First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020). Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution. More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1. List and general description of entries to date.
Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations. Profile of characters. You’ll catch on quickly. Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.
Scene: coffee shop near Jordan’s office. Matt, a reporter for a major newspaper, had interviewed Jordan for an earlier series of articles. Jordan and Matt finished a side conversation about VW and returned to a conversation about Matt’s upcoming book.
Matt: “Tell me why you think the NRA contributed to the Revenge Revolution.”
Jordan: “I don’t think it was a conscious effort. Really an unintended consequence.”
Matt: “OK, help me understand your logic.”
Jordan: “The logic is simple. The NRA became power-hungry and tossed rational 
thinking to the wind.”
Matt: “In what way?”
Jordan: “At one time the NRA supported gun-control legislation. Actually the NRA helped write gun-control legislation.”
Matt: “Really? I didn’t know that. What changed?”
Jordan: “The NRA would like you not to know they supported gun control. But what changed is adoption of Ronald Reagan’s mantra of ‘Government is the problem, not the solution.'”
Matt: “So the change happened late 1970’s, early 1980’s?”
Jordan: “A palace coup at the NRA. Emphasis by the new leadership changed from responsible gun ownership to any weapon you want because the government is going to take your gun away.”
Matt: “Isn’t that description a bit harsh? What about the ownership rights under the 2nd Amendment?”
Jordan: “What about the rights? For 100 years the NRA interprets the 2nd Amendment one way. Then the new leadership decides to reinterpret the Constitution because they 
think the previous interpretation is too liberal.”
Matt: “I suppose one can argue why the NRA changed interpretation but how did the NRA contribute to the Revenge Revolution?”
Jordan: “Under new leadership the NRA resisted any effort to restrict gun ownership, any effort to have effective background checks and any effort to have registration of firearms.”
Matt: “The 2nd Amendment says people should have a right to own firearms.”
Jordan: “Most everyone agrees with that statement.”
Matt: “Then what is the issue with ownership?”
Jordan: “The type of firearms. No one needs a 50-caliber rifle.”
Matt: “Maybe there’s a herd of wild elephants about to attack.”
Jordan: “I know you’re trying to be funny. But have you ever fired a 50-caliber rifle? Ever fired even an M-16 in semi-automatic mode?”
Matt: “No. What’s it like? You were in the military, right?”
Jordan: “Yes. Trust me, firing these weapons is not like a video game. The most polite term I can think of is ‘scary.’ Really scary. You’d be shocked at the destruction just one of these weapons can cause.”
Matt: “But, as you said, the military has these weapons.”
Jordan: “The military has these weapons for a single purpose. To blow the crap out of everything in its way. These weapons are not toys. The weapons are designed for one purpose – destroy. These are not ‘sporting arms’ for fun and games. The weapons are meant to destroy – things and people.”
Matt: “Are you saying by allowing so many people to have these kind of weapons, the NRA gave the upper hand to those who started the Revenge Revolution?”
Jordan: “Think about who started the Revenge Revolution. It wasn’t the upper 1%. It wasn’t the upper 10% or even the upper 50%. The Revolution was started by those 
who worked hard but whose real income had declined for many years. Lots of those people had voted Republican.”
Matt: “Then they realized how much they had been shafted.”
Jordan: “And guess who had most of the firearms?”
Matt: “What about the police…and even the military? They have all these weapons.”
Jordan: “True. But they don’t have the manpower. Once the Revolution started, it spread quickly.”
Matt: “The benefits and bane of social media.”
Jordan: “Really no way to stop it. And the role of the police and military is not to kill a bunch of people just because there is some political upheaval.”
Matt: “Plus, there were too many outbreaks in too many locations to control.”
Jordan: “The question then is ‘Would the Revenge Revolution have been different without all the heavy-duty firearms in citizens’ hands?'”
Matt: “Your take is what?”
Jordan: “I think the Revenge Revolution would have happened anyway. My point was the NRA was a contributing factor, not the sole cause. The Revolution might have taken longer and the reforms not as pronounced but there still would have been a Revenge Revolution.”
Matt: “Shortly after the Revolution, there was an election and a revamped Congress. Congress then passes gun control legislation.”
Jordan: “Passes legislation with little resistance from gun owners. Why? Because I think the gun owners saw how close the country came to a bloody revolt. Almost another Civil War but with really nasty firearms. And the gun owners also realized what folly the NRA had been promoting.”
Matt: “How ironic for the NRA. The group the NRA relied on for support came back to bite it.”
Jordan: “Let’s take a break.”
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