If you are wondering how in the world the National Rifle Association can publicly oppose restrictions on the sale of high-capacity gun clips particularly in the wake of the Tucson shootings in which a stone-cold nutcase killed six people and wounded 13 others, using a gun with a 30-round clip well, wonder no more. The surprise or, really, the not such a surprise is that its not about protecting gun owners rights as much as its about protecting NRA honchos private profits.
The Center for Public Integrity, a non-partisan, non-profit group committed to reporting on the issue of transparency, reports that the NRAs lobbying efforts are being financed by a number of high-capacity gun clip manufacturers, and that two NRA Board members are actually CEOs of companies that sell those types of clips. The NRA is opposing a move in Congress to limit gun clips to 10 rounds, saying that high-capacity clips are standard for self-defense. There is probably no truth to the rumor that the organization added, and, of course, theyre the coolest thing on the market for mass murders.
ThinkProgress report on the CPI study includes a quick interview with NRA Board member Pete Brownell, who is also CEO of a big gun supply company, which produces gun clips. When ThinkProgress asked Brownell how he felt about the many attendees of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade show last week in Las Vegas who expressed support for restrictions on gun clip size, he replied, When youre defending, you want to have as much of an advantage as possible so it does matter. Its just an advantage. As the ThinkProgress story noted, a 30-round clip certainly was an advantage for Jared Loughner. But as one gun retailer at the SHOT show noted, If 10 rounds of ammunition cant do the job you probably shouldnt own a gun.
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