Charlton Heston and the NRA

Charlton Heston used to be a liberal. He admired Martin Luther King, Jr., and attended the historic March on Washington in 1963. Like a lot of men of his vintage, he became more conservative as he grew older. As his movie roles grew more scarce, he fed his actor's ego by taking on the role of president of the National Rifle Association. At the time of his installment into that office, the NRA was teetering on the brink of dissolution, bankrupt and losing members. For about three million dollars a year, he traveled around the country promoting gun ownership and losing his soul in the process. One week after the tragedy in Columbine, the NRA showed its sensitivity to the horror by holding a convention in nearby Denver, where I believe Mr. Heston performed his classic move of holding up a rifle from the Davy Crockett era and saying he would give it up when it was pried "from my cold dead hands." At the same time parents were dealing with the eternal grief of surviving their children, Heston was playing Moses, trading tablets for a flintlock. I don't know if he knew how many illegal weapons came into our cities due to the pressure applied by the lobby he fronted. I don't know if he cared. I DO know that somewhere out there is an actor whose career is on the downside and will trade his conscience for money. To have a DNA so chock-filled with neediness that trading lives for lucre is a sad legacy, one that erases all the acting awards and honors that defined his earlier vocation, when he only pretended to enjoy killing.

Comments

[BigGayAl]

I don't get it? People can't be for Civil rights, AND the right to bear arms at the same time? How silly is that???

[stupidme]

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Okay let's amend the amendment ... First get rid of Well Regulated Militia. It's so old school. Next get rid of "State" because we've done away with a Militia to protect the State. Next, "Bear " must go, as "Bear Arms" is military jargon and we just eliminated the reference to a Militia. So what are we left with ... "Being necessary to security, the right of the people to keep arms shall not be infringed". Simple enough, although, we could add hunting ( did they hunt back in the day?) This is fun, I'm going to start working on some other amendments. Fuck this strict constructionist shit!! I mean look what's happened to the 4th amendment. Warrant, what's a warrant???

[thatvisionthing]

Bear arms, hmmm... Blackwater!

[WhinyDemocrat]

RIP Mr. Heston. You are a legendary figure, who stood for his beliefs, and the beliefs that founded this country. You will be missed.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

This is a terrible post, one of the worst I've ever read on Huffington. It has no logic to it at all. You make an asinine assertion that Heston became the head of the NRA simply because roles were scarce and he wanted to be in the spotlight? That kind of idiocy belongs over at places like Fox News and CNN, where they specialise in making simplistic statements like that which have no basis in fact.

His politics are immaterial to his artistic legacy, which was quite rich. I didn't agree with his somewhat fanatical beliefs when it came to guns, but that doesn't diminish how great of an actor he was.

Watch this clip from one of his last films, Kenneth Branagh's film of Hamlet, then try and convince me that he couldn't act anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nonx0JmrcQ

[thatvisionthing]

Watch this clip of Heston from Planet of the Apes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUR-OdR3egU, and then tell me how that is so different from Rev. Jeremiah Wright:

In fact, if I knew how to make a You Tube, I'd love to take the Wright soundtracks in context http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ and put it with this footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id-yfB3I_R4. And I wouldn't mind making it full circle, putting in Pearl Harbor footage along with Hiroshima and Nagasaki, putting in Rev. Wright talking about the psalm with the Rivers of Babylon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U9T92BKSGw.

Violence begets violence. Martin Luther King preached nonviolence. Rev. Wright carries on trying to wake his congregation up to another truth about America by recognizing the shame others see. "America's chickens are coming home to roost. Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred and terrorism begets terrorism. A white ambassador said that, y'all, not a black militant. Not a reverend who preaches about racism. An ambassador [Edward Peck] whose eyes are wide open and who's trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised." The whole sermon is actually wonderful: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-wright-transcripts-webmar29,0,5774556.story Amen.

This is how I will remember Charlton Heston best, not the NRA gunman.

[Alvin4NY]

Every interview I have ever read or seen on Heston, leaves me cold. He always came off arrogant, and unapologetic, and that clip with him and Michael Moore in "Bowling For Columbine" highlighted his ignorance and arrogance regarding race relations in this country. You can have him as an actor, but as a human being he didn't evolve very far on the playground of life. In fact, judging from his previous liberal history, he seemed to have gotten himself backed into a corner he couldn't get out of. Guess that kind of internal fight can make a person cranky, or crazy.
It also amazes me that you go after Hillary and Bill everyday on here, for the way you think they have failed America and served themselves, but when someone suggest that Heston (an Actor for Christ's sakes! ) might have been selling out in his later years for the money and the spotlight, and to have people still look up to him, well-I'm just more than a little surprised. Again. Actors take a chance when they pick a cause. Whether they step on a stage to act in front of a camera, or up to a podium to testify before Congress, they are painting a big red target on their ass, and the chance they take being received by others is the same: you can't control people's perceptions of you. If your an actor, and you want to be remembered for your acting, shut up. Otherwise, don't complain.

[philly282]

Not to be THAT guy...but if a liberal icon died and john gibson or Bill O said something criticizing their life's work, john gibson and Bill O would be called "insensitive and heartless". Mr. Greenfield's article mostly talks about the actions and policy matters that accompanied Mr. Heston's life, but saying he sold his soul, does count as a personal attack. Mr. Greenfield is not in the same league as Gibson, Limbaugh, and Bill O...but Mr. greenfield should be held accountable in the same way. btw, i don't need to confirm my lib street cred. i supported (and still do) john edwards, so maybe that's why i view charlton heston so favorably, despite mr. heston's stance on gun control. the obama/clinton liberals would have a harder time embracing an American icon over the age of 60. And because i supported Edwards doesn't make me less liberal than the obama/clinton liberals. im a democrat and liberal because helping out the poor and lower middle class is my number priority...Mr. edwards was the best candidate for that cause

Most of the male blogger's on Huff Po want to be the next Keith olbermann, or that dude who does 'Fox Attacks'...and they think by 'turning up the heat' and being more extreme, they can achieve that goal of being the next big liberal media truth czar. Mr. Greenfield, your journalistic soul was compromised, so you could appear more 'buzz-worthy'. don't quit your day job

[gonavy]

John Gibson lost his show very shortly after he made offensive remarks about Heath Ledger on his radio show. I submitted one of the thousands of emails complaining about his remarks. He was smug and glib and judgemental, and I'm glad Fox gave him the boot.

This author is using the same tactic. It must be hard to get recognized in this industry ,judging by the tactics they will use to get attention. Who is feeding their ego, Mr Greenfield?

[Sammyshow]

I only wish some of these comments had the same energy for Wayne LaPierre, the NRA honcho,who in an ABC interview shrugged over the possibility of people on an FBI watch list getting guns. This is the organization Mr. Heston fronted. I have criticized liberals,I daresay you wont find anyone at Fox going after their own side. After all,I am just a guy expressing an opinion,condemning the whole of my chatracter says more about you than me

[feo]

If I understand the NRA's stand correctly, there is no such thing as an illegal weapon. Fine. Allow everyone to keep/bear arms. There is, however, nothing in the Constitution that gurantees anyone's right to FIRE a weapon or own ammunition for said weapon. You can keep it, carry it around, but you can't fire it. No more blowing up small animals for "sport."

[aquatrap]

You realize now how stupid that statemnt is right. There are more than 200 million small arms in the hands of cloe to 300 million ppl. Of theose armed how many do you figure use them to hunt or shoot small animals? Ill tell you it is less than 15 million nation wide and declining. The main reason we have the 2nd amendment is to defend ourselves from a govthat might oppress us as we have today. Please don't be so simplistic

[meanguy]

typical left-wing ranting...'losing his soul?'...try 'standing up for his beliefs'...something sorely lacking in our culture of 'it's all good.' there are more liberals who support the second amendment than you might suspect...and more conservatives who support the first amendment...but, i suppose that generalizations are easier than thought...

[stupidme]

Why does the 2nd amendment say "bear" arms as opposed to "own" arms ?? And why the bother of even mentioning a "militia?".

[meanguy]

the amendment says that the 'right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed'...or did the word "keep" escape your notice? and the words 'the right of THE PEOPLE"...not "the militia"...who are "the people?" you and i are! bottom line, in THIS country, we have the right to 'keep and bear arms'...if you can't dig that, your options are: amend the constitution, or 'amend your citizenship' ; the choice is yours! but don't, whatever you do, stop speaking out for your beliefs... i know i won't stop speaking out for mine!

[cascot]

There seems to be a deficiency in your American History education. I cannot teach you all that you are lacking on this post, but I will keep to the "bear" minimum. The "right to bear arms" is a military/militia reference. Our forefathers had very little faith in government always doing the right thing and obeying a voted on constitution(ie. the British/King Geo. III treatment of the American colonies). They KNEW the citizens needed to have a legal out if the government was not representing the peoples' rights. Soooo...they put in the document that we could have militias and keep arms for defending ourselves AGAINST a government gone seriously bad. Felons are not allowed to have guns, but geeeeee, ya think they might disobey the law?? There is no problem with the law abiding citizen having guns--most of us have them to defend ourselves against those "darned felons" that WON"T obey the law. THAT is where the problem is--the criminal, NOT the law abiding citizen.

[meanguy]

you'll recall that it says the

[rwe]

Heston also led a protest against NorthWestern when they wanted to close down the student newspaper . Everything he supported with the 1st and 2nd ammendment are constitutional rights .If anything it is Moore whos was despicable in his rancid sensationalism fictional films that exploited the tragedies

[Kundera]

Heston: Defender of the 1st AND 2nd Amendments. By the way lefties, the 2nd Amendment is a key part of othe Constitution which you claim to love so much.

[comeonnow]

While I do not agree with Mr. Heston's later views, you should get your facts straight when defaming the recently passed. Columbine was in April 1999. The "cold dead hand's" line was from the NRA convention in 2000. (Even though Mr. Moore implied differently in his movie.)

Please try to keep SOME journalism standards when posting. A ten second google search isn't asking too much.

[comeonnow]

Here is the full text of the 1999 Denver Speech (from Michael Moore's website). It's not in there - you should print a retraction.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/wackoattacko/heston.php

[thatvisionthing]

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/wackoattacko/index.php -- Michael Moore says:

The oddest of all the smears thrown at "Bowling for Columbine" is this one:

"The film depicts NRA president Charlton Heston giving a speech near Columbine; he actually gave it a year later and 900 miles away..."
Um, yeah, that's right! I made it up! Heston never went there! He never said those things!

Or....

The Truth: Heston took his NRA show to Denver and did and said exactly what we recounted. From the end of my narration setting up Heston's speech in Denver, with my words, "a big pro-gun rally," every word out of Charlton Heston's mouth was uttered right there in Denver, just 10 days after the Columbine tragedy...

As for the clip preceding the Denver speech, when Heston proclaims "from my cold dead hands," this appears as Heston is being introduced in narration. It is Heston's most well-recognized NRA image " hoisting the rifle overhead as he makes his proclamation, as he has done at virtually every political appearance on behalf of the NRA (before and since Columbine). I have merely re-broadcast an image supplied to us by a Denver TV station, an image which the NRA has itself crafted for the media, or, as one article put it, "the mantra of dedicated gun owners" which they "wear on T-shirts, stamp it on the outside of envelopes, e-mail it on the Internet and sometimes shout it over the phone."

[Bulbul]

Lately, Charleston Heston`s stand was associated with NRA, racial intolerance all of it came from the media. His personality was so grim, I could not watch them any more , two of his early movies...actually I regreted spending money to see them .
After his death his walk with Dr. King surfaced . No point of speaking ill of the deceased, but I am curious what could transform a person so much ...

On the contrary most of us try to be a better person with time..

[Kundera]

What can transform him? That's ridiculous. Early in anti gun laws the reasoning was to keep guns out of African American hands. Heston was for freedom for all, supporter of the Constitution. He was consistent, unlike all his critics. ALL should have the right to defend themselves, not just white people. Sorry.

[cascot]

Mr. Heston's walking with MLK DID NOT MAKE HIM A LIBERAL. He was defending the right of all peoples to be treated equally. It's in the Bill of Rights and Constitution. So is freedom of speech--which many of you would have liked to suppress HIS right to express. The right to keep and bear arms is in the constitution also... Hmmmm....seems to me he was a faithful American wanting to defend the Constitution, AND IN THAT WAY, THE MAN NEVER CHANGED!

[Joeseo]

I am glad the Huffington Post closed the site from comments yesterday. On reflection, I think his persona was exploited by Hollywood and he was maneuvered to head the NRA. I thank Michael Moore for documenting Heston's Alzheimer condition. To me, it reveals how the NRA and Hollywood prosper by touting shoot 'em ups.

May he rest in peace.

[southsideirish]

Tasteless. Absolutely tasteless. If this was Falwell, I could understand it. At least he said 9/11 was earned by a minority sect of our citizens. But a "Good Riddance" article is hardly deserved in this case. Michael Moore was wildly unfair in his characterization of Mr. Heston in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE as is Mr. Greenfield here. For crying out loud, could you wait til he's at least cold before you desecrate his grave, please?!!! I have friends that are EXTREMELY ANTI-GUN and even they would find this repulsive. Look, he shared a different opinion than you. That doesn't mean he opened fire on school children, or even did something tantamount to it by supporting gun rights. I'm not a gun nut by any means, but I still find this whole thing grotesque. If you want to know why some "red states" vote against their economic interests, this is it--pontificating liberals who spend all their time shrieking about how the "backwoods/backwards hunter/farmer" will surely kill us all with his ignorant and violent ways.

[dgrffy]

Well said. When did respectful disagreement go out the window? I thought of Heston the other day, and am sad at his passing. I don't own a gun, and disagreed with much of the NRA's views, but I also supported their attempt to stop the ending of a right stated in the Bill of Rights. But Heston was more than that. He was an icon from a past generation, and a deep person. As one whose father has Alzheimers, I never appreciated the 'tolerance crowd' jabbing at him for this. I am sad he is gone, and we watched the 10 Commandments last night in memory of him. He will be missed, but more than anything, the time he came from will be missed.

[thatvisionthing]

Michael Moore was NOT unfair. He makes documentaries. He photographs reality and puts it out there. He didn't "characterize" Mr. Heston, Mr. Heston spoke for himself. What was especially grotesque about Mr. Heston's gun-ho appearance at the gun rally in Colorado in Bowling for Columbine is that it came immediately on the heels of the Columbine massacre of innocents. You want space for Mr. Heston to get cold in his grave before the desecration begins... hey, it works both ways, the Columbine parents would have liked that too. That was the point.

[1will]

Charlton Heston brought a familiar face to the NRA. Prior to his taking over the head of this organization the NRA was just a faceless organization demonized by it's critics. As most that dislike the NRA have never learned anything of the group except the half truths and outright lies spouted by critics, Charlton Heston helped bring the NRA into the mainstream. He did this in spite of the inevitable attacks from the left. He was a stronger and better man than his critics and will be missed.
RIP

[Mack20]

Typical liberal logic. Heston supported civil rights then changed parties. Since all republicans are racists, he and Reagan must have been living double lives and finally came out of the closet. You libs wish you had someone as solid and awesome as Charelton Heston to call your own. Instead your stuck with the likes of Alec Baldwin, Ed Asner and Sean Penn. Good actors but pitiful Americans.

[1will]

Well said. If Baldwin, Asner and Penn were twice the men they are now they would still be half the man as Charlton Heston and Ronald Reagan were.

[SatanicPanic]

Yeah, we wish we had Heston. And Fred Thompson. And Ronald Reagan. And John Wayne! The best actors of their generations!

[Sammyshow]

I never wrote that Republicans were racist. The actors you mentioned excercised their right of free expression and speech, which judging from your posting is only the bailiwick of the right.