisenstadt]

NRA University--Bring Us To Your Campus This Spring!
Friday, December 10, 2010

In an effort to educate the next generation of gun rights advocates on exercising and maintaining their constitutionally-guaranteed Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the NRA has developed a comprehensive program for college students called “NRA University”-- NRA U for short.

NRA U is a two-hour training seminar for college students interested in learning more about NRA, the Second Amendment, gun safety, legislative threats to gun rights and the gun control debate. NRA-ILA staff will travel to a college campus and provide seminar attendees with the tools they’ll need to become more effective activists in the fight to protect our freedom, both on and off campus.

Staff will address the myths of gun control, covering topics such as the history of the Second Amendment and the use of guns for self-defense, and provide the NRA’s solutions to reducing gun crime and accidents.

In addition to ensuring a more balanced discussion of this issue on campus, NRA staff will talk about the various NRA programs in which students can participate. Students will also learn about opportunities to work with like-minded activists in their area.

Students will receive a free one-year NRA membership along with free fraternal items, such as NRA U hats, t-shirts, and stickers.

Contact NRA-ILA today to bring NRA U to your campus this spring! And be sure to join our group on Facebook too.

For more information, please visit the NRA University Home Page at http://www.nraila.org/nrau/, e-mail us at NRAU@nrahq.org, or call us at 800-392-VOTE (8683).