Nuance: Shot Down In Flames

“Why We Fight” – The NRA Declares Its Enemy

Heavy Artillery: Guns on the Campaign Trail

On Friday, the National Rifle Association gave a full-throated endorsement for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign – and at the same time the group started its scorched earth attack campaign against Hillary Clinton.The gun fight between Trump and Clinton is making itself out to be the first real general election fight between the two presumptive nominees – and it looks like its going to get ugly.When Trump accepted the NRA’s endorsement on Friday, he made the case that Hillary Clinton wants to “abolish” the Second Amendment – a claim that some say holds little water, but nevertheless garners massive applause.Working like Trump’s personal super PAC, the NRA is launching an anti-Clinton attack ad campaign echoing Trump’s message. Clinton’s gun control platform, the NRA argues, would be the same as Australia’s buyback in the early-2000s – which the NRA portrays as a fascist nightmare scenario.We hear Australian Senator David Leyonhjelm warning America not to adopt an Australia-style firearm buyback program, while we see shots of a bulldozer turning mountains of guns into scrap metal. His warning is juxtaposed with President Barack Obama and Clinton saying the Australian model is “worth looking at.”For good measure, the NRA followed up Monday morning with another anti-Clinton attack ad, titled “Why We Fight” – a play on the WWII propaganda films of the same name that made the case for America’s involvement against the Nazis.The minute-long ad features various clips from Clinton on the campaign trail, where she rails against the NRA, the “gun lobby” and America’s gun culture. The ad’s only message: “Any questions?”As with many issues in the political world these days, Americans are bitterly divided on gun control – split nearly 50/50 over more gun restriction, or more gun freedom. And with the two candidates themselves staking out polar opposite views on firearms, get ready to see a lot more attack ads leading up to Election Day.