The response from AARP on their gun views!

[Hokkmike]

I wrote to the AARP to ask their position on firearms ownership by private individuals.

Here is their response:

Dear Mr. _______________:

Thank you for contacting AARP about our policy concerning firearms.
This is a difficult subject for people to discuss. I appreciate your
sharing your views with us.

AARP policy does not "ban all guns." Our policy targets only
inappropriate gun purchasers, not responsible citizens. Here is the
statement passed by our Board of Directors:

"Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other federal gun laws.
States should enact legislation to eliminate gaps in, and strengthen
enforcement of, federal and state gun laws, particularly with regard
to possession by juveniles, convicted domestic abusers and those
under domestic violence restraining orders."

AARP continues to support careful measures to improve the enforcement
of existing federal and state laws. Contributing to our decision was
a 2002 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
indicating that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
(NICS) is not always able to access relevant records, especially
domestic violence misdemeanor convictions, within the time period
allowed under the law for background checks. Also, according to the
U.S. Department of Justice, homicides are most often committed with
guns, especially handguns. In 2005, 55% of homicides were committed
with handguns, 16% with other guns, 14% with knives, 5% with blunt
objects, and 11% with other weapons. Recent research indicates that
lethal violence in the US far outpaces other Western nations. AARP
policy reflects concern that crime-especially violent crime-may have
particularly severe consequences for older people and teens.

AARP policymaking is an ongoing process. Our all-volunteer National
Policy Council thoughtfully develops each policy, after reviewing the
pros and cons. Then the Council makes recommendations to the Board
of Directors, who are also all volunteers. Both groups are made up
of a distinguished cross-section of AARP members. All our public
policies are carefully reviewed each year. Communications from
members, like yours, contribute to establishing, strengthening and
updating our policies.

I hope this information has been helpful. Please do not hesitate to
contact us if there is any way we may be of assistance in the future.
Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch. It is an
important part of our job to consider carefully the concerns of every
member.

Sincerely,

June
Member Communications

[MarcS]

Here's what it should have said:

As a lobby for retired persons, guns are none of our fucking business

Thanks for writing.

[craigc]

Originally Posted by MarcS

Here's what it should have said:

As a lobby for retired persons, guns are none of our fucking business

Thanks for writing.

+1 exactly coming up on eligbility myself

[Hokkmike]

Marcs and Craigc.....I agree. But (isn't there always a but?) Don't dismiss their view as unimportant because with numbers swelling due to increasing amounts of retiring people they portend to be come a HUGE political adversary to the 2nd Amendment and you and me.

[WhiteFeather]

Should start sending the "all-volunteer National Policy Council" all the news stories where "older" citizens have successfully defend themselves with firearms from younger aggressive criminals that tried to prey on them because they are weaker seniors.

Get them to sponsor AARP firearm safety courses for senior Americans.

a 1911 is the hand, beats dialing 911 to get a cop to come rescue you.

[PAhunter]

"Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other federal gun laws.
States should enact legislation to eliminate gaps in, and strengthen
enforcement of, federal and state gun laws, particularly with regard
to possession by juveniles, convicted domestic abusers and those
under domestic violence restraining orders."

This is coming from AARP but does not seem to mention much about retired people.

...."Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act........."

This statement alone is what prevents me from joining/supporting this group.

Jack

[Brick]

Mailers to me from AARP go directly from my mailbox to my burn barrel.

[dogngun]

Hokkmike: After I read your post, I emailed AARP about their position on guns. I got the EXAXT same reply this morning, word for word, same signer, etc.
FWIW.

mark

I wonder if a whole group of people emailed them about gun issues if they would in some way change their response. I tried to be reasonable and even suggested they do a magazine article about retired folks with licenses to carry - I know a few myself.

[1iarrowking]

Originally Posted by Brick

Mailers to me from AARP go directly from my mailbox to my burn barrel.

I return the pre paid postage envelopes to them empty.

[Dave in PA]

Hey now THERE'S an idea! It is almost better than playing with telemarketers on the phone......