Under Fire: The NRA and the Battle for Gun Control

This is a must-read if you really want to become truly informed about the NRA. A statement near the end of the book clearly reveals the thesis of the author. The author says something like "The NRA is not the evil empire that its enemies claim but neither is it a super patriotic defender of the constitution." The author goes on to explain that the NRA is simply a special interest group. The NRA's understanding of the second amendment is flawed. If gun-control is really unconstitutional then why are there so many gun-control laws in some areas of the US? No court has ruled those laws unconstitutional. The NRA has often tried to demonize those who support sensible and moderate levels of gun-control. Instead of addressing the issue logically, the NRA is content to resort to personal attacks and name calling by referring to such people as communists and comparing them to Hitler.On the other hand, the book tells of how the NRA was right about cop killer bullets and plastic guns. A ban on all types of armor piercing bullets would have included many types of hunting and sporting ammunition. Plastics guns that can fire real bullets is a myth. A ban on such weapons is unnecessary. So if you are looking for a book that tells it all, then read this book.

Gray does a masterful job in documenting the founding of the NRA, as a quasigovernmental organization through the powerful lobbying organization it is today. It presents the story without any particular bias, exposing the infights and its hot and cold relationship with law enforcement.The documentation of the Cincinnati Revolt of 1977, which brought Harlon Carter to power, thus giving the association its John Birch veneer, is unique. It was interesting to note that "jackbooted thugs" was a long-standing staple of the organization.The story of the obstructionism, disguised as cooperation, in the Bush decision to ban imports of certain assault rifles shows exactly how powerful this group has become. The exposure of tactics such as smears of law enforcement officers, who had the audacity to enforce gun control laws, shows why this is an organization to be feared, and perhaps countered. The deceitful practices of fudging their membership roles, and framing the public debate to regulation equates to confiscation, through historical misrepresentation, is enough to give one a jaundiced ear to anything the organization says.Gray doesn't hold back in his similar exposure of the proregulationers either. His description of the evolution of the "green apple" to become known as the "cop killer" is a case in point.All in all, an excellent book, which fills a critical niche in the gun control debate, and it's confluence with contemporary politics.

Under Fire is well written and makes for fascinating reading. Davidson mixes antidotes, history and analysis that is easy to read and insightful. He also does an excellant job in giving a balanced presentation of the facts and his conclusions. It is compelling reading to learn the details on how the NRA, a small interest group, has had such a powerfully influence on American politics for the last forty years.

Pro-gun folks, of course, complain of the "bias" of this book, but if those are indeed the quotes of Wayne LaPierre, Harlon Carter and the other leaders of the NRA, they speak for themselves. It's hard to imagine another organization that has perverted the American political system as consistently as the NRA has. Among the things that I learned from this book--a good read, by the way--is that the NRA wasn't always as rabid and politically oriented as they are now. I think that they should return to representing the interests of outdoor enthusiasts before they lose all their credibility in the defense of cop killer bullets and AK-47s. I was particularly interested in Davidson's depiction of the organization's structure. It seems that a core of wealthy pro-gun fanatics run the whole thing and send nothing but "Chicken Little" letters to the rank and file members to scare them into opening their wallets. Davidson's book is a MUST READ for anyone who is an NRA member.

The author has done an outstanding job illustrating the twisted logic used by gun-control extremists in their campaign for domestic disarmament.Davidson is quite successful in revealing the fact that "gun control" is not about crime and public safety, but about punishing those who hold political beliefs contrary to those of the cultural elite.