Mary McFate--She's the NRA

Intermittently for the past 25 years, the NRA has run a series of ads under the headline "I'm the NRA." Included are celebrities (like Washington Redskins legend John Riggins, cowboy entertainer Roy Rogers, and actor Tom Selleck), politicians, and ordinary members. Each ad profiles the NRA member, quoting the reasons why they joined the organization.

Mary McFate will never be in an NRA ad. But she is the NRA. And reveals more about the NRA's leadership than any glossy magazine ad ever will.

Last week Mother Jones revealed in an investigative piece (remember investigative journalism?) that long-time gun control activist Mary McFate was in fact, Mary Lou Sapone, a long-time undercover operative who was working on behalf of, as the NRA likes to call itself, "America's oldest civil rights organization" as a gun control mole.

So what would the text read beneath Mary McFate's ad?

I'm Mary McFate. For the past 10 years, I've led a double life as a pro-gun spy and gun control activist. I've even brought my family, daughter-in-law Montgomery McFate and son Sean McFate, into our family "business." For 10 years, I've met the victims of gun violence, people who have lost loved ones, had their lives destroyed, by guns. Many of them were unpaid volunteers, driven only by their loss and the subsequent goal of working to make our nation safer. That's why it was so easy to infiltrate their movement and take advantage of them. I've slept in their homes. Eaten meals with them. And I was paid for it. Sweet.

The Mother Jones revelation of Mary McFate's soulless undercover mission--think of the many raw, emotional victim's stories she heard as she was deciding in the back of her mind how to use the latest acquaintance brought to her by tragedy for her gun lobby employers--is a stark reminder of what the NRA has become. This revelation should have a long-term impact on how Americans--gun owners and non-gun owners alike--view the NRA. Yet because of our nation's longstanding inability to face and address our unique level of gun violence, the NRA always manages to rehabilitate itself as time passes and issues fade. Former NRA member Timothy McVeigh blows up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, bringing to light the NRA's adoption of the paranoid language of, and nascent outreach to, the militia movement. George H.W. Bush and others turn in their life memberships. Charlton Heston is brought in to counter the charge that they've become too extreme, but merely recasts the "Final War" that motivated McVeigh as a broader "Culture War" of which gun owners have a unique place on the front lines. After the 1999 Columbine massacre, the NRA holds it annual meeting less than two weeks later in Denver, ignoring the pleas of families and civic leaders to cancel the event. This, like prior outrages, is soon forgotten except by those directly affected. And now, the true face of the NRA, currently basking in a safe harbor of political expedience--protected on the one side by politicians who see no political gain in advancing gun control policies and on the other by some progressives whose "win at any cost" worldview has no room for the victims of gun violence--is once again revealed.

In the wake of mass shootings, the NRA routinely refuses to answer press inquiries. On the occasions when, because of ongoing press coverage of a shooting, the organization is forced to respond, it routinely chides in a pious voice of false concern different variations on the theme of `now is not the time to talk about gun control, now is the time to grieve.' Its leadership then criticizes survivors and advocates who dare talk about gun control in the wake of gun violence. Yes, the very survivors and advocates they're spying on.

So it's not surprising that in the wake of the Mother Jones article that the NRA is employing a proven tactic. They're not returning phone calls.

Comments

[vespasian1]

Grits says:

Neat conspiracy theory (still floating the confiscation myth, huh?), but here's the problem. McFate penetrated every major gun control organization for 8 years or more and relayed a broad range of intelligence to the NRA.

Yes. I call it the 'New Orleans After Katrina" confiscation myth.

"The fact is there are no dark secrets."

Then to what "intelligence" would you be referring?

"McFate abused a group of people of good faith who are deeply concerned about the 30,000 lives lost annually to gun violence in America."

Now there's your myth. You people never fail to omit the fact that this '30,000 victims" included suicides (about 17,000), which do not qualify as "gunviolence"(tm). It also includes criminals shot by police and other criminals (like all that inner-city drug and gang stuff) and lawfully gun-owning home owners.

"Also, I know you're not big on presenting actual evidence, but do you have ANY evidence whatsoever that gun control organizations have spied on gun rights groups? Please, offer some actual evidence when you're done name-calling."

How about Sugarmann's FFL? Why do you think he needs that? Is he planning on opening DC's first gun shop? How about Bloomburgs covert and illegal activity, sending in agents to frame out of state gun shop owners?

It's you folks who tend to be woefully short on evidence, and long on name calling. When we present evidence, you tend to ignore it.

[djkrlsn]

Second attempt I am confused--why would Josh Sugarmann be complaining about someone investigating gun control supporters when he has an FFL specifically designated for people in the business of selling firearms when he is located in a location where he can not sell firearms (both by how the building the VPC is in is zoned and current DC laws as far as selling guns).

[Santee]

The center of attention should be on the criminal and how to stop them from continuing their criminal activity. No legislation outlawing any type of weapon will stop crime, including murder. If all the attention and money which has been spent on enforcment of unconstitutional gun control laws, would have been spent on ending the criminals reintroduction into society, through our revolving door justice system, many violent crimes would never have taken place.

Many lives have been lost in recent history to unorthodox tactics of our own law enforcement agencies, through such tactics as "no knock warrants," which are in fact, violent invasions of private residences.

"Some of the worst abuses of government force in recent years were precipitated by technical and victimless gun-law violations. For example, the BATF claimed that the Branch Davidians possessed machine guns without paying the required federal tax and filling in the proper registration forms. So a tax case worth less than $10,000 led to a 76-man helicopter, machine gun, and grenade assault on a home in which 2/3 of the occupants were women and children." " Dave Kopel and Dr. Michael S. Brown, Prohibition Fever, NationalReview.com

This raid began February 28, 1993, and lasted 51 days, resulting in the deaths of 54 adults and 21 children, and a few federal agents. All of this, caused by an unconstitutional infringement of the 2nd Amendment.

[Wilson333]

"The center of attention should be on the criminal and how to stop them from continuing their criminal activity. No legislation outlawing any type of weapon will stop crime, including murder. If all the attention and money which has been spent on enforcment of unconstitutional gun control laws, would have been spent on ending the criminals reintroduction into society, through our revolving door justice system, many violent crimes would never have taken place."

That's what we keep telling these folks. Well said.

[RexPrimoris]

If the NRA really was engaging in using double-agents, it was a foolish and unnecessary move. It doesn't need to stoop to such sleazy tactics when it can easily advance its cause honestly and openly through earnest debate and an articulation of the numerous reasons why gun control is an agenda grounded in emotion rather than logic and adheres to fallacious reasoning.

[GritsJr]

You've contradicted yourself. If the NRA was able to convince Americans of this cause through honest, open and "earnest debate" then they wouldn't have used significant resources to spy on gun control organizations.

It can't make any such case openly and honestly, and that is why it resorts to under-handed attacks that attack and manipulate well-meaning individuals, including actual victims and survivors of gun violence.

[muffinman2]

"It can't make any such case openly and honestly, and that is why it resorts to under-handed attacks that attack and manipulate well-meaning individuals, including actual victims and survivors of gun violence."

You're kidding, right? Ever been to the Brady Campaign's website? It's like Grimm's Fairy Tails. They wouldn't know an honest tactic if it bit them. Same for Sugarmann. He has a Federal Firearms License so he can dig up all the super secret information that the gun lobby and gun dealers and criminals are keeping from you.

He admits IN PRINT that he preys on confusion of the gun uneducated.

The anti-gun movement is the most dishonest activist group I know of.

One more little tidbit for you, because you evidently aren't armed with much knowledge, or anything else besides the Kool-Aid. There are over 80,000,000 lawful gun owners in the US. There are only 3-4 million in the NRA.

[kaveman1]

Here is the quote muffinman is referring to...

"Assault weapons" menacing looks, coupled with the public"s confusion over fully-automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons "anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun" can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons."" Josh Sugarmann


Yep, pure honesty there.

[ladyshooter]

The Brady Campaign and the Violence Policy Center have engaged in constant misrepresentations.

[molonlabe]

Grits! Where've ya been??

Are you implying that the other side of the 2A debate (your side) isn't using deception, emotionalism, misrepresentations, and complete fallacies.?!?!

Tell me we don't need to rehash them again....

[molonlabe]

"All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him."

Sun-Tzu

[molonlabe]

"All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him. "

Sun-Tzu
Chinese general & military strategist (~400 BC)

[Berettasskeeter]

Josh, you forgot to mention any violations of the law that she may have committed. Corporate espionage, while perhaps unsavory, is not always illegal or immoral. The NRA fills an important, very large, niche in the fight to retain our Rights against you who would deny them. I applaud them, while at the same time I feel sorry for anyone who has lost someone to violence.
The NRA is not the problem. The problem is you who would coddle criminals instead of enforcing the law.
Semper fi

[GritsJr]

Interesting. You "feel sorry for anyone who has lost someone to violence" while simultaneously applauding an organization that used a mole to betray mothers, fathers and others who had lost their own flesh and blood to gun violence in the Million Mom March and other gun control organizations.

Is that what passes for values in gun rights circles?

[Berettasskeeter]

If that were what was going on, I may not. But the fact is, which you seem to ignore, that the anti-gun organizations use lies, half-truths, and innuendo to further their goal of the abolition of firearms ownership. Not for nothing are the vast majority Democrats!
However, even if it were the fact, they/we would still be justified, in defense of the Constitution. Where do you stand on the betrayal of mothers, fathers, and others who have lost their own flesh and blood due to the feckless support of terrorism, versus their country and freedom?
Semper fi

[Ohio9]

The phony outrage and condemnations of the anti-gun lobby over the McFate case is laughable. They routinely send spies into gun shows and pro-gun rights events all over the country (why else would Josh have an FFL?) and then cry like spoiled children when someone uses their own tactics against them.

But it does bring up an interesting question: Just what do the anti-gun organizations want to hide from pro-gun rights groups and the public? After all, they would not show so much outrage if they didn't have dark secrets that they didn't want anyone else to know. Perhaps they are afraid that people like McFate will show everyone their real agenda, a near total ban of civilian firearms ownership, and disprove their absurd claims of desiring only "reasonable gun laws".

[GritsJr]

Neat conspiracy theory (still floating the confiscation myth, huh?), but here's the problem. McFate penetrated every major gun control organization for 8 years or more and relayed a broad range of intelligence to the NRA.

Where is the smoking gun (excuse the bad pun)? Whatever "dark secrets" there are, the NRA has them by now, and I've never known LaPierre & Co. to shut up about anything that they thought they could use against gun control organizations.

The fact is there are no dark secrets. McFate abused a group of people of good faith who are deeply concerned about the 30,000 lives lost annually to gun violence in America. Many of these people she lied to and betrayed on a daily basis themselves had lost family members to gun violence. They are people seeking incredibly modest restrictions on gun ownership (like background checks on all gun sales) that are supported by overwhelming majorities of Americans.

Also, I know you're not big on presenting actual evidence, but do you have ANY evidence whatsoever that gun control organizations have spied on gun rights groups? Please, offer some actual evidence when you're done name-calling.

[djkrlsn]

Second attempt--there is no myth about confiscation--it happened in New Orleans after Katrina and California state senator Jack Scott made it abudantly cleay that he wants law enforcement to disarm law abiding citizens after natural disasters and during repeats of the 1992 Rodney King riots/.

[Ohio9]

"Neat conspiracy theory"

Well considering the fact that Josh's VPC openly advocates a ban on all firearms except hunting rifles and shotguns, it's easy to confirm.

"Many of these people she lied to and betrayed on a daily basis themselves had lost family members to gun violence. They are people seeking incredibly modest restrictions on gun ownership (like background checks on all gun sales) that are supported by overwhelming majorities of Americans."

All of the organizations she monitored seek way more restrictions then that, especially the VPC.. Just look at their websites. Besides, gun rights groups have plenty of violent crime victims among their members too, so don't go playing the victim card

"Where is the smoking gun?"

How about the fact that neither the BC nor VPC has ever opposed any gun law, except on grounds that they are not restrictive enough? The BC claims to oppose a total ban on handguns, but they vigorously defended D. C.'s handgun ban all the way to the end. Then they want to complain about NRA "dishonesty?"

I do have evidence that anti-gun groups send spies into gun rights events (I never said "gun rights groups", but nice try) and gun shows. Bloomberg's "Mayors against Illegal guns" does this often. The fact that Josh doesn't deal in firearms but has an FFL kind of speaks for itself. And here's a report on a gun show from an anti-gun spy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLT3bNjxXJc&feature=related

[ladyshooter]

Baloney!

[pyrometer]

Looks like a simple case of corporate espionage. Doesn't seem that any laws were broken here
so who is supposes to be the bad guy? Luckily Mother Jones was able bring this to light to help inform the citizenry. Unfortunately we cannot easily know how many of the sixteen secret goverment intelligence/spy agencys infiltrate and document our civil and social community groups. Does Mr. Sugarmann mean to suggest that law abiding citizens who legally and properly obtain handguns are contributing to crime on the street? Maybe only the elite deserve the right to self defence. Those ordinary citizens just can't be trusted to the right things. As to T. McVeigh and "Culture War",the Government controlls all the propaganda and spin now that we have lapdog media for $$$. Does it seem right to you that NO ONE was held accountable for the crime of mass murder at Waco Texas? Oh that's right ,it was their own fault. Maybe if we didn't spend trillions on Iraq and the global control war machine that the money could be invested in our own country and that leadership sanity like that would spread by example and things like Columbine would seem less and less like a good idea to alienated youth.

[molonlabe]

"Does Mr. Sugarmann mean to suggest that law abiding citizens who legally and properly obtain handguns are contributing to crime on the street?"

pyro-

That is EXACTLY what Josh Sugarmann, the Violence Policy Center, the Brady Campaign, The Million Mom March, et al.. are implying. Paul Helmke from the Brady Campaign has a blog on their site (well, you can;t really call it a blog since he shut down comments about a year ago because too much truth was being exposed by the pro-rights side) dedicated just to covering "news" involving gun mishaps and law-abiding citizens.

It is all an emotionalism campaign. The anti-rights side continue to receive contributions from people like George Soros, the Joyce Foundation etc... So their agenda is to keep perptuating the gun control myth. The media is just as much to blame. Ask yourself when was the last time you read in the paper about a law-abiding citizen using a firearm in self defense?

They would rather focus on banning implements instead of addressing the social problems, causing crime, most notably in the inner cities where the majority of violent crime is being perpetrated.

[ladyshooter]

Sometimes, it has seemed some, of the press, are not interested in real measures to prevent crime. After all, if there was no crime, they wouldn't have very much to sell papers.

[kaveman1]

And immediately after this story broke, I went home and sent a special $50 donation to the NRA.

Maybe if you had some supporters who were willing to donate, you could purchase an FFL and spy on us at trade shows.