[2dogs]

http://www.rapnewsdirect.com/News/2003/10/Simmons.NRA.Target/

NRA SITE RELEASES ONE TARGET

JULIA Roberts, Russell Simmons, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Britney Spears, Harvey Weinstein, Jerry Seinfeld and Michelle Pfeiffer are among the leading enemies of the Second Amendment, says the National Rifle Association.

The bombastic organization has compiled a 19-page list of "enemies" of the Constitution, naming celebrities, corporations, religious groups, nonprofits, writers, journalists and sports teams - and listed them on its Web site so members can boycott them.

But while many of the celebs are proud of their anti-gun stance, insurance company Geico was so upset by its inclusion that it wrote to NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre, begging to be taken off the list.

"The NRA has long prided itself on 'setting the record straight' when it comes to addressing issues of critical importance to the NRA. Well, here's a chance to set the record straight as to Geico Corporation's alleged position on gun issues," the letter states.

"For the record, Geico Corporation takes no position whatsoever on gun ownership. It makes no difference to Geico Corporation whether or not a policyholder owns a gun or guns. We just want to be the best auto insurer of the best policyholders in the USA."

"Now, to 'set the record straight,' the NRA should remove Geico from its list of non-friends exhibited at its Web site."

Geico made the NRA list several years ago after an article in its policyholder magazine detailed home safety tips and statistics - including the fairly indisputable suggestion that "a gun in the home is more likely to shoot a family member than an intruder." It advised, "If you have a gun, you should keep it unloaded and locked and out of reach."



The NRA took Geico's precautions as a blanket anti-gun policy. LaPierre told PAGE SIX: "We have taken Geico at its word and removed them from our Web site.

"The list is not a blacklist," LaPierre said. "We got calls from our members wanting to know which celebrities and corporations opposed the Second Amendment . . . Our members don't want to support them."

Gun-control enthusiasts have created a Web site, stopthenra.com, which urges Americans to voluntarily put their names on the NRA's blacklist. The group claims to have already signed up 10,000 names.

[Mark Tyson]

I don't understand. This list has been around for a while now. Why all the hoopla all of a sudden? If it were the ACLU or some such approved civil rights organization this wouldn't be unusual at all.

[cuchulainn]

"fairly indisputable" :rolleyes:

[Old Fuff]

(Quote) Geico made the NRA list several years ago after an article in its policyholder magazine detailed home safety tips and statistics - including the fairly indisputable suggestion that "a gun in the home is more likely to shoot a family member than an intruder." It advised, "If you have a gun, you should keep it unloaded and locked and out of reach." (Unquote)

That statement that, "a gun in the home is more likely to shoot a family member than an intruder" is on it’s face phony manipulation of statistics. It fails to take into account that in most incidents when a firearm is used to protect the residents within a home no killing, let alone shooting occurs. When the potential assailant discovers that their chosen victim can fight back they quickly depart.

Keeping ALL guns, ”unloaded and locked out of reach” simply insures that a criminal intruder has a better opportunity the get the upper hand.

Geico may be off the NRA’s list, but until they clarify the above points in their policyholder magazine they won’t be off mine. Too many companies dabble in firearms right’ issues without finding out more then one point of view, and we all know which one that is.

[2dogs]

Geico may be off the NRA’s list, but until they clarify the above points in their policyholder magazine they won’t be off mine. Too many companies dabble in firearms right’ issues without finding out more then one point of view

Does Geico write home insurance policies? If so, I would think any gunowner would find the NRA listing of Geico and their stated opinion on guns in the home very useful.

[sanchezero]

I'm very disappointed to find that Britney is on the list. I'll have to check into this.

I don't wanna have to dump her...

:neener:

[Devonai]

A voluntary, public anti-gun list? Isn't this the equivalent of the "gun-free home" signs we're always joking about?

Sounds like a 10,000 address shopping list for home invaders to me.

[Matt1911]

I just got off the phone with them getting a quote.The (very nice) lady i spoke with,while waiting for the computer to generate the qoute,got into a discussion about hunting,firearms ect.She's pro gun,a hunter.The company is not anti gun,they just stated what THEY think is the safest.
and i saved 15 %...........

[TallPine]

So it is ok for the Brady Bunch & Company to "bombast" the NRA and law abiding gun owners, but not ok for the NRA to list those who have publicly stated their opposition to our very own Constitution ...?

Looks like these folks don't think any more of the First Amendment than the Second:
Guns only for the police, military, and bodyguards,
Free speech only for those with approved viewpoints.

[citizen]

Be that as it may; I determined a LONG time ago I would not consider Geico for insurance when I discovered something troubling. Apparently they use their income (premiums) to purchase and donate radar guns to local traffic enforcement departments. So they can have drivers cited and then RAISE their premiums. And so on..........:cuss:

[Carlos Cabeza]

Apparently they use their income (premiums) to purchase and donate radar guns to local traffic enforcement departments. So they can have drivers cited and then RAISE their premiums. And so on..........
And the truth comes out.............. who would believe it ?????:rolleyes:

[Blain]

Does anyone know the link to the NRA list?

A voluntary, public anti-gun list? Isn't this the equivalent of the "gun-free home" signs we're always joking about?

[ARperson]

Two things

First:
Why all the hoopla all of a sudden?

I think because MMM allegedly sent out an email (spam?) trying to rally the sheeple against the NRA's list, which includes names that are as "American as motherhood and apple pie." I think their effort has brought new light to the issue where otherwise people didn't realize it existed.

Second, to link the list, go here (http://www.nraila.org/FactSheets.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=14&1=View) and here (http://www.nraila.org/FactSheets.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=15&1=View).

Happy reading :fire:

[Mikul]

Don't forget what the GE is GEICO stands for: Government Employee. It is an insurance company created for government employees. (I think the full breakdown is Government Employee Insurance COmpany).

Other people boycott GEICO because they provide radar detectors to police departments. This boycott is due to the speeding ticket's use as revenue.

[chaim]

I don't understand. This list has been around for a while now. Why all the hoopla all of a sudden? If it were the ACLU or some such approved civil rights organization this wouldn't be unusual at all. I don't know about the ACLU but the NAACP does have a list too. Where is the outcry?


http://www.naacp.org/work/economic/EconomicReciprocity.shtml

From the website:
The NAACP Economic Reciprocity Initiative was launched in 1996 as a sustained consumer movement measuring corporate Americas commitment to African-American citizenry. Under ERI, consumer service companies have been surveyed for their economic impact on African American consumers and the results of the surveys have been released in Report Cards and Consumer Guides. To date we have surveyed the lodging, telecommunications, cable and banking industries.

The purpose of this project is to provide organizations and consumers with fundamental information on corporations and to guide consumers in making choices for products and services. The project is a measuring tool upon which consumers can rely to make informed choices about where to spend their dollars.
(the emphasis is mine)

Their methodology:
http://www.naacp.org/work/economic/ERIMethodology.shtml

Note that one of their criteria is where a company's charitable contributions go (hmm, extortion?).


Oh, on each industry specific "report card" the following is printed in large Red letters (and yes, they are in all caps):

SUPPORT COMPANIES
THAT SUPPORT YOU!

[moa]

GEICO will ensure non-Government employees. I think it is a name they started with years ago as a start-up insurance company in the Washington DC area. I used to be a GEICO policy holder and I worked for GEICO briefly.

[moa]

Did you get a load of the celebs who support gun control? Many are actors in acting roles sporting firearms. Sean Connery. Kevin Cosner. Good grief!

http://www.nraila.org/FactSheets.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=15&1=View

[Monkeyleg]

"Many are actors in acting roles sporting firearms. Sean Connery. Kevin Cosner."

That explains why everyones' fingers are on the triggers in "The Untouchables," and why Cosner's character points his 1911 at his little girl's head while he's hugging her. :rolleyes:

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Personally, I think the stopthenra site is a pretty good example of the brain trust we are dealing with here...

They seem shocked that someone would dare disagree with even a single Hollywood celebrity, let alone several - I mean they are famous so they must be smart too, eh?

[Don Galt]

Does anyone have actual evidence that GEICO gives radar detectors to cops? And that they are still doing it?

These internet rumors have a way of being taken for fact when they aren't always accurate.

GEIGO, btw, is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, and is a private firm, though they do insure government employees and started their business by insuring them at a time when they were not getting insurance appropriately priced for them.

Don

[Standing Wolf]

Personally, I think the stopthenra site is a pretty good example of the brain trust we are dealing with here...

Yep. There's an extremely small number of active, well connected anti-Second Amendment bigots supported by an extremely large number of foundation dollars. To their credit, they're very skilled at generating publicity.

[Kaylee]

so...the score so far is one real business wants off "The List," and two podunk irrelevent columnists are begging to be put on it as if it's some kinda elementary school "coolness" thing.

I can live with that trade. :)

[XLMiguel]

GEICO sucks. A while back they sent out surveys to their policy holders, among the questions was 'do you own a radar detector?'. If you answered 'yes' you got cancelled. It took a law suit by the MD Ins Commission to get them to back off.

Then there was the incident where GEICO had their employees [as 'private citizens'] writing letters to legislators in Annapolis begging them to ban radar detectors.

GEICO is an unethical insurance company (or is that redundant?) with very sleazy business practices. See how long your '15% savings' last if you get any points, regardless of he circumstances. and God help you if you're hit by one of their policy holders .......:cuss:

[TallPine]

I guess I just prefer having a local insurance agent, especially if I ever actually have a claim.

Up here in Little High Plains Town, MT we kind of like to deal with folks face to face, and keep a little bit of the money right here in the Territory.

[USAFA]

Personally, methinks I'll stick with USAA now that they've opened it up to all of us unwarshed enlisted folk. When my pistols were stolen they were very helpful.

[Quartus]

Looks like these folks don't think any more of the First Amendment than the Second:
Guns only for the police, military, and bodyguards,
Free speech only for those with approved viewpoints.

Yup. That's the way they see it.




Did you get a load of the celebs who support gun control? Many are actors in acting roles sporting firearms. Sean Connery. Kevin Cosner. Good grief!


Don't forget all those supposedly pro-2A folks who loudly proclaim their undying loyalty to the cause of freedom and then go out and give money to these socialist bags of wind every time a new movie comes out. "Oooh, did you see "Mattrixinator VIIII"? It has the COOOOLEST special effects and some really cool guns! WOW! "


And you just funded the enemy.

:barf:

[gunsmith]

including the fairly indisputable suggestion that "a gun in the home is more likely to shoot a family member than an intruder." It advised,

I've had guns in my home for over forty yrs now,aint none of them jumped up an shot an intruder or nobody else! Do I need a new fangled gun or sumthin?

[Moparmike]

aint none of them jumped up an shot an intruderActually, a gun that automatically shot an ill-intentioned intruder would be kinda handy on those cold winter nights. That floor gets kinda cold, and the house can be drafty after being under a 'lectric blanket.;) :cool: :cool:

[deanf]

unethical insurance company It's hard to find any other type.

I think this more-likely-to-injure-a-family-member statistic fails to weed out incidents where a family member was shot in self-defense by another familiy member.

[Werewolf]

Mike in VA said:GEICO is an unethical insurance company (or is that redundant?) with very sleazy business practices. See how long your '15% savings' last if you get any points, regardless of he circumstances. and God help you if you're hit by one of their policy holders .......

Uhhhhh..... not.

My daughter got hit by an older gentleman who had GEICO insurance. The total repair bill was well over $2000. GEICO paid for the whole thing as well as a rental car while her's was in the shop. The whole claim process took one phone call from the GEICO policy holder. Her car was in the shop the next day after the accident.

Based on that I switched all my auto and home insurance to GEICO, saved $400/year on home insurance and $300/yr on auto (3 of them) insurance. I have been a very satisfied customer for over 5 years. Hell - a window cracked on my wife's T'bird when it got really cold one night. One phone call - GEICO said where to take the car and it was fixed that same day.

GEICO's a good company as far as I'm concerned but then of course YMMV.

[Quartus]

So, are you saying that you've got good news?


:D

[tyme]

deanf, if it's [based on] the same bogus factoid I think it is, "family member" was originally "acquaintance" and therefore included stuff like drug dealers shooting customers, violent felons shooting their significant others even after they've separated, etc.

I don't know if insurance companies that do health insurance or any government-mandated insurance scheme (cars, etc.) are unethical. Is it unethical to gain financial advantage from someone's desire to live or from insurance requirements imposed by government fiat? The ethics of the latter seems more questionable, but I'm not sure of either.

[NIGHTWATCH]

God, Im so sick of anti-gun celebrities :barf: