TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Well I finished this book today finally. 3 hours on a plane from Chicago back to Texas let me get through it.
Top level opinion is that we should all read it. The history lesson of the 2A movement alone is worth the time, along with some interesting tidbits on the inner workings of both the pro and anti side of things.
That said, I was a bit disappointed as well. The jacket says we should "read this hard hitting expose to discover how this happened [NRA has betrayed us] and what you can do about it." Unfortunately the book spends all it's pages on the former, and nothing on the latter. Coming away from this book I have no idea what the author suggests be done, other than stop sending money to the NRA.
There are 2 main arguments presented against the NRA, along with a LOT of personal dislike for some of the people involved. The author claims that the NRA "inner circle" are self serving with no real wish to make any progress towards Second Amendment protections, merely a stringing along of members to line their pockets, which are said to be lined VERY well.
Feldman infers if not flat out states that the NRA is thankful for the existence of HCI, Brady, Sugarmann etc. and vice versa because the organizations give each other a constant enemy and a way to raise more cash. Credit is given to the NRA for being a well organized lobbying machine, but much is made of the constant calls for money. Mr Feldman had no problem taking the money when he was working for NRA himself, but after moving to an industry lobbyist position, which was funded by gun companies rather than individuals, he seems to have had a change of heart.
The author makes much of his "ability to compromise" with the anti's and that if that is done properly things will all work out. In the climax of the book however his big compromise with lawmakers over gun industry lawsuits backfires, and he learns the hard way that the anti's will say one thing and do another. He should have learned that MUCH earlier I would think. Most of us on here could tell that without having years of experience I suspect. He berates the NRA for taking a hardline approach but in the end they survive and his group doesn't precisely because they compromised with "the enemy".
He does however make some valid points about the NRAs workings, and in my favorite part of the book re-tells the Neal Knox, Harlon Carter, LaPierre saga with an insiders view, one I found riveting to be quite honest.
I guess what I wanted to read was how things could be changed, what can be done differently. I didn't get any of that. I don't feel like any alternative to the NRA was given, so I feel that I have no choice but to continue to contribute to the organization.
The book characterizes the NRA as an organization that exists to bilk its members while maintaining a "status quo" with regards to firearm legislation. I think that is a bit unfair given what we've seen. The assault weapons ban has sunset, concealed carry continues to expand into more and more states, and the gun industry tort reforms are in place. I have to think that NRA had something to do with all of those things. Politicians clearly believe it since they live in fear of the organization.
It appears to me after reading this that the NRA does indeed do regular "the sky is falling" requests for cash. The NRA does pay its' execs well; maybe too well. The NRA does thrive when the anti's are making their threats.
In the end, however, the book continues to show that with the NRA's help there is progress forward rather than backward, and with no alternative suggested, I'll have to say I prefer that to the alternative.
All that said, I enjoyed this book very much, I learned a great deal, but I am more uncomfortable with the state of things. Maybe THAT is the lesson the author intended. I think he succeeds.
Top level opinion is that we should all read it. The history lesson of the 2A movement alone is worth the time, along with some interesting tidbits on the inner workings of both the pro and anti side of things.
That said, I was a bit disappointed as well. The jacket says we should "read this hard hitting expose to discover how this happened [NRA has betrayed us] and what you can do about it." Unfortunately the book spends all it's pages on the former, and nothing on the latter. Coming away from this book I have no idea what the author suggests be done, other than stop sending money to the NRA.
There are 2 main arguments presented against the NRA, along with a LOT of personal dislike for some of the people involved. The author claims that the NRA "inner circle" are self serving with no real wish to make any progress towards Second Amendment protections, merely a stringing along of members to line their pockets, which are said to be lined VERY well.
Feldman infers if not flat out states that the NRA is thankful for the existence of HCI, Brady, Sugarmann etc. and vice versa because the organizations give each other a constant enemy and a way to raise more cash. Credit is given to the NRA for being a well organized lobbying machine, but much is made of the constant calls for money. Mr Feldman had no problem taking the money when he was working for NRA himself, but after moving to an industry lobbyist position, which was funded by gun companies rather than individuals, he seems to have had a change of heart.
The author makes much of his "ability to compromise" with the anti's and that if that is done properly things will all work out. In the climax of the book however his big compromise with lawmakers over gun industry lawsuits backfires, and he learns the hard way that the anti's will say one thing and do another. He should have learned that MUCH earlier I would think. Most of us on here could tell that without having years of experience I suspect. He berates the NRA for taking a hardline approach but in the end they survive and his group doesn't precisely because they compromised with "the enemy".
He does however make some valid points about the NRAs workings, and in my favorite part of the book re-tells the Neal Knox, Harlon Carter, LaPierre saga with an insiders view, one I found riveting to be quite honest.
I guess what I wanted to read was how things could be changed, what can be done differently. I didn't get any of that. I don't feel like any alternative to the NRA was given, so I feel that I have no choice but to continue to contribute to the organization.
The book characterizes the NRA as an organization that exists to bilk its members while maintaining a "status quo" with regards to firearm legislation. I think that is a bit unfair given what we've seen. The assault weapons ban has sunset, concealed carry continues to expand into more and more states, and the gun industry tort reforms are in place. I have to think that NRA had something to do with all of those things. Politicians clearly believe it since they live in fear of the organization.
It appears to me after reading this that the NRA does indeed do regular "the sky is falling" requests for cash. The NRA does pay its' execs well; maybe too well. The NRA does thrive when the anti's are making their threats.
In the end, however, the book continues to show that with the NRA's help there is progress forward rather than backward, and with no alternative suggested, I'll have to say I prefer that to the alternative.
All that said, I enjoyed this book very much, I learned a great deal, but I am more uncomfortable with the state of things. Maybe THAT is the lesson the author intended. I think he succeeds.
JT
