I'm a member of the National Rifle Association and support the organization. I don't think that its leaders are out of touch with its members, as some anti-gun groups contend in an attempt to discredit the leadership. However, I do believe that the leadership is blind to the fact that its message is not getting out effectively. While I have great respect for Charlton Heston and Wayne LaPierre for all the work they've done to support the cause, neither has responded properly in live debates. Though "prosecution" may be the answer to gun crime, it is not the answer to every question. Too often it is given as such, however, like in this morning's Today show discussion between Charlton Heston and Maria Shriver. It's not as though we have any reason to dodge these questions; we simply need a skilled spokesperson to give the right answers to the questions being posed.

For example, the "Youth Crime Bill": the NRA agreed to almost all of the President's demands, except for the 72 hour maximum for "instant" background checks, and still Maria Shriver attacked the NRA's position. Apparently the gun lobby is the only side that should compromise!

And the reason the NRA remains steadfast on that issue? Because with a single Executive Order, the President could kill the American gun show. The great majority of gun shows are one or two day events. From start to close they run maybe 30 hours. People come together at them from long distances to compare prices at a single location and increase their chances of finding what they're looking for without having to travel all over the place. Even a maximum of 24 hours means that some purchases will be impossible because the seller or buyer will no longer be around by the time the background check goes through. The show will have been long over. A maximum time limit of 72 hours for an "instant" check not only makes this problem even worse, but leaves Bill Clinton the option of instating a "minimum" time limit upon the instant check system through the use of an Executive Order. He's always pushed for a fixed waiting period and not only would he accomplish that, but he would completely eliminate the ability of people to make transactions at gun shows. Even a 48 hour waiting period would outlive a 30 hour gun show. The result is that the gun show would basically cease to exist... something that Clinton and his anti-gun allies would just love to see.

And Clinton's insistence that gun prosecutions are up? You'll note that he often points to state and local prosecutions. Excuse me? What does that have to do with the federal government? How can Clinton take responsibility for something he has no authority often? And let's not forget that not only do federal laws apply in addition to most state and local charges, but they are often harsher. The point the NRA is making is that we have these tough laws at the federal level, they're almost completely being ignored, and yet we want to pass even more federal laws to address the same problem! Where's the sense in that?

Unfortunately, this simple information is not clearly being explained. Instead we're hearing the same thing over and over again: prosecution, prosecution, prosecution. While I have to agree with the basic idea, I don't think it's being said in the most persuasive manner. The gun lobby needs a spokesperson who isn't afraid to answer the questions and isn't afraid to stray from the line of "prosecution" in order to do so.