Somehow I ended up on a mailing list. I don't remember signing up for it, though the email indicates that I did. I'm a supporter of gun rights, so its not impossible, but I don't remember hearing from these folks before.
from Gun Alerts <info@gunalerts.com>
reply-to info@gunalerts.com
to xxxxxxxx@gmail.com
date Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 11:12 AM
subject Dems VOTE TODAY To Outlaw Free Speech & Guns
mailed-by returnpath.bluehornet.com
signed-by bluehornet.com
Liberals are turning America into a Police State. Their new anti-freedom "Disclose" Act will take away your right to criticize government and order a gag on organizations like CCRKBA. We are in a political war and the Dem's are doing everything they can to sneak this act past the American people and turn our country in a total dictatorship.
I guess there are those who think that this is the best way to form public opinion:
[JARRING CHORD]
[The door flies open and Cardinal Ximinez of Spain [Palin] enters, flanked by two junior cardinals. Cardinal Biggles [Jones] has goggles pushed over his forehead. Cardinal Fang [Gilliam] is just Cardinal Fang]
Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our four...no... Amongst our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.
[The Inquisition exits]
Well, maybe not fanatical devotion to the pope, but surprise and fear they have covered. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. The message continues, full of fear mongering assertions that the Democratic members of congress are crazy, and that free speech and gun ownership are endangered species.
This act was designed to overturn the recent Supreme Court decision that restored rights to CCRKBA to criticize an elected official during a campaign. The Disclose Act will destroy member driven organizations that have acted in good faith and require them to publicly register members. Now we need to register to voice our opinion? We all know the dangers of being registered-it's one more step towards total gun confiscation.
It saddens and angers me that there are a lot of people who will buy into an email like this, and be totally convinced that they must act NOW. If they don't, the next thing you know we will all be wearing Mao suits and pledging fealty to Dear Leader Obama.
Its even more insulting that the act can't even be misread to say the things they are claiming. Its just a big lie, told to scare people into acting against their own interests.
If they were really interested in shaping opinion, I would think that they might include some of the offending clauses in the proposed legislation. But do they? No. Do they include a link to where a member might read up on this freedom sucking bill? No. It isn't hard to do.. see? H.R. 5175
This bill is about lobbyists and organizations being accountable for political spending. The only mention of guns is that it has an exemption for the NRA. Where are they getting that "Dems want your guns!" from. I really don't get it.
Thank you. I know I can count on you.
Sincerely,
Alan Gottlieb
Chairman
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
http://www.ccrkba.org/
Are we as a society so enamored of our TVs and 15 second news stories that we don't think? We don't read?
I don't mind having someone disagree with me. I enjoy working out differences with someone, even if I'm shown to be wrong. Whats so hard about forming public opinion by well reasoned argument?
Sorry, I just had to vent. I just can't believe how stupid people are sometimes. Stupid in trying to lie to us, and stupid in those who will parrot this claim back mindlessly.