The Case: Is "Mom's Demand Action" a Hate Group.......

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by BTPost, Mar 12, 2014.


  1. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Is Moms Demand Action A Hate Group?

    March 10, 2014 by Eric Reed



    Every once in a while, Americans will send me an article they’ve written. That’s exactly just what Iraqi War Veteran Richard Howell just did. The following article I found to be very thorough, well researched, factual, and 100% Mr. Howell’s work. It’s a bit lengthy, but worth the read. I hope you find it as enlightening as I did.

    A few days after the Boston Marathon bombing, I remembered the idea was brought up that nobody was quick to blame all Muslims for it, yet, after the Sandy Hook massacre, 2nd Amendment supporters and gun owners were demonized en mass, so far as to actually receive media sponsorship. “Why is that?”, I thought.

    There’s no doubt that US Congress is very familiar with left-wing focus groups that lobby politicians for a variety of changes that they seek. This includes a broad spectrum of environmentalists, animal rights activists, and so on.

    My question is, “How does Moms Demand Action fit into the equation, and what are some of their features that make them unique?” In this article I will discuss Moms Demand Action in a little more detail.

    After observing some of the comments that MDA supporters have written on various social media platforms, it reminded me of some of the same things that we’ve seen from groups like the Skinheads, Black Panthers, and Westboro Baptist Church.

    At the time, the idea sounded somewhat laughable to make such a comparison, yet still, there was something about this group that just didn’t seem right, and I wanted to figure it out. This prompted me to begin research to find out whether or not there is a set of criteria that groups must meet in order to be considered a “hate group”.

    Indeed there is.

    WHAT IS A HATE GROUP?

    According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, “All hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.” Hate Map | Southern Poverty Law Center

    After reading this statement, the phase,“gun nuts” immediately came to mind.

    The next question is, “Would being a supporter of the 2nd Amendment count as being an ‘immutable characteristic’?” I would like to think so. Although we may decide one morning that we don’t like guns anymore, it’s also important to note that religion works the same way, and it’s listed specifically as a means by which people are attacked and discriminated against by hate groups.

    Here is the FBI’s definition of a hate group, to include religion:

    “Hate, a complex subject, divides into two general categories: rational and irrational. Unjust acts inspire rational hate. Hatred of a person based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin constitutes irrational hate.”
    http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/p...letin/2003-pdfs/mar03leb.pdf/at_download/file

    Although support for gun rights and the 2nd Amendment does not qualify as a religion, it does qualify as a belief, and as such, is an “immutable characteristic”. My belief that the 2nd Amendment is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights is no less valid that someone else’s belief that Mohammed is God’s only prophet. In both cases, there are also well-established organizations that support these beliefs and attempt to raise awareness of them.

    With that, let’s take a look at some of the comments that have been made by Shannon Watts, of Moms Demand Action, and determine whether or not they “malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics”:

    “Seeing people intimidate you with guns, that’s something the Taliban would approve of, not our founding fathers, … That is not what the Second Amendment is intended to do”.Shannon Watts, MDA

    “American mothers will not allow a depraved, vocal minority to sully or smear the memory of the victims of Sandy Hook”.Shannon Watts, MDA

    “This is a coffee company that has championed progressive issues, … They’ve positioned themselves about being about the human spirit – that was so at odds with this policy that allowed guns inside their stores”.Shannon Watts, MDA

    “If people continue to be disruptive and open carry I am confident they will not let them in their stores and take action. And if they don’t we will come back at them full force”.Shannon Watts, MDA

    “The jury did their very best but they were hamstrung by Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, … The law basically legalizes armed vigilantes”.Shannon Watts, MDA

    “But in the absence of reason, the vocal minority — including Ms. Loesch and gun lobbyists — will continue to drive our nation’s gun policy, endangering our children and families”.Shannon Watts, MDA

    These comments do, in fact, appear to malign an entire class of people, for their immutable characteristics. Now that Moms Demand has demonstrated behavior that fits into the SPLC’s definition of a “hate group”, I decided to read more about what the FBI says about hate groups:

    “Both rational and irrational hate mask personal insecurities. Everyone experiences personal insecurities in varying degrees throughout their lives. The more insecure a person feels, the larger the hate mask.

    . . . Not all insecure people are haters, but all haters are insecure people.”

    “Fascinating”, I thought. This explains why most of my attempts at “reasonable” and “sensible” dialog with gun control advocates results in being blocked by whatever means the social platform makes available. It has nothing to do with me personally, or the things that I say to them – this happens to most gun rights supporters consistently and predictably.

    Continuing on:

    “With respect to rational hate, haters do not focus as much on the wrong done to them or others, but, rather, on their own helplessness, guilt, or inability to effect change.”

    This explains why they believe that victims are victims solely because they cannot get the laws that they want passed. The fact that they’ve experienced incredible losses in the political fight would only fuel this mentality even further. And it certainly has!

    At this point, I am thoroughly fascinated. What else does the FBI say about hate groups?!The FBI has taken the time for us, to investigate the characteristics of hate groups, and find common traits that they all seem to have or follow. Remember when I said that Moms Demand Action reminds me a little of the Skinheads, Black Panthers, and Westboro Baptist Church? Well, there’s a reason for that as well. Hate groups, apparently, go through the same stages. Seven of them, to be precise.

    THE HATE MODEL (condensed as applicable)

    Take a look at the FBI’s Hate Model, and see if any immediate examples of some of these stages come to mind:
    http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/p...letin/2003-pdfs/mar03leb.pdf/at_download/file

    “Stage 1: The Haters GatherIrrational haters seldom hate alone. They feel compelled, almost driven, to entreat others to hate as they do. Peer validation bolsters a sense of self-worth, and, at the same time, prevents introspection, which reveals personal insecurities. . .

    Stage 2: The Hate Group Defines ItselfHate groups form identities through symbols, rituals, and mythologies, which enhance the members’ status and, at the same time, degrade the object of their hate. . . Group-specific symbols or clothing often differentiate hate groups.

    Stage 3: The Hate Group Disparages the TargetHate is the glue that binds haters to one another and to a common cause. By verbally debasing the object of their hate, haters enhance their self-image, as well as their group status. . . Thus, after constant verbal denigration, haters progress to the next more acrimonious stage.

    Stage 4: The Hate Group Taunts the TargetHate, by its nature, changes incrementally. Time cools the fire of hate, thus forcing the hater to look inward. To avoid introspection, haters use ever-increasing degrees of rhetoric to maintain high levels of agitation. Taunts and offensive gestures serve this purpose.

    Stage 5: The Hate Group Attacks the Target Without WeaponsThis stage is critical because it differentiates vocally abusive haters from physically abusive ones.

    Stage 6: The Hate Group Attacks the Target with WeaponsSeveral studies confirm that a large number of bias attacks involve weapons. . .

    Stage 7: The Hate Group Destroys the TargetThe ultimate goal of haters is to destroy the object of their hate. Mastery over live and death imbues the hater with godlike power and omnipotence, which, in turn, facilitate further acts of violence.

    Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Moms Demand Action” hasn’t actually physically assaulted anyone, though”. I thought the same thing. Neither has Westboro Baptist Church, and they are absolutely considered to be a hate group. Why is that so?

    Both the FBI and the SPLC say that attacks do not need to be physical attacks. . .

    SPLC: “Listing here does not imply a group advocates or engages in violence or other criminal activity.”

    . . . and weapons do not need to be physical weapons (FBI Hate Model Stages 6 & 7).

    FBI: “Anecdotal evidence suggests that this hate model has a wider application. For example, when a coworker become a hate target for reasons other than race, sex, or national origin, the hater immediately seeks out others in the office who dislike, or can be persuaded to dislike, the hated coworker (Stage 1). The group establishes an identity using symbols and behaviors. . . The haters even may adopt a name for their group (Stage 2). At this point, the haters only disparage the hated coworker within their group (Stage 3). As time passes, the haters openly insult the hated coworker either directly or indirectly by allowing disparaging remarks to be overheard from afar (Stage 4). One morning, the hated coworker discovers his desk rearranged and offensive images pasted over a picture depicting his wife and children (Stage 5). Eventually, the haters sabotage the hated coworker’s projects and attempt to ruin the individual’s reputation through rumors and innuendoes (Stage 6). In so doing, the haters make the work environment intolerable for the hate target (Stage 7). Scenarios like this occur every day across America and, indeed, around the world. The targets of hate may change, but the hate process remains constant.”

    Now it’s time to verify our homework. If Moms Demand Action is indeed a hate group, then we should be able to measure it as it progressed through the seven stages.

    Stage 1: Yes, they gathered.

    Stage 2: They have established a name, logo (with a bulls-eye in the exclamation point, which specifically “degrades the object of their hate”, as the FBI also mentions). They wear T-Shirts with this name and logo to their events.

    Stage 3: MDA no doubt has some amazing things to say about gun rights supporters and the NRA amongst themselves. Anyone who wants an example needs to look no further than Twitter. There are countless examples to be found there.

    Stage 4: Shannon Watts has given us some wonderful examples of the group “openly insulting the target” in the aforementioned quotes. Their propaganda also openly insults gun rights supporters and the NRA. The most notable example is actually racist to boot.

    Stage 5: I always wondered why they attacked Staples, Starbucks, and Facebook while the gang-bangers were out on the streets actively killing people. They physically showed up to Staples and Starbucks, to attack the businesses’ tolerance of open and concealed carry as per state law.

    Stage 6: What weapons have been employed by Moms Demand Action? The weapon of choice is disinformation and sabotage. By blaming the NRA for gun-related crime, MDA is seeking to ruin the NRA’s reputation via false information. Entire studies have been planned, conducted and developed to specifically accomplish this, which is exactly why the NRA has stood against researching gun violence in the first place.

    Stage 7: Although we cannot credit Moms Demand Action for the creation of the NY Safe Act and other legislation that has officially created felons with the stroke of a pen, we can give them credit for sponsoring it and actively promoting it. Without their assistance, it’s very likely that these bills might not have passed into law. Therefore, they are equally as responsible for it as the governors who signed such legislation into law.

    In Connecticut, gun owners have been forced into outright civil disobedience, becoming felons under the new gun control laws that were passed there. This demonstrates the official destruction of their targets. Any attempt to enforce those laws or otherwise end civil disobedience would result in imagery like that of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. As we learned then, just because it’s law, doesn’t mean that it isn’t hateful by nature.

    A similar environment exists in New York, where the Safe Act has created enough controversy and discontent by demonizing gun owners to the point where most law enforcement agencies have vowed not to enforce it. I believe that for those who aren’t active gun rights supporters, just the idea of outright persecuting a large group of people . . . “feels wrong”, somehow.

    DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MDA AND ESTABLISHED FOCUS GROUPS

    The most significant anomaly of Moms Demand Action, I think, are differences that separate it from other focus groups. On the surface, all it has done is petition business and government for rules and laws. This might not seem like a big deal, but think about it a little more.

    Animal rights activists have thrown fake blood on people. They have freed animals from zoos. Some have been listed as “eco-terrorists”. Environmentalists are out spiking trees and picking up trash. Those pushing for marriage equality are forming parades to raise tolerance and acceptance of their cause. Those concerned about STD awareness are passing out free condoms. And so on. In other words, when your typical focus group isn’t lobbying someone, they’re out doing something else that they feel advances their cause and addresses their concerns, legally or illegally.

    Does Moms Demand Action sell (or give away) gun locks or pass out gun safety tips? No. Do they offer any gun safety courses? No. Are they doing anything at all besides asking for legislation and rules? Negative. The only time, in fact, that I’ve ever seen them pass anything out was when they passed out free pie to members of the Colorado state legislature, just before a key vote regarding arming teachers and faculty.

    This suggests that they exist primarily as a hate group. Anyone who expresses legitimate concern about gun safety would do something to improve it, as other focus groups would with their causes and concerns. The fact that they aren’t doing so falls neatly in line with the FBI’s observation of hate groups and how they function.

    DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MDA AND ESTABLISHED HATE GROUPS

    What makes MDA unique as a hate group is that it isn’t racially fueled. At least not to the magnitude of what we see from other groups such as the KKK. Anyone who agrees with their point of view is allowed to join.

    Nor do its members display hatred in the way that other groups do. While, for example, members of the Aryan Nation display swastikas and shout obscenities, MDA’s open attacks on 2nd Amendment supporters appear to be much more veiled and restrained.

    I believe this makes the group significantly more dangerous as far as propagating social intolerance goes. It has received extensive media coverage as a result of the way that they interact with the public, as well as with politicians and business managers. In fact, it may seem ludicrous to compare them to groups like the Black Panthers due to their non-violent and tame tone. On the contrary, they have spent great effort to make themselves appear to be as harmless as possible.

    The group also receives funding from Michael Bloomberg, founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group which also displays many of these same characteristics. This certainly wouldn’t be the only hate group that received funds from a politician, but the openness in which it has, seems to set a precedent.

    Aside from these differences, however, they are similar in every other way.

    CONCLUSION

    Any attack on any civil right should immediately sound alarms and warning flags. The gun control advocacy’s attempt to quell this natural reaction has been to discredit the Bill of Rights, citing that it is antiquated and no longer applicable. It has also attempted to distort the meaning of the 2nd Amendment, which was explicitly written to avoid confusion and is further explained in the latest Supreme Court decision (and those that precede it).

    It is clear that America has rejected Moms Demand Action. What isn’t so clear is why. On the surface, they appear to be obnoxious and intolerant; pursuing objectives that do not address criminal activity, gun safety, or virtually anything that they have been complaining about.

    Below the surface, they fit the SPLC and FBI definition of a “hate group”. I believe that subconsciously, the American people have already come to this conclusion, and hope that this article helps to bring to light why that may be so.

    That pretty much sums it up. I’m Eric Reed Eric Reed | Facebook, and may God bless America
     
    bfayer, Airtime, tulianr and 3 others like this.
  2. bfayer

    bfayer Keeper Of The Faith

    I appreciate where the author is going with this, and I don't disagree with his logic, but trying to label anyone as a hate group is a slippery slope.

    Generally speaking I am opposed to the concept of "Hate Groups". When we start labeling groups based on "thought" we create a Pandora's box that can ultimately lead to government sponsored oppression. On the surface the concept of hate groups sounds like a good idea, after all "hate groups want to do bad things to protected groups of people, how can it be bad to label them?

    The problem is: Who is it okay to hate and who is it not okay to hate? Is the SPLC a hate group? After all they hate Nazis and the KKK and want to wipe them off the face of the earth. What if someday a Neo-Nazi party gained controlled of congress and the administration (through constitutional elections)? Could they declare the SPLC or the ADL hate groups? What if the Audubon Society gains control of the government? Could they declare timber industry trade associations hate groups?

    The ADL has classified "Oath Keepers" as a hate group. The Oath Keepers are promising to never follow orders to put people in concentration camps, to never follow orders to take away the constitutional freedom of any American. I wonder if the ADL would call them a hate group if Nazis or the KKK controlled our government?

    The bottom line is you can't legislate or target thought, because "good thought" and "bad thought" is completely relative to who is in control at the time.
     
    BTPost, Mike and ghrit like this.
  3. Mike

    Mike Ol' Army Sergeant Monkey

    Yes, MDA is a hate group and badly misguided.
     
  4. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Besides that, who shaves the barber?;)
     
    Mike likes this.
  5. Mike

    Mike Ol' Army Sergeant Monkey

    Chicken or egg????? one of the conundrums of the world. Why do they call the fire department to rescue cats from trees. Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree??????? Why do they put "Use in a well ventilated area" on mold cleaner. If it was well ventilated there wouldn't be mold.
     
  6. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I agree you need to be careful with labels, or one may be applied to you.
     
  7. Mike

    Mike Ol' Army Sergeant Monkey

    I am a hate group. I hate the anti-Constitutionalists.
     
    tacmotusn and bfayer like this.
  8. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Hate groups get their guns taken away.....:rolleyes:you sure?;)
     
    Mike likes this.
  9. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Well, I for one, am a "Like Group"......
     
    tacmotusn, kellory and Mike like this.
  10. Mike

    Mike Ol' Army Sergeant Monkey

    They used to give me a gun to protect the Constitution. Go figure
     
    tacmotusn likes this.
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7