Joe Mosby: Take a local look at the NRA

With any large organization, a quick glance isn’t enough to tell the story. You usually need to get down to the grass roots, the local and everyday people in the group, to get a handle on what really goes on.

Today we’re talking about the National Rifle Association (NRA), but more specifically the Toad Suck Friends of NRA. That’s local people. They have their annual fundraising dinner coming up Saturday, April 17.

In the big picture, meaning nationwide, the NRA is a lightning rod. Mention the name and reactions are hot or cold. Love ‘em or hate ‘em. The major news media is partly to blame in that it quickly pushes buttons to bring forth NRA’s comments on any issue involving firearms.

We hear NRA’s strong opposition to whatever Democrat is in office as well as whenever somebody says more gun controls are needed. Nobody bashed Bill Clinton more than NRA, and Barack Obama is catching the flak now.

OK, that’s on the national scene. What we’re looking at here are the people around Faulkner County who are involved in this support group called Friends of NRA and who are active in promoting responsible shooting programs for 4-H clubs, the Boy Scouts and school-affiliated shooting sports.

Yes, shooting and school can go together. The trapshooting and archery programs launched by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in recent years have become highly successful. We’ve got a couple of students at Greenbrier High School, Kayle Browning and Wesley Wilcox, who have obtained proficiency enough that they will be in the competition for United States slots in the next Olympics.

Teaching a young person the proper, safe, efficient ways to shoot a gun is extremely important in Arkansas, every bit as vital as teaching him or her how to drive a car. Do you want to argue that a gun is more dangerous than a car?