Media Matters brings us up to speed on the incoming president of the National Rifle Association.
Jim Porter is just as awful as you would expect a president of the NRA to be, but this in particular stood out to me.
“NRA was started 1871 right here in New York state. It was started by some Yankee generals who didn’t like the way my Southern boys had the ability to shoot in what we call the ‘War of Northern Aggression.’ Now y’all might call it the Civil War, but we call it the ‘War of Northern Aggression’ down south. But that was the very reason they started the National Rifle Association, was to teach and train the civilian in the use of the standard military firearm. [...]
So when they have to fight for their country they’re ready to do it. Also, when they’re ready to fight tyranny they’re ready to do it. Also, when they ready to fight tyranny they have wherewithal and the weapons to do it.”
If your “Southern Boys” were so good, why did they lose? Because of overwhelming numbers, right?
The “War of Northern Aggression” that Porter refers to began after the South seceded from the Union because they wanted to keep their slaves.
Does Jim Porter believe in slavery?
Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t. Referring to it as the “War of Northern Aggression” is to dismiss slavery as an issue and paint the Civil War as a trespass on states’ rights by an unjust aggressor. And referring to it as such is no more culturally valid than waving a confederate flag.
He also appears to be implying that Americans must arm themselves to prepare for a fantastical rebellion against their own government or another nation, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from the next president of the NRA.