Customer Reviews

Inside the NRA: Armed and Dangerous--An Expose

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

For the reader already having made up his mind about the NRA, there probably is no value in reading this book. Those holding an anti-NRA stance will find little or no new useful information to support their position. Those of the opposite view also will find little to warrant buying the book, the arguments and views offered generally being "the same old stuff". The sophisticated reader will discern that this book is scarcely above tabloid journalism, though it does offer a minor study of classic propaganda technique. Some facts and credible assertions are woven with a host of inaccuracies and unsubstantiated allegations, and the whole bag then is presented as "fact". Anderson basically touts the anti-gun viewpoint, reciting the usual various hysterical and non-factual claims. As openly editorial writing, that would be acceptable. But Anderson instead alleges this book to be a summary of facts, and in doing so he doesn't meet minimum professional or common standards of responsible reporting.

I admit, after about halfway through, I couldn't finish the book. There was nothing of any real value to what I read. NO organization the size of the NRA (over 3 million members) is without its share of controversy or disagreement among its members, but this book doesn't even try to capture an objective picture of this aspect of the NRA. Instead, it's like reading low grade political material slamming the competition, as though the author was being paid to make the NRA look as bad as possible, as apparently, he was. I pity anyone who reads this book expecting to learn anything about the NRA. I recommend books by Gary Kleck and John Lott for those wishing factual, objective information about gun control and, peripherally, the NRA.

This book is full of mis-information, distorted facts, and the author's interpretations on the gun control issue. For example, he advocates that the 2nd ammendment only applies to formal state malitia's, such as the National Guard. Never mind the fact that the National Guard was not created until 1903, 112 years AFTER the 2nd ammendment was written. In 1791, the malitia was "every able bodied man". The National Guard interpretation has no basis. I believe his claim to have smuggled a disassembled Glock into the US Capital to be completely bogus, the Glocks have a steel slide, any metal detector will easily detect it, the plastic gun is a complete myth. He also mentions that the NRA is opposed to "reasonable" gun control measures. That's not the real issue, we all know that the real agenda of groups like the Brady Campaign is gun prohibition, the NRA has to take a firm stand. The gun control groups will never be satisfied with "moderate, reasonable" controls. Jack Anderson left this important issue out of his book. I'm reading this book, but I'm taking everything he has to say with a grain of salt, its hardly objective, and its highly biased to his opinion. For the record, I'm a proud NRA member.

Jack Anderson claims to have done an investigative report on the NRA.What we really have here is a highly biased editorialization of the NRA,with every effort to make it look ridiculous,and just does a lot of derogatory name calling in an effort to convince the reader that there are logical arguments to prove his biases.He portrays the anti-gun people as racist,country bumpkins and if they were as intelligent and sophisticated as the elitist leftist establishment in the cities they wouldn't fight gun control.If Anderson would only get real he'd see that the criminial activity that takes place with guns is mainly in his astute cities ;and fighting the law-abiding,gun collector,target shooting and duck hunting gun owner of mid- America,from whence most of the NRA hails;will never solve the problem.He even admits that about half the households in America have one or more guns,however he rants on about the 3 million or so members of the NRA and ignores all the rest.He also rails about the the Second Amendment rights. This is the real red herring issue;and I'll tell you why.In Canada there is no such statement of rights in our constitution,in fact,we don't even have one..The leftists and anti-gun lobby have pushed through gun control and registration and have created a 2 Billion dollar boondoggle,all the while promising it would not cost more than 2 Million,which would be covered by registration fees.That would be bad enough in itself, but there hasn't been any sign of any reduction in crime involving guns.Why would one expect there to be?Guns are still being used in crimes and to the surprise of nobody,except a few stary-eyed liberals,the criminal element continue to get guns as they did before.So,all this gun control is nothing but a red herring,the liberals have created to avoid tackling the real problem of crime, whether in the US or here in Canada.
Now,instead of fighting the real enemy they make the NRA the enemy.
One might find some benefit from all this gun registration,in that maybe the duck will feel better having been shot by a hunter with a registered firearm;but,somehow I doubt it.I also doubt that the next killing in some lonely alley or robbery will be by a criminal with a registered handgun.
Why did I rate this book 5 stars?For the simple reason that it completely exposes the gun control elitests as hell bent on an agenda totally devoid of any likelihood of solving the crime problem with guns.
Since we do not have an NRA here in Canada , we might as well blame the our gun control boondoggle on the NRA too.That would only be fair,since our liberals probably got ther misguided ideas from your liberals.

Update! Update! Update! December,2005

If you think all this is unbelievable;wait till you hear this!
Since the $2B boondoggle failed to acomplish anything as evidenced by the out of control gun related murders here in Toronto,now 'they'have decided to conficate all the handguns,that the law-abiding citizens dutifully registered.The only exception will be for persons working in security or otherwise OK'd by 'them'.Just to remind you that this changes nothing with the illegal guns and those used in committing crimes.Of all the gun related murders this year in Toronto,only one gun was one stolen from a registered owner.Could this confication been the plan all along?I doubt that these leftists could plan this far ahead,but it sure fits their agenda.Now 'they' are down to blaming the US for the problem.If that was the promlem,why didn't 'they' start there before spending the $2B? The end result will be the only handguns will be in the hands of the government,those who 'they' agree with and of course the criminals.So the only thing that is accomplished is removing the guns from the law-abiding citizens.In case you've wondered,I've never owned a handgun ;nor for that matter even a big knife .Could big knife control be the next 'Red Herring'?

What can one say about a book riddled with inaccuracies? Has Anderson even checked the judicial record? What about the ideas held by our founding fathers? After all, they wrote the Constitution. Since all this misinformation must be deliberate, as Anderson is obviously a man with powers of reason, I'd have to characterize his "facts" as lies.

My opinion on reading the Amazon.com review of this book is that the Amazon book reviewer is being permitted to interject person feelings about the subject. Review the book, not the topic.

In this book Jack Anderson points out what he sees to be the fanatical side of the NRA. He appears to have some personal issues with members of the NRA leadership and relates some racial and class discrimination antecdotes to make his point. He does make a good case in reference to a second amendment rights issue where a man claimed to have the right to own any weapon that the Army had in its arsenal. He makes other solid arguments as well. As a moderate NRA member for several years I agreed with some and disagreed with other opinions. I own the HC edition and found it to be an good quick read. A well written book to help form your own opinion.

I believe in 95% of the information and numerous sources that Mr. Anderson uses to make his case, which is this - the NRA is consolidating and perhaps increasing its political power in Washington D.C., but it is RAPIDLY losing the confidence of the general public.

Mr. Anderson has an objective view toward sensible gun legislation. He does not advocate registration, or confiscation, or any other ultra-radical anti-gun stance. However, he does expose the NRA for what they appear to be - ultra-conservative, ultra-right radicals, who are unwilling to compromise on, or even suggest sensible gun legislation and/or safety measures that would benefit the average citizen, without comprimising their rights, constitutional or otherwise.

BTW, I am a former member of the NRA and consider myself a conservative.

Anyone thinking about this ongoing gun debate will benefit from this book.

My review is from the audio version of this book.