In 1872, following the horrors of the Civil War, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was formed to fund training programs and promote firearm safety, since most of the soldiers had been allowed, if not encouraged, to keep their weapons and such weapons would become part of their household possessions. Fast forward about 100 years to 1968.

After the assassinations of JFK, MLK and Malcolm X, Congress passed major laws regulating gun ownership and sales. A growing group of hardliners, however, moved the NRA to take a more active role, staging a coup in 1977 to oust the leadership and shift the focus to defending the more individualistic interpretation of the 2nd Amendment that we know today. So that in 1980, its platform became: We believe the right of citizens to keep and bear arms must be preserved. Accordingly, we oppose federal registration of firearms.

However, Justice Warren Burger was incensed about that, and Justice Antonin Scalia, in introducing DC v. Heller in 2008, had this to say about it: The next section of our opinion points out that like most rights, the 2nd Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever, in any manner whatsoever, and for whatever purpose.

It is perhaps no surprise that the NRA trotted out its usual platitudes after the latest rash of killings, but can we be cautiously optimistic at hearing the recent news about financial and leadership troubles raising their heads once again in the NRA? Are we turning another corner in the long road back to a sensible gun culture in this country?

We encourage our congregation to get involved. Come to our monthly meetings usually held on the third Sunday after the service in the World Room.

Sue Weber, Chair