The NSA: Bringing folks together in their own unusual way

[Stormwarden]

 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/04/nra-joins-aclu-suit-against-nsa-surveillance/2768575/

Take, for instance, the NRA and the ACLU: usually two groups who don't like each other very much. Well, the ACLU filed a brief against the NSA to shut down their surveillance program against various Americans. Now, the NRA has filed a brief in support of the ACLU. Politics make for strange bedfellows indeed.

[PosthumanHeresy]

Well, ain't that something. I guess there's more things we can all agree on.

[Damen]

[KZN02]

But wasn't there recent news about the NRA having their own database?

[Askold]

But wasn't there recent news about the NRA having their own database?

Yes, but that is not a problem because they are not the goverment.

There is this strange belief in USA that anything connected to the goverment is evil and apparently as an extension of that belief the opposite is also true. So just because the 2nd amendmend fundies have raged against any data concerning who in USA owns guns BY THE GOVERMENT, they have no problems with NRA having such files and in fact violating several laws by having such files.

Because even though goverment having such a list would automatically mean it will be misused there is no possibility of an independent organisation misusing such a list...

It's not a very precise of sound logic, I know. I mean they hate the goverment spying on people but don't mind corporations doing so. On the other hand they didn't mind goverment torturing people even though they would have had a perfect opportunity in privatizing Guantanamo Bay prison and turning over the torture to some corporation. (which according to MURRICA logic should have made it more efficient and cheaper than the public option.)

[Dakota Bob]

I think government surveillance projects are the one thing that can bring everybody together, hating the government in total harmony.

[chitoryu12]

But wasn't there recent news about the NRA having their own database?

Yes, but that is not a problem because they are not the goverment.

There is this strange belief in USA that anything connected to the goverment is evil and apparently as an extension of that belief the opposite is also true. So just because the 2nd amendmend fundies have raged against any data concerning who in USA owns guns BY THE GOVERMENT, they have no problems with NRA having such files and in fact violating several laws by having such files.

Because even though goverment having such a list would automatically mean it will be misused there is no possibility of an independent organisation misusing such a list...

It's not a very precise of sound logic, I know. I mean they hate the goverment spying on people but don't mind corporations doing so. On the other hand they didn't mind goverment torturing people even though they would have had a perfect opportunity in privatizing Guantanamo Bay prison and turning over the torture to some corporation. (which according to MURRICA logic should have made it more efficient and cheaper than the public option.)

The government doesn't do a whole lot to assuage people's fears and distrust of them. What with their whole "Spy on everyone" and "Local politicians using police to arrest peaceful protesters" and "Start wars everywhere" stuff.

[SpaceProg]

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" scenario, I suppose.

[Stormwarden]

^ Correction: "The enemy of my enemy is the enemy of my enemy. No more, no less."

But it is unfolding like that, isn't it?

[Askold]

The enemy of my enemy is a problem for another day, in the meantime he might be useful.

[PosthumanHeresy]

The enemy of my enemy is to be set up to be useful in the short-term, but in the long term, doomed.

[KZN02]

I have a question: would background checks be moot thanks to the NSA?

[chitoryu12]

I have a question: would background checks be moot thanks to the NSA?

In what sense?

[KZN02]

I have a question: would background checks be moot thanks to the NSA?

In what sense?

I dunno, the government prying into people's information about what guns they use based on their purchases, posts, or pictures?

[chitoryu12]

I have a question: would background checks be moot thanks to the NSA?

In what sense?

I dunno, the government prying into people's information about what guns they use based on their purchases, posts, or pictures?

Background checks are more for the seller's benefit than the government's, so they can deny firearms to someone who's not legally able to have them (not a citizen, felon, mentally ill, etc.). If a seller performs a background check and decides to hand over a gun anyway, there's no alert that gets sent to the police to send a SWAT team over; the seller will be arrested and convicted without a hitch, but there's really nothing stopping them except the threat of prosecution and losing their FFL from selling a gun illegally.

Of course, the "mentally ill" part up there is pretty difficult to get. It takes a lot of effort and time to get someone who's diagnosed as mentally ill or disabled on the "do not sell to" list, and everyone is afraid of a slippery slope that results in people who aren't dangerously crazy being put on the list.