From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Subject: Re: The NRA has an image problem with gays
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 04:42:09 GMT

anon.526@pax.tpa.com.au dribbles:

>It looks as if my advice (to give up) wasn't needed, because it seems
>that people here are so comtemptuously unconcered with whether there is
>homophobia in the NRA leadership that they basically have given up.

	Given up *what*?  Look, you little knee-biter, I *AM* the NRA.
Membership #CFX0244M.  Frankly, I don't give a ripe shit if there is
homophobia in the NRA leadership or if there isn't.  You can bet your
last fleck of spittle that homosexuality is *not* a concern of the NRA,
and that furthermore the NRA is concerned with maintaining and restoring
the RKBA in this country, in addition to helping its members to exercise
this right in a safe manner, and most certainly does not care if the person
shooting that gun goes home to sleep with Beatrice, Bubba, or both.  About
the only personal thing the NRA cares about is your criminal history.
Since homosexuality is specifically not a crime, your argument fails.

>All the sudden it's up to me to prove my position that it's there and
>it might cause the NRA problems.

	Well, that's proof that one neuron is firing.  Watch out, you
might have to substantiate your claims and, one day, back up your
opinions.  But then again, the sound of people laughing and dismissing
your views as the tepid rantings of an idiot doesn't seem to be
phasing you much.  Familiarity makes it easier, huh?

	[ I haven't had this much fun in days! ]

>If the NRA actually cared about showing that it isn't right-wing,
>which it doesn't, then it would be just as concerned about attracting
>gays to it as it is about attracting women and minorities.  I've
>already seen a spate of "I wish I hope I pray there were more women
>in the NRA" in talk.politics.guns.

	I also wish there were more women in engineering.  Sadly,
despite recruiting campaigns and scholarships, their numbers are still
low.  The NRA, on the other hand, doesn't care if you're homosexual or
not, so why should it make some special effort?

>Most gays, fanatic pseudo-libertarians excepted, have good reason to be
>steamed with the NRA, because the NRA supports William Dannemeyer.

	Politics makes strange bedfellows.  The NRA supports Will because
he supports the RKBA.  The RKBA applies equally well to gays as it
does to anybody else.  Perhaps ACT UP! should support Sen. Lightfoot
(R, Ia) because he supports RKBA too?  Doubtful you would agree with
this line of reasoning, which is essentially your own above.

>So it would be good for the NRA to officially announce that they aren't
>like the Boy Scouts, for example, where gays just aren't welcome.

	Why should they if PETA, ACT-UP, Dykes on Bikes, and The
College Libertarians don't make it either?  It sounds like you need an
official press release before you can figure an organization might not
have an official position on an issue.  Maybe when that second neuron
starts firing again this won't be necessary anymore.

>  I doubt there
>exists a single sentence of NRA literature that denies discrimination
>on the basis of sexual orientation.  I could be wrong, of course.

	I doubt there needs to be one.  I also doubt there's a single
line stating that the NRA believes that it's been YEARS since your
last sexual encounter not involving Ponds Cocoa Butter Creme and
last week's TV Guide.  Neither is particularly relevant to RKBA.

>If he isn't an NRA director, whether or not he hates gays is a red
>herring, I suppose.  In an issue of Guns and Ammo I was flipping
>through he seemed to be dwelling on Barney Frank's deeds and the fact
>that they are illegal in several jurisdictions.  But maybe I was
>reading too much into his sweet prose.

	Barnie Frank, the criminal?  Why is it so difficult for you
to see the obvious?  Oh, right, I almost forgot about that neuron.
You had best seek help before it dies of either over-work or lonliness.
Perhaps the others left along with your name?

	[ Boy!  I feel...  cleansed!  Thanks for putting up with it! ]

< Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu viking@iastate.edu >
<  ISU only censors what I read, not what I say.  Don't blame them.  >
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