Noted writer L. Neil Smith asked the question, "Am I the NRA?". He concluded that, while he is a Life Member now, if he had it to over again, he'd have some doubts. In my own case, I did have it to do over.

Last month I received my (approximately) 8 millionth invitation to "activate" my NRA membership. If I were a PC eco-freak, I might wonder how many thousands of acres have been deforested to support these mass mailings. At any rate, I declined the invitation, as I always do now. As is my usual procedure for dealing with offensive, unsolicited mailings, I carefully forced every scrap they sent me into their postage-paid return envelope. This time, I also enclosed the following letter.

Yeah, I realize that no one (much less LaPierre) will ever read it. But it made me feel better. And I cost them a few cents in postage.

December 3, 1998

Dear Mr. LaPierre,

I am returning the unwanted material which your organization mailed to me, unrequested. Please send me no more mailings.

I do this for two reasons. First, I consider the NRA's record of "compromise" and appeasement on Second Amendment issues to show that the NRA is just as dangerous to my rights as Sarah Brady and HCI.

Second, your organization has already given me too much trouble personally.

Some time back, I was a member of the NRA; and maintained that membership for years. Then your organization began canceling my membership and subscription prematurely, only to immediately send new requests for membership fees. Each time, I would have to send a series of letters, and make phone calls to convince you idiots to check your own records and see that I actually was still paid up for years in advance. But I never got the back issues that I missed when you "accidentally" canceled my membership. Nor did I ever received an apology; not so much as, "Oops. Sorry."

After the sixth or seventh time you clowns did this, I chose to permanently end any association with, and support of, the NRA. As I told your organization then, I again offer the instruction that you take your membership in the NRA, fold it up until it's all sharp corners, and shove it somewhere you find personally uncomfortable.

I want nothing to do with the NRA until I receive apologies, the missing back issues, and most importantly, proof that the NRA will actually begin supporting the Second Amendment.

What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?

Very sincerely,

Carl W. Bussjaeger