“The problem is with the political arm of the NRA. I don’t know in the last 10 years whether there has been any compromise with guns by the NRA.” That’s the considered opinion of Florida US Representative Tom Rooney, one of 28 GOP house members who are retiring after this term. Now that appealing to voters isn’t an issue for him any more, he’s announced that he’s disappointed that the NRA didn’t back down and support the effort to raise the age to buy “assault rifles” to 21.

Gee Congressman, we can think of a couple of reasons the NRA stood firm on that point. First, as they noted at the time . . .

Legislative proposals that prevent law-abiding adults aged 18-20 years old from acquiring rifles and shotguns effectively prohibits them for purchasing any firearm, thus depriving them of their constitutional right to self-protection.

Depriving adults — i.e. anyone 18 years of age or older — of a constitutional right seems more than a little problematic. So there’s that.

And then there’s the strategic rationale for not giving ground. “Compromise” as defined by the media, the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex, and gun-grabbing politicians (apparently including GOP pols who no longer need votes) is always defined as giving in and moving toward the gun controllers’ position.

First, it’s “common sense” gun safety measures like mandatory gun locks and “safe storage” laws requiring guns and ammo to always be under lock and key. Next it’s magazine capacity limits, because who could possibly need more than 10 rounds of ammunition in any non-battlefield situation?

Come to think of it, “weapons of war” have no place on our streets (and everyone knows ARs are never used for hunting) so let’s just ban them because DO SOMETHING.

And while we’re at it, no one really needs a bump stock or even semi-automatic rifles. They’re mostly only used by wacko hillbillies to blast poor little animals, so let’s make those verboten, too.

Anyone see a trend here? It’s called the slippery slope. The long game. And the Bloombergs, Bradys, Watts and Everitts have been playing it for decades now.

So, Rep. Rooney, you’ll have to excuse the NRA and the rest of us who value our Second Amendment rights if we’ve seen this movie before and don’t care to watch it again. Here’s hoping the good people of Florida’s 17th Congressional District have the foresight to elect someone in your place who has a better understanding of what we’re up against (I support the Second Amendment, but…) and isn’t so willing to compromise with those who want nothing more than to limit their right to keep and bear arms at every possible opportunity.