MIKE RUSSELL

Hey, National Rifle Association: It’s quiet time

Sep 18, 2013, 12:00 PM | Updated: 3:16 pm

Gun enthusiasts, let’s admit it: The National Rifle Association botched its response to the tragedy in Sandy Hook.

“But Mike, they did a great job defending my Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.” I would argue that our Second Amendment rights wouldn’t have needed to be defended had the NRA kept its mouth shut.

Stay with me here. The NRA reacted to the anti-gun crowd with gems such as, “You need a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun” or “It’s time to arm teachers.” The NRA made this a gun issue when it was clearly a mental health issue.

So here we are again. Not minutes after Aaron Alexis senselessly gunned down 12 in Washington, the anti-gun idiots were lining up for the cameras. I’ll just stick with my favorite anti-gun idiot, Sen. Diane Feinstein.

“There are reports the killer was armed with an AR-15, a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol when he stormed an American military installation in the nation’s capital and took at least 12 innocent lives,” she said.

Oh, how I love idiots. The facts are that Aaron Alexis entered the building with a contractor’s keycard and a shotgun. He obtained the rifle and pistol from his victims.

She didn’t stop there.

“This is one more event to add to the litany of massacres that occur when a deranged person or grievance killer is able to obtain multiple weapons — including a military-style assault rifle — and kill many people in a short amount of time,” Feinstein said.

Litany? Litany? Do some homework, woman!

Military-style assault weapons? Now you are just trying to make me mad. There is NO evidence that an AR-15 was used. There is only evidence that the shotgun and handgun were used.

OK, back to the NRA. The NRA can’t let the idiots goad it into another battle that makes the organization look like a collection of wacko gun extremists. Take the gun debate off of the table by calling it what it actually is: a mental health issue.

The NRA should make a statement along these lines, “We at the NRA are saddened by the tragedy in Washington, D.C. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and colleagues of the victims. Aaron Alexis was a troubled young man who had been seeking help for a variety of mental issues over the past decade. The NRA is committed to assisting the VA in any way possible to ensure that all of our veterans get the mental health assistance they need, when they need it. Thank you.”

It’s hard to argue against guns when the issue isn’t about guns at all.

Mike Russell

(Waste Management Phoenix Open Photo)...

Mike Russell

The four types of people you will see at the Waste Management Phoenix Open

Let's face it: the Waste Management Phoenix Open is no longer about golf. The Open is about drinking and people watching -- period.

8 years ago

Follow @GOMikeRussell...

Mike Russell

Get Outdoors Rookie Camp with Monica Lindstrom: Shooting range

I asked Monica what type of firearm she had for home protection. She responded that she didn’t know but she knew that it was there and how to get to it!

9 years ago

(Screenshot)...

Mike Russell

Next level clay shooting is here but you need a Ferrari

Meet clay-shooting champion Philip Thorrold. This guy gets to shoot for a living. From time to time, he gets to do it from a Ferrari 599.

9 years ago

Follow @GOMikeRussell...

Mike Russell

Don’t worry, anglers: Drone fishing won’t be a trend for long

Rod and reel, spear, net, hand line, and even noodling — I thought that, when it comes to fishing methods, I had seen it all. Then I saw this video of… wait for it… DRONE FISHING! Yes, fishing with what us old guys see as a remote-controlled helicopter. As you can see in the video, […]

9 years ago

...

Mike Russell

Get Outdoors: A new way to prepare your wild turkey

Stop cooking your game the same old way. Let Chef Eddie Matney help you up your kitchen game…game.

10 years ago

...

Mike Russell

A gun owner’s take on the viral NYC guns with history ad

I have just a few thoughts on last week's video by the anti-gun group called States United to Prevent Gun Violence.

10 years ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Act Now: Secure Your HVAC Equipment Before Prices Rise in 2025!

Phoenix, AZ – As the year draws to a close, Collins Comfort Masters is urging homeowners and businesses to take advantage of current pricing on HVAC equipment.

...

DISC Desert Institute for Spine Care

The best methods to make your back pain disappear for good

Are you struggling with back pain that will not go away?

Hey, National Rifle Association: It’s quiet time