If you had attended as many NRA meetings as I have, you would realize that there is a wide spectrum of personalities among NRA members. About 90% of the members are sensible and rational citizens like me who own guns for home protection and sporting use, and who don’t believe in passing any new laws that cannot be enforced. 90 percent is really a pretty good turnout. Most homeowners’ associations can’t do nearly this well for their annual meetings. The other 10 percent are raving loonies who really ought to have a net thrown over them. Unfortunately, NRA President Wayne LaPierre tailors his message to the ten percenters. In his defense, it should be noted that Wayne talks crazy because we pay him $1 million a year to talk crazy, and he delivers. If he can whip up the hysteria and paranoia to an even greater level, I suppose we will pay him even more. We have always done so before, and this year he seems to be headed for a pay raise of epic proportions.

So we’re two weeks out from the latest gun massacre, and we’ve heard a lot about how to quell the next one.

Perhaps we can agree on one thing. Let’s try. Where are there better neighborhoods than in the East Valley; a place called home to a million or so of us?

Dear Editor: Once again our local National Rifle Association propagandist, Linda Turley-Hansen, displays her colossal credulity in her defense of that recklessly unpatriotic organization (AFN, Feb. 1, "How do they really stand on firearms ownership?"). Led by a Vietnam draft dodger, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA fought legislation that would block gun sales or permits to suspected terrorists. It also opposed legislation to require explosive manufacturers to include electromagnetic "taggants," thus enabling investigators to determine the source of terrorist bombs. The NRA also opposed legislation establishing a national database recording guns' "ballistic fingerprints." For the NRA, profits trump patriotism. The NRA's elitist hypocrisy is also evident in its contradictory policies on Second Amendment rights. In Arizona, the NRA backed legislation to allow guns in bars. But it quietly accepted a ban on guns at the 2004 Republican National Convention, and at the Super Bowl. I'd appreciate some gun nut's explanation of why Republican plutocrats deserve protection from guns in their purlieus, whereas lower-class bar attendees don't. Does the Constitution distinguish among economic classes in distributing alleged Second Amendment rights? Maybe Linda could explain. C.W. Griffin

Dear Editor: Once again our local National Rifle Association propagandist, Linda Turley-Hansen, displays her colossal credulity in her defense of that recklessly unpatriotic organization (AFN, Feb. 1, "How do they really stand on firearms ownership?"). Led by a Vietnam draft dodger, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA fought legislation that would block gun sales or permits to suspected terrorists. It also opposed legislation to require explosive manufacturers to include electromagnetic "taggants," thus enabling investigators to determine the source of terrorist bombs. The NRA also opposed legislation establishing a national database recording guns' "ballistic fingerprints." For the NRA, profits trump patriotism. The NRA's elitist hypocrisy is also evident in its contradictory policies on Second Amendment rights. In Arizona, the NRA backed legislation to allow guns in bars. But it quietly accepted a ban on guns at the 2004 Republican National Convention, and at the Super Bowl. I'd appreciate some gun nut's explanation of why Republican plutocrats deserve protection from guns in their purlieus, whereas lower-class bar attendees don't. Does the Constitution distinguish among economic classes in distributing alleged Second Amendment rights? Maybe Linda could explain. C.W. Griffin

September 5, 2004

“Remember when allowing lawyers to advertise on TV seemed like a good idea.”

The National Rifle Association said Friday it wants armed police officers in every school, raising costs questions from Republican legislators who normally are their natural allies but picking up support of a key Democrat.

Here's my annual list looking at 2012:

Jose de la Isla

Two top Arizona Republicans argued Friday that the escalating violence along the Mexican border should not be used as an excuse for new regulation of firearms.

New and unlovely creatures continue to emerge from the Pandora's Box of “campaign finance reform,” so avidly touted by such luminaries as Arizona Sen. John McCain as the true path to political righteousness.

First Period_None. Penalties_Aucoin, Pho (cross-checking), 5:46; Bieksa, Van (goaltender interference), 6:56.

LONDON - Audrey Hepburn's iconic black dress fetched a Tiffany price at auction. The garment she wore in the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" went for $807,000 on Tuesday. The price, paid by a telephone bidder, was almost six times the highest pre-sale estimate.

“Surprise, surprise. The National Gun Manufacturers Association aka the NRA wants more guns in schools.”

BOISE, Idaho - The expiration Monday of a 10-year federal ban on assault weapons means firearms like TEC-9s can now be legally bought - a development that has critics upset and gun owners pleased.

Talk about a hot goaltender. Playing with a sunburned face, Montreal’s Carey Price stopped 37 shots to lead the Canadiens to a 4-2 victory over Phoenix on Thursday night at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

“I would like to remind everyone out there that George Zimmerman is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

NEW ORLEANS - Following complaints from gun-rights groups, FEMA said Monday it is lifting a ban on firearms at emergency housing parks built in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

New York  --  Well aware that the television audience may be particularly sensitive, the Showtime network aired a disclaimer warning audiences of violent content in the season finales of its dramas “Homeland” and “Dexter” last weekend. It was two days after a gunman killed 26 people in a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. - When 10-year-old Austin Smith heard Barack Obama had been elected president, he had one question: Does this mean I won't get a new gun for Christmas?

There was no question that Rossalyn Norris and Teresa Henderson were going to be first in line to see “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.”