Wednesday, May 21, 2014

This 'Hip' New Web Show Markets The NRA To Millennials



This 'Hip' New Web Show Markets The NRA To Millennials
Pamela Engel
May 15, 2014, 1:20 PM
As its membership ages, the National Rifle Association is trying to appeal to the younger generation with a "hip" new web show called "Noir."

The show features Colion Noir (not his real name) and Amy Robbins as hosts, and the first episode is about 16 minutes long. As Mike Spies at Vocativ pointed out, the show is likely part of the NRA's bid to attract younger members.

Noir defies the stereotypical NRA member, whom he refers to as OFWG: "Old, fat white guys." The show could be helpful if the NRA hopes to change its image with young people, and it seems Noir is already well liked within the gun community. The Los Angeles Times writes that he has become an "internet sensation" and is growing in popularity.

The NRA doesn't release demographic information for its members, but we know gun owners tend to be older white men. A Pew Research Center survey from last year showed the 18-29 age group is the smallest proportion of gun owners in America. That survey also showed higher rates of gun ownership among men than women, and higher rates among whites than blacks.

The sleek set of "Noir," coupled with references to twerking and Lululemon, make the show look like something you'd see on MTV — but with talk of firearms and Second Amendment rights added in.

We'll be interested to see if this show resonates with millennials since the first episode had some eyebrow-raising moments.

After Robbins mentioned Hillary Clinton airing her opinion about gun control on TV, Noir said (emphasis ours):

"Of all the women on the planet, we get stuck with her as being the potential first female president of the United States. ... She's very uninspiring. And not to mention the fact that it's pretty blatant that Hillary is no longer sleeping with Bill Clinton. Because if she were, he would inform her that this whole gun issue thing and trying to walk this elusive line of gun control but still for the Second Amendment rights is probably not the smartest thing to do."

He also took a swipe at New York City's former anti-gun mayor, Michael Bloomberg, calling him the "lamest billionaire on the planet."

Other segments on the show had the hosts discussing guns as though they're accessories — Noir and Robbins complained that the packaging guns come in isn't nice enough, and Noir described one of his favorite guns, the Smith and Wesson Shield:

"It's the gun even an anti-gunner can like. ... It’s a gun for someone that’s self-assured. It’s a gun for the city urbanite who makes frequent trips to the CVS at the bottom of his loft because he refuses to buy food from a natural grocery store. Or the 24-year-old bombshell whose idea of acceptable grocery story attire is a pair of yoga tights and a T-shirt."

Another segment called "Gun Pads" (like "Cribs," but with guns) shows firearms used as decor in houses.

Like guns on a piano:
And a gun on a mantle:

The NRA has its work cut out for it in presenting a positive image to millennials, especially minorities. According to a 2013 Harvard University survey, the 18-29 age group's view on the NRA is split — 38% have a favorable view of the association, 38% have an unfavorable view, and 23% have never heard of it.

And the breakdown by ethnicity shows that minorities tend to have a negative view of the NRA:
There might be some opportunity for NRA membership growth among millennials since a decent number of them do not favor stricter gun control laws. The 2013 Harvard University poll found that while 49% of millennials think gun control laws should be more strict, 12% say they should be less strict, and 35% think they should be kept as they are.

The NRA is apparently trying to tap into the groups of young, anti-gun control people by launching other online shows under its new media venture, NRA Freestyle. One premiers later this month, and the other will be released in the fall.

The NRA has been rather close-lipped on "Noir," though. When we emailed questions about the show, managing director of public affairs Andrew Arulanandam sent back one sentence: "The new network and shows are a part of our overall communications efforts with NRA members, gun owners and the American public."

You can watch the first full episode of "Noir" here:


New episodes air on Sunday nights.

Gun Control
Hillary Rodham Clinton was the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, is a potential candidate for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, and a principal for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Note: Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the American Constitution Society.
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a co-chair, national finance council at Ready for Hillary, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and was a benefactor at the Harlem Children's Zone.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, and the Robin Hood Foundation.
Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor at the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, the New York (NY) mayor, and is a co-chair for Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
NRA-ILA (Mayors Against Illegal Guns Gun Control History)
Joyce Foundation was a funder for Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Valerie B. Jarrett was a director at the Joyce Foundation, is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration.
Eric H. Holder Jr. is the attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice for the Barack Obama administration, and was a board member for the American Constitution Society.
Robert Raben was the assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice, a director at the American Constitution Society, and is the president of the Raben Group.
Raben Group is the lobby firm for Mayors Against Illegal Guns.


 























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