Three quick thoughts, if I may, on
the recently announced sponsorship by the National Rifle Association of the
April 13 “NRA 500” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway:
·
It’s
not about whether you are personally for or against gun control.
·
It’s
not about whether you own a gun or hunt for wild game.
·
It’s
not about your stance on the Second Amendment.
The NRA is without question a
polarizing organization. For better or worse, Executive
Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre knows how to keep his membership stirred
up, and his opponents apoplectic. Guns – and gun control – are the hottest of
hot-button topics in this country right now, in the aftermath of a horrifying
number of grisly mass murders, too many of them with children as the innocent
victims. Those massacres sickened all of us; NRA members and non-members alike,
and while the ongoing debate over gun control and diminished Second Amendment
rights is important and worthy of our attention, it has nothing to do with
NASCAR.
 |
| NRA CEO Wayne Lapierre |
In this writer’s opinion, the NRA has as much right to sponsor a
NASCAR race as any other lawful product or organization. The “NRA 500” will
likely not change a single mind. Those who support the NRA will continue to do
so, and those who oppose it will also continue, unswayed.
Barring the NRA from sponsoring a NASCAR race because you’re
anti-gun makes no more sense than barring Cargill Beef from sponsoring Trevor
Bayne’s NASCAR Nationwide Series car because you’re a vegetarian.
Well said Dave, on a side note, are people aware that the NRA also has child gun safety courses and holds training courses for police depts.
ReplyDeleteVery well said Dave very true and unbiased as always!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell Said, Dave - thanks
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Superb all around points are made, Dave.
ReplyDeleteDave i have no problems with the NRA as an organization. The concern i have is with the negative press it brings. The shock media will have a hay day,You know the type who call 3 people with 1 sign a mass protest.I am not a fan of outlawing a person/buisness from sponsoring an event merely asking if it's in NASCAR's best interest to use them
ReplyDeleteIt's about precedent, Jay. If tracks (not NASCAR) refuse to accept sponsorship because not everyone agrees with a particular sponsor, we'd have to start refusing sponsorship from virtually every sponsor. I'm not sure we start down that particular slippery slope.
DeleteNot a big fan of the NRA, but who cares?
ReplyDeletewell said Dave,i personally think a business should be able spend it's money as they see fit too.and the tracks should be able to pick any sponsor that represents the track and the fans.and if the nra and texas motor speedway isn'y a good fit i don't know what is.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the last time Cargill Beef's product murdered 20 children. A more equal debate would be if "The Potheads of Colorado" wanted to sponsor a race in Colorado, where marijuana is legal. How would the people who have no problem with the NRA sponsorship feel about that? Would they want their children exposed to their message? By taking the NRA's money they are offering their approval because for years they didn't take money from liquor companies and now they do. This tells me they only take money from groups they approve of.
ReplyDeleteBut what the hell do I know, I'm just a peace loving Canadian.
Well said. NASCAR is a Right leaning organization, and in spite of the fact that their decreasing fan base is MIXED politically, they make sure they appeal to the Right -leaning base.
DeleteThey'll never learn how to make both sides happy, and this proves it.
Hey BBQGUY, wake up. A gun didnt murder 20 kids. It didnt get up off the counter top, drive to the school and shoot bullets all by itself. A sick phycho murdered those children. If those kids were killed with a knife instead would you be calling for a ban on knives?
DeleteKevin F.
Nice try Kevin. A sick physco armed with a gun killed 20 children. If it was your child in there, would you rather he had a gun or a knife? Only someone totally blind to reality would suggest the same outcome if he was armed with a knife.
Deletesome psycho in china attacked a school on the same day, with a knife. There may have been ONE death with 20+ injured. 1 is not 20.
Deleteoh, let the anti-gun crowd hyperventilate. it`s good for them
ReplyDeleteThe anti-gun crowd as you put it doesn't put guns first over the lives of children. Or money.
DeleteDave, you racing PASS this season or what? Looking forward to seeing you (and Tracy)at the track.
ReplyDeletethe nra has never killed any one
ReplyDeletebut they do stand up for our rights as americans.every american should join.
What rights? Will they stand up for the pot smokers' rights? Will they stand up for women's rights? Rights give to you by a vague sentence in a document written 4000 years ago when we had ball and black powder? Give us a break.
DeletePerhaps Dave should look at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm and see what actually kills people in the US and not " It’s not about whether you own a gun or hunt for wild game." has nothing to do with guns in this country.
ReplyDeleteI do wish people who disagree with other wouldn't use the most unflattering photo of their opponents.
Here's the funny part, "Anonymous." It's my blog. I talk about what I want, and use any picture I like. Isn't that cool?
DeleteThis is America....your not forced to go or watch the race. The amount of dollar bills and viewership after that race and future races will be the barometer. I would guess NASCAR has signed off on this. I'll b watching.
ReplyDeleteGuys, you can debate gun control to your heart's content. It won't change anyone's mind, I'm sure, but if that's what makes you happy, go ahead. I will insist, however, that you do so respectfully and without the name-calling and "what's the matter with you" backbiting. Any posts that violate this policy will be declined, without ever seeing the light of day. If you don't see your post here, it is because it has been declined.
ReplyDeleteI support it and think NRA should offer free hats to all that carry their gun with them to stands to watch the race. Maybe Jack Daniels would step up and offer free drinks to all fans with NRA hats and then to steal Dave's idea for better competition every 25 laps all the fans could take pot shots at the car in last place.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing, since Richard Childress is on the NRA Board of Directors, If Harvick wins, Harvick gets to shoot the Bush brother of his choice. I would watch every minute of that race.
DeleteNascar has proven they will take darn near anybodys cash. Winston Cup for, decades. Crown Royal. Viagara. Extenz. NRA. Isn't the only thing they didn't accept was AshleyMadison.com?! I can drink crown royal pop a viagra, AND an extenz while firing a...gun, but i cant find an outlet to relieve what the viagra brought?
ReplyDeleteDon't mess w/the money, or you'll be in trouble.
We are going to get thanks to the 27 sponsors & a lie about how great everything is.
Sadly, i'll still watch. Not gonna punish myself for something that won't do any good anyway.