Thread by @XoXo__Kellie

Let's talk about the #NRA, fear tactics, and the manipulation of the American people.
Some folks in #WeResist were discussing fear tactics, "well-regulated militias", and the NRA in general. We're gonna dive into these topics in this thread.
#Resist
1/

First up, the #NRA, everytime a mass shooting happens, the NRA come out strong in defense of guns. We expect them to, after all, it's what they do. They call the gunman "crazy", they say that "crazy" people shouldn't have access to guns, etc.
2/

You don't necessarily have to be "crazy" to do a mass shooting. True enough that most of the people that have committed mass shootings are "crazy" but it's not something that is synonymous with being crazy. You just have to be evil enough to do it.
3/

The #NRA was found in 1871 in New York by William Conant Church and George Wood Wingate. They rose to national prominence because of a challenge by the Irish Rifle Team in 1873. Eight American riflemen won the match firing breech-loading rifles.
4/

This not only promoted the NRA to the national spotlight but also helped to establish breech-loading firearms as suitable for military marksmanship training.

In 1934 the then President of the NRA, Karl Frederick, stated:
5/

"I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons. I seldom carry one. ...I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns. I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses."
6/

In 1968 the NRA supported the #NFA (National Firearms Act of 1934) as well as the #GCA (Gun Control Act of 1968), that together created a federal system to license dealers and establish restrictions on certain categories and classes of firearms.
7/

It wasn't until the 1970's that the NRA became political. Until this point they focused primarily on sportsmen, hunters, and target shooters, downplaying #GunControl issues. The passage of the GCA galvanized a large number of NRA activists.
8/

In 1975 they begin focusing more on politics and established the #NRAILA (NRA Institute for Legislative Action) with Harlon Carter as director. Their PAC, the Political Victory Fund was created the next year in time for the '76 elections.
9/

The NRA has been ranked as one of the biggest spenders in congressional races since the PAC establishment in 1976. A Fortune magazine survey said that lawmakers and their staffers considered the NRA the most powerful lobbying organization three years in a row.
10/

The modern NRA opposes most new #GunControl legislation, instead focusing on stricter enforcement of existing laws and increased sentencing for gun-related crimes. The NRA-ILA mission is described as:
11/

"the Institute is involved in any issue that directly or indirectly affects firearms ownership and use. These involve such topics as hunting and access to hunting lands, wilderness and wildlife conservation, civilian marksmanship training and ranges for public use...
12/

...law enforcement-related issues, product liability, trapping, crime victim rights and criminal justice reform."
13/

We all know that the NRA gives large amounts of money to Republican candidates in congressional races. . So there's no need to discuss that. Instead, let's move on to "well-regulated militias".
14/

This portion will be partly opinion. The #2ndAmendment states: "A #WellRegulatedMilitia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
a militia is defined as:
15/

1. An army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.
2. A military force that is not part of a regular army and is subject to call for service in an emergency.
3. The whole body of physically fit civilians eligible by law for military service.
16/

At the time of it's writing, the 2nd amendment was useful in that we had no police or military organization to protect us. In modern times we have both. Typically militias acted as police would act today as well as going to war if the need arose.
17/

The line, a well-regulated militia has no bearing on our society today. Further, the constitution makes no mention of semi or fully automatic guns, because the had not yet been invented. As a liberal some may think that I support taking away ALL guns, I do not.
18/

I support your right as an American to own a gun, however, i do not support a person legally or illegally owning ANY type of semi or fully automatic gun. You're not entitled to own weapons of war because a piece of paper written hundreds of years ago says you can be armed.
19/

We need to enact stricter gun control laws and close any loopholes that may be because of internet sales, gun shows, etc. We need harsher punishments for those involved in shootings, those found in possession of unregistered guns, those found selling restricted guns.
20/

We need no-nonsense gun control reform, including the ban of any modification devices for ANY type of weapon. Stricter background checks should be put in place and we need to encourage our MOC's to stand with us on this.
21/

Now back to facts
Fear tactics and the manipulation of the American people
Fear tactics have been part of government control since ancient times. I prefer to stick to more recent events because not everyone is familiar with ancient wars and strategy.
22/

Let's start with Nazi Germany. The Nazis convinced Germany that enemies were at the gates and the only way to stop them was with a war. They used fear tactics to convince Germans to go to war.
23/

Starting in 1933 with the Reichstag Fire where Hitler along with Goebbels present the fire as the reason to have an armed Communist uprising and establish a permanent state of emergency.
24/

This suspended the provisions of the German constitution that protected individual rights, including free speech, free press, and free assembly. It also increased the presence of state and police intervention into private life.
25/

They censored mail, phone conversations, and were able to search private homes without warrants or reasonable doubt.

Any enemy of the new regime was placed in concentration camps which were staffed by Schutzstaffel or SS.
26/

The SS chief Himmler gained control over the nonparty police and under him, the SS centralized the political police forces with a new group, the Gestapo.
27/

One of the essential parts of the Nazi plan was self-preservation. The willingness to turn on neighbors, friends, family because of the terror tactics being used by the Nazis was a big reason why this was allowed to happen.
28/

Joseph Stalin used propaganda and fear to stay in power. This worked for him because he used his fear tactics to instill obedience in people as well as respect for him. Even though they feared him they wanted him to be their leader.
29/

After becoming a dictator, Stalin discovered that the most effective way to maintain his power was executing people that opposed his point of view. These acts became known as the First and Second purges which occurred between 1930-1939.
30/

The First purge happened from 1930-1933, which purged all those that opposed industrialization or collectivization. The Second Purge happened from 1934-1939, which purged all political opponents of Stalin.
31/

They were arrested based on charges of treason, military opposition, religious leaders, other ethnic groups. Ordinary people were shipped to gulags. People watched Stalin's opponents die and eventually, they became oppressed out of fear because they didn't want to be next.
32/

In the late 40's and early 50's, as the cold war intensified, hysteria over threats posed by Communists in the US became known as the Red Scare. This led to actions that had a profound and enduring effect on the US govt and society.
33/

In 1938 the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) was formed to focus on exposing communists working inside the federal government and subversive elements working in the Hollywood film industry.
34/

In 1947, President Truman issued Executive Order 9835 AKA the Loyalty Order, which stated that all federal employees be analyzed to determine whether they were sufficiently loyal to the government.
35/

This was new to a country that prized the concepts of personal liberty and freedom of political organization.

The actions of leaders in other countries exacerbated the fears of the American people and figures such as Hoover and McCarthy,
36/

fanned the flames so to speak by wildly exaggerating that possibility. As the Red Scare intensified, political climates changed. Elected officials were afraid to be associated with leftist groups for fear of being accused of being a communist.
37/

Support for free speech & other civil liberties eroded as well. Symbolized by the 1951 US Supreme Court ruling in Dennis v. U.S., which stated that the free speech of accused communists could be restricted because their actions presented a clear & present danger to the govt.
38/

One of the best examples of the use of fear to bully Americans into the consensual relinquishment of constitutional rights is the Patriot Act. This act severely limits the average persons right to privacy in the name of security.
39/

After 9/11, the population was in a frenzy as a result of the attack in NYC, if you're a politician the best time to deceive the public is when it's afraid.
40/

These are all examples of governments using fear to manipulate and control the citizens of their countries. The current actions dealing with the NRA and gun control are one example of how fear and manipulation are being used to control the citizens of the United States.
41/

That we as a nation need to have more guns to protect from the current onslaught of mass shootings and incidents involving guns. The NRA says that violent video games and movies are one of the causes of gun-related incidents
42/

but that can't be true because places such as Canada, Japan, and Germany, which the latter two have a much more violent history that the United States, also see the same movies and play the same games we do. So why does America have a gun problem?
businessinsider.com/americas-gun-p…
43/

I think that a very serious conversation needs to happen surrounding Gun Control ideas and other solutions that will help make not only children but all Americans safer in the future.
44/

Currently high school students around the country are standing up and saying #NeverAgain after the #ParklandShooting. We must stand with them and demand that something happens that makes a positive change in our nation in regards to #GunControl.
45/

The #GOP is unlikely to do anything about this that is why it is so important that we encourage #Democrats to #GOTV and make the #BlueWave2018 happen. To get involved in campaign efforts you can contact candidates in your local area or send me a message and let's chat.

Fin