Secret tapes of NRA leaders gathering aft the Columbine shooting caught them referring to their members arsenic hillbillies and fruitcakes.
NPR got the tapes:
In summation to mapping retired their nationalist strategy, NRA leaders tin besides beryllium heard describing the organization’s much activistic members successful amazingly harsh terms, deriding them arsenic “hillbillies” and “fruitcakes” who mightiness spell off-script aft Columbine and embarrass them.
And they disregard blimpish politicians and weapon manufacture representatives arsenic mostly inconsequential players, saying they volition bash immoderate the NRA proposes. Members of Congress, 1 subordinate says, person asked the NRA to “secretly supply them with talking points.”
The merchandise of the tapes could not person travel astatine a worse clip for the weapon shaper lobby. They are presently being sued successful national tribunal for a bid of amerciable run contributions made to Republicans Sen. Josh Hawley and Donald Trump.
The NRA’s powerfulness has not diminished wrong the Republican Party. The mode that the enactment described elected Republicans aft Columbine remains existent today. The NRA has specified a stranglehold connected Republicans that neither the Sandy Hook nor Parkland schoolhouse shootings moved them to assistance their blockage of weapon betterment legislation.
The NRA has thing but contempt for its members. Those “hillbillies” are the lone crushed that they person immoderate powerfulness astatine all.
The National Rifle Association was truthful cozy with Trump due to the fact that they are 2 peas sharing the aforesaid pod. They hatred and mock their supporters, who they spot arsenic idiot hick rubes who are being played for their benefit.
Mr. Easley is the managing editor. He is besides a White House Press Pool and a Congressional analogous for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree successful Political Science. His postgraduate enactment focused connected nationalist policy, with a specialization successful societal betterment movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association