What the environmental movement can learn from the U.S. gun rights movement

[darksumomo]

Grist: What climate activists need to learn from the NRA and the gun-control wars
by Robert Walker
17 Aug 2010 6:43 AM

Supporters of climate-change legislation have much to learn from an organization that is often rated as the most powerful lobby in Washington: the National Rifle Association.

The gun lobby is not invincible, but it has won a

Comments

[youdontknowher]

While I don't think all of these would work (we do yell at town hall meetings and just get called smelly hippies and radicals and get called lairs by Fox) it's definitely worth re-thinking how climate lobbists go about business. Also, reducing CO2 emissions doesn't have a blatant Constitutional Amendment backing it up. Maybe if we want cleaner air, we should start fighting dirtier? (i had to do it. yes, i'll go to sleep now... :P )

[haruhiko]

Big difference between the gun lobby and climate change activists is that there is a constant, overwhelming flow of big-time corporate cash to elected officials in order to neutralize, minimize, or water down environmental activism/legislation/media presence. When it comes to advocating for better gun laws and neutralizing the gun lobby, there is nothing close to that sort of flow of corporate cash being sent to Congress and Washington to stop the NRA.

[escherichiacola]

It all tends to break down when scientists are forced to talk with normal people.

[luomo]

[tresa_cho]

Yes. I agree. The environmentalists need to elect Charlton Heston as their president. *nods firmly*

[chemchick]

I kinda got a kick that the lobbyists for the NRA said it was like "hand-to-hand combat".