National Rifle Association | Messaging Matters

Democrats hit Trump and Republicans hard at National Convention

Former President Barack Obama, one of the key speakers at the Democratic convention.

The 2020 Democratic National Convention has ended, and it was a skillfully run, hard-hitting success During their mostly virtual event, the Democrats covered several important bases, including party unity (for example, by featuring Bernie Sanders strongly supporting the Joe Biden–Kamala Harris presidential ticket) and party appeal, by having prominent Republicans such as John Kasich, Christine Todd Whitman and others speak in support of Biden and against the reelection of Donald Trump. The Democratic convention also highlighted some stars and several stunning speeches:

Is the tide finally turning on gun violence?

Written on September 20, 2019 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging

Vigil for shooting victims (Dayton, OH)

Colt Firearms recently announced that it will suspend production and civilian sales of its AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. Due to their design enabling shooters to kill so many people in so little time, the AR-15 (the most popular rifle in America) and similar assault weapons, such as the AK-47, are the top choices in a large number of America’s deadliest mass shootings, and the vast majority of mass shooting deaths, including:

Aurora, CO; Sandy Hook Elementary School (CT); Poway, California synagogue; New Zealand mosques; El Paso, TX; Dayton, OH (9 people killed in 30 seconds); Las Vegas, NV concert; Sutherland Springs, TX church; Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, FL); Santa Monica, CA; San Bernardino, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Geneva County, AL; Chattanooga, TN; Carson City, NV; and more.

In addition to Colt’s discontinuation of the AR-15, moreover, several other actions might be considered early signals that the tide of public opinion, and legislative action, may be starting to turn against gun violence. These actions include:

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Tags: AR-15, assault weapons, Beto O'Rourke, Congress, Democrats, El Paso, gun control, gun safety, gun violence, guns, mass shootings, National Rifle Association, NRA, Republicans, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

The difference between George H.W. Bush and Donald Trump

Written on December 3, 2018 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Democratic vs. Republican Presidents

Former President George H.W. Bush

Former President George H.W. Bush, who died last Friday night at the age of 94, was a Republican through and through. Accordingly, Democrats would rightfully take issue with almost all of Bush’s presidential actions and policies. Yet, virtually all leading Democrats, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff and others, have released messages of sincere and glowing praise for Bush. What’s going on?

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Tags: Americans with Disabilities Act, Caspar Weinberger, climate change, Democrats, Donald Trump, Fox News, George H.W. Bush, Iran Contra, National Rifle Association, NRA, racism, Repubicans, Russia, Supreme Court, Willie Horton

Using language as a weapon to oppose the NRA

Written on February 27, 2018 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Media Watch, Republican Messaging

High school students march against gun violence in Minneapolis, MN.

The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has led to a renewed movement against the “guns everywhere” policy pushed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Republican Party members who receive so much NRA funding. Led initially by surviving students from Douglas High School, but now joined by many other individuals and groups, there are marches, protests, school walkouts, phone calls, emails, campaigns on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and other efforts taking place to safeguard America’s children and adults. The momentum appears to be building and the tide may be turning in favor of steps such as Universal Background Checks for all firearm purchases, a renewed Assault Weapons Ban, and more. But as with all movements, the goals of this movement need to be articulated in a simple and powerful way in order to win over hearts and minds. So the question becomes, what is the best way to describe what this movement is fighting for?

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, the gun violence goat

Written on February 19, 2018 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Republican Messaging

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida

After the Parkland, Florida school shootings last Wednesday that left 17 dead, most of them schoolchildren, one of the people who comes off looking the worst is Florida’s Republican U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio. Let’s look at Rubio’s responses to the Parkland shooting:

First, Rubio offered prayers, as Republicans typically do. However, Rubio’s version was to admit that his previous prayers did not work:

Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018

When it comes to gun violence, think, pray, vote

Written on February 15, 2018 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Democratic vs. Republican Presidents, Good Government, Republican Messaging

Republicans’ dream? Lady Liberty holding a gun instead of a torch.

After another deadly school shooting involving an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, this time in Parkland, Florida, Republicans responded with their usual calls for “thoughts and prayers.” Perhaps the worst offender was Florida’s own U.S. Senator, Republican Marco Rubio, who proved that his previous prayers didn’t work:

Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018

However, when Rubio and other Republicans want something on any other issue, from tax cuts to taking away a woman’s freedom over her own body to military spending to taking away our affordable healthcare, they don’t pray, they vote. That’s just what Americans should do here.

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Tags: AR-15, Assault Weapons Ban, Congress, Democrats, Florida, gun conrol, Marco Rubio, Nancy Pelosi, National Rifle Association, NRA, Parkland, Republicans, school shooting

Now is not too soon to talk about gun violence

Written on October 3, 2017 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Republican Messaging

The Knotted Gun

The shootings by Stephen Paddock in Las Vegas on Sunday night were the deadliest in modern U.S. history. 59 people are now dead, with over 500 injured. And yet, on Monday, Trump White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders, asked if Donald Trump was now discussing whether new gun laws are needed, replied that “it would be premature for us to discuss policy” so soon after the killings. Sanders’ reply is similar to what many conservatives and the National Rifle Association say when confronted with mass shootings of civilians involving semiautomatic or, in this case, automatic, weapons. They are wrong for a couple of major reasons:

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Tags: assault weapons, Congress, Democrats, Donald Trump, gun control, guns, Las Vegas, National Rifle Association, Nevada., NRA, Republicans, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Second Amendment, Stephen Paddock

After Aurora Shootings, How About a Gun Law Shock Doctrine?

Written on July 25, 2012 by Messaging Matters in Democratic Messaging, Fox "News" Watch, Republican Messaging

Another six months, another tragic shooting. The Aurora, Colorado theater shootings were the 22nd such incident since and including the 1999 Columbine shootings. In the mainstream corporate media, especially the television and cable “news” networks, we hear the cliche “our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy.” In addition to that sentiment, now is when we should push for real solutions to America’s gun violence epidemic, such as strengthening the nation’s gun laws. Call it the “Gun Law Shock Doctrine.”

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Tags: Assault Weapons Ban, Aurora theater shooting, guns, James Holmes, Milton Friedman, Naomi Klein, National Rifle Association, NRA, President Obama, The Shock Doctrine

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