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So, I had a call from the National Rifle Association . . .

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LibertyLover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 11:39 AM
Original message
So, I had a call from the National Rifle Association . . .
Saturday afternoon my husband went out to his favorite hobby store and my toddler was down for her nap. Ahhh, wonderful freedom and time to lie on the chase lounge eating bon bons. Ooops, wrong scenario. What I actually was doing was cleaning the guest bedroom, because we actually have to use it in a week to house, well, guests. So, I'm putting stuff in piles, like stepdaughter's stuff (the girl has been out of our house and in her own place for a year and I still have some of her stuff in the guest bedroom), Good Will, pitch, etc. when the phone rings. Toddler can usually sleep through anything, but she had just gone down and I know from painful experience that if she wakes up then, it's all over.

So, I ran to the nearest phone and answered the call. The voice on the other end asked if this is . I cautiously answered yes, it is. "Oh," says the Voice, "can I call you or do you prefer ." I answered "It depends on who you are." Oh said the Voice. I'm Betty and I'm calling for the NRA. "In that case", I said, "you may call me Ms. Last Name." You could almost hear the double eye-blink. Then the Voice carried on with her spiel "We want to thank you for your past support of the NRA (I was a member for a couple of years, but dropped out when they got too weird for me.). What would you do if the UN came in your house and took your guns?"

"Well," I said, "they are welcome to - I don't own any guns. (conveniently forgetting my husband's revolver and rifled muskets locked up in the basement). But, let me ask you, isn't using "the UN is coming to take your guns away" routine getting old and stale?"

"But," the Voice sputtered "they are trying to do just that - take your guns away." So I repeated - I don't own guns, and don't want to because I have a toddler in the house.

Now the Voice was clearly confused and asked "Were you ever a member of the NRA?" To which I replied that yes, I had been, but my views on guns had changed over the years, especially since I became a mother and besides, I didn't care for the politicians and policies the NRA kept supporting. I finished up with "You people support too many pro-Bush Republicans and you are not going to do that with my money."

"Oh," said the Voice, "does that mean I can't put you down to renew your membership?" "Bingo" I replied, "Best luck with your next call." and hung up.

In retrospect, I wish that I had just said, no thanks, not interested and hung up, but it was kind of fun. My husband got a laugh out of it when he got home and reminded me that one of my colleagues from work had been seconded to the UN so that I should have told the NRA person that if it were Raj who showed up at the door to take my guns away, I'd invite him in and offer him a cup of tea.

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bertha katzenengel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 11:42 AM
Response to Original message
1. "does that mean I can't put you down to renew your membership?"
:rofl:

Here's your sign . . . .
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Bullwinkle925 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 12:05 PM
Response to Original message
2. Pretty darned funny - if it wasn't so darned sad!
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Wapsie B Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 12:24 PM
Response to Original message
3. The UN taking our guns away?
The party of fear. Fear and greed = gop.
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LynneSin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 01:01 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. Here I thought it was Al Gore and John Kerry
I guess those names because useless after the stolen election.

Earth to NRA

NO ONE IS TAKING YOUR GUNS IF YOU'RE A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN!!!



Even then I don't think anyone is going door to door checking

:crazy:
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quisp Donating Member (926 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 12:27 PM
Response to Original message
4. I think you did the right thing
by engaging the caller. I'll bet it was a volunteer who probably never heard a different view.

Maybe wishing her luck with the next call was being a little too nice. I try to talk telemarketers into some other line of work like crisis hotlines.

It's always better to engage the foot soldiers of the RW.
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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
5. Outstanding! And likewise, too funny!
You did it perfectly! I think that engaging that person was just the right thing to do....

Congrats...And I do hope that your toddler stayed asleep during this lovely exchange...


:hi: :hug: :applause: :applause:
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LibertyLover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-29-05 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. NRA Telephone call
Yeah, the kidlet slept through it. If she had gotten up, it would have been screaming (and does she ever have lung power!) - at which point I might have been tempted to take the phone into her room with the NRA person still on it and let them hear what their silliness had wrought.

Me: "Honey bug - it's the NRA."
Kidlet "SCREAM"
Me: "I'm sorry, I can't talk to you any more - the mere mention of your name makes my kid scream in fear. Good bye."
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