Comments on: NRA Seeks Status as News Outlet

NRA Seeks Status as News Outlet

billsaysthis — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 15:13:45 -0800

NRA Seeks Status as News Outlet Deciding that laws regulating campaign spending are simply in their way, the National Rifle Association thinks out loud about buying a radio or TV station and then filing a lawsuit so that money limits no longer apply to them. As we all know, federal gun regulations are a near-certainty without this effort.

By: BlueTrain

BlueTrain — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 15:21:31 -0800

How is this different from CBN (Christian Broadcast Network)? More importantly, what's stopping the ACLU, AFL-CIO, or NAACP from doing the exact same thing?

By: MrLint

MrLint — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 15:37:56 -0800

So the NRA is gonna buy out fox news?

By: billsaysthis

billsaysthis — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 15:52:55 -0800

BlueTrain, a) CBN at least started as an effort to bring more people closer to their vision of God and life and b) nothing except money (less) and morality (more).

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 16:03:09 -0800

think of the drug company money for them commericals. and who wouldnt want Hornady Bullet ads.

By: aaronetc

aaronetc — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 16:03:19 -0800

Well, surely limits would still apply to their media buys, right? I mean, they could say whatever they wanted on WNRA, but simply owning a TV or radio outlet shouldn't give them carte blanche when it comes to buying time on CNN, no?

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 16:04:03 -0800

ted nugent news briefs

By: BlueTrain

BlueTrain — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 16:08:55 -0800

billsaysthis, my point was that interest groups are allowed to sell themselves like whores, as long as they can afford to do it. My problem with cable channels like these is that their honesty is less in question because they're watched with less scrutiny. For instance, all weight-loss commercials and info-mercials must have the disclaimer "Results not typical" or their asses will be sued, repeatedly. But on CBN, they can air plenty of "I donated $1000 to this network and the Lord blesses me with a $2000 Christmas bonus" ads and absolutely no one will complain.

By: mragreeable

mragreeable — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 17:36:29 -0800

In response to the CBN/NRA discussion: CBN is a non-profit Christian ministry. The NRA is a lobbying organization. CBN is tax exempt, the NRA isn't. There's a world of difference there. CBN gets a bit of lattitude, but still is rather limited in what sort of election-related activities it can take part in and still claim tax exemption. That's part of the reason they started the Christian Coalition, which is a full-fledged lobbying organization, and is not tax-exempt. And, for what it's worth, CBN is a broadcasting network. Clearly, the NRA is not, and is only discussing becoming one for the sake of bypassing federal laws. Also, I don't understand what the original poster was saying with this quote: "As we all know, federal gun regulations are a near-certainty without this effort." Sorry to be dense - is that a sarcastic reference to the fact that the NRA is already extremely influential even without the news network scheming? Or do you truly believe that some sort of federal gun regulations are a near-certainty? (If so, what?)

By: mragreeable

mragreeable — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 17:47:31 -0800

It occurs to me that I was using the term "tax exempt" in a fairly imprecise way in my last post. Neither the NRA or CC have to pay any sort of corporate taxes, and their both non-profits. But contributions to both are not tax-deductible, whereas CBN contributions are. Also, I just noted on their website that the NRA was incorporated in 1871. I had no idea they were that old. And there is a javascript calculator and a package tracker on their website.

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 18:39:40 -0800

What the fuck to the NRA care these days? They'll either get GW Bush or their good buddy Howard Dean as the next president, why don't they take their dirty money and invest it or something so they have more to currupt future leaders with later on.

By: MrLint

MrLint — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 18:45:40 -0800

If one were to ask me only actual individual citizens who are eligible to vote would be allowed to donate money

By: trharlan

trharlan — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 19:06:22 -0800

Space Coyote: why don't they take their dirty money and invest it Why is the NRA's money "dirty"?

By: billsaysthis

billsaysthis — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 20:25:55 -0800

mragreeable that was sarcasm--otherwise the NRA sure is suffering from mission creep.

By: darian

darian — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 22:37:03 -0800

Bluetrain: The difference between the NRA meing deemed a media outlet and ACLU, AFL-CIO, or NAACP doing the same is that the NRA puts out two magazines, and if I recall correctly, you can subscribe to the magazines without being a member. (At least that's how it was several years ago when I was a member.) I don't believe that the ACLU, AFL-CIO, or NAACP publishes any magazines or anything other than newsletters and "Action Updates."

By: calwatch

calwatch — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 00:14:45 -0800

The AFL-CIO does publish a full-length propaganda magazine for its members every month. called Working Families. The price for a small market radio and television station is pretty trivial these days, especially for an organization with the wealth of the NRA. That might actually slow down media consolidation, in an indirect way, if every little interest group purchases the network affiliate in Fargo or Billings rather than Clear Channel.

By: Pressed Rat

Pressed Rat — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 06:10:35 -0800

"As we all know, federal gun regulations are a near-certainty without this effort" I don't know any such thing -- care to elaborate?

By: nofundy

nofundy — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 06:15:21 -0800

Also, I just noted on their website that the NRA was incorporated in 1871. I had no idea they were that old. They only recently became the lobbying arm of firearms manufacturers. They were a sportsmen's organization before the takeover. Why is the NRA's money "dirty"? Because they misrepresent who they are and whom they represent. They only recently have become so wealthy and all that money comes nor from member dues but from firearms manufacturers. Claiming the mantle of representing gun owners is disingenuous and false. I am a firearm owner and they DO NOT represent me.

By: trharlan

trharlan — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 09:20:34 -0800

nofundy: I searched like hell trying to find an income statement or cash flow statement or list of donors for the NRA. If you can provide a link to a primary source, I would appreciate it.

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 09:23:45 -0800

Deciding that laws regulating campaign spending are simply in their way, Much like the legislators who passed the laws in the first place decided that the First Amendment was simply in their way.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 12:09:19 -0800

MrLint: If one were to ask me only actual individual citizens who are eligible to vote would be allowed to donate money Becareful what you wish for, Corporations might end up with voting rights. CorporateSufferage.com is still available if anyone wants to get the ball rolling.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 12:41:07 -0800

If one were to ask me, only actual individual citizens who are eligible to vote and actually have a heartbeat would be allowed to donate money. Corporations are individual entities by law, but they're not flesh and blood. They shouldn't be allowed to throw their financial weight around as political weight. It's like letting (metaphorical) vampires rule the world. Actually I'd like the entire concept of incorporation to be abolished and we should all go back to partnerships and sole proprietorships. So someone is actually responsible for a company as opposed to having CEOs and CFOs and trustee boards and the like to pass the buck around.

By: beagle

beagle — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 14:08:30 -0800

I searched like hell trying to find an income statement or cash flow statement or list of donors for the NRA. If you can provide a link to a primary source, I would appreciate it. Go to www.guidestar.org. Register ( it is free ). Search for "NRA Foundation". The second listing is the primary fundraising repository for the NRA. Click through to the organization's Form 990 Reports for their fiscal years 1998-2002 currently available.

By: lerrup

lerrup — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 15:23:01 -0800

"As we all know, federal gun regulations are a near-certainty without this effort." I hope so, so my next visit won't have me waiting to be shot....