By Steven Hsieh / Alternet
According to the NRA, Maya Angelou, Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs all hate American freedom.
It’s no secret that the NRA suffers from extreme paranoia, but a massive list of enemies posted on the organization’s site takes crazy to another level. A statement preceding the list describes your typical, gun-stealing boogeyman:
“The following organizations have lent monetary, grassroots or some other type of direct support to anti-gun organizations. In many instances, these organizations lent their name in support of specific campaigns to pass anti-gun legislation such as the March 1995 HCI ‘Campaign to Protect Sane Gun Laws.’ Many of these organizations were listed as “Campaign Partners,” for having pledged to fight any efforts to repeal the Brady Act and the Clinton “assault weapons” ban. All have officially endorsed anti-gun positions.”
Take a look at some of the groups who, according to the NRA, are enemies of freedom:
1. Doctors
Medical-related organizations make up a healthy portion of the NRA’s list. The American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, National Spinal Cord Injury Association and many more groups, for some reason, all support gun control legislation.
One can only imagine doctors’ incentive for restricting guns, though the 47 percent increase in reported gunshot wounds from 2001 to 2011 might be relevant. While advances in medical technology aided a significant drop in homicide rates, doctors are scrambling now, more than ever, to treat victims of gun violence. In 2011 alone, 30,759 people suffered serious gunshot wounds.
2. Poets
In 2010, after 15 people were shot in as many hours in Chicago’s South Side, the poet Maya Angelou had the nerve to suggest that the widespread availability of guns contributes to gun violence:
“I know that the children are being murdered,” Angelou said at St. Sabina Catholic Church. “It’s happening in Chicago. It’s also happening in St. Louis, in New York and Savannah.”
3. Women
Gun nuts claim women need high-power assault rifles to protect themselves from dangerous men. But, statistics tell a different story. As Slate’s Amanda Marcotte reported, “the Harvard Injury Control has found that states with more guns have more female violent deaths.”
It’s no surprise then, that the League of Women Voters of the United States, National Organization for Women, Women`s National Democratic Club and National Council of Negro Women all support legislation that put them in the NRA’s crosshairs.
4. 90s Boy Bands
According to the NRA, Boyz II Men, whose members grew up in Philadelphia, threaten the basis of freedom in America. In December 2012 alone, more than 100 people were shot in Philadelphia.
5. Greeting Card Companies
Hallmark just wants to wish you a happy birthday! Now hand over your guns!
6. Churches
The NRA also hates God. Church of the Brethren, the Congress of National Black Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and many more all get a spot on their “enemies” list.
7. Pro Football Teams
Even America’s favorite sport can’t catch a break from the NRA. Apparently, the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs are an enemy of gun owners. St. Louis officials reported the second highest rate of child gun deaths in their city between 2006 and 2007. Between 2002 and 2010, Kansas City saw 2,300 people treated in emergency rooms for gun violence.
8. Actors
According to the NRA, the following actors hate freedom: Krista Allen, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon, Drew Barrymore, Albert Brooks, James Brolin, Steve Buscemi, Kate Capshaw, Stockard Channing, George Clooney, Sean Connery, Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Richard Dreyfus, Jodie Foster, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Diane Keaton, Lisa Kudrow, Rob Lowe, Kyle MacLachlan, Mary Tyler Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Tim Roth, Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, Trudie Styler, Uma Thurman, Joanne Woodward, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Oh, and Sylvester Stalone.
9. CEOs
The NRA lists the CEOs, addresses and phone numbers of dozens of corporations that support gun control. Among them are ice cream pioneers Ben and Jerry’s, the cell phone provider Sprint and celebrated jean company Levi Strauss.
10. Interior Designers
Who the hell is Margaret Kemp, and why does she scare the NRA? Ah, the impenetrable mysteries of paranoid.
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…and me.
There was a hilarious story on Daily Kos yesterday about a guy who called the NRA and asked to be put on the enemies list. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/01/1183887/-Get-Yourself-added-to-the-NRA-Enemies-List-I-just-did
Boyz II Men as “90s boy band?”
I just called the NRA to be added to the “enemy’s list.” The recording while I am hold states, “Thank you for calling the National Rifle Association. Due to the attacks on the Second Amendment, we are experiencing higher than usual wait time. Please hold and the next available representative will assist you.” It reminds of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What its Worth.” ….Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep….
When Trish finally answered after a twenty minute hold, she informed the line I called was for new membership. I explained I wanted to be a new member; a new member of the “enemy list.” This confused her. I explained I had read an article in which the NRA declared a number of individuals, organizations and companies as enemies, and I want to join them. She put me on hold.
When she came back, she politely told me she could not help me and thanked me for my input. Sheesh, you would think if you started an enemies list, and someone told you they wanted to be on it, you would have least taken their name.
So, I sent the NRA an e-mail which read,
“I understand the NRA has established an “enemies list.” I would like to be added to that list please. You may include my name.
In Peace, Dr. Jack B. Hamlin”
Perhaps someone will get back to me…I just hope they pick me.
Jack- I was so inspired by your comment that I sent an email to the NRA: “Please add me immediately to your Enemy List. I am so distraught that I did not make the cut.
Thank you in advance for accommodating this request.”
Readers can contact the NRA here: https://contact.nra.org/contact-us.aspx Under “regarding” I chose “membership/general comments”